’Til Next Time | Finding just the right card elicits tears

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

After listening to the possible side effects to watch for from some of the highly advertised medications, I hope I don’t get a diagnosis of one of the diseases. If there’s that much risk from the medication, can I ask for a 100 percent cure? And how do we deal with the side effects:? More risky medications?

The word “hoarding” keeps popping up and brings back memories of the word from the 1940s, when sugar, shoes, tires, gas and meat required ration stamps. Everyone was very cautious and, as a child, I only remember one incident where the community suspected it.

Now the word is used with overcrowding your house with unnecessary items or keeping too many dogs and cats. I think we could all take in too many strays if our common sense didn’t prevail.

On the very day of my sister’s birthday, I’m standing in front of a card counter trying to find the perfect card. I always try to keep it on the humorous side but this day I held in my hands the perfect card. The draw back is it was what our family calls a tear-jerker card. I’m feeling guilty, but yet here was a verse that I could never duplicate on my own saying just exactly what I was wanting to say and yet we hesitate to get that sentimental. Why?

I have a son in Texas that does it to me every Mother’s Day. He tells me he spends hours at card counters finding the right one. I always make sure that no one is around and have the Kleenex box handy.

I find out now it’s my sister’s 85th birthday. I thought it was 84, I wonder where I lost that year.

She’s eight years older than I. Her family put out the word for a card showerand she tells me it’s been overwhelming. I’m going to go visit her the last of this month, so I’ll get to read them then. I’ve asked her to stay home long enough for me to visit a few days. She was at the state fair the entire time and then camping five days at the Mount Pleasant Steam Engine Fair. She stays pretty close to home in the winter. Iowa has had two severe ones in a row.

The paw-paws on my tree were one half the normal size this year. I’m thinking back on rainfall as the reason.

Dottie Bledsoe had surgery this week and is doing well. Also, Kim Weston is to start chemo treatments again. Many plans are being made for the bazaar next month.

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Editors note: Edith Lammey has been a resident of the area for nearly 40 years. She can be contacted through The TIMES at 451-1196 or [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 4 on 09/15/2010