Author: ChatterLei
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Hospice or Not?
My dad had his first stroke on December 14th, 2023. After a series of watershed strokes, several rides to the hospital in the back of an ambulance, time in and out of the emergency room, a couple of weeks in a rehabilitation center, and three more trips back and forth to the ER, he…
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The Empty Chairs
Friday night was the third Friday we played pinochle without my dad sitting across the table from me. Someone was sitting in his chair, but it did not matter who occupied his seat. The emptiness permiated the entire house, as did the smell of all of the flowers from his funeral. My sister and I…
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A tender mercy
My thoughts are all over the place. Not sure where they will land. My parents have lived in the same house for 56 years. It is the same house where my sister, brother, and I were raised. Lying here alone, waiting for sleep to overtake my overactive thoughts, in the same room where I was…
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Check Out This New Blog
Just read a great blog post from a new blogger. Find the well-written story at chattermanjoe.wordpress.com. This story made me giggle to think he did this while his wife was gone on a trip, kind of like “when the cat’s away the mice will play.” It is a good start. I hope he keeps writing!…
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Thanks Dad!
The one my dad surprised me with when I was seventeen! It was a rainy fall day. I remember my parents leaving to go run an errand. When they returned, I was sitting in the living room. My parents walked through the door. My dad smiled at me and said go look in the driveway.…
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Operation Santa!
After three years, of writing his annual Christmas letter to Santa, it finally happened…. On a cold winter afternoon, three days ago, there came a knock at our daughter and son-in-law’s front door. Our daughter opened the door, her eyes widening with wonder and a feeling of disbelief at the tall moving-box-sized box she saw…
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A New Phase of Life
The phone call came before 7:30 a.m. last Wednesday. My mom was sobbing as she told me she thought my dad was having a stroke. He would not let her call 911 because he “would rather die than go to that hospital.” I said I would be right there. I kissed my husband goodbye and…
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Saturday, A Busy Day
Doing the mundane Saturday morning chores: get gas, buy groceries, and pick up prescriptions. Today is going to be cleaning day while the homemade dough for hamburger buns does its rising thing. Have you ever made homemade buns? It is super easy and delicious, plus no preservatives. Try this recipe on Pintrest here. We stopped…
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Benefits of Writing Your Life Story
Writing your life story can be a therapeutic tool that can help you gain insight into your past and present self, understand how your experiences have influenced the path you chose in life, and become aware of ambitions or dreams that you have not yet realized. It can also help you overcome unresolved trauma by documenting…
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Choose Your Hard
Leaving San Diego yesterday was not easy. It was the most beautiful day of the entire week. I wanted one more day. It was not to be. We need the extra day for traveling to the UofU on Monday where my husband has a follow-up appointment with the surgeon to check the progress on his…
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Both
Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why? My husband and I discussed this just last week. We both agree that we like mountains and beach for different reasons. At the beach near the ocean, the sound of the waves crashing on the shoreline is calming and peaceful in a way that causes deep reflection.…
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Grateful for Rain
The song lied. It does rain in Southern California. Last night, it rained hard. Our morning stroll along the bay at 6:30 this morning was cool and cloud-covered. Puddles of water along the edge of the road were evidence of how much rain fell. Benches covered with droplets of water along the walking path were…
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ChatterLei 