Dear Raelin,

Writing to you is your Daddy’s fault, but am thankful he suggested it!  I had gone to bed but couldn’t sleep and it is getting really late, but you were on my mind and I had to get up and write to you.  Your Daddy said he would save my letters to you and someday when you are old enough, he would read them to you so you could get to know your Grandma Suzie.  I sure wish I could be with you now and hold you as you get sleepy, perhaps read a story or sing a little song, but just feel your warm little body close in my arms.  How I enjoyed cuddling all my babies.  Even though I had five wonderful little boys, each son’s birth was like the first baby I ever had and I had so much pleasure out of caring for each of them.  I have often wondered how little boys and girls might differ in personalities but never had the opportunity to find out.  Have thought that when I get to Heaven someday, I would ask my heavenly Father how come I never had a daughter, but by then it probably won’t matter what with seeing all the wonderful other joys in  Heaven.

My friend has a granddaughter and grandson who are one month apart in age and they just turned three and you can truly see the difference between them.  The little boy is obedient, calm, plays quietly and of a happy temperament but the little girl is just the opposite: into everything, a climber, a runner, gets into every cupboard, cabinet, everything possible she can make a mess with, doesn’t listen, is a bully; in fact what they used to call a “tom boy”.  Her grandmother gets so worn out chasing her around all the time but secretly laughs at all the things she can think of to get into.

I can imagine what joy your Mom and Dad are having with you being 13 months old as you discover new things.  I heard you are now walking and maybe even running by now.  What fun for Daddy and Mommy to be chasing after you!!!!  Are you now biting everything you can get into your mouth?  I was told you had three teeth, if I remember correctly. Sure hope you haven’t had too much pain and discomfort in cutting those teeth and the new ones soon to come in as I know it sure can make a baby irritable.  How well I remember!  I wonder if you will be like your Daddy was at two years of age.  What a little pistol!  He was such a handful and wouldn’t listen to me and his Daddy was the only one who could control him as he was so energetic and on the go all the time, doing his own thing, too, which wasn’t always what we wanted him to do!  He, your Uncle Bill and Uncle Dan were very similar in personality, yet each a bit different but still typical little boys.  Again, I can’t help wondering what little girls are like.  Could we consider you a wee little angel or would there be a better definition for you?

How I wish I could be near you and watch you grow and develop but sometimes the choices we make take us down roads that lead in different directions that we would prefer and there’s not much can be done about it.  Well, I best try to go to sleep again as it is getting late.  I love you so very much and am so thankful for you.  I have saved every picture sent to me from when you were still in your Mommy’s tummy up until the present time.  God’s blessing on you, your Mommy and Daddy.  Much love to you all, Grandma Suzie

Raelin, I sure home you had a wonderful birthday. Sorry this is late, but I cannot get on the computer until evenings as i have to keep the phone line open so your granddad can get work calls. Sure wish I could be around you and watch you as you grow and experience new things. I know your mommy and daddy enjoy seeing you progress in everything you learn new to do. In my mind’s eye, I can imagine you as you learn walking, talking, then running, and even when you learn to say “no” to mommy and daddy.

You’ll be wanting to do “your own thing” and they’ll be interfering with your desires. Oh, happy days ahead for all of you. Do not eat any broken balloons like your Uncle Bill did at one year old. That was a bit scary for me though he didn’t know about it. I will say good night now and give some thought to going to be myself. Much, much love from your Grandma. God’s blessings on you today and all the days of your life.

Raelin’s Reply To Grandma:

Thanks Grandma. I had a great birthday. It started out in the morning with mommy and daddy singing happy birthday to me. I just rested my head on mommy’s leg and smiled at my parents as they sang to me. Then I played all day with Grandma Jackie until Auntie Barb, my babysitter Erica, Uncle Dave and Aunt Lisa came over and we had basgetti dinner and cake and ice cream. You should have seen me with my cake. I’m sure mommy and daddy will get some pictures to you. I grabbed the piece of cake they gave me and shoved it right into my mouth and I ate the whole thing. Oh before I forget, thank you for the card and money. Daddy put the money right in my piggy bank. I also wore a very cute dress for the party last night too. I got more clothes. They say a girl can’t have too many clothes. But I think I have plenty. And I got a lot of educational learning toys too. They are so fun. Boy was I tired though at the end of the night. But I woke up a couple of times in the night and daddy had to get me a bottle at 330 am cause I was hungry. Then I was all better and went back to sleep. Ok, that’s it. I love you Grandma, and daddy and momma say they love you too. They are the bestest.

