Another Saturday

The annual Home and Garden Show is open this week-end in Billings. I determined to go and spend 2 or 3 hours just wandering around. I'm glad I renewed the supply of nitroglycerin in my carrier. Actually that would be one of the small bottles the stuff comes in. I've got a lot of them. The near=by parking was full w/ many cars circling to find a spot. I went to the top. For you strangers that involves 4-5 standard flights of stairs to get to the right building. When I got to the Pavilion I was lucky to find a chair just inside, sat, and popped a Nitro. 8-10 minutes I was ready to roll. Place was really crowded so I didn't have to walk very fast to keep up and see almost everything. Not much of true interest to a widowed home owner of over 40 years. I did stop at the Northwestern Electric booth for the usual pack of 4 CFL bulbs and a nice bag for the groceries. The grocery deducts 5-10 cents if you don't need their plastic. On the way back to the parking lot I took it a flight at a time and when I got in the car popped another Nitro, rested a bit and then came home. Actually the walking caused more feeling in my hips than in the heart or the bad knee.

When I got home I decided to watch one of my DVD's of the Celtic Woman. Saw them on public TV the other night and was reminded again of how lovely they are and what great singers. The DVD is I believe their first one. It has a booklet so I was able to finally identify them one by one. Chloe is a bit heavy set, but such a beautiful, rich and resonant soprano. Actually I am amazed at how rich their very soprano voices are. I told Pete the other day that they are almost like Castrati. On this particular disk Chloe's husband has a beautiful oboe solo. Priceless! I was a bit surprised to see that the gal, Orla, who plays the harp is also an important part of the Quartet.

Now, of course, I'll have to watch A New Journey sometime in the next week. Then maybe another look at "We Are Marshall". The tragic and triumphant story of the death of the football team in the early 70's. I had long since left the faculty of this my Alma Mater when that happened. Enough, already!!

Out of the past

The other day I noticed in the Billings, MT paper a brief obituary of a person who graduated from Marshall College (now University). This is my Alma Mater so, of course, I read it. Betty Frame . . . That name is familiar. I knew her, but how? I found my 1946 annual, the Chief Justice, and sure enough there was her picture as a member of the staff. I was Editor that year. I then looked further at the Senior pics and again there was the picture of a very attractive young lady. The obit said she was born in 1925 which would make here the same age as my late wife. Another lovely gal called Betty. I then looked in the Huntington, WV paper, but there was no notice of any kind. A day later the Charleston paper had a listing plus a picture. Betty Frame was still an attractive lady of 83. She had moved to Wyoming after her husband's death to be with family.

A further search of the Annual brought memories of the past of people I worked and studied with in the 1940's. And even a gal I had dated before meeting Betty Clarkson - my Harriet Elizabeth. I had forgotten, long since, the people who were in the Class of 1946. The other gal's name was Chlotene - the only person I ever knew with that name. And there was Rachel Nunley Meadows who has visited us in Billings several times in the last few years with her husband, Paul, who was also a high school classmate. Actually I went through school from the 1st grade with Rachel. She often played "sandlot" games with us - baseball, football, etc.

Market Blues

Or is it "Reds"? The Taylor Family Trust lost nearly $4000 in the market today. About the only statement I heard while watching CNBC today was by on unknown pundit who allowed that he was going to "stick it out". No trading, no selling, not buying. That's exactly where I'm coming from. The Market is still not as low as it was when I started investing in 1961. And, fortunately there is no need for that money right now. The TIAA/CREF pension plus Social Security is sufficient for family needs at this time. I do expect some drop in annual income come April when my CREF account will be reconfigured on the basis of the Market. I'm not losing any sleep.

Wet Saturday

Well, the day is bright and sunny, but the roads are wet from the snow melt. We had 4-6 inches of the stuff over night Thursday and it is melting. I got lucky on my shopping trip this afternoon - (dare I say "Wal Mart"). I needed to replace my spare box of cereal and they are the only store that has not raised the price the last few months. Plus I read an article yesterday about a local Hutterite Colony that sells its eggs to WM, and how carefully they screen them. I got a dozen. large for $1.45. The Shredded Wheat is $3.52. The point about the "wet Saturday" is how lucky I was. This trip is just over 3 miles each way. I got there and back and did not get my windshield sprayed with the wetness on most of the trip. Not that much other traffic, and a good choice of direction. I came home with a clean view.

More Heart Stuff

I was finishing up the dishes (with only my own most of the time they usually only get washed every other day or so). I looked up on the window sill above the sink and there were the 4-5 small bottles filled with glass marbles. Just another of the many "decoration" ploys Betty used. She was somehow fascinated with marbles - and small bottles. There are a number of those still around the house, most with a bowed ribbon around them. I've been playing around on the computer this evening so played again her solo, "How Great Thou Art" which I recorded back in 1972 when she was preparing with her Aunt Elsie to sing at the Ceredo Baptist Church. We had stopped to visit the Clarkson family there after a Taylor Family reunion at Blackwater Falls. There is not a day goes by I do not remember her, and the joy she brought to my life in over 56 years of marriage. And now, even the memories are filled with joy.

The President speaks

Obama has spoken. I can only hope that the people of the U.S. were listening. AND the people of the world.

Heart Stuff follow-up

I wrote recently that putting of valve replacement was not longer an option. Apparently it is. What follows is a note I sent to family and friends and their positive, loving responses. I am eternally grateful both to Dr. Millikan and for the reponses.

I had a thorough visit with Dr. Scott Millikan this afternoon about the matter of an Aortic Valve replacement. The Doctor was in no hurry, and he was completely upfront with my situation. After the catheterization he suggested a CT Scan. He told me that the scan revealed a whole lot more calcificationthan expected. He was very clear that I would no doubt survive surgery, but that the process might release some of the calcium which might very well go to the brain and I could possibly spend the rest of my life in a nursing home or ICU under long term care. He assured me more than once that he had never been the same chair I was then in, and that he didn't know what he would do. The decision was up to me. As long as I was getting along the outlook was the possibility of dropping dead. I suggested that if he could promise me that I would "buy it". After all, that is the way most of the males in the family have died. Quickly! Betty pretty much went the same way at the very end. I am, after all, 84. My Dad died at 59, Mother at 57, brothers Donald at 56, Bill at 50 and Norman at 61.

At this point in my life I am able to drive, move about the various stores I visit, and do most of the house work I need to do. Pete does the really hard stuff, but I still make it to the garbage can in the alley, and take cans, etc. to the recycling business. I make it up and down the basement stairs and do my own laundry. The nitro still works as needed. I will call my very honest surgeon later this week and thank him for seeing me and telling him that I've decided not to have the operation.

I want to thank all of you for your concern and prayers. And your continued love.

My love to you, Jim

Jim sent this. I suggest more prayers. Maybe someday, we can be as wise as he is. Gary Svee (friend)

Glad Dr. Millikan was up front and clear about the odds. Makes things easier when you have real options and solid information. I've been wondering off and on today what the outcome of your conversation with the good doctor would be.

Glad there has been some resolution, and that you have made a decision that you are comfortable with. Look forward to seeing you soon,

Ken (Son)

Dear Dad,

As the good doctor said, "I have never been in the chair you are in now." No one could make the decision but you and I'm betting on you living as long as you decide to live.

I guess I'll have to take some days off work in April to spend a long weekend with you and Pete since I won't be taking time off to stay with you during your "recovery."

Love always and always,
Annie

Good, the decision is made and it sounds like a well informed one. Now onward with the day to day and maybe an adventure now and then!
Love, Willie,Karyn,Caleb,Luke,Zackary (Son & family)

Wow, I just always see you as "hale and hardy". I haven't visited with you often enough.
I was unaware that you were doing the heart thing again, you always look so "good".

Will be thinking of you and praying for the best.
Marcia (friend)

James,
   You are loved.  Difficult news, but you have made a choice that seems infinitely reasonable.  You have too much vitality to kick off soon--my prayers are with you and that you are making the choice that God has in mind for you.
   Love, Linaya (friend)

My dear Unc,
Your decision makes good sense to me and it is refreshing to hear of a doctor who pays attention to the bigger picture. Thanks for sharing the news. I won't kid you... the knowledge that you are popping nitro for the slightest of exertion gives me pause, but the thought of you suffering brain damage from the surgery does not do much for me either! When the risks of the cure outweigh the negatives of the cause I think it smart to reject the cure. While probably not your primary objective, you are an example ofthoughtful healthcare decision-making... may I be so wise. May God bless you all your days! Phil (Nephew)

I guess there is no reason to "Tempt Fate" by doing an operation that may or may not have the best outcome. Hopefully with meds they can keep you aroundat least as long as your sister! ;) Things are going pretty good here. As you read on facebook, we are looking at houses in the area. There is a very nice place that is pretty close to work that would be perfect. It is a short sale so we could possibly get it for a very nice price. Plus it has a hot tub.

We will keep you informed and hopefully by the next time you come out we will have a room and bed for you to sleep on instead of the couch! Paul (Son)

Dear Uncle Jim,

I pray that as I "grow up" God will bless me with the same wisdom and discernment He has you. 

