Kathleen and I have been LA Dodger Fans for a long time. Kathleen since they were the Brooklyn Dodgers when she was a young girl, and me since she introduced me to them through marriage some 58 or so years ago.
Now in our senior years watching as many of their games throughout the season and then in the playoffs if they make it, we are going to get to watch them in this years ‘World Series’, playing the New York Yankee’s.
We so like the Yankee’s too, but will be rooting for the Dodgers. Should the Yankee’s win, we will not be at a total loss. Go Dodgers.
Update: Dodgers win the series and become world champs
An expression one conveys, when a story is told, tells a lot about a man. As I sit here at my computer, and if I close my eyes, I can see him— my father sitting in his chair. Someone may have just congratulated him on a small accomplishment. He would have sluffed it off, his reply, “Oh, somebody would have done the same thing sooner or later.” This gentle man rarely took credit; instead, he most likely would turn the conversation to a “little story,” as he put it. The one story he told, that did give him and his partner credit, was the evening the two attended the wake of one of their fishing cohorts. After a lengthy day of checking box-traps, Pondo and his buddy, John Crowley, decided it was getting too late to go home and clean up, so they trudged up to the back door of their fallen friend’s home. As the widow met them at the door, they apologized for not changing their clothes. Their clothing was wet, wrinkled and smelled of fish. The only thing on them that was of any order was their hip boots, which were neatly gathered and strapped just below their knees. The young widow grabbed the two men and hugged them, tears spilling from her eyes. “You old rascals,” she cried. “I wouldn’t want you to come see my husband off any other way.” She pulled them into the parlor and showed them off to relatives and friends. Another story frequently told was the day Pondo—my father, his brother Pede, and their dad were working at Minipark, a spot of land along the Minnesota Slough, where a few old buildings housed all the fishing gear. Pede and Grandpa spotted a bull snake. Grandpa May hated snakes. Pede picked the snake up by the tail and began swinging it around in the air, hoping to snap off the snakes head. The tail snapped off instead, sending the rest of the snake flying. Grandpa, in horror, watched as the snake sailed right toward him. With a twinkle in his eye, Daddy continued his story of how he’ll never forget the look of terror in his father’s eyes when that old snake wrapped itself around his neck. When my dad was about to tell a story, I could always tell if it was going to be a sad story, when tears would form; or a funny story, when a gleam would radiate from his eyes and his face would beam with joy. Either way, the emotion always chocked him up. Every time a wedding would come around, Daddy told the story of someone whose wedding was on December 21, the shortest day of the year, which would be followed by the longest night. And then with a chuckle and that twinkle, Daddy would say something sly and just off-color enough to cause our mother to sharply say, “Oh Pondo,” and shake her head. I can’ t remember whose wedding or what year, but I remember that chuckle and that twinkle. Daddy had quite a following. Pals from up and down the Mississippi River, would bring a six-pack and spend hours with him sitting out back surrounded by piles of fish nets. Whether he got some of his stories from other story-tellers or whether he actually experienced at least part of his stories, he knew how to tell them. One story, beloved by his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, was about an old alligator that lived in a hole in the basement. We never did see Oscar, but if the story was true, he’d be a giant of a reptile today. *The two longest days of my life were the days that our parents died. By the time, the day of each of their passing ended, I had lost my voice because there were so many people who I needed to call. Copyright 2016
Summer was in full blown mode, as all our flowers were looking good and our strawberry experiment was on track. But, I was experiencing fatigue and a bit of short breath when working in the back yard. A little complaint to Cardiologist and an Echo Cardiogram was done. It showed that I was experiencing severe Aortic Valve Stenosis and the valve was leaking much more than usual. I was told I could be a candidate for a valve replacement via catheter placement rather than open heart. The prep was begun and on Aug. 12th, 2024 I had the procedure done by Cardiologist Dr. Saidi, at St. Michaels, in Bremerton. Overnight in hospital and I went home to recover. During this TAVR procedure Dr. Saidi was not able to access my Aorta/Heart area via a catheter insertion up the Right Femoral Artery ( avenue of choice ). He did get the procedure done by other routes and before withdrawing the catheter decided to have a look below using a contrast media he filmed the blockage in my right femoral artery which showed a 99% block. A Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Kira Long was consulted and plans to have that artery cleaned out was set in motion. On October 7th 2024, the endarterectomy was performed. Again an overnight in the hospital, and then home to recover which is what I am doing at the moment. This recovery has been a bitch. At age of 79 this is the first time my body has been ‘cut’. The discomfort from this incision has been painful, taking the pain meds perscribed has caused extreme constipation and I have been feeling lousy.
Update:
In Summary, the TAVR procedure I would do again as I guess my new aortic valve is functioning as it should. Have I seen any improvement in my fatigue issue or short of breath. A little perhaps, but very little. Have I seen any improvement in circulation to my right leg after the endarterectomy, I am not sure. Once I get to feeling better I can better access my progress. Time will tell.
Update:
It has been several weeks now and my incision is healing and allowing me to be a little more comfortable with movement. My increased stamina on the treadmill is impressive. I still feel as though I have not improved as I should with my getting winded and needing the rest often. We will see how that progresses going forward. For now I am over all satisfied.
Update: Several months now and my over-all outcome from the TAVR procedure seems to me that I show very little if any improvement from the valve replacement when it comes to my breathing. I still seem a little short of breath on exercised. The cleaning out the junk in my Femoral Artery however has been a total success and I am extremely pleased. I can walk some distance now and not feel the fatigue that I had prior to the procedure. Improving every day.