Well, I have recently showered and shampooed my hair for the first time in two weeks, about time, too!  Had a biopsy on my forehead on June 1st, so couldn’t get my hair wet last weekend. For my birthday in March, my wonderful daughter-in-law sent my hairdresser a check for four shampoo & sets. Unfortunately, the first three I used, I ended up being sick and spent three weeks in my faithful old recliner, but my hair surely did look great! My husband’s buddies come for coffee in the mornings and I just smile and wave as they pass by, but I did look good, although In looking myself over closer, realized my old robe is in rags, so need a replacement as soon as the new winter clothing comes in stock.

During the three weeks recuperating, I did look good for the colonoscopy I had, that is until they put those funny looking little hairnets on you during the surgical procedure. Fortunately, with all the hairspray from having had my hair done two days before (one of my free ones), it didn’t squash my hair too much! Then, I also still looked fairly presentable for my Oncology appt and was pleased that my recent illness from diverticulitis had lost me 3 1/2 lbs, (which I have probably put back on, and then some!)

My next treatment, where I still looked good was for a biopsy on my forehead since I had had my hair done two days before and had my bangs brushed to the other side of my forehead to give the dermatologist lots of room for whatever she needed to do. When I was a child, swimming daily was my “thing” and now I am paying for being in the sun so much. Have since learned about the dangers of childhood sun exposure/teenager sunbathing and using sun tanning treatments. It never affects you until later years, then it’s a perfect for cancer to strike which could be pre-cancerous sun spots, squamous or melanoma. The latter being the deadly kind. I was fortunate in that my biopsy just showed the sun spot kind which I had had  “frozen” (called cryosurgery) at least 4-5 times, but never removed the spots. That was the reason the doctor wanted a biopsy as preventative treatment to make certain one of the cancers wasn’t hiding underneath.

I return in three months and she may try cryosurgery once again though she suggested chemo cream treatment, but that is too costly at $150 a tube. She is to send me information for studying and I will discuss it with my Oncologist and get his opinion first, though the cost is prohibitive. Before closing, I want to re-emphasize the need to take good care of your skin when out in the sun, no matter what age you are. They suggest the #30 as the best, and to limit exposure to the sun and re-apply ointment if out for extended periods of time. Cancer is nothing to fool around with and skin cancer can be just as deadly as other bodily types.

That ends it for tonight and God’s blessings on anyone who may be reading this. (And please try to keep in mind some of the “grandmotherly advice I have tried to pass along”)  Grandma Suzie

Well, again have been having insomnia, so very annoying. I wonder if it comes from watching FBI FILES, or WE 48 HRS/20/20 Case Files before going to bed. Do find the cases fascinating on methods of detection, identification, etc.

Then when I did go to bed last night at midnight, was wide awake, so checked my Email and at 2 AM went back to bed. That is when the idea for this article came to mind and only from strength of will power (or is it “won’t” power) kept me from getting up and going back to the computer.

This afternoon I laid in my recliner for my usual afternoon “nap” or rest, and this idea kept going around in my head, so here I am now to see if I can remember all the things I wrote in my imagination.

Recently, have been ill, again, and two days ago underwent a Colonoscopy after having side pain for 8 weeks.  This was done at a small hospital recently remodeled in a nearby city by a really nice surgeon I met for the first time this week.  Seems at the early 7:30 AM time I was the only patient in the Outpatient Surgical Preparation Room, (or whatever they call it).

I certainly couldn’t have had better treatment anywhere than given to me by the two nurses, the anesthesiologist and physician.  Was happy to find my EKG was normal, which is always a relief.  Can’t recall much of the procedure due to this wonderful amnesiac medication called Verced (sp ?) they give you.  Whole process took about two hours but it was four hours total until I was released.

Will certainly follow instruction sheet on diet to follow to prevent a reoccurrence of diverticulitis as I am not a candidate for surgical removal of 12 or more inches of my colon which could be deadly in my case, and I won’t willingly go that route!  Was quite pleased that no cancer or polyps were found, just diverticulosis pockets which are common as you age.

However, all this is leading up to my remembrance of surgery I had a little over 50 years ago in Oakland Naval Hospital.  My, my, how technology has improved, for which I am eternally grateful!  Back then, after giving birth to a 10 month pregnancy baby whose 9 1/2 lb size did some damage to my “innards”, necessitated surgery when he was about 3-4 months old.

Imagine a capital _A_ which was the position of the table where they laid me for “southern exposure” surgery.  With my “rump” in the air and my legs on the right hanging down and my head and arms on the left hanging down, this was the surgical position.  I kept wondering where were the “knock-out drops” where I’d sleep and not be aware of the embarrassing position, but all I had was a spinal block where my end was numb but I was wide awake!  Kept imagining the wondrous view to anyone passing by the surgery or to all the medical staff gathered around the table.

Comparing that procedure with my recent one is like being in two different worlds! How grateful for Verced, whatever it is, since all I can recall is laying on the table and the doctor asking if I felt sleepy and I told him “No” and he said “well, you will be”, and then saying “oh, my tummy hurts!”  That is from all the air they pump into you and they emphatically suggested I not hesitate to get rid of it as soon as I can.  To my old-fashioned way of thinking, “ladies don’t do things like that, nor discuss it”, and here they’re all happy to encourage me!  Will wonders never cease!!