Thank you for sharing the news of this decision with me and Phil.  You are very special to both of us and we continue to be grateful that you are a part of our lives.

With much love,  Trudy (niece)
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
In the great sorrows only God can console us. For this, the best thing is prayer and not so much words of consolation. ~Archimandrite Epiphanios Theodoropoulos  +1989~

Dear Jim,

I think you made a wise choice. I was told the same thing that I had heavy duty calcium build up. My cardiologist said that if I stroked I'd wish I had died. My surgeon used a mesh net of some sort that he had patented. While on pump it caught several large pieces of plaque, any of which would have killed me. Fortunately I came out of it very well and they both referred to me as the miracle woman! It's all a crap shoot! In my side of the family we all drop quickly and permanently and guess that's the way He will handle it.

As long as you have Pete and nitro you'll do just fine! Thanks for the up-date..................Love, Rachel (Cousin)

A just and good decision by two wise men. peace Greg (nephew, MD)

Glad to hear you are doing well. I guess if it's not broke too badly why take the risk.................Dennis T. (Nephew)

My dad forwarded your message about your visit with your surgeon. I have been thinking about this for quite a long time, and wondering which way you would decide to go with this. I also think about the decision my dad may have to make eventually. I very much appreciate that your doctor took so much time in discussing the options and possible outcomes of the surgery. Too many doctors these days are in a big hurry to gloss things over, and notreally tell address the very real concerns of their patients, and hurry them out the door so they can get onto the next one. This is a really big deal for anyone, and to know what the ramifications of the surgery might be is so important. I support your decision to just live the rest of your life. Sometimes, the consequences of the surgery can be so much worse than just taking whatever is to come. And, as you mentioned, you have outlived the rest of the males in your family by a long shot. I believe just the recovery process, even with a "good" outcome, would be arduous, for a surgery like this, at this point in your life. When we spoke of such things a couple of months ago, we felt that you had no fear of dying, eventually (not that you would embrace it any sooner than is your "time."). We are not made to last forever, at least not in this life. We dread the thought of losing our loved ones, and making our lives without them. But it is something we must all face at some point. You have made this decision with a good accumulation of information, not lightly. You have a lot more time, I believe. I love youLisa (Niece)

What to say.
Of course, this is not what we wanted to hear. We were hoping that your surgeon would say that "you have a good chance of surviving the surgery, and if you do survive your life certainly will be much better." It is, as Dr. Milliken said, hard to say what choice one would personally make in the face of these various opportunities and risks, but I have to say that this one you are now expressing is the one that surprises me the least, given the things you have said for decades. You have always expressed a preference for suddenly "dropping dead," rather than lingering in infirmity. As you said, you get around reasonably well, can live reasonably independently with Pete there to help some, and we all enjoy seeing you when we get together, so life is good, yes?And we are here for you, too, if we can help. Mark (Nephew)

Hi there:
I talked to Pete today and heard you and the Dr decided not to do the surgery... selfishly I am glad, I would have been a worried mess. Robin (friend)

I think you are very wise. With a Father who died at 28 and a Mother who died at 59 and an only sibling who died at 44, I can relate to much of what you are saying. Every day we are living is all each of us can count on and it would do us good to remember that. The continued love and prayer goes without saying. You are dear to me. Cindy (frend)

Jim, this is the first I've known about the concerns that must have been greatly weighing on your mind in weeks past. My thoughts and prayers support you as those of a friend should under such circumstances. Your decision strikes me as the one that both my wife and I would make were wethe ones now faced with such a personal test. It is not so much a worry about the fact that life will eventually end for each of us, but how confrontation with its reality will occur and what the risks are that it might not be swift and final. Those of us who reach the ages with which we have been favored have had opportunities that long and relatively healthy lives made possible and we have been blessed. We can only continue to enjoy the pleasures and satisfactions of each day as we are able, and to be grateful for each minute of each day. Your travels will be shared by all of us and we will each do what we can to make the trip of each day as beneficial to the spirit of our band of pilgrims as is possible. I am proud to be in this procession of life with you, and should I be left to continue my travels after you have left the caravan, I will still think of you and the interesting times and the laughs we have shared until my travels separate me from the ongoing caravan. With best wishes for the days to come and great appreciation for your companionship and friendship on travels to this time! Obert (friend)

Jim,
Not having been in your shoes I cannot say which route I would go either. I am glad the doctor was so up front with you and that you were able to make your decision with full knowledge of all the facts. And really, God assigns our times as He sees fit. I hope it continues for you for many more years. Charles (Nephew)

Comic speaks timeless truth

In today's strip of Funky Winkerbean a girl in the car with her Dad asks a profound question: "Dad...do you still miss Mom?" The father replies with a more profound answer: "There hasn't been a day, but after a while, you begin to understand . . . that you can't let your grief become the substitute for the one you love." (You can see the strip in full color if you Google "Funky Winkerbean' and look at the Seattle newspaper.) A friend in our Church once told me many years after his wife had died that he still missed her. Jake did the video of our 50th wedding anniversary service at First Baptist when David delivered the Sermon and all the rest had some role in the Service. He, too, has passed to the great beyond. I, of course, understand what he meant when he said that he "still missed her." And I have a real appreciation of the philosophy in Funky Winkerbean. And I miss son, Jimmy, as well. Jimmy's "twin", David, (they were both born Feb. 10th - two years apart) was in the Hospital in Texas over the week-end. Thank God he has been discharged and is apparently in good health. "Mom's" family in West Virginia are under some pretty bad weather conditions. I talked with my Sister-in-Law and they are doing o.k. and while there has been a lot of snow and ice they have not been without power. I was glad to learn that after seeing the Huntington, WV paper the last few days.

Incidentally, I first said "comic strip" above, but "comic" doesn't always "cut it" in regard to such.

Friend dies

This morning's paper carried the obit of a long time friend and sometime collegue. Hall Diteman was a consummate artist and play director. He was largely responsible for the Billings Studio Theatre building which is on the Rocky Mountain College campus. Years before that building we did plays on the stage at Rocky and then at an abandoned Church near downtown Billings. I remember one play in which I was cast, and the Director chickened out. Hall took over mid-rehearsal. After 2 or 3 nights he asked me to shave my beard, It didn't look right to him. I dropped out. It wasn't that great a play or part. Later when another Director asked me to shave I did it gladly. That was for a major role in The Crucible. After all I'd lived through the McCarthy era.

When the new Theatre was to open I enjoined Hall to let me have at least a walk-on in this historic opening. I was often on the road recruiting for the College and could not be at regular rehearsals. The play was Man of LaMancha. I was cast as the soldier who brought the prisoner down the steps to his cell, and at the end of the play came back down and escorted him out. It wasn't much, but to me it was historic, and I have always been grateful to Hall for his thoughtfulness in this situation. I had better parts in many plays, but this memory will always be with me. May he rest in peace.

Update to health

This past week I had my third heart catheterization in the past three years. In Sept. 2006 I had a couple of stents put in an artery after feeling some discomfort and going to the ER at Billings Clinic after a 911 call. Later in 2007 I explored the idea of having a knee repaired since it is bone on bone many years after a pedestrian accident. The cardiologist suggested after the job that probabilities for survival were minimal at this time. I've had by-pass surgery twice - in 1972 and 1980. In recent time there has been angina following minimal activity. I suggested to my Cardiologist that it might be due to stenosis in the aortic valve which had been detected earlier through an echo exam. She had a thorough exam done in January 2008 and strongly suggested a valve replacement. I talked with the surgeon and decided to wait. Waiting is no longer an option. I called the Surgeon's office early this month and was told that I would need to see my regular Cardiologist before seeing him. I made that appointment and was set up for the Catheterization this past Tuesday. I then checked with the surgeon and they set up a conference with other medical personnel yesterday. The decision at that time was to have a CP X-Ray to determine the size of my aortic valve. I will then talk with Dr. Milliken about setting a date for the operation. He is rated as one of the best. It was also discovered that one of the arteries previously by-passed needs further repair. I'm assuming the mammary artery is available for the job. I was well taken care of by the people at the Clinic and have reduced anxiety about further procedures.

One of the most interesting things about Dr. Stephan Milliken is that he plays in band composed mostly of other doctors in town plus an Art Professor from Rocky Mountain College. The band is known as The Mid-Life Chryslers. They play mostly at charity functions and for their own enjoyment.

Love knows no end

As Pete and I were watching 60 Minutes this evening after a very good supper he had prepared we somehow got to talking about our life as Father and Son and something of what brought him back home. A friend he shared a house with was married and divorced and their daughter's mother didn't want their little girl visiting a "bachelor pad." The house they owned was put on the market so Pete moved back here since I was getting older and was living alone. I suspect his sibs encouraged him. He indicdated as much in commenting that they were more at ease knowing that I was no longer alone. And, as a matter of fact, I am myself more at ease knowing that he is here and can take care of the "big" jobs like snow shoveling grass cutting, gardening, etc. I still get to take the garbage out once in a while. It is all good because of my history of heart attacks and by-pass surgery.

