Her countenance was very different when I returned on Saturday. It was as though she was back to being her old self again. She was feeling great.
As I write those words, the sound of Dean Martin singing, "I Never Felt More Like Singing The Blues" is rolling around inside my head. The General would never say those thoughts are true of her. For that matter, they are not true of me either, even though the melody of the song is still rolling around inside my head.
Maybe just maybe, what I sometimes allow myself to experience is more like "rainy days, and Mondays get me down" sung by the Carpenters. Of course, I intuitively counter that with the recognition that the sun will come out tomorrow.
Yesterday was a day of sunshine, and it felt so right! As is our routine, the General and I both went to church on Sunday morning. The General had not gone the week before because she was backed into a corner by the chemo and didn't feel like going anywhere except back to bed.
Yesterday morning when we walked into church, we made the surprising discovery that our oldest granddaughter was present. One of her friends from high school is at Texas State University in San Marcos. She invited Jenna over for the weekend. Jenna is a student at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville.
Jenna decided to surprise us by coming to church on Sunday instead of driving directly back to Huntsville. Truth be told, I think she mostly wanted to see Gram, but I benefitted from her effort as well.
In addition, I was pleased that Jenna gave priority to coming to church on Sunday after spending Saturday night on a campus that in some circles has the reputation of being a party school. Of course, that is not true of every student, but the possibility is available.
Along with Jenna's Aunt Dre' and Uncle Kevin, we went to lunch together after church. As Jenna left to go back to school, and Aunt Dre' and Kevin headed home to catch football games on television, I suggested to the General that we go play.
It was over 70 degrees outside. For a January day, that is a gift one cannot afford to mess up. The high for today is anticipated to be in the mid-forties. We could not comfortably do today what we did yesterday.
We met the General's brother and sister-in-law in Johnson City. They recently extended an invitation for us to come over. They said they would provide us a tour of the ranch their son purchased near Johnson City. The son and daughter-in-law are also in the process of building an incredible home.
The ranch and home defy description. The beams in the living area and kitchen were removed from an Amish barn in Pennsylvania and transported to Texas for this building project. Honestly, the attention to detail is incredible.
Did I mention that the back of the home is primarily glass, and that as far as the property is concerned, a river flows through it? The view of the water when you step inside the front door is beyond description.
I am a man of many words, but I don't have the words to adequately describe the hill country beauty of the ranch or the home they are building. I am ecstatic for them!
When we arrived at the ranch, Joni (the sister-in-law) asked the General's brother if we should take the ATV (all terrain vehicle)? He responded: "Probably not". Sometimes he is absolutely no fun!
What was he thinking? At times, he and I are not on the same page. Of course, we wanted to go in the ATV! What better way to see a ranch? The General's brother didn't think the General would be comfortable riding in the ATV. That was nonsense! However, I do appreciate that his answer was based on what he believed was in his sister's best interest.
The sun was shining. All was well with the world. Why wouldn't we want to absorb the sounds and sights of nature unencumbered from being inside a regular vehicle?
It turned out to be a splendid afternoon and the ATV was fun.
All My best!
Don