So, that was my recent experience and can truthfully say that after 8 weeks of pain, I am feeling almost normal, though by now, am not sure what “normal” is any more, since I am still very much aware of my “hairy tongue” feeling! And I’ve been told that won’t ever go away. Guess this ends my story for today and will patiently wait until another idea pops into my head and you’ll again hear from Grandma Suzie.  God’s blessings on all who may be reading this.

Happy Doctor After Successful Surgery

Survived Cancer 3 Times

Cancer is a disease that touches practically everyone in one way or another.  Either we have personal experience or have family members or friends with someone having dealt with effects of cancer, and now I am dealing with cancer and the emotional impact that goes with it, and this is my story!

Last December I had a routine quarterly check-up and everything was fine except I mentioned I had been losing weight, although not really trying.  Having had cancer years before, I was seeing an oncologist every three months. Since unexplained weight loss can indicate a recurrence, he ordered some tests to be done.  Everything turned out normal, so was scheduled for my yearly check-up in April.  This time my Chest CT Scan revealed spots on my lungs, but the radiologist mentioned he had seen them in the December xray but that there had been no change.

When discussing tests results with the oncologist, he mentioned these facts to me and said the spots were too small to needle biopsy, but the radiologist’s opinion was that I had lung cancer.  Needless to say, I was stunned as this would be my fourth flare-up, over a span of 11 years.  But, he said they didn’t know what to do about it.

Three years before, in 2005, I had half my left kidney removed due to three malignant tumors and in 2003 I had a mastectomy as a lump was found on a yearly mammogram.  So, the problem was not knowing if I had breast or kidney cancer in my lung, and what type treatment should I be given.  Without a definitive diagnosis, the oncologist decided to send me to see a lung specialist (pulmonologist) for his opinion.  I was told by the latter physician that I wasn’t a candidate for surgical biopsy where they open up your chest, for which I am truly thankful!  He also said due to the location of the spots on each side of my lungs, they couldn’t be reached unless they grew larger.  He did mention the possibility that I could have scar tissue from a fungus which is common in many people or perhaps I had tuberculosis or pneumonia scars from when I was younger.  My visit ended with his declaring he just didn’t know what to do for me!

Next, I was referred to a kidney specialist (nephrologist) for tests to determine if my half a kidney could withstand surgery if needed since I was considered high risk for kidney failure.  Again, I was quite thankful to learn my half kidney was functioning at 67% which surprised the doctor as the normal function of one is at 75%.  So, he said I’d be able to go through surgery but would need to be monitored.  He did take me off salt usage due to my blood pressure reading being very high.  I told him that was normal for me when at a doctor’s office and I was told it was called “white coat syndrome”, but he said there was no such thing!  He wanted my pressure lowered to lessen my chances of having a stroke.  Since going off salt, I have lost fluid retention and a few pounds, but food no longer appeals to me as it is so tasteless.

My next appointment was back to the oncologist who had reports from the other two doctors and it was decided he’d order repeat Chest CT Scans every two months and this week I had my fifth xray.  I’ll see the doctor next week for results to see if there has been any enlargement in the past nine months since spots first appeared.

My original surgery was July 1997 where my right kidney was removed due to a tumor inside, but self-contained.  I needed no further treatment afterwards.  At that time my only symptom had been high blood pressure but I had been in treatment for several years yet it had remained high.  Finally I decided to change doctors, and being a new patient, routine bloodwork, chest xray and physical exam were done.  The xray revealed an enlargement of my kidney showing up at lower edge of xray and I was referred to a urological surgeon who took one look at the xray and bluntly told me I had kidney cancer.  It was like being hit by a ton of bricks as I was so shocked, and soon the tears were flowing down my cheeks.

However, before surgery could be done, a bone scan was needed because if there had been any spread to my bones, then surgery would not be necessary and my time of living would be limited.  It would be several days later after the test (which was done the following day) before I would learn the test results.  That was the toughest time emotionally and I was a “basket case” with fear, but I, being a Christian, called on family, friends and churches asking for prayer support as all of this was beyond my natural ability to cope with.  When the news came that the test was negative, I dropped to my knees and praised God for His mercy and again the tears just ran down my face in gratitude.

The after-effects of the first surgery was mainly a lengthy healing period and then I was doing well until 2003 when the mammogram revealed the tumor in my breast.  After discussing my options with the surgeon, I decided on a complete mastectomy rather than a lumpectomy as I wanted to be certain all cancer was removed.  Fortunately, after having my breast and lymph glands removed and biopsied, no further cancer cells were found, so I didn’t need chemo or radiation afterwards.  However, I did have some problems with lymphedema in my arm and needed 3 months of physical therapy/massage which proved quite painful.  The incisional area especially needed massaged as I was told the skin could grow attached to my ribs and then I’d really have problems!