Someplace recently I mentioned what my dear wife said to me in the recovery room after my 2nd by-pass surgery. I can re-member her coming in as I regained consciousness. It was very emotional as I had just gone through some deeply held thoughts about God's continuing care of me over the years. I had a tube in my throat so could not talk, but somehow got a pencil and wrote "I love you" and gave it to her. It was mutual, and then she said something to the effedt of "Don't you ever put me through this again." I remembered those words as we were gathered as a family in ICU as her own heart beat its last and she was gone from us.

Perte told me something tonight that I had never known, and it casts some light on the "Don't ever do this to me again" statement. He said he came home one night and the house was dark and he heard sobbing from the basement. His first thought was that I had died, but immediatly knew that if that were true he would have already gotten the news. It was his mother crying, I suspect from relief that I had survived. Pete held her, he said, as she "held me when I was a kid and had stubbed my toe or something." Love does not fail. And I love her still. As I told my brother-in-law the other day: I often still "kiss" her before I get out of bed in the morning. She is lying there half-awake and waiting. It is truly amazing how the air kisses back.

Lights, camera . . .

The "action" was yesterday. I was washing up dishes from the last 2-3 meals at the kitchen sink. Just above the sink is a window looking out over our backyard. At this time the yard is coverd with several inches of snow. Since the yard if fairly well protected the snow is still white. By mid-afternoon the sun lights the place up. It's a lovely sight. One I've admired for years. When Spring comes the apple tree will be in full bloom - also white. Well after over 40 years of this view I was not ready for yesterday's experience. The sun was bright, and I looked out on the snow for a bit to long. When I turned away there were flashing lights everywhere I looked. I got a brief experience of what it must be to go "snow blind". Fortunately, after a few minutes things began to clear up and I could see again. As long as I have lived this was an absolutely new experience. I suspect it has something to do with age and who knows what. I'll be seeing my Otician before long and we'll discuss this matter. The last time I saw him just over a year ago he prescribed some liquid to be dropped in the eye every night. There was some indication of possible glaucoma. So far, so good. But yesterday's experience has taught me not to look for long at a sun lit snow field.

Year's End

It has been a quiet few weeks. There was the large family gathering Thanksgiving Day with three of the progeny plus Jimmy's widow with Natalie and her mother. There was an additional 4 grandchildren plus a spouse and a great granddaughter and her Grandmother. There was brother John's family with Jean plus Mark and Rosanna and Ambrose. That plus Pete and myself. The NoDaks were here the next morning for breakfast.

For Christmas I was pretty much on my own. Pete and I had straightened up the house in case anyone came by. He worked his job Christmas Eve and I watched TV. Ann & Bill hoped to come in last week-end, but the snow got in the way. They did come over today to meet with son, Andrew, and take him home with them for the week-end. They hope to be back Sunday so that Andrew can get back to Bozeman for his job. They also bought presents to brighten the old man's life. I took them all out for lunch to celebrate Ann's and Bill's 29th wedding anniversary which is Saturday the 3rd.

New Year's Eve I did get over to the brother's house for a couple of hours. Last night I looked at my February 2006 Blogs. That's when this all started. My first entry mention that visit in 2005 just after Betty died, and my unease at the midnight hour at not having her there to kiss, and to wish a Happy New Year. It has been 4 New Years since, and I still miss her deeply.

So much for tonight's musing.

The Family grows!

Yesterday (12/16/08) I became a Great Grandfather for the second time in 10 weeks at the age of 84. In the morning paper the death of a woman aged 76 was listed along with the names of 5 great grandchildren. Betty and I have 7 children and 12 grandchildren. What took so long? Then I occured to me that for the most part our children did not begin to have children until they were through college. Indeed most of them were not married until they had finished college. The oldest remains unmarried at 58. Our only daughtrer was married at age 27. Her son was born when she was 30. The next son was married at age 31. Their first child was born in the year he turned 34. The next son was married at age 19. He and his wife have 4 children, but the first was not born until he was 24 and had two bachelor degrees. It is his daughter, aged 28, who is the motherr of the first Great Granddaughter; and his son, aged 26, who is the father of the second Great Granddaughter. And they are both college graduates as are their parents.

Our next son was married at age 27, and their first child was born when he was 34. The next son was married at age 23 with the first of two sons born when he was 26. The youngest son, like the oldest, is unmarried at age 47. The children have pretty much followed in the foot steps of the parents. Betty and I were both through College and teaching before we were married. She was 24 and I was 25. We were married in April and Kenneth was born the following February. Betty died at age 80 after over 56 years of marriage. I am truly sorry she is no long with us to share in the joy of these two charming Great Granddaughters. My God bless them as He has the rest of this extended family.

Age and memory

I was watching T earlier when one of the Alsheimers adds came on where the old man calls his young granddaughter by the wrong name. I have sometimes told people how I can in my evening prayer mention all of my family: brothers, sister, spouses of each, children and spouses; 12 grandchildren; and now two great granddaughters. Plus, when I put my mind to it, I can list before God all of my nephews and nieces and their spouses and kids.

The other night I got a phone call from a former student a generation ago. I immediately knew that it was Quilla, and I called him by name. He's a black student from Arkansas, and was (is?) a very fine musician. He played a role in the ministry of Wayman Chapel here in Billings. (African Methodist Episcopal)

On the other hand there is often a name or circumstance which does not come quickly to mind. Maybe later. Maybe lots later.
I guess that it not to bad at 84.

So? One muses.

As I was listening to the news last night the reporter stated that the attack on Pearl Harbor had occurred in 1941 - 67 years ago. I turned and said something to my son about that now being “ancient history.” An earlier story in the paper told of a local high school class being shown a collection of letters and pictures depicting the Nazi Holocaust. It then occurred to me that I was 17 December 7, 1941 and was sitting in the front room of my high school girl friend with her family when we heard the news. Today’s generation speaks of 9-11, and the paper has little mention of 12-7-41. A part of this remembering was brought about by a photo brother John sent the other day of brother Lee, 79; sister Dorothy Ann, 90; and himself at 84. This relates to a picture taken at Thanksgiving of three generations of our family: granddaughters Natalie and Stephanie with Stephanie’s baby (my first Great Granddaughter, Arianna) and me - Grandfather Taylor.

In the middle of the night I began to think about ages. Both twin brother, John, and I have become the oldest Taylor males at 84. Grandfather Taylor died a few days after turning 83. Our own Dad died from a heart attack at 59. Older brothers died at 63, 50, and 56. The latter two of heart attacks. Dorothy Ann is now in line to become the oldest survivor of the Taylor females. Grandmother Taylor died at 90 years, 10 months. The oldest of the Aunts died at 89 years, 8 months. There’s not much history on the Petit side of the family, but Grandpa Petit died at 69, and our Mother’s mother (Mary Cart) died at age 36. None of us ever knew her and there was little discussion of that side of the family that I recall.

So much for ancient history. It is remarkable that at 84 with a massive heart attack at age 33; two rounds of by-pass surgery; a couple of stents recently and with aortic stenosis I survive and can still remember and relate to all this. Sorry you had to read all this!

Family Thanksgiving

This was my year to host Thanksgiving. I never thought that I would live to see the day that I was holding a Great Grandchild. This is Arianna with her Cousin, Natalie and her Mother, Stephanie. Steph and husband, John Huss came over from Minnesota so that both of her Great Grandfathers could meet her. In addition we had Ken, Annie and husband Bill, Pete, brother John, Jean, Mark, Rosanna, Andrew, Nathan, Geoffrey, Janet (Stephanie, Nathan, & Geoffrey's Mom), Cecilia, her mother Maggie, Natalie, Mark's son, Ambrose.

While I cooked the turkey (it didn't get quite done. It was over 22 lbs) on the grill Pete did most of the set up and cooking. Others, of course, brought in various dishes. No one went away hungry. It was a true joy to have 3 of David's 4 children with us along with John's family and to have Cecilia bring her mother to share with us. We, of course, missed Jimmy and Betty. And other out-of-towners are always welcome.

In the meantime I've been busy avoiding anything that smacked of work.

Compulsive?

It is our turn to host the family Thanksgiving Dinner. I have always gotten a frozen Butterball in the past, but this year decided to order a fresh 18-20 pounder from a regional Hutterite Colony. For the last few days I've constantly been thinking of what needs to be done. Get the table ready; make sure there is enough dinner ware for 18 or so guests; make sure the utinsels are clean; make sure there is enough seating capacity; get the mantel cleaned off and set for Christmas with the Creche I bought for Betty many years ago; have Pete get the artificial tree out of the loft in the garage; etc., etc. Then it occured that most of the family that I mail Christmas Cash to will be here so I can save a lot on postage by having the "gift" wrapped and ready. That meant a trip to the Card store and then to the Bank and making sure the right amount gets into each card. Then there is trying to figure out how many will be staying over night, and where to put them. As I sit here Tuesday night most everything is done. Pete has been an invaluable help Sweeping rugs, dusting furniture, getting our part ready to cook. We get the turkey Wednesday so there will be some preparation of that so I can pop it on the outdoor propane grill in time to have it done for a three o'clock dinner. Maybe I can relax in about 48 more hours.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and may God bless us evdryone.

