MARCH 25, 2000: Saturday night - Just reflecting on the last week or so. Mom was admitted to the hospital on Monday, the 20th, for a heart cath. My brother, Chick, drove down from New Jersey to do a little 'hand-holding'. It was good to see him. And to have him here for moral support. We 'allowed' him to stay at the cabin for a few nights. I think he liked it. *s*...but we had about 48 hours of hard rain. So one morning he called to tell us he was stuck in the mud at the cabin. Preacher had to go out and pull him out. He took some good pictures of the cabin while he was here. He's got a new digital camera. He's still 'practicing' on how to use it. So maybe soon he will be able to send me some pix for this homepage.
Mom's heart test came out better than we'd expected. The doctor was thrilled. Initial diagnosis: 2 leaky heart valves and possibly some blockages, failing kidneys, poor lungs. But the test showed arteries completely clear, kidneys functioning normally, and only 1 small leak, instead of 2. She has to go back to him in 1 month. So we'll see then what will happen next.
DECEMBER 30, 2003: WOW!!!.....I guess it's been awhile since I posted in the Cabin Journal. I feel kinda bad about that. No excuse. Just life, and death.
I lost my brother, Dick, July 29, 1999 to a brain tumor, and my Mom on August 7, 2001 to a lung condition called pulmonary fibrosis. How I miss them! It's a different world when you begin to lose parts of your family. Nothing's ever quite the same. Mom was never able to enjoy the cabin like she would have in her younger days. Her poor health made alot of things harder to enjoy. But I would always go and sit down with her in her living room and tell her about my cabin adventures.
We closed the bookstore June 30, 2002. Glad! We owned it for almost 10 years. I read a little sign one time that said, "There are two things in life that are greatly overated: The joy of childbirth, and the joy of owning your own business!".....And I say, "Amen" to that. Not the childbirth part, but the owning your own business part.
In the days to come, I'll try to catch up on my Journaling. I need to be sure to tell you about the yellow rat snake, the blue crawdad, the "wild and crazy" squirrel, and the red-winged blackbird. Oh, and also my newly-decorated outhouse interior.
My daughter, Amanda, will be 26 tomorrow. She's still 6 in my mind. She's living in the suburbs of Nashville now. I miss her, and I know she misses the cabin. I can still see her curled up asleep on the porch swing on a warm summer day, or climbing one of the trees like she did on Memorial Day.
My other daughter, Anna, is still living in the Bronx, and will be 30 in April. Unbelievable. She DOESN'T miss the cabin. She's only been here a couple times. One of the first times she was here was on her wedding night, September 11, 1998. After Anna and Anthony's small wedding in our little country church, they made their way to the cabin where I had prepared the bedroom loft for their first night as husband and wife. Well, Anthony, being the Bronx-kinda-guy that he is, wasn't terribly impressed. I think they both slept with one eye open all night, thinking some terrible critter was going to get them. I think they were ready to head back to the big city after one night at the cabin.
I love to spend the night at the cabin. Preacher doesn't stay with me, I usually stay alone. I crawl up in my big antique oak bed, slide down between the flannel sheets, and sleep in the glow of the fire from the fireplace. And I may put a Michael Hoppe CD on the Bose. My favorite recording of his is "The Yearning". I just purchased his newest projects, "Solace" and "The Poet". His music calms my spirit.
Another favorite cabin pasttime is to listen to "A Prairie Home Companion" on Saturday afternoons at 5, or the repeat on Sundays at 2 on our local NPR radio station. Ah....the simple pleasures.
DECEMBER 31, 2003: Well, it's a quiet day here at work. Most everyone here has taken the week off, many of them on vacation to various places in Florida.
I've enjoyed updating this cabin website over the last few days. Lots of neat memories.
Preacher and I have been talking alot lately about the possibility of moving to the cabin permanently; that we would need to build a couple rooms on the back, a bathroom and a kitchen. My worry is trying to get a builder or contractor to see my vision for the cabin.
I've been in touch with Jerry Hayes, owner of Brush Arbor in Renfro Valley, KY. Preacher and I are going to make a trip over to his place on Saturday, Jan. 3 to see what he's been able to accomplish in the reconstruction of his log structures there. I'm looking forward to that. He's been more than gracious to invite us.
And so, Happy New Year to everyone, especially my new friend, Jerry.
JANUARY 9, 2004: Just a quick entry to record the events of Saturday, January 3. Richard and I made our trip to Brush Arbor Appalachian Pioneer Village. I've written a little page about our visit. Please take a look.
JUNE 27, 2006: Wow, it seems I've been a bit negligent in my journaling. I will post again soon, but be sure to read my Red-Winged Blackbird story that I posted today. I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer.