After the mastectomy, I learned all about wearing a prosthesis (fake booby) and was sent to a Women’s Boutique for fittings, and this resembled a lovely lingerie shop.  Medicare covers the cost of these and the special bras needed.  They are also equipped with other items women may need such as swim suits, wigs, etc.

While in the hospital, a social worker visited me and told me about a cancer support group that meets in the hospital which I later started attending.  I had been unaware there was such an organization, but my first visit upset me greatly as I never realized cancer could attack so many parts of a person’s  body.  In listening to the different cancer survivors discuss their coping techniques has been very encouraging and so I continue to attend monthly meetings.

Throughout all these years of cancer surgeries, numerous tests and xrays, I guess I’ve toughened up compared to my younger years.  My faith and trust in God has deepened.  His tender mercy towards me has been proven many  times and I have had so many answered prayers.  Last year I was interviewed on a local Christian Radio Station talking about my experiences and the ways God had intervened in my life and had given me “holy boldness” where I could talk with so many people about Him and His goodness to me.

One particular incident I’d like to mention is taking a bone scan test.  I was quite scared beforehand as I knew the results would determine my eligibility for surgery to remove the kidney tumors (2005).  While taking the xray I mentioned to the technician my nervousness and apprehension about waiting 3-4 days for the results as it was quite nerve-wracking!  He told me to wait to dress until he checked the clarity of the films.  While waiting, I was again praying for mercy as I had done for weeks before the scan.  When he reappeared, he leaned over and whispered to me that the results were negative and I had nothing to worry about, so go home and enjoy the weekend.  I was so grateful for his kindness and consideration as I know they are not allowed to tell people test readings, so I saw the hand of God once again!

Although this has been emotionally draining many times, at present I am trusting God that this last test will again show no growth, yet at the same time praying to have the courage to deal with whatever may come next.  I do want to mention how useful our cancer insurance from AFLAC has been.  Three times they’ve paid the claims promptly, efficiently and generously.  Many people don’t carry this type coverage, but I can highly recommend it.  As you may realize by now, my coping skills are being used in getting back into writing.  I developed a love for writing stories, articles and poetry, years ago when in high school and at one time considered being a journalist.  So, here I am at aged 72, finally realizing a dream, and hopefully the ideas I have in my head for stories will come to fruition.  I hope the story of my battle with cancer will be of interest or help to someone.

Stay In Touch With Friends

What to expect when we have a dear friend
Do we anxiously fear, the friendship will end?
Are we so afraid to “let down our hair”
Open our thoughts, lay them all bare?

The tears that we shed, the feelings which hurt
Are we sensitive, sad, far from alert
To other’s deep need for one to confide
Or do we retreat, inside us to hide?

Emotions we have, one for the other
Does it make any diff’rence, “sister or brother?”
In Christ we’re united, in Christ we are one
Our friendships we’ll cherish, as man needs the Son!

Love and acceptance, these both play a part
Give praise for achievement, straight from the heart.
Caring, affection, willing to listen
Knowing such love, our spirits are risen!

But there must be a balance, to give and receive
There’s joy in such sharing, you’d better believe!
When you find a true friend, where trust can be found
Life’s secret is yours, for love will abound.

So hold on to it tight, never cause woe
A friendship’s too precious to ever let go.
It’s a gift from our Father Who’ll gladly bestow
His blessings upon us, His children below!

My Husband Sammy And His Humor

In talking with my writing coach – my son (heh heh), I told him I hadn’t had any story ideas in about a week. Then I mentioned my husband’s recent experience with octopus tentacles in my refrigerator (which rather upset me!) that he was saving for fishing bait. My son suggested I write about that, so in thinking it over, I decided “why not?” Here is my story.

Two days ago Sammy had a phone call from his grand-daughter who’s Secretary in a Tax Office. She asked if he’d be interested in some octopus. He asked how much was she talking about and she was told a trucker had 80 lbs.left-over and didn’t know what to do with it, so he said he’d take all he could get. Later she called and told him to come to the office as she had it and he took off to pick it up. Thankfully, there was only 4 lbs. left. Since he was going fishing the next day, he thawed several tentacles (and put the balance in his garage freezer). He then laid them on kitchen counter and cup the octopus up into chunks for fish bait. Afterwards, he put the pieces in a Baggie and laid on a paper towel on top of a plastic container with half a dozen deviled egg halves inside. Since I couldn’t stand looking at the “stuff”, I was unaware of what he’d done to prepare for his fishing trip the next day.