Accent

O.K. Philipa, you started it. My accent is Midland.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The South
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The Northeast
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

To do or not to do

About a year ago my Cardiologist had an Echo test done when I suggested that my increased angina might be due to a previously diagnosed aortic stenosis. The test showed an opening of the valve about the size of the opening of a ball point pen. She indicated that I should have surgery right away and made an appointment for me to talk with the outstanding heart surgeon in Billings. I told her that I had a wedding to go to in Texas in February, and she said surgery in December should not hinder that. I was told a couple of years ago that my chances of surviving knee replacement were 1 in 4 so I was not enamored of heart surgery. I did talk with Dr. Milliken and we discussed the odds, He seemed to agree that such an operation was problematic, but that he would be willing to do it. My decision at the time was to not have it. Lately I find the angina getting, if not worse at least more prevalent with less activity. Nevertheless today I was able to do several errands including walking around Wal-Mart and Costco with no real trouble. Then Studs Terkel died.

What does that have to do with it? An article in the Chicago Tribune included the following: "In August 2005 Terkel added another item to his lengthy list of accomplishments, undergoing a risky open-heart procedure at 93 to replace a narrowed aortic valve and redo one of the five coronary bypasses he he'd undergone nine years before." He died three years later at the age of 96. If I were to have such surgery and live to 2011 that would take me to 86-87. And I'll never be any healthier than I am at this present time. There is, of course a decision to be made, but my "musing" tells me that such decision should be made, plus or minus, by the end of the year or no later than January. Actually I would not choose to have any surgery before Christmas.

Busy

Watching the World Series last night I was truly amazed that they kept playing. What a storm! True to the old saying : "when it rains, it pours." Then I looked at my own plans for this Tuesday night. My Alma Mater, Marshall U. is on ESPN2 tonight from the home town playing Houston - 6 pm mountain time. The Yellowstone County Democrats are having the monthly dinner at 5:30 pm. And a friend has encouraged me to attend a meeting at Rocky Mountain College at 7:30 tonight - sponsored by her son.

I guess that I'll skip the dinner and watch the first half of the game and then go to the meeting. I do have some lasagne left from last night so will certainly not go hungry.

By the way. It is a beautiful day here in Billings, Montana today.

A growing family

Knowing that Stephanie was in labor and that it was prolonged I waited until after noon (CDT) to call her Dad to find out if the baby had been born. YES. Son David is now a Grandfather and I am a Great Grandfather. Then I got there e-mail with further details. Arianna Elizabeth, welcome to the Huss and the Taylor family. You will have many Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents to love you. May we simply love and then let your be yourself. I will have to admit that when I read the e-mail that this little girl was to carry her Great Grandmother's middle name - Elizabeth, I felt a deep emotion knowing the my Harriet Elizabeth would never hold her, but she will surely be a guardian angel. And there is still to be born, Sophie Harriet Elizabeth Taylor later this year. That, too, will be a time of great joy. We Montanan's and North Dakotan's are looking forward to meeting Arianna at Thanksgiving.

Shopping

I have been able to pretty much save my Social Security income so it had built up in a typical savings account. I checked the Credit Union and found that I could get a 6 month CD with 3.0% interest so half of the savings have been so transferred. I caught my favorite "banker" just before she headed out to lunch.

Then I went to Costco for some lunch stuff and whatever. It turned out to be more whatever. They had a collection of chicken legs and wings with mesquite. Very good. I anticipated an Eggo omlet for supper, but it will be chicken instead. I also got some bread, English muffins, mixed nuts (Pete seems to like them - too), and a couple of books: Garrison Keillor's latest: "Liberty", A novel of Laker Wobegon; and "Blue Man in a Red State" - the story of our Governor, Brian Sweitzer. While I have met the Gov. I have not met Garrison except on NPR.

So much for the economy.

Politics

I commented on Facebook the other day wondering what McCain was afraid of while making plans to ditch the first Debate. Today I noticed that after FOX carries the Presidential Debate it will be followed by "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?"

Widower-hood

As I sat in Church last Sunday I noticed two of our retired clergy sitting together. Hugh has just recently lost his wife, and Paul was widowed 3-4 years ago when Mary Lou died. She had been wheel chair bound for some time. Mary Huntley died soon after planned surgery which resulted in a massive blood clot to the brain. She never recovered, and was dead within a week. Ahead in front of me was A layman, younger than myself, whose wife died after a long battle with cancer. Today I went to the College to attend an Art Exhibit of current teachers work. There was some pretty nice work n display. One of my colleagues, now retired, was also there. Bob Morrison's wife died from a massive clot which lodged in her brain just over a year ago. I had not seen Bob since that time so it was good to have a chance to talk with him. He also expressed that it was "good" to have a chance to talk. He commented that he was still adjusting. He though early of selling the "big" house they were living in, but the children all said "no". "Where would we stay?" I, of course, know that feeling. I want to always be available to house any of the children who are able to come for a visit, and with Pete living with me taking care of things is no problem.

I guess that what started all this in the realization that it is not always the husband who dies first. And just like Bob, we soon come to the realization of how much the wife has been doing and we were not quite aware. And in recent weeks I have thought often of how often I was on the road - out of town - and Betty was left to raise the kids, and take care of things. Now I wonder if I did not miss the most rewarding part of being in a family.

Are you grown up?

In cleaning out some files today I came across the following from my ancient file for a course in Healthy Personality at Rocky Mountain College. I labeled the course that instead of "Mental Hygiene." This list is based on "Ten Marks of A Disciple" by The Rev. Rod Romney, an American Baptist Pastor who served in Seattle many years ago. I don't know if he still lives or not. I label it "Ten Marks of Maturity:

1. A loss of interest in judging the self.
2. A loss of interest in judging others.
3. A loss of interest in conflict in any form.
4. A loss of interest. More seriously, a loss of ability to worry.
5. An unmistakable tendency to enjoy each moment.
6. Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation and thanksgiving.
7. Tendency to think a and act spontaneously and lovingly rather
than from fears based on past experiences.
8. Contented feeling of being connected to all of life.
9. Increased ability to let things happen rather than trying to make
them happen.
10. Increased susceptibility to love extended by others, as well as the
the uncontrollable urge to extend love in all directions.

Phillippa follow-up

Got this from a niece the other day and since things are kinda slow I've given it some thought.

1. Where is your cell phone? ……………… No phone
2. Your significant other?……………………. She’s gone
3. Your hair? …………………………………….. shaved off
4. Your mother? ……………………………… died 1946
5. Your brother?………………………………… two living
6. Your favorite thing?……………………. eat well
7. Your dream last night?…………………. had none
8. Your favorite drink? ……………………….cold pepsi
9. Your dream?………………………….. live longer
10. The room you’re in?………………. living room
11. Your ex?…………………no such
12. Your fear?……………………………………..no more
13. Where do you want to be in 5 years?………….right here
14. Where were you last night?……………at home
15. What you’re not?……………………………very young
16. Muffins?…………………………………… home made
17. One of your wish list items?…………..Great Grandchildren
18. Where you grew up?…………………… Huntington, WV
19. The last thing you did?………………. Computer Search
20. What are you wearing?………………… blue jeans
21. Your TV?……………………………………not on
22. Your pets?…………………………………. have none!
23. Your computer? ………………………… use regularly
24. Your life?……………………………………..old guy
25. Your mood?………………………………pretty relaxed
26. Missing someone?…………………My Harriet
27. Your car?……………………………………Honda Accord
28. Something you’re not wearing?………………my shoes
29. Favorite Store?……………………………. Costco market
30. Your summer?…………………………….. all done
31. Like someone?……………………………my family
32. Your favorite color?…………………….. Kelly Green
33. Last time you laughed?…………………this morning
34. Last time you cried?………………….August 2006
35. You are with?……………………….. son Pete
35. Who will re-post this?……………………hopefully someone!
 

Housekeeping

Early in the week I called Pro-Steam to get my carpet cleaned. Thursday at 8 o'clock o.k? Fine. Then I called Pro-tech about servicing the furnace. Thursday at 8:30 o.k.? Fine. So last night I was awake off and on to make sure that I was dressed, pilled, and had breakfast before 8 a.m. The carpet guy came about 7:45 and worked diligently with his assistant, and they were on their way by 8:30. About 8:25 the furnace guy called and was running a bit late. Good! One truck out of the way before the next one shows up. I was really surprised to get them both here so quickly, but according to the carpet guy, people are putting a lot of this sort of stuff off. He was truly glad to get the job.

The furnace guy tells me that there is a small amount of CO2. Not to worry, but I have budgeted for a new furnace next year. I was thinking yesterday about a 2009 budget. This year the big expense has been hearing aids. At least my income should not be much different from this year. Social Security should increase due to inflation, and my Equities retirement will decrease due to market forces. Annuities and Bond income will remain constant. I've increased amounts for Utilities, groceries, auto expense, Medicare, Medical Insurance, etc. It looks as if I'll survive.

Time marches on. Today people are remembering 9/11. Every day I remember 12/3.

