Tuesday, December 04, 2007

buried in snow...and life

We got another six inches today. I wasn't expecting so much, but what can one expect from the weather? That means we'll have to shell out another $30 for a guy to plow our long driveway. Just two days after the first snow. And there's no way I'll get the pond cleared unless we get the snow blower started. I'm counting on that pond for winter recreation. In case you haven't heard, I love skating.

I picked up Togo from the vet today, after he got neutered, just in time to keep Sally protected in this her time of heat. It turns out he has Lyme disease and one other tick borne disease I can't remember the name of. Might as well keep everyone, people and animals, on antibiotics around here. But why is it that humans have to jump through hoops and inaccurate tests to get a Lyme diagnosis, and then doctors are reluctant to prescribe more than 14-21 days of antibiotics, the minimum necessary to fight the disease, when a dog can get diagnosed in a day and get a month's worth of Doxycycline? And, Togo is usually in an area of minimal grass and dirt. If he can get Lyme disease, we all are at risk.

Then my dad called with the sad news that his sister, my aunt Cheri, age 62, died of a stroke while vacationing with her daughters in Amman, Jordan. Unbelievable. The last time I saw Cheri was at my mom's funeral, and I so wanted to reconnect with her. I guess it will never happen. Jordan seems like a strange vacation spot, but I guess she was always into Mideast politics. I hope I can contact her daughters, my first cousins I haven't seen in over twenty years, and connect somehow. The scary part is, both Cheri and my grandma, the only female family I know of on my dad's side (grandma was adopted), died suddenly in their early sixties.

Wow. Life is so unpredictable. I've had that lesson driven into me these last few weeks.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've been keeping you in my thoughts. If you don't mine me saying so, you're about do a change of luck, I'd say... Let's wish Deb some happy times, shall we!

RuthieJ said...

Hi Deb,
I'll echo Jennifer's thoughts. I hope things start straightening out for you soon.

Bashar said...

I am sorry for your loss,
I would like to comment on one thing
"Jordan seems like a strange vacation spot", does it seem like a strange vacation spot when its considered secure, stable and has alot of the world’s heritage such us Petra and Jerash, and a great places such as Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, of course not to mention gernrous, wonderful and friendly people!

Maybe its strange, because its on the other part of your world.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. All the best in reconnecting with your cousins.

You sure have had a rough time of it lately. Continue to take good care of yourself and your family. There are a lot of people sending good energy in your direction.

Deb said...

Jennifer, RuthieJ and Denise- Thanks. Things have to turn around some time! Today was good though. The Hermit had physical and speech therapy and he's shown improvement physically in just two days. And I ordered our new propane heater so in a couple weeks I won't be wrestling with the woodpile.

Bashar- My remark did sound terribly ignorant. My apologies. The news media here does tend to lump all Middle Eastern countries together in a negative way, which is so wrong. Jordan does sound like a great place to visit.

R.Powers said...

Deb,
I'll just echo the supportive wishes for a dose of good news in your life.
Very sorry about your Aunt.
You are right tho, there's a thin line between good times and bad times.

eric said...

Hey Deb – so sorry about your aunt. While shoveling snow this weekend, I found myself thinking about your recent run of bad luck, and I was surprised by this post reporting even more bad news. I sincerely hope that things turn around for you guys soon – hang in there and don’t loose your sense of humor! Take care.