Mommaw's 2007 Christmas

Bob Jones, Rachel and I enjoyed Christmas Eve Dinner at Mimi's in Mesa with the intention of visiting Mommaw at Springdale West in Mesa. Bob Jones developed a nose-bleed and had to return home.

Rachel and I carpooled from the restaurant to the nursing home. When we arrived in Mommaw's room, she was asleep. She looked very peaceful. Rachel tried to wake her on a couple of occasions but had to shake her before she finally woke up. She told us that she wished that she knew we were coming. I don't know why, there is nothing more that she could do. Teddy (a present Santa had given her) was sleeping next to her on her bed.

Mommaw tends to slip in and out of the present time. She told us that she spent the night with Quincy the other night but that they get up too early. Quincy went to see the Lord several years ago. She introduced me and Rachel as her grandson and granddaughter. On one occason, I left her room to sit across the hall as one of the aides was dressing her roommate to sit in her wheelchair. Mommaw saw me and told Rachel, "There's Charlie Plake across the hall."

After the roommate exited the room, I returned to Mommaw's room. She saw another patient rolling through the hall. She said "There goes Charlie Plake." Then spoke loud enough for the man to hear, "Charlie, I want you to meet my grandson and granddaughter."

It is sad to see Mommaw like this. I remember when she had the memory of an elephant. My dad said that she would argue about what she remembered and usually won. I believe the incident she told us about Quincy actully happened but that it took place several years ago and her brain makes her think that it just happened.

Rachel and I took Mommaw into the conference room to open her presents. We enjoyed our time with her. Often she talked about several of the people that were attended her 90th Birthday Party. I tried to tell her who was in attendance, but my 71-year-old brain had a few problems of its own.

Poor Rachel. She had a hard time keeping Mommaw and me straight.

What is a Best Friend?

My son asked me the other day, “Why is Jim your best friend?”

I fumbled and stumbled and came up with a couple of whimsy answers, “Because I do everything he says and because we have a lot in common.” The first answer, meant to be a joke, is far from the truth. The second answer is not really true either.

Although we enjoy several things in common, there are many things that we don’t have in common. We both like the Sweet Adelines, we both prepare taxes (He is more experienced than I.), and we were Delta Sigma Pi fraternity brothers. I like sports; he doesn’t. I like to eat; he is very careful what he eats. I weigh almost twice his weight. And the beat goes on.

The question started me thinking. I asked Jim, “Why are we best friends?” His answer, “I can tell you things and you won’t repeat them.” In other words, he can trust me. And I feel the same way about him. I trust him like I would trust a brother.

I looked up “What makes a best friend?” on the Internet. Wikipedia states, “Best Friend, someone with whom one shares the strongest friendship.” WordNet defines best friend as the one friend who is closest to you.

Other quotes found in Blogs:
• "A true friend is that rare soul who sees right through you but will see you through."
• “Someone you can count on... someone who won’t judge and someone who gives without wanting in return.”

I found all of these quotes true with our relationship. I am still thinking "What is a Best Friend?" although it doesn’t make a difference if I know or don’t know. I will always love my best friend like a brother.

My Quality Time with Ken

Today, I spent the day with my son, Ken, who will be 50 next year. Slow down, son, you are making me older. ‘Twas a nice thought to spend the day with his Dad.

Ken came to the Valley to attend a Boeing planning seminar at the Sheraton in Mesa. On Sunday, we met at my house in Tempe, had lunch at Monti’s La Casa Vieja in Tempe, checked into the Sheraton in Mesa, watched the Cardinals beat the Cleveland Browns and the BCS Bowl Selections in his room and chowed down at dinner in the hotel restaurant. Ken telephoned Kim several times earlier in the day to get a play-by-play description of the San Diego Chargers football game, his favorite football team.

On Monday and Tuesday, Ken had meetings. Today, he drove me to the V.A. Hospital in Phoenix for my doctor’s appointment. While I was visiting with my doctor, he studied for a course pursuing his master’s degree at Biola University, a private Christian University in Southern California.

After leaving the hospital, Ken and I lunched at Durant’s, a legendary steakhouse in the heart of Phoenix. Not knowing what to do, we watched Sea Monsters, a 3-D movie at the IMAX Theater in Arizona Mills Mall.

What a day! It was a joy to be with my son. I can see that he inherited several of my traits. He likes school, enjoys researching, cheers for his favorite sports teams, is quiet and unassuming and is a great overall human being. :-) I love him very much.