Family Gathering

I've been writing on Facebook about Sour-dough waffles for breakfast. Saturday mornings brother John's family along with Pete and me have been having late morning breakfast. We call it "Farmer's Market" because the 9:30 time gives those who wish time to get to the local Farmer's Market before hand. John and Jean are the usual hosts, but this last Saturday Pete and I did it. I have a sour-dough starter I got in Jackson Hole, WY in the early 1960's. From this I make waffles on occasion, and sour-dough wheat bread. Both are very good. The picture above shows this past week's gathering with the one of little hair being brother John - my twin. And I have less hair. Clockwise around the table are Jean, Lisa, Pete, Mark and Rosanna. Lisa is not often with us since she lives in Red Lodge. It was good to have her. Dennis could not be with us as he was visiting his mother in Cody, WY. She is not well, and is in our prayers. Of course, in addition all the human types we had Rosanna's two large dogs. They are very well behaved, and love human contact: that is "scratching".

Democrats!!

I've spent the last couple of nights watching the Demo gathering in Denver. At times it has seemed like old home week. Last night was the stirring speech of Ted Kennedy in strong vibrant voice fresh out of the hospital. I met and shook hands with Ted in the mid 60's right after Bobby's murder in 1963. He was visiting Billings and we had a breakfast for him on the Rocky Mountain College campus. AND I had attended seminary in Massachusetts for four years 1955-1959. The Black Gov. of MA spoke tonight. Also Gov. Manchin of WV the State where I grew up and went to College spoke. In addition there was Ed Rendall, Gov. of PA. I went to Penn State for graduate study 1950-51. There was Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa. I lived there from 1951-1955. And just before Hillary there was my current Gov. Brian Schweitzer of MT. Schweitzer did a great job of getting the delegats involved. I've lived in Montana now since August 1961, and know most of the State and national office holders. In fact I was at a cook-out last week with Sen. Max Baucus who is now running for his 6th term in the US Senate. He is currently Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Montana is often thought of as a Republican State, but we have a Democrat Govenor and two US Senators who are Democrats. And who could forget Mike Mansfield who was Majority Leader of the Senate for many years. I knew Mike well and once had a rather long visit with him in his Senate Office where he showed me a side room dedicated to the memory of John Kennedy.

I was pleased that David Gergan of CNN mentiion the part of Hillary's speech that I found very good. It was the comment that it was right that Bush and McCain would betogetherr next week in the Twin Cities since it is so difficut to tell them apart.

jimmy w/ his Mom

In looking through a large box of ancient pictures this week I came across this one which family will recognize as especially significant. Mom died in December 2005 and Jimmy died just a year ago this week. Betty's beautiful smile has always captured my heart. She was generally 100% positive in her outlook on life. During the two weeks she was in the hospital with leukemia we never talked about her not eventually coming home - to me. She was happy to visit with her children and most of our grandchildren who were here for Thanksgiving. I do hope you all enjoy this picture.

Auditory

A couple of weeks ago I saw an Audiologist who checked things out and determined that I could benefit with some sort of hearing aid. Today I went in and was fitted for the latest in digital devies - Opticon. They are very small and will take some getting use to. For example I was very much aware of my footsteps on the kitchen floor, and the click of these computer keys is not something I am use to. When I first got home I turned on the TV and found that I didn't need to turn the sound to 35. I could hear things perfectly well at 20. That should make things easier for the rest of the household. The man I dealt with is owner of the Billings Hearing Aid Service. He spent over an hour with me this tine checking, adjusting, and making sure that things were going to be alright. I had won a $3,000 certificate through a newspaper program for which I paid $1060. The two aids cost an additional $2200 each. I guess I had expected to pay a bit more so the $5460 total wasn't a big blow even if that would buy a lot of groceries and gasoline. Now to see if it makes some of those young fast-talking TV news people more understandable.

Betty - plural

I guess that I just have to go ahead and put this in writing. Maybe it will get it out of my head. In looking through a box of pictures this past week I have come cross the idea that I must be a "Betty" person. In grade school and early junior high I had a crush on Elizabeth Wilson. She wasn't that popuar or good looking, but I can still remember my chagrin when she answed in class pretty much like Jake in Two and a Half Men. I didn't find a picture of her but I did find pictures of BJ Jobe (Betty Jean) and Betty Mavity. Both of these I dated in College and beyond. BJ was a classmate of Betty Clarkson (my Harriet), but I didn't know that until sometime after I was married to Betty C. Betty Mavity was from Charleston, SC and was visiting her Granparents who belonged to my Church in Huntington, WV - Fifth Avenue Baptist. We dated while she was in town on occasion and when she matriculated at Denison University in Granville, Ohio she invited me to a Tri-Delta sorority dance her Freshman year. I remember hitch-hiking there and back. Of course, there was a rather long period of time through the 12th grade and beyond when the only girl I thought about was Julia (Judy) Gaines. That broke up during my brief absence in the military and her move to Washington, DC to work as a Secretary. Brother Don evenutally married Judy's sister, Garnett. So maybe I am not just a "Betty person", I'm a Harriet Elizabeth Clarkson Taylor person.

Rambling

’m going to ramble. Early this morning I got up (around 5:30) to do what old men do after a long night sleeping. I turned off the night light, and then stepped out the front door to get the morning paper. To early to stay up to read so I did my usual bit of grabbing an afghan and stretching out in the Lazy Boy lounge chair. It does cool down pretty well at night here in Montana. I laid back, pulled the cover up, and my brain began to “spin”. I began to wonder about the difference between “best” and “better”. For example: was is best that I get up when I did or was it “better”. My less that total command of the English language decided r that “better “ was the correct usage since there were only two choices. Get up oe wet the bed. About that time my right eyebrow began to itch. Descartes came to mind: I itch therefore I am. By 7:15 it is time to get up, take my 30 minute before breakfast pill and make some coffee. Now I can read the funnies and the sports page before Pete gets up. AND then eat the roll he brought me from Perkins. What a thoughtful kid. Guess I’ve somehow got to stop thinking of our offspring as “kids”. The youngest is 46 and they just go up at 2 year intervals to 58. And that sort of thing starts a whole other line of thought. At 83 I am the oldest male survivor of the A.B. Taylor family. Dad died at 59 of coronary thrombosis Uncle Claude at 61. My last memory of him was after a stroke which left him uncommunicative. Uncle Cordie in his early 40’s of TB. He had served in the military in WW I. My first military funeral at age 7. The Aunts died mostly in their mid to late 80’s and my only sister if currently 89. My older brothers died at 63, 50, and 56. I am said to be the first born of twins. Brother John still lives and appears to be in better health than I am. I honestly don’t know what brought this all up - but there you are. Another bit of Taylor history.

No Problem

Annie reporst some problem of not being able to log in to blogger.com. Obviously it hasn't happen to my account. On the other hand my Facebook account is always asking me to sign in. I do so with the wrong password, it tells me that is the wrong one and then adds the right one and signs on. Computers!!!

I did go up to Rocky after a lunch at the Church for a quick trip around the stadium to look at the various booths at Summer Fair. Not much appealed to me, and I'm still having to clean up 50 yeas of clutter. Not just Mom's. I did have a chance meeting with Lyndon Pomeroy who I have not seen for many months. He has lost a lot of weight. The next door neighbors were there this year for the first time in several years. Nancy has added a lot of color to Greg's pottery. Near the end of my sojourn I came acrosss Hal Mathew's booth. He has brought his potter to town from Missoula for the last several years. It is always good to have a chance to vist with him.

The Luncheon at Church was to say our "good-bye" to Bobby and Gloria Shaw. Bobby has been our Choir Director the past couple of years. Mary Lynn Anderson had asked me to say the blessing. One needs to be thankful not only for food, but for good music.

Pete is out so I am catching up and in the meantime doing some laundry,.

History

I've spent a major portion of this afternoon going through a file collection which contains a lot of hitory. Contracts which deal with the purchase of the current house and its upkeep. There was a number of purchase invoices of cars which we have ownned in the past. One was a Volkwagon "bus" which most of the kids will remember. With a family of 9 it sure came in handy. I remember going with Betty to a Class Reunion, but threre was a newpaper article with her picture at her 30th class reunion. That was held in 1973 a few weeks after I had come home from by-pass surgery in Denver. A Christmas letter spoke of this as my being well enough to be left in the "care of the kids". As I recall they must have done a good job. There is a group of letters of my correspondence with various Seminaries - and this before I had even finished a year of College. There is also a copy of my discharge from the Army Air Corps in Nov. 1943 - after 7 1/2 months of military training. They finally admited that I could see only with one eye. There was a pciture of the family which appeared in the Jersey City newspaper. Paul had not yet been born, but was born later in Jersey City. Of Course Peter did not arrive until we had moved to Montana. Betty only got prettier as she aged. But there was always that welcome smile. Letters from Father and brothers, and some copies of my own. My, O my. What an afternoon.

Murder???

