Sunday 31 July 2011

Oklahoma City

Given that I spent the first 35 years of my life in Oklahoma City, it goes without saying that I had a number of people to see while we were in town.  On the other hand, not a huge number of people have bothered to stay in touch these past 20 years.  I do what I can, they do what they can, but life is busy these days, right?   Knowing that I don't have the stamina I once did, I was fairly select in the people I made 'dates' with.  I aimed for one, maybe two a day, thinking I'd have loads of time to do some shopping, see some sights, run errands, etc.  The energy and initiative was entirely sapped by the toothache and nothing extra went on. 

Somehow, in spite of all that, I managed to visit with people and we talked.  I visited my cousin Mona at her daughter Joanne's house.   Between that visit and today, Mona spent 12 days in hospital with all sorts of ups and downs from treatment of an infection.  Thankfully she's home again, but every time I'm with her I can't help be aware that it might be the last time; then again we could say that about almost anyone, couldn't we?



We stayed a couple of nights at Don and Doris's house and Doris and I had loads to catch up on.   Don and Doris have known me since I was a teenager; they are almost like second parents to me.  They even call me one of their kids!



They invited several old friends for dinner and we all talked for ages.  I played my first checkers game in probably 40 years with Brooklyn, Doris's adorable great-granddaughter.

We went over and had a lovely lunch at Rick and Joanne's house.  If you read this blog very much, you'll have 'met' Rick and Jo before.   We recently got to watch them on American RVer's 'Friends across America' (Webisode 61: July 2011).  I've known Joanne since the 1980s when we worked together.



The next place we stayed (after the "Homeless Shelter" on 39th Expressway) was at Jan and Jerry's house up in Edmond, but I'll tell you about that later.

For now I want to show you the quilt that my Aunt Rita made for Belmont and Mona, for - I think - their 70th wedding anniversary.   Rita took photos of their life together and had them printed on squares of fabric incorporated into the quilt.  It now has pride of place in Mona's bedroom.



I know Rita would be pleased to know that.


Also, you should meet Buddy Joe and Bridgit Jeane, Bill's two new best friends.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ha Ha. Bill & his best friends, same scene, different couch and different country. He is the pied piper of the doggy world. Must show this picture to Gabby, she will be jealous.
Love,
Sharon

Shelley said...

Yes, Bill does seem to attract dogs.

http://shelleyshouse.blogspot.com/2009/10/horses-and-dogs.html

Jo said...

we enjoyed having you over. Buddy and Bridgit have been looking for Bill to get their head rubbed!

Rick Stone said...

Buddy and Bridgit said that Bill is welcome to come visit anytime. They love to have new people come pet them.

All four of us throughly enjoyed your visit. After you left I told Jo we should have driven over to the storage lot so you could have seen Big Bertha, our little house on wheels.

Anonymous said...

Schnauzers are such affectionate dogs. I am so impressed by a marriage that endures for 70 years.

Shelley said...

Terri - They actually made their 75wedding anniversary in February; Belmont died in March. I'm completely in awe of a marriage that long.