My Friend Nell

When I was five years old we moved from Alabama to Indiana and one of the first families we met were Nell and Leonard from Kentucky along with their son Glenn.

Nell was like a mom in the beginning helping keep Glenn and I under control, and later a friend, then as time went on when I didn't have a mother figure she resumed that roll.

Last week when my super dooper cell phone rang and Nell's name came up I thought it was a little late in the evening for her to call. We normally talked about once a month and there were a few notes and letters in between over the years, but most of those phone calls were during the day, on the weekends, or right after I got off work.

I answered the phone and immediately heard Glenn's voice and knew something wasn't quite right.

Nell passed away on June 1, with complications in her lungs. She wasn't a smoker but lived with a smoker the biggest portion of her life. She would have been 82 on her birthday later this month.

Leonard had passed away years ago and she had remarried but they no longer lived together but she had Glenn and his children looking out for her.

She loved me that I know, and as I told Glenn, he not only lost his mother but I lost the only person in the world who thought I was perfect. I'm sure she really didn't think I could do no wrong it just didn't matter to her because she loved me right or wrong but chose to believe that I was perfect.

She gave me confidence and let me tell her all my troubles. Most of the time we talked like old friends about all the people we knew. She never tired of telling me about the little blond hair girl with the red sweater that took her heart away. The little girl she never had. Boy could she ever stick up for me. Once I asked her what kind of a child I was. "Oh sweetheart you were so good."

Yeah that was Nell always a kind word for everyone. I will miss her so much.

Yet I know she was tired. The last time we talked she was down and it was tough getting her to laugh at one of my silly escapades. She said "I'm tired and just don't feel well anymore."

I'm very thankful she was in my life and I will always remember the soft way she spoke and that in her eyes, I was perfect.

Surgery and Recovery

On April 29, my youngest son's birthday I had surgery on my right arm. I had been in pain for some time and finally with my son's advice ringing in my ears. "Mom you know if you put this off, then recovery is much harder the older you get." Made me feel down right ancient.

Well it's been almost two months now and I'm still in therapy, but Praise the Lord I can now pull my hair up in a pony tail. Up until this week I could not raise my arm above my head. You know what? I do not know one single woman out there who can't rise above a minor hair inconvenience.

I'm am a major fan of hot curlers, so if your arm doesn't go up then your head can go down to accommodate the problem. So my first day back to work I got down on the level of the hot curlers and we didn't do too bad. That fleeting thought I had about just shaving my head, went away quickly, so I still have my long flowing hair but and that's a LARGE BUT if it gets any hotter in Florida it may have to go.

Yeah I know I asked my hubby what he liked best short or long hair and he did compliment me first thing this morning on how good it looked........ and lets see that was two days after he had his trimmed and it wasn't even hanging over his collar. Men, gotta love them.

We are expecting another grand daughter in August and are in preparation for all the baby showers. At least my surgery didn't affect my typing skills or the fact that I can still crochet lovely baby afghans. This daughter-in-love is getting two with hats to match. Of course that's exactly what the last daughter-in-love got too. Can't play favorites.

I stayed home Friday and Monday to keep that little angel. She's 3 months old and weighs all of 16 pounds, she's not fat folks, she's just fluffy..... and solid as a rock. This granny with one sore not fixed right arm can attest to that fact. But what a sweetheart, she's some kind of happy baby.

Have a great father's day weekend. We are all set to entertain four of our children and their spouses on Sunday. It's Sticky Fingers ribs and Hooters Wings and a Texas Sheet Cake. All yummy to the tummy.

Blessings B.