There is a group in Montana gathering signatures to get a Constitutional Amendment on the Fall ballot to state that life begins at conception therefor abortion is murder. I guess that I can't argue against the major principle, but I have been known to argue that life begins with the first breath. Well, a couple of things have been going through my mind lately. If this law passes what happens to the lady who has an early miscarriage. Looking through some old folders this week I was reminded again of the fact that Betty had a first term miscarriage when we were in Davenport. That would be the early 1950's. As I recall most of the tissue fell into the toilet and was flushed away. Was this LIFE? And did this tissue deserve a Christian burial? A few years later she suffered the early birth of twins at about 6 months. Were we somehow subject to criminal prosecution? The twins were given a Christian burial with the Pastor of the local Congregational Church in charge. I can't help but believe that if our constitution is changed we will all be in big trouble.

Betty's absence from me in death is often on my mind. Does she miss me as I miss her? And then I think of the nunc aeternam - the eternal "nowness" of God, and it occurs to me that as far as she is concerned we are all with her in God's present. So much for now.

Ecclesiastical Conflict

So? So Obama left his Church. So what? I found that I had to do that at one time myself. I left the Highlawn Baptist Church of Huntington, WV. A Church of which my parents were charter members and in which I was baptized and grew up in. A Dhurch which contained many friends and spiritual mentors. A Church in which I had learned my Baptist freedom roots well. Unfortunately after both mother and father had died; I had graduated from high school; ,served a brief tour with the Army Air Corps (that should tell you how long ago this history was); and was very active in State Baptist Youth Fellowship work the Church hired a young man as Pastor who had lost his sense of Baptist History. He was the son of a pastor with whom I had worked one summer in Logan County coal mine communities. This guy came into the Church out of a very conservative southern Baptist seminary in Texas. He immediately got the Board of Deacons to enact some of his conservative theology and required that anyone who was active in the Church to subscribe to a creed he had written based on his fundamentalist beliefs. In the first place I could not subscribe to many of the statements contained therein, and secondly I felt that having to accept a creedal statement was outside the scope of being a Baptist. I believed that "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, . . ." and that was all the "creed" I needed. BUT, after all, this was my famly's Church. The "Mother Church" was one in which my Grandfather Taylor was a patriarch. Fortunatly at this time I was graduating with a Master's degree and going to Connecticut so I was able to transfer my membership to a Church in Hartford, and then back to a more Baptist congregation when I returned to Huntington to teach at Marshall College. It did not become a University until long after I had moved on.

There are many reasons for leaving one's Church, even after a long time membership. I, for one, think that Senator Obama has done both himself and the Trinity Church a good.

Deer me!

The other afternoon (Monday) Pete and I were driving Blue Creek Road out to Mark's and Rosanna's for a Memorial Day feast. Just before we reached the turn off to the golf course I heard a sudden thump, and then Pete saying "There's a deer." I looked in the rear view mirror and there was two of them crossing the road. Apparently one of them had hit the car rather than the car hitting it. I didn't see the things at all until we had past them, and Pete says he hadn't noticed them either. Guess it will pay to be more observant on that road now. It reminds me of another piece of ancient history when I was on the road in Wyoming recruiting for the College. Late at night north of Meeteese I heard something galloping beside the car. Turned out to be a deer who apparently was avoiding me by running along side rather than crossing the road in front of me. It sure beats hitting one of the beasts. Back in 1995 when we had just bought a new Honda with less than 150 miles on it we (Betty was with me then) hit a horse which was being rustled, and had made a break for it to run back home. That was on the Northern Chyenne Indian Reservation between Lame Deer and Birney. The car sustained serious damage, but we were o.k. It was in the dead of night so we crippled into Hardin and spent the night.

Spring??

A month ago I wrote something about the furnace coming on and that Spring was delayed. Now here it is May 23d and the furnace still comes on in the evening. I turned the sprinkler system on a couple of weeks ago and with the weather pattern promising rain I turned it off Tuesday. Time to save on the water bill. According to the morning paper we have had 3.78 inches of rain this month. Last year by this date we had had only .31 inches. Most of this year's rain has come this week. When the weather guys started talkng about a Low over eastern Montana and water headed this way from the Gulf I knew we were finally going to break the drought. Up to this time they have only talked about rain from Washington/Oregon coming over the mountains. My experience indicates that that rain never makes it to the Billngs area. Seldom does it make it anywhere over the Divide. We get a "southeaster" when we get a Low Pressure and there is moisture streaming up from the Gulf. And I am grateful for this past week of rain. Even if it continues through the Memorial Day week-end.

Memory Time

I found this on another site and it looked like something I could do that might be interesting.

4 Jobs I've Held:

1. Instructor in Psychology, Marshall (then) College
2. Clinical Psychologist Iowa children’s home, Davenport
3. Pastor, Baptist Churches, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Montana
and a couple of UCC churches in Montana
4. Registrar, Dean Rocky Mountain College, Billings, MT

4 Movies I've Watched Over and Over Again:

1. None, but I know all the lines in all the Becker series
2. and most of the plots in Two and a half Men
3.
4.

4 Places I've Been:

1. Puerto Rico
2. San Diego
3. Mexico
4. Montreal, Canada

4 Places I've Lived:

1. Huntington, WV
2. State College, PA
3. Woodville, MA
4. Jersey City, NJ
5. Billings, MT

4 TV Shows I Watch:

1. BOSTON LEGAL
2. Two and a half Men
3. How I Met Your Mother
4. 60 Minutes

4 Radio Shows I Listen To:
I seldom listen to the radio
4 Things I Look Forward To:

1. A Hug at Church on Sunday morning
2. Birth two Great Grand children
3. Monday evening CBS Comedies
4. One more family reunion

4 People I email regularly:

1. Brother John
2. Older Sibs
3. My children
4. A first cousin on my Mother’s side

4 People to Tag:

1. Phillipa
2. Louise
3. Aniroo
4. Paul T

Politics

Watching TV the other night the phone rang. What's new? It was a lady who wanted to do a survey. When I asked for more information none was forthcoming, but I just told her to "go ahead." It lasted a long time and was about who I intended to vote for in the coming election. Schweitzer (D) or Brown (R). I told her that Brown was a "whiner" and would never get my vote. Satisfied with the Gov. Yes! etc., etc. Finally there was the question about age range,and religion: Protestant, Catholic, Hebrew, other? When I said I was Protestant she asked if I was "a born-again, evangelical Christian". I told her that I was indeed "born-again", but it was unlikely that I could be called evangerlical in terms of how that is now interpreted.

At the end I commented again that she had not told me who was back of this survey. "We are not allowed to tell. You can usually tell by the way the questions are asked. It was so obviously Republican there was no question. Most of the questions at the end were directed against Max Baucus. I've known Max since he first ran for Senate. The picture above was taken before he gained his first term. He doesn't always vote the way I'd like, but who does. He's been good for Montana, and the Nation.

Vote! Early and often.

Mother's Day

It is good to have great thoughts of all the mothers and the surrogate mothers in this Taylor Family. There's Ann, Cec, Janet, Ronda, Louise, Karyn, Jean, Sharon, and all the nephews and cousins and their wives, etc., etc. Pete wore a shirt to Chuch this morning with his mother's picture on it. One dear friend told me later that when she saw the picture from her place in the choir that she teared up and couldn't sing the second verse of the hymn. This friend had visited Mom on Friday before her death on Saturday. As for me as I sat listening to others talk about their mothers I found my self thinking that my own mother died in my arms; and I stood at the bedside of my children's mother and watched the heart monitor as she "flat lined." Both of these women were truly loved and are greatly missed. And I am a better person because of them. I must admit, however, it is the dhildren's mother whom I miss daily and deeply.

RIP, Harriet Elizabeth.

James R.

New TV

The Pastor spoke this morning of kid dreams about driving the family car. Getting in the seat and pretending. I told him later than my family didn't own a car. I could remember brother Norman carrying me the 3-4 blocks to the streetcar to take me to the doctor's at age 5 after recovering from spinal menengitis. He commented then about how hard it is for children today to believe that his generation (50's) didn't have TV. I told him that at one point we didn't have a TV so that the kids would do their homework and read. Well, they're all grown up now and left home (o.k.! One of them has returned and is more than welcome to this "old man"). We've had a TV, but I was no longer able to read the small print. So yesterday I had a brand new 42" HDTV installed. Now to get down to the Cable people and see if I can afford to upgrade that service. Even so, it's a great picture as is. And David wanted to see a picture.

Peace to all.

And I do mean all. I've just been reminded of an officious columnist whose column I read once in a while in the Denton, TX newspaper - Ann Coulter. Thank God she isn't carried by the Billings Gazette. Yet, I'm sure she has a right to her warped opinions. David Crisp, that comment is all your fault. I truly meant to comment simply on my own current activity. I'm sitting here by the front window with an occasional look at this flower. Friends from Church gave it to me when Betty died 2 1/2 years ago, It has bloomed, I think, 3 times in that period of time. Always two pure white ovals. She would have loved it. Pete makes sure to take good care of it, and I simply prize its beauty. Thanks, Sue. Thanks, Don.

Spring has Sprung??

