Reading

Lately I have been knitting like crazy. I have finished a few books. This is one of them. Being a child of the 50's and 60's and a history buff since 7th grade I love to read historical books. They can be biographies, true history or historical novels. While my mother was in rehab I picked this book up to read to her. Unfortunately we never got to finish it together but I did finish reading it. My mother was a big fan of Harry Truman. Even though I think she was a Rebublican, we did not talk politics too much but I do know she hated FDR, I think she loved Truman because he was from Missouri as we were.

Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure by Matthew Algeo is an excellent book. One reason I picked it up was for the catchy title. It is a very easy and entertaining read. In 1953, one of my favorite years, Harry and Bess Truman decided to drive to New York City from Independence, Missouri. A road trip, by themselves. Can you imagine the headaches if a former president even considered this idea today. This is a very enlightening look at how life used to be. Not only the way people acted, their manners, but how as a culture we have changed. A politeness we have seemed to all but lost flows through the book. The ex-president just being kind to the average person, talking with them, having a Coke, tolerating the press, most of the time with a smile. This book is a step back sixty years. It is well worth a read not just by the average person but there are some politicans out there who need to read it also.

And Now For Something More Pleasant

Recently my sister and I were going through some old crocheted doilies my grandmother's had made. This one was one I had not seen but I feel in love with it immediately. The color is so different almost like orange sherbert. It was probably crocheted in the 50's. I have been photographing as many as I can to have a record. Both my grandmothers, one grandfather and several aunts crocheted many many doilies. I also have a crocheted tablecloth that I used for my wedding, a crocheted bedspread and decorative pieces. When I think of the amount of work that goes into even one of these pieces I know I will never be able to keep up with the legacy they have left me.

And While We're At It.....

Another thing.....how can people who eviscerate you with their words at a time of immense person trauma, who posed a physical threat to your person, who have not had any contact with you for eight months, out of the blue send you a text asking how you are doing?

Soapbox Today

I really hate it when I see "arthritis" commercials on TV. You know the ones I mean. The ones that say if you take a simple medicine you will be able to run up and down the stairs, run a marathon, live a pain free life. It also bugs me when someone finds out I have Rheumatoid arthritis and they comment, "Oh, my Grandma has that". Of course they usually mean osteoarthritis what comes with aging and the wearing down of joints. I do not negate the pain of or the ability of a medicine to help Osteoarthritis. I have OA in my knee. But RA is a systemic autoimmune disease that attacks the whole body not just the joints. It can affect infants, small children, young adults. I have dealt with the symptoms since I was twenty one.  I read recently of a writer who had died. The cause of death was listed as RA. Some might find this weird considering people think of "arthritis" as a joint disease. Yes it attacks the joints but it also affects major organs including the heart, lungs and liver. Since I take Remicade I have to have my liver functions checked every eight weeks. Last year I had such problems with my eyes I started having to use special drops to relieve the pain and inflamation. RA makes me feel like I have the flu most of the time. Even with my great meds I still have pain in some form everyday. I try to function like a normal person. That leads me to people who aggravate me by saying or thinking that because I am functioning I am "well". So here I am on my soapbox saying I hope there comes a day when Autoimmune diseases are not seen as just "arthritis".

Still Wishing

Ok, so I am still wishing for that Caribbean cruise. This is one of my favorite pix from the cruise in 2010. This is in the Bahamas. The pix was just a fluke. I am holding MWA's beer and wearing his hat over mine. I am not sure why anymore except he had been in the water. My sister JE and I just posed. I love it.

Wish....

Man, wish I was back here relaxing after a very stressful four months. Maybe in the future.

So True

Saw this on Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy's blog. Sad but so true. Check out his link on my blog roll.

My Fun Family

Just one of our fun activities at our Easter get-together.

Happy Easter!

Well Said

Mother

My Mother passed away on Saturday at 93 yrs 11 mos. This picture was taken in December 2011, just three months ago. She is the one who taught me to knit. In 1974 she told me I should have something I liked to do in case I was ever ill and needed something to pass the time. My Grandma had taught me to crochet the year before but I started doing some cross stitch around this time. Little did we realize that almost 40 years later I would still be dealing with RA and need something to distract me from "things". It was in 1977 when I was expecting my first baby I told her I wanted to learn how to knit so I could make booties. She always had the best and easiest pattern for booties. Knitting at that point was not my thing. I seriously could not believe I would ever be able to master "two sticks". But she worked with me and I did. I ended upmaking booties for all my four children. Then as time went on I quit knitting and did more crocheting. When my RA went "atomic" in 2001 I ended up knitting to distract myself from the pain. Since that time I have knit a million things from the most simple dishclothes and hats to intricate lace shawls. Hundreds of kids I don't know have benefited with hats to keep them warm in the winter because of the Knit-A-Cap project. Soldiers have received knit scarves through Operation Gratitude. Even though my  Mother never knit directly for them it is because of her patiently teaching a 23 year old impatient girl to knit. So that is part of her legacy too.