On Sat. morning I opened the refrigerator and saw the bag which had leaked juice all over the top of deviled egg container. I re-bagged the meat for him to take along and then threw away the wet paper towel and the eggs and thoroughly washed the plastic container. He couldn’t understand my reasoning for disposing of everything outside in the trash barrel.

He once bought some frozen octopus in Florida when we were vacationing, and had it double wrapped and in a cooler with ice, but it started to thaw on the 1000 mile trip back and the odor from the trunk was quite offensive. As I may have mentioned in prior articles, I don’t ever look in his garage freezer. Even winding around the path between the items of junk piled up, is taking your life in your hands, just to reach the freezer! Apparently he has at least 3-3 1/2 lbs. left of octopus out there. Fishing wasn’t any good Saturday, and he brought all the cut-up tentacles back and refroze until his next fishing trip, so guess he is back to about 4 lbs. again.

He loves to cook as I have discussed previously and yesterday he even made the suggestion of making octopus dumplings which about made me gag! I sure hope he’s just kidding, which he is prone to do frequently. Although I am 9 years younger than his 81 yrs, he’s been cooking since he was 6, and I didn’t start until I was 18 and newly married; so that means he should know more about proper cooking than I do, right? However, I read lots of nutrition books, magazines, articles, and watch cooking shows and have 55 years cooking experience, so I shouldn’t be considered a ‘beginner’ (or dummy!). But we differ on how to cook and so if he has decided to make something, I get out of the kitchen (and wish he’d do the same when I am cooking). But he always wants to “help” me which usually means he finishes and I go read a book. Avoids a lot of tension that way!

Well, we don’t have any cooking issues today! He made fried mush for breakfast which was really good, and we have left-over spaghetti (which I made yesterday) for supper. He’s talking about going fishing this afternoon. Hopefully he’ll take his octopus along! So long for now and especially God’s blessing on all the fishermen’s wives out there! Grandma Suzie

It seems I’ve been having a lousy mood lately and my mind has been blank for story ideas.  My son told me to just write down whatever thoughts I was presently having and see where it goes. He also added, “when had he ever steered me wrong”?, which is true, since he’s been such a blessing in getting me to think of story ideas and I’m learning presentation of my thoughts. Actually, he ought to reconsider advising me to write down the thoughts tumbling around in my head as he might be surprised!

My last son, #5 (mentioned above) installed my computer, printer, speakers and television, so frequently call him when I have problems with my Internet or Email systems. His only problem is he says he needs to actually be here to see what I am doing wrong in order to correct it. Then I call #3 son who frequently can give me some instructions. The other day I had a phone call from a girlfriend and we were discussing my not being able to access my Web site and she told me I was typing in the wrong space, which no one had ever explained to me. I now can access “grandmasuzie” . My #3 son helped set up the site for me, but he didn’t realize my lack of accessing the internet as I had not had much experience with “browsing”. Mainly I just check out my Email every other day or so.


My car is still broken down – it has been two weeks now – and the mechanic injured his back several days ago, so I will have a longer wait to get it back.  My husband has a 1989 little red Festiva, which is his fishing car. In order for me to ride with him, he had to clear out over a dozen fishing rods laying across the passenger seat, clean up the floor so there was room for my feet and legs and then laid a small rug down. A neighbor who was watching Sammy’s cleaning out process, knew something was up, as he usually was loading it up, not removing equipment. Only problem with his car is there’s very little heat and thankfully we haven’t had any sub-zero weather while I’ve had to ride along with him, nor can we both go grocery shopping since there’s no room in the back for supplies since he left all his “stuff” loaded in the rear. So, when only needing a few items, I give him a list and he goes off by himself and I wait at home, hoping he gets the right groceries, and doesn’t “blow our budget, with ideas of his own!”

He is anxiously waiting for the winter weather to pass as he is so ready to get back to fishing.  He talks about it everyday.  A friend of his who drives a school bus called on the phone and told him tonight he’d seen people fishing at a nearby lake when he drove past, just trying to tease Sammy, (which worked, too!)  Thankfully, he enjoys reading and he has gone through many books these past few months and he has his re-loading ammunition hobby.  He has several friends who bring him blank shells to work with and he has searched the gun range at the local Sportsmen’s Club picking up empty shells.

Well, that’s about all I have to say, so will close for now.  Perhaps the next story idea I have will be much more interesting.  Have been collecting thoughts on laughter if I can ever get it organized.  Humor is my favorite subject.  So long, and God bless all those who may be reading this.

It’s about noon now and not my usual time for writing. Usually I lay down to sleep and then thoughts start tumbling around in my head, but today I can blame this article on my #3 son, who telephoned a little while ago. He can be quite “bossy”, yet since he is my “writing mentor”, guess he is excusable. But I told him our roles have reversed, as mothers are the ones who “boss” their sons around, telling them what to do!