Here I am at the computer in my basement office and all of a sudden there is the light rumbling sound of the furnace. In one of the comic strips in todays Billings Gazette there is some argument as to the nature of global warning. Living in Montana this Spring would make one wonder just how correct Al Gore is. Of course we don't have any ice shelves breaking off. There is, however, the fact that the glaciers in Glacier Park are a lot smaller now than they were in the 1960's when I first saw them. I guess I'm glad for a cold Spring. It does delay the snow melt from the mountains so there will be wate for irrigation this Summer, and the grass is not yet ready to cut.

No News is Good News

On of my favorie bloggers is a local newpaper man. In commenting on the past week of tragedies in Billings he commented today on the belief that maybe the above title is what one might wish for. There were extensive firs in several areas of the town and local area. On young man died in an apartment comples fire - he was 21-22 years old and his name was James R. Taylor, no relation to the writer with the same moniker. A 5 year old drowned at a party with many of the fire victims. A 24 year old surgery nurse was killed in an altomobile accident when a couple of young guys ran a stop sign with their SUV and T-boed her Toyota. That was all the early part of the week. This week-end an old man died outside his house in the cold weather apparently having locked himself out; and another young person (a passanger) died following a traffic accident. No News is Good News.

Actually there was some good news. Billings had about 1 1/2 inches of wet snow Sunday afternoon with moisture badly needed. Today the sun is bright and cheereful and the ground is open to receive its drink. And I seem to be in relatively good health.

Anniversary

It was 59 years ago today that Harriet Elizabeth (Betty) and I were married. When she died in 2005 we had shared over 56 of those years in love, passion, and parenthood. Six of our seven children remain. The youngest is 46 the oldest is 58. I was 18 and in military basic training when my father died at age 59. My mother died in my arms at the age of 57. In many respects I have been most blessed, but not a day goes by that I don't miss my dearest Harriet and her eternal smile. Thank God for the record of photography.

She was "Betty" to her family and pretty much to herself. Her grandmother was Harriet. I first knew her as Harriet and that was always the name of affection. And that is the way she signed letters and cards to me.

Celebration Time

It has been quite a week. Blood was drawn on Wednesday and all measures were good or a point or two off. The next day visit with my Internist was positive as he took good time to evaluate and converse with me. No sense of urgency. Today my youngest brother Lee turns 79 and a phone call this morning at breakfast with brother John was positive. Earlier in the week I was able to have a birthday dinner with my youngest (and oldest) daughter who also shares a birthday with her Uncle Lee. She turns 56. Son Willie and his wife Karyn are celebrating thier 22nd marriage anniversary. If my dear Betty was still living, on Monday we would celebrate 59 years of wedded bliss. Well, it was mostly bliss. I think of her often and there will be yellow roses in the Sanctuary tomorrow in her memory. I will take a bud or two to the crypt to share with her. She was passionate about flowers, and roses were special.

Short book

I've had a Border's gift card lying around for some months now and decided to go find out how much it was worth. Besides there was nothing lying around the house that I wanted to read. There wasn't a lot left over from the day I bought "Audacity of Hope" so I looked in the recent paper back section. There was "for one more day" by Mitch Albom. Since I had already read "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "Five People You Meet in Heaven", it was worth a try. About 200 short pages I have read it this afternoon. A good read about a guy who has a hard time reconciling time with both his father and his mother. Things get resolved as he is close to death. Albom apparently likes to deal with that subject. It is, however, a good read.

Spring is springing in Billings today with temps in the 60's, I see in the Huntington, WV paper that they are having heavy rains. Montana could certainly use that. Billings is nearly 2 inches below normal for the year.

Surprise, Surprise

I decided yesterday that I'd best get gsoline at $3.099 yesterday before it goes up again. At Costco with my AMEX card I save 9 cents: 3¢ at the pump and the additional ¢¢ at refund time next year. When I came home and began to update my expense program I referenced the grocery chrge to Quicken and then took the pump receipt. SURPRISE! It read 22.893 gallons of premium at $3.189 per gallon - $73.81. When I filled my tank the receipt was there already when I put away the hose. I thought then that that was quicker than usual. Obviously the guy before me had a bigger tank that my Accord and an engine that called for premium, and had left thr receipt. But, then, if I had let my tank go to near empty it would cost me over $40 to fill up. Guess that I won't be hitting the road anytime soon. Of course my charge will be on my AMEX account which I check fairly regularly to mke sure there are no strange charges.

March One

Yesterday was an interesting one. By noon the temperature was near mid-60's. By 3 o'clock when I was out shopping (and getting a tire repaired) the wind had come up and it was in the mid-40's. Nevertheless I would have to say that March has come in like a lamb. Not unusual for Billings. It may very well go out like a lion.

Pete, bless his heart, noticed that the tire was flat and took it off for me before I went to Tire-Rama. They had supposedly repaired it some weeks earlier. He was also a good help as we got ready to host the rest of the Billings family Saturday a.m. for sourdough waffles.

Another Church Dinner

I was sitting at home Saturday minding my own business when the phone rang and one of the long time members of the Church (is that better than saying "one of the older women"?) called and wondered if I was going to the "Sentimental Journey" dinner that evening. I had not planned to go for several reasons, but since she had "an extra ticket", and was encouraging me to join her, I decided "what he heck!" The dinner is an annual thing sponsored by one of the ladies Circles, and is usually pretty good. Last night it didn't meet expectations. Mostly vegetarian with a small piece of chicken. The Cauliflower and broccoli were all right, but nothing to write home about. The big mound of rice cried out for some picante or other sauce. I noticed that not much of it was eaten by anyone else at our table.

The entertainment was, however, worth it. The musicians took over and sang many of the old favorites of my generation: "I can't stop loving that man of mine", "Smoke get in you eyes", etc. And then the Choir Director (an old southern boy) came on an did an Elvis impersonation. "Hound Dog" was particularly good. And I got home in time for "Waiting for God", one of my favorite British comedies. I spent the rest of the evening with "Havana Bay" by Martin Cruz Smith.

Texas trip

I was going to say that it was a wild, whacky week-end, but that was way to much alliteration after "Texas trip." I'll just say it was great for most of us and glorious for the couple pictured here. I debated this trip for a time and suddenly realized that there would be several grandsons there I had not seen since Christmas 2004. As it turned out there was half of the dozen all there. Christopher, Stephanie, Jonathan, Nathan, Geoffrey, and Natalie. I have had a chance to see the other six in the last half year.

It was also good to meet most of Suzanne's family. We were all well treated. David and Suzanne took us all out to a pre-wedding dinner Friday night. Winona Dees (Suzanne's motherr) and sister Diane saw that there was an ample repast following the morning wedding. Sunday night I was able to take most of the grandchildren plus Cecilia out to dinner. Cec had rented a car with GPS so I rode out to the DFW airport with the NoDaks. Christopher is designated to get pictures from everyone so more will be available soon - or look of the Taylor Facebooks.

If it ain't one thing

it's another. Earlier this month I visited my Optician. He was concerned last year that I might be developing glaucoma. I was back this morning for a follow-up and an OptoMap of the retina. That and another test indicate there are some preliminary indications of the problem, including borderline pressure. I was given some drops to use at bedtime and scheduled for a followup visit at the end of the month. Again, I have a concerned doctor who wants to make sure that further change does not take place. No mention was made of the cataract.

I'll be busy tomorrow finishing up preparations for the trip to Denton and goingto the bank for travel funds and for a roll of the latest gold president dollar - Monroe

Activities

I sat and watched most of the Grammy Awards, etc. Sunday night. Since Grand Old Opry went away I've lost complete track of today's music and "country" singers. What the heck is "Rehab" all about? Then they went back to Gershwin. I don't belive that I have ever heard "Rhapsody in Blue" butchered so badly. Enough already. And 3 1/2 hours plus. They need to take some lessons from the Academy Awards.

Then on Monday afternoon I had a visit with Billings' finest Cardio Surgeon, Dr. Scott Milliken. We talked very frankly and at length about my failing aortic valve, and the possiblities of surgery. It was clear that the man had taken a long look at my extensive medical history. I've been seeing doctors at Billings Clinic since the Fall of 1961, and had have by-pass surgery twice. The final decision was up to me. "I'll would be honored to do your surgery" the man said. BUT it was clear to me that as long as I am able to function the same decision was made (by me) as was made in regard to knee replacement. Let's delay this until it is absolutely necessary, and even then it has already been a long and fruitful life. Taylor males don't typically live into their 80's.

And there IS family on the other side.

Confused?

Last post when I commented that I was "done" I simply meant to tell DD that I had finished the book she wanted next. Not that the Curmudgeon was through Blogging. I'm still sweating out the Turbo Tax thing. Every time I redo it I get different figures. Oh, well. It is still a couple of months to April 15, and I have a wedding to go to next week-end down in Texas. I'll try to update readers one what the heart surgeon has to day Monday afternoon.

Frigid here in Montana over the week-end with a promise of the mid-30's next week.

The Appeal

I'm done!

Reads

I finally finished Michael Gruber's "Valley of Bones" last night while keeping an eye on CNN for election results. I was also able to read the first chapter of "The Appeal" by John Grisham. The first book was very interesting with the story of a hillbilly girl who has more facets to her personality than seems possible; plus a PhD female with health problems who keeps putting off a visit to a doctor, and Detective Jimmy Paz, who has a strange Cuban mother. It turned out to be a good read. Grisham starts out as typical Grishman. I'll probably finish it before the week is out.

