Christmas, 2010
Two rounds of snow, freezing temperatures, and cards and letters already arriving from many dear friends tell me I had better get busy and write my yearly Christmas Letter. I am doing so to the strains of Handel’s Messiah in the background. Not much to report this year except the state of my health, some awesome personal recognition incidents, and some miscellaneous thoughts.
My health this year has steadily, but very slowly improved, reaching what I call a “new normal.” That is far below what I was 2 or 3 years ago. For some of you with email, I am restating partially what I wrote in an update last January and then bringing it up to the present about my AFib. I have not had an AF episode since the end of January. So I feel better and stronger, but have no stamina or staying power. Still need lots of ‘wipe out’ resting time . Explaining that: there is a little number called ‘Injection Fraction’ that measures the strength of the heart muscle itself and its ability to inject (effectively pump) blood into the arteries. Top # is 70. Normal range is 55-70. When I was in hospital in Sept., 2009: my # was 20!!!! Scary In January, the # was 35. In June, it was 45. That is some improvement but not high enough and explains my inability to sustain any length of time working on a project, etc. For a few hours I feel fine, almost normal. Then I hit what feels like a brick wall in my ability to think, to do anything but just sit on kitchen couch/bed and regenerate energy. After the rest, I can again resume some activity. I am now walking Kroger’s large grocery store as opposed to taking the electric cart; I am lifting the heavy 10″ iron skillet I cook in (I could not in Nov. 2009); I do stairs somewhat better The Doctor seems thrilled with my progress. I am more guarded, scared of a set back, and get frustrated when I look at the long List of Things I Need to do. But As I said in my last Christmas letter—OH WELL!! I do what I can, meet household bill deadlines, go to Symphony for fun; and the rest just gets done when I can — glacially.
I was strong enough last Sept-Oct to do a 2 month round of Physical Therapy that really helped. Then in Nov. I got a bad cold that knocked me back to May in strength and stamina. And so it goes. My days of traveling are no more, so from time to time, I bring out all those photos I took on a specific trip to Alaska, Greece, or Russia, etc. and relive those wonderful experiences. Four years ago, I solved my Christmas shopping by creating a calendar of photos from a specific trip. They became a hit and my gift exchange friends look forward to them every year now. This year I did my 1969 trip to Communist Russia, and even had 4 people who asked to buy one. Marienne K. Skinner, my 1968-70 housemate and companion of the Russia trip, visited Oct 1-3 and we had great fun selecting photos. Doing this project has set back by 2 or 3 weeks getting out my Christmas Cards and letters.
With my proactive days gone, my passive days this year allowed me to experience and savor some awesome experiences bestowed on me. In April, my Marshall College Social Sorority Alpha Xi Delta, treated me to lunch at Cincinnati Woman’s Club, and presented me with a dozen pink roses and a gold pin, Order of the Pearl, in a special ceremony commemorating 60 years since I became an Alpha Xi. A real surprise since I never became active in the Alum Chapter. A June alum dinner for Courter Tech HS honored teachers & my 10 years teaching and producing quality theater. In July, I did a few simple jobs at the Phi Beta National Convention held here in Cincy: opening registration, acting in 2 or 3 skits, and keeping members informed thru our email newsletter. The only thing I am doing this year is our monthly newsletter and I published our Yearbook in Sept. –All stuff I can do mostly sitting at the computer.
Most awesome was the celebration of my 80th birthday. July 4, my Munier cousins called and Robin said, “What are you doing for your 80th birthday??” “I don’t know, I hadn’t even thought about it. Probably go to O’Charley’s and get a steak dinner.” Keeping in mind the Muniers live in Las Vegas, 2,000 miles from Cincy, Robin said, “We want to take you out to dinner!” You could’ve knocked me over with a feather! Long story short, Fred, Robin, daughter Suzanne & her husband Rubin drove from Vegas to be here for 3 days for my birthday. Wed evening, on the B&B Riverboat dinner cruise, I noticed Fred having trouble using his right hand. After we docked, we went to Christ Hospital to discover he had a small stroke, fortunately with minimal side effects. Next day, I had a fantastic birthday celebration at O’Charley’s, minus Fred who was in the hospital. He had a carotid artery operation on Monday and they all stayed here an extra week, plus son Joe flew in from Vegas to be here. While this seems a negative, since Christ is one of the top hospitals in the U.S., (Robin dubbed it “the Ritz Carlton”) they were very thankful it happened here and I got a wonderful longer visit with my family.
In a related Munier story, Fred just went through a 10 hour operation at UCLA hospital to remove bone and most of soft tissue from his right jaw to get out a cancer tumor; and then they rebuilt the area with a rib and skin, etc from his right chest area. He came thru this major operation with flying colors, and should be OK except for a long recovery period. My cousins sure have had a traumatic time these last 6 months.
My bulldogs, Coco and Willa, are such wonderful companions, keeping me laughing at some of their cute antics. I am thankful for wonderful friends: Annette, Leesa, the Brunners, and Glenn, plus some of my neighbors, all take good care of me, and help make it possible for me to stay in my lovely home, as well as to attend Cin. Symphony Orchestra concerts, plus some plays. It was fun over the past years acquiring ‘stuff’; but it is infinitely more difficult to divest myself of all this ‘stuff’! I am sure many of you can relate. That is my goal for the coming year, along with trying to create in writing and pictures a family history, especially of the Brown Family.
My wishes to all for a happy and healthy New Year. I look forward to getting notes, letters and sometimes phone calls that allow me to touch base and share a moment of real friendship with you. Among my happy memories are those times we were able to visit in person.