Another son is also good at “advising me”, but I sometimes forget he’s a family man and doesn’t need his mother offering unsolicited advice. I usually know that I have overstepped my advising role when he responds MO-THER! I have tried to tell him that what I’m telling him is only information that I am not sure he’s familiar with, but that doesn’t seem to help undo his lack of patience with me. I have learned to “shut up” when I get the Oh Mother prompt. In these cases, I hastily retreat with advise-giving and change the topic.


My sister is also quite good at giving me advise, or suggestions, though usually I am quizzing her about something and I am sure I frequently am annoying! As my younger sister, she’s good at reminding me how old I am and what do I expect, at my age (which soon will be 73!). Even though she is my younger sister, her advice is pretty good when I think about it, I just have to let it get past my ego.

Seems I have had this stubborness about listening to others all my life. For example, when younger, I was always asking my Dad questions and I am sure I must have been a bother to him also, but I guess I have an inquisitive mind and need answers to many things.

This all brings me to the point of this little expose. When I think back to things that have happened in my life and consider all the advice I have gotten along the way I can see that in most cases, the advice that I let in and acted upon has generally paid off.

For example, several years ago my health started to get the best of me such that I had to quit working out of the house. When this happened, I really got depressed about what my life’s purpose was. I talked to my sister a lot about it, and to a couple of my sons. They all had suggestions for me but I didn’t really listen to them. As a result, I was housebound with no purpose which made me miserable.

However, I guess I had told my desire to my sons and sister about wanting to write my life’s story which led them into encouraging me to start writing. Which I started to do. Then my #3 son asked me to do some writing for one of his websites. This got my writing juices flowing even more. In talking to my #3 son, he encouraged me to really start writing short stories about my life, things I have learned along the way etc. He told me that if I would write them that he would put together a website for my writing.

Well, I took the plunge and it has been wonderful. I have written quite a bit for both my son’s business and for my own website. Incidently, yes – GrandmaSuzie.com is the name that my son and I came up with.

I’m now living my dream of being a writer that I have had since I was in high school and have a purpose. All of this is because I listened to others.

Recently my 81 year old husband “Sammy” (not his real name in order to prevent possible retaliation) and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary. I often wonder where the years went and how I’ve kept my sanity this long, though there are family and friends who wonder about that I have kept my sanity! Never did I realize back then at age 52, what kind of man I was agreeing to marry. I will say it has been an adventure.

For a little background information on him, he was a semi-truck driver for most of his working years until forced into retirement after suffering fishing and trucking accidents and resulting injuries and even some surgeries. He has also had two hip replacements. All of which have not slowed him down one bit. Take for example that two days after returning from his hip replacement surgery, he drove himself to Wal Mart for some “man” shopping, though he did use the electric cart. This article is about Sammy and him being the most unusuable character in my life.

One Tough Fellow

I knew nothing about his post hip surgery Wal-Mart trip until I was told much later that a friend had seen him. Years before retirement, while on a trip to Rock Island, IL, a piece of construction angle iron fell on his shoulder. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance where it took 35 stitches to sew up the shoulder injury. He was taken back to scene of accident and released. Then he proceeded to drive his 18-wheeler one-armed over 200 miles back to his truck terminal. He has proved himself many times to be one tough fellow.

He’s had fish hooks caught in his hands several times but he wouldn’t go to Emergency until I took a picture of the hand, hook and all.

The Counselor

For years he had a drinking problem and had many buddies he regularly met at local bars. One night he decided to have a little fun with his friend who usually only drank wine. On this night Sammy was slipping tequila to him. When his friend was finally ready to go home, Sammy said “this is what you should do, go home, sit down with your wife and tell her you’re the boss of the house, etc”. Well, his advice was followed and several days later Sammy saw his friend with a large bandaged neck and shoulders. He told Sammy that he would no longer listen to Sammy’s advice or he’d end up being killed. His wife was cleaning the kitchen when he walked in and started talking. Somewhere in the conversation she hit him over side of head and shoulders with a cast iron skillet. For this bit of advice, Sammy’s friend ended up in Emergency for many needed stitches.

Sammy The Travelling Doctor

He wasn’t all fun and games though as one trip down south, he was flagged down by a motorist stopped along side of deserted highway late at night.  Sammy went up to ask if he needed help and was told the man’s wife was in last stages of labor and he couldn’t get to a hospital in time and didn’t know what to do.  Well, as usual, Sammy remained calm, climbed into backseat and delivered their baby boy who they named after him.  He was always picking up hitchhikers and stopping to help stranded motorists.

The Turn In Sammy’s Life

In later years, at aged 52, he had a terrifying nightmare where his semi truck was engulfed in flames and no handle on the door to get out. As truck headed into a wall of fire, he noticed a man out in the field dressed in white and he yelled for “help”, then woke up, soaking wet. Two days later, he went to church at 7 AM and gave his heart to the Lord and asked for deliverance from alcoholism, smoking and occasional drug use. When he rose from the altar, he realized he wasn’t shaking with tremors as he usually did when needing his morning drink. Later, he trained as a deacon and finally was ordained as a minister and had his own church for several years.