I got a kick out of the local Republican County Chairman who commented about how democracy was at work with the Montana Republican Caucus. Democracy?? Taking the vote away from the majority of the citizens. How does that add up to a truly democratic process? Thankfully us Democrats will have our regular Primary in June,.

New Book

I bought a copy of John Grisham's latest book - The Appeal - at Costco yesterday. When I went to add it to my Goodreads list as one to be read it did not appear in a search either of Goodreads or at Amazon. Today (Sunday) I listed "JohnGrishman" in Goodreads and the title still does not appear. I listed the title and it showed up among a long list of books with the word "appeal" in the title. I look forward to reading it as soon as I finish "Valley of Bones".

Otherwise Pete is busy getting dinner ready before he leaves to watch the Super Bowl with friends.

Tagged by Trudy

So!? Get the book that is closest to you and: Find page 123, Read the first 3 sentences and then post the next two. The books closest to this computer are a Schfield reference Bible, a copy of the NRSV of the Bible and the New Testament in the New English Bible edition. The passage on page 123 from Luke is the tale of the so-called Podigal Son. Sentences 4 and 5 read: "He had spent it all, when a severe famine fell upon that country and he began to feel the pinch. So he went and attached himself to one of the local landowners, who sent him on his farm to mind the pigs."

The earlier sentence says that he took his inheritance and went to "a distant country." You don't suppose that was Iowa do you? I have deep memories of driving past pig farms in that "far counrtry," having lived there for four years.

I really don't have anyone to tag.

Uncle Curmudge

Winners - Losers

Once again, you can't win them all. The Patriots won and the Pack lost. Oh, well! At least Eli Manning looked like a real quarterback. And Pete and I were able to watch in relative comfort indoors. Even so, we made it to a Church Pot Luck dinner and so missed the first half of the second game. AND it has been 0 degrees in Billings the last couple of days with our heaviest snow fall to date. I'm fortunate that Pete is here to take care of the shoveling.

We are now on Facebook as a Taylor Family group with 14-15 members so far including a number of grandchildren.

Good News and questionable

Exactly one month ago (12/17/07) I saw my cardiologist for a routine checkup. I suggested that I was having occasional angina and wondered if it might be related to the stenosis of my aortic valve. That condition has a long history. Dr. Dudczak suggested that we could schedule another Echo Gram and see if there was significant change. She also suggested that I might lose some weight. After all 175 on my 5"2" frame (if that tall) was a bit much. The good news is that this morning (one month later) I weighed in at 168.2. Still a ways to go, but cutting out the Fritos plus dip seems to be working.

The questionable news is the suggestion that sugery is indicated. Dr Barbara (she is also a twin) will be talking with other staff tomorrow and will get back to me next week. She showed me that the size of the aortic opening is about the size of the opening in a ball point pen where the "stem" comes through. It all means that after the pros make some decision I'll also have to be making one.

Jane Eyre

I didn't get turned on to the Bronte sisters when I was going to high school or college. The last couple of Sunday evenings I have watched the PBS Masterpiece Theatre production of "Jane Eyre". It was a good story and well done. Since it was four hours w/o any commercial breaks can I now list that in my "Good Reads"? Probably not, but I'm not likely now going out and hunt up more of the Bronte books. After all this way had a pretty girl to watch instead of a Sunday Night football game.

Of course, tonight will be a difficult TV choice. BCS Championship Bowl or CBS Monday night comedies?

West "By God" Virginia

At last a football game worth watching. The WV Mountaineers beat up big time on the Okies. The Sooners were listed as #3 in the final Bowl Champion Series ratings to West Virginia's #11. So much for computers. As a Marshall graduate it does not pain me at all that WVU did such a a great job in their 48-28 victory - and without Slayton. The Freshman, Noel Divine stepped in and did a great job. And in regard to the above phrase - West "By God" Virginia" - I heard it at least 3 times during the telecast. As one who regularly heard people in Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Montana tell me that they had "a friend in Norfolk" or in "Richmond" and I had to remind them that I was from "West 'by God' Virginia." And while I have no desire to move back there, I've always been proud of the Mountaineers stance at the time of the Civil War, and I don't want people to think that I'm a Virginian.

Another Muse

It is hard to believe that I have gottn bored with football. Well, I do look up once in a while, but a good read tops most of what I've seen on TV lately, and I don't think it all relates to the writer's strike. I started Nora Robert's Blood Brothers last week and picked it up after Church yesterday and finally finished it at about the time the Sunday night football gamer ended. I can't even tell you who was playing or who won witout checking the paper. I'd read an earlier book months ago with the same title - Blood Brothers, but that one was about the Jewish-Palestine relationship between Isaih and Ishmeal. Basically Hebrew and Arab Christian. Robert's writes about three kids who celebrate there mutual 10th birthday by blood bonding and setting off a lot of trouble for their small community every seven years. They are now at 3 times seven and are finding out a lot about the whole situation. Unfortunatly it's one of Nora's triplicates so I guess I'll now have to find the sequels.

In the meantime Ihave Gary Wills "Head and Heart" to be read along with a bunch of books which came under the Christmas Tree.

And furthermore - HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

DEJA VU all over again!

We had a glorious week-end with family visiting both from North Dakota and from Montana. The NoDaks came in around 9 o'clock Friday night so we caught up a little before bedtime. Ice Cream and Pete's cookies were well received. On Saturday Annie and Bill come over and we planned to go to Jake's for dinner. Andrew was expected. His parents went a bit early to stop by John's and Jean's to pick up an old photograph John called about. Turned out to be a copy of a Christmas Card Betty and I had sent out from our days in Davenport, IA. I had superimposed head shots of Ken, Ann and Jimmy on a picture of a coal fired train engine I had taken earlier. It probably dates from 1953 or '54. Andrew came in from Bozeman just as the rest of us were leaving the house. Good timing!

Anyway, Sunday afternoon after Church we were all sitting around the front room and the second and third generation adults and grown children were deep in memories as I sat and listened. All of a sudden in seemed to me that I was the kid again back at Grandfather Taylor's listening to all of my Uncles and Aunts in conversation about their past history and present activities. And then today in the comic strip "For Better or Worse" it all came back again. April, the teen aged daughter is asked to sit at the kitchen table with the young children since there isn't enough room at the table in the dining room and the children need someone to watch over them. As she listens to the "yackty-Yack" from the adults she mutters to herself - "Bonus". No that I felt than my hard-of-hearing was any sort of bonus yesterday. It was simply great having them all present and enjoying their "catching-up".

And a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

He's back!

It's been a long time since you found me here. Not much happening. Life is not dull, but not much happening. For the last few weeks I've been going to Choir practice to help our Choir in its production of "The Birthday of the King". It was not exactly a cantata since there were many speaking parts of Bibilical chracters between numbers, and there were many more solos than Choir selections. We produced it Friday night to a big audiance and Sunday evening to a full house. It was a challenge since I stopped regular choir participation when I turned 80. (Well, after all practice was on Wednesday nights, but so was "The West Wing.") I went back after Betty's death, but some of the numbers were much to much so I stopped again.

I saw my Cardiologist yesterday. She suggested that I might feel better if I lost some weight. I found it hard to believe that I had topped 173. We've scheduled a follow up echo cardiogram for January to see if there has been any major change in the stenosis of the aortic valve. Otherwise the visit was fairly uneventful.

Jimmy's family will be coming in from Dickinson late Friday for a week-end visit. We'll have dinner at Jake's with Pete as our waiter. There will be 7 of us: myself, Cec, Jonathan, Natalie, Ann, Bill and Andrew. I'm truly looking forward to this time even if I'll have to order lightly.

That's probably it until after Christmas.

Fiesta Time

It is in the holiday-fiesta period at Rocky Mountain College. A couple of weeks ago I attended the Annual Thanksgiving meal with the price of admission some nonperishable food for the area Food Bank. Tonight it is the Annual Yule Log Dinner. When we first came here there was a real yule log fire, Cliff Clark as Santa, and the singing of carols. Lately it has been the dinner along with some theatrics by the drama people. I plan to be there. At least its a chance for a balanced dinner for a widower.

Last night Pete (son) and I went to the Annual RMC Choir program of Lessons and Carols. Various students and staff members read from the Bible stories of prophecy and anticipation, and the Choir and other members of the Music Department perform. The First Presbyterian Church was packed for the 3 o'clock performance, and it is probably the largest church auditorium in town. One family said that they had come in the afternoon this year because the evening is "so packed." I've been many times, but not at the 7 o*clock. This year there was more instrumental music than in previous years. On the last number the congregation joined in singing "O Come, All Ye Faithful." When the Soprano's came in on the high notes at the end of each chorus it was thrilling to these old ears.

I had checked the list of choir members in the program. Fifty-six in all. One name I recognized as the last name of students who were enrolled while I was still on staff. After the program I approached a young lady and told her how good the concert had been and said that I recognized one name in the Choir. Surprise, Surprise. She turned out to be the one. She was not, however related to the previous students even though she was from the same town in Montana.