The upbeat of my dance choreographs my days with many delights.

I've fretted a wee bit that lately my words have been too overshadowed with the disastrous news regarding my health the past four weeks.

Well, DUH.

So, I have several vignettes to share and then I'll get back to writing about the bad crap.


*****


My housekeepers, Joan & Johnny Ray, are indispensable. In recent months they've made themselves available 24/7, and though I haven't made any middle-of-the-night calls, they're more than willing and prepared. They're devoted to me with such goodness. I can't begin to describe how humbled I am.

Prior to Thanksgiving, they were especially helpful and spent many hours readying my home. I pay them a fair wage on the handsome side of the ledger.

Thanksgiving evening I called Joan and asked if they would be able to come to my home the next morning - that though my family had washed mountains of dishes and stored away foods and stacked linens in the laundry... there was additional cleaning and organizing.

Joan and Johnny Ray didn't hesitate.

I also pay Joan a modest stipend to pick up my mail, lug my trash, and do my grocery shopping. Navigating with the big E tanks of oxygen is difficult for me to do alone. It's become far more convenient to simply hand Joan a list. Also, Monteagle is so small she wields my credit card around town with nary a problem. It's wonderful.

Yesterday, Joan ran several errands for me. She has a craggily-scraggily-crusty voice from many years of smoking. (My voice has become craggily-scraggily-crusty from begging her to stop.) In her craggily-scraggily-crusty voice she said, "Reenie, there's something I need to tell you and it's gonna to make you mad."

I cringed. I thought, "What the donkey-nose did I do wrong?"

"Reenie, you know that check you done give me the day after Thanksgiving?"

I nodded that I knew.

"Well, I done torn it up in a hundred little pieces so nobody can put it back together and cash it. That was our Thanksgiving present to you."

Gulp.

Sigh.

What more could I possibly write? This is a woman my age with a husband 10 years older, and they work 6 days each week and just scrape by. I lament with everyone else about the mess our world is in. So much is so wrong in our world. So much. And then there are Joans and Johnny Rays.

Trust me you... my little planet, Reenie's Reach, continues to spin and spin. The gravity of my illness has amplified my gratitude as well as others in my orbit. The sheer physical gravity of Reenie's Reach continues to draw some of the finest people ever ever onto the sod of my hopes and dreams. And Joan and Johnny Ray are two of those people.


*****


Two months ago when I began the circuitous journey through Cleveland Clinic, my main contact became David Lowe in the Lung Transplant office.

He called the other morning. He hadn't been brought up to speed with Dr. Budev's prognosis. We talked a bit and he quipped that he would never forget the Red Box Lady. He laughed and laughed. You see, that silly red box ended up becoming a significant identifier whenever I called Cleveland Clinic. They knew instantly who was calling. But he said the best part of the red box was the group photo I'd included with me and my caregivers. They loved that, but had no idea which one I was. When I'd sent the photo, I'd intentionally omitted my identity, but that day I put a name on the face. I also told him a bit about my children - that they were grown and happy and successful - and because of all those elements, it was easier to say goodbye. I am one lucky woman.

In closing, David wished me the very best and said, "I'll be praying for you. You never know what might happen. Just keep on being strong."

Nice. So very, very nice.


*****

To continue with the upbeat, here are more photos from Thanksgiving.






I rented this home for everyone. It was perfect! Sprawling with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms and leisure space for all 10 of them! I rented this beautiful home from my dear friend, Sue. It was walking distance to my home.







Michelle & Stephen & Olivia & David arrive at my home - the turkey crew






David & Olivia






Stephen knows how to dress for any occasion. Olivia, my tenant, was gone for the weekend and let us use her kitchen for prep.







Julia & Reenie






David & Chase







A Busy Kitchen







Cindy making Champagne Cocktails - Yum!







Reenie & Olivia






Doesn't every Thanksgiving table have little bowls of M&Ms?







The table set for a feast







Reenie & Stephen (a wonderful friend of the family)







Malcolm (my grandson) working on a puzzle with wood pieces - all cut into distinctive shapes.






He finished it (all 285 pieces) in record time! A proud family moment.






David, Malcolm in the Middle, Bert







Time for a champagne refill






Cousin Katie & David






Isn't this a fabulous photograph of Malcolm!






There were five lawyers at our Thanksgiving table. Yikes!





Thanks for stopping by. Love.