Weddings And Fishing

Though retired, he still performs wedding ceremonies which are mostly unusual ones (this naturally fits in with his character).  The last wedding was on a pontoon boat in the middle of a lake with the young bride in a beautiful white gown.  Another marriage took place on a ferry that transferred farmers and their equipment across the river.  After the ceremony, everyone went fishing, which suited him just fine, as that’s the “love of his life” as far as activities go.  Once he married a Mexican couple in a church and all the bridesmaids and bride were barefoot.  They said it was a custom in their culture.  One other time while waiting for bridal couple to arrive on a lake dock, he took out his fishing pole and did a little fishing!

Sammy’s Crafts

We lived 15 years in a house that was over 100 years old, with many peculiarities such as sinking floors and leaky ceiling tiles. Upstairs were two small rooms, one used as a bedroom for my teen aged son; the other was my husband’s “play room”. After moving in, my son started hearing sounds in the room at night, saw swaying ceiling lights, closet door opening and closing and smelled strange odors, just like you’d expect in a haunted house. This was quite annoying and mystifying so we finally had a minister come and walk around the upstairs using exorcism to order any and all “spirits” to depart in the name of the Lord. That solved the problem as nothing else ever occurred.

Sammy used the other room to melt lead to make bullets and fishing sinkers, did sanding on different projects, worked on making clocks and belt buckles out of turtle shells he’d clean, polish and paint with polyurethane.  He also used cast iron skillets to make clocks. Some he’d sell, but  mostly everything was for gifts to friends, family and even strangers.  He always wears a turtle shell belt buckle which many people admire. One 6 or 7 year old boy in Pennsylvania saw it one day and was really impressed, so Sammy took down his name and address and a week later mailed him a boy-sized turtle shell buckle.

The Protector From Wild Animals

This old house had a hole in the siding at ground level at the back of the house and animals found their way into our house. At night when Sammy would be out trucking, I’d hear strange scratching or gnawing sounds which annoyed and puzzled me. One morning I discovered the leather watch band laying on my bedroom dresser had been partially eaten. Other times I have seen quick flashes of something black streak across different rooms in the house. We weren’t sure what was in the house and considered a squirrel, but my husband put out some poison.

The next day he walked into the hallway leading from kitchen to garage and there was a large dead pregnant rat. I had never in my life seen a rat and hope I never do again. In examining the steps, Sammy removed several leading to upstairs and discovered nesting materials. Later Sammy brought home a wire live animal trap to set outside by the hole in back of house and baited it with mini marshmallows. In time he caught 6-7 raccoons, a pregnant opossum and one day, to our surprise, a skunk. He called the police to report this and was told to shoot it. Not being one to mess with a skunk, Sammy reminded the receptionist it was against the law to fire a gun in the city limits. She solved that problem by promptly sending a police squad car to watch Sammy shoot the skunk. Several days later after the odor dissipated, he took it out to the woods somewhere for disposal.

For awhile I did in-home care for the elderly and I worked several hours a day for a 97 year old lady and her 80 year old daughter.  They, too, lived in a 100 yr old house and animals were somehow getting inside the walls.  They’d hear them scratching as they climbed or the noises in the rafters in the attic.  So my husband came over occasionally when something needed fixing, such as they’d gone years without any lighting in the hallway outside their bathroom.  My husband discovered the lightbulb had blown out and just needed changing.  As for the animal problem, he pulled down the ladder to the attic and in searching around realized raccoons were living up there.  In fact, using a flashlight and looking down a brick chimney that went from the attic to the ground, he saw a  mother and 6 babies laying down there.  The only way to remove them was by shooting them and then he had to use fishing equipment with large hooks to latch onto the fur to pull each one up individually.  A clever man he is, who knows how to handle tricky situations.

Sammy The Deer Hunter

My biggest surprise one day was coming home and being told not to open the bathroom shower curtain. Well, naturally, like a kid, I did what I was told not to do and found a tub full of bloody water from the deer that was soaking in the bathtub. Several days later he bought a very large trash container where he put the deer and subsequently soaked until he could dress it out. Of course this little “Sammyism upset me” so I expressed my dislike and calmly requested that he never do that again. To this day he hasn’t. The deer was road kill no less.

Kitchen Tricks

• His melting lead on the kitchen stove that dripped down and hardened.
• He had some gun powder that was slightly damp, so decided to put it in his microwave to dry it out – Yes he blew up the microwave!
• He liked to clean fish in the house when I was out of town and he’d put the skin, head and bones, etc. down the garbage disposal.  Several days later I was in the kitchen and noticed a really foul odor and when I came close to sink, realized something must have gotten stuck in the disposal. I had no choice but to reach into it and to my surprise, found rotting fish parts which I had to patiently (and angrily) pull out. That was the last time he ever did that as I told him it says in scripture “Be sure, your sins will find you out.” He loves to tell this story and still laughs over it.

Cannons Away

For awhile he had a homemade cannon which he’d fire off on New Years Eve and 4th of July out in the country at a friends’ house.  One year though, it misfired and blew up backwards towards him. I was out of town at the time so his friend’s wife spent hours picking out bits of burnt gunpowder from his face, arms and shoulders. One good thing, no more cannon after that, though he did have a smaller one that he thought was unloaded.  In order to test it, he fired it out the front door, then noticed a police car setting across the street who came over and said “Don’t you know it’s against the law to fire a firearm in the city?”  He said, “This isn’t a firearm, it’s only a cannon”. She let him get away with it!  He knows most of the police in town as he makes ammunition and occasionally takes some to the Sheriff’s office and Police Dept. for them to sample.

Turtles Oh The Turtles

When talking about his hobbies, hunting for turtles rates right up there with fishing. One night about 3 AM his car was parked along a country road and a police car came up and to ask what he was doing. As soon as they saw his face, they recognized Sammy and said they guessed he was looking for turtles. They said they were investigating a complaint from a neighboring farmer who wondered about the reason this car was along the road in the middle of the night. Strangers knock on our door bringing him turtles they have found. Several weeks ago he made a humongous pot of turtle stew and took it to a social gathering up the street where everyone gathers to sing, play guitars, and eat refreshments.

Shoe Shining

He had a dried up metal can of brown shoe polish and decided to melt it down so he could polish his shoes, so he set the can on the gas stove.  Unfortunately it blew up and he had a terrible time cleaning the ceiling, stove and floor before I came home from town.  He didn’t quite succeed as there was still remnants of something brown splattered on kitchen counter and cabinets.

Back To Sammy The Doctor

Did I mentjion he’s a self-appointed physician? He likes to use veterinarian de-horning paste to remove moles and it actually works! One day he told me he’d done some surgery on himself. I didn’t realize he had a half dollar size cyst or tumor on his thigh but he decided to get rid of it, so he had whipped out his handy pocket knife and without sanitizing, had actually dug the bothersome thing out of his leg. He did put an antibiotic cream on it and it did eventually heal.

He offers to do things like that to me but I quickly refuse. Last week he removed a mole from the front of his throat as it was “bugging” him. I reminded him he had an appointment with a dermatologist in several weeks but he said he couldn’t wait that long.

The Dentist

He is now toothless. This is the story of his last two teeth! For the second to the last tooth he asked a friend to help and after tying the fishing line on the tooth, his friend gave a yank, and out it came. His one lone tooth had abscessed, so he used his pocket knife to puncture the swelling so it could drain. Then he tied 60 lb weight fishing line around the tooth and the other end around a concrete block and threw it out the front door. Both he and the pulled tooth flew out the door.  The funniest thing is that without any teeth he can eat anything and everything and is usually finished eating before I sit down or am only half way through my meal. Doesn’t figure!

Sammy And Cooking…

Sammy loves to cook and can, but doesn’t always read directions. One day he was canning something using the pressure cooker, but neglected to let it cool before removing the lid. Immediately after taking it off, the contents blew up and hit the ceiling, cabinets, floors, etc., and caused him to have severe burns on his face, chest, arms and hands.

At The Right Place At The Right Time

Several weeks ago he and his friend were in the nearby river in their boat anchored by the side when they noticed a truck going into the river. They were too far away to help but got the attention of a couple in a nearby boat and pointed to the sinking truck. Unfortunately, the people in the boat were unable to open the door and the truck sunk out of sight.

My husband’s cellphone wouldn’t work, so they lifted anchor and went to shore. Sammy went to a nearby house and called 911. Soon all types of emergency vehicles arrived and a coast guard boat with divers, but they were unable to find the truck or body until the next day. It was an elderly woman and the truck ran off her own property. No one knows what happened. The truck had drifted 200 ft. down river before found. We have never heard anything further concerning this.

Sammy’s Freezer

Presently our garage freezer holds an interesting collection. There’s the head of a 45 lb catfish caught last week, a beaver tail, frozen snakes and some fish frozen whole (but not cleaned). As to anything else out there, I don’t really want to know.

Pictures

I have taken many pictures of his trophies. He enjoys whipping out these pictures, especially the one of the 45 lb catfish head.
Well, I think by now that I have made my point that I’m married to an unusual character. He never ceases to amaze me as he is always doing something new and different and sometimes unbelievable. He’s inventive, courageous, generous natured, kind, ready for adventure, always willing to go fishing, he loves the Lord and proudly serves Him and no on knows or suspects he’s 81 years young.