Elder Humor

I have been accused of causing some of you to cry lately, so I thought I would try to make you laugh (myself included). Enjoy the senior humor- I am certain there will be more to come!

GROW OLD ALONG WITH ME: Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades. Over the years they had shared all kinds of activities and adventures. Lately, their activities had been limited to meeting a few times a week to play cards. One day they were playing cards when one looked at the other and said, 'Now don't get mad at me.....I know we've been friends for a long time.....but I just can't think of your name! I've thought and thought, but I can't remember it. Please tell me what your name is." Her friend glared at her. For at least three minutes she just stared and glared at her. Finally she said, "How soon do you need to know?"

HYMNS FOR THE OVER 50 CROWD
1. Precious Lord, Take My Hand, and Help Me Up
2. It is Well with My Soul, But My Knees Hurt
3. Nobody Knows the Trouble I Have Seeing
4. Just a Slower Walk with Thee
5. Count your Many Birthdays, Name Them One by One
6. Go Tell It on the Mountain, But Speak Up
7. Give Me the Old Timers' Religion
8. Blessed Insurance
9. Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah, I've Forgotten Where I Parked

There's No Place Like Home

It has been an emotional week at the Courington home. Our beloved father, father-in-law, and PaPa has been in the hospital. He fell last Thursday (nothing broken), and thankfully the hospital admitted him because he could not stand on his own, and probably because they sensed that PaPa could not go home with the situation as it was. Around the clock sitters are no longer enough to counter the ravages of Alzheimers. What a sad disease. Growing old, gracefully, does not happen to everyone. I know several individuals that were so intelligent, who have been reduced to the lowest levels by this disease.
Sadly, PaPa must now be moved to a nursing home. We think that we have located a home (Cherry Hill) that seems to be an excellent facility. It is close to us, and such a nice place. Of course as Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home". PaPa no longer knows where home is- when he is at home, he wants to go home. Home is somewhere in his mind that we can't get him to anymore. Home is where his Mother and Daddy were. I have always known that PaPa loved his parents, but since he has been so bad mentally, I have stated several times that he must have loved his parents tremendously. He was so sad at the times we told him they were dead, until we started saying, "They are alright". My dear mother stated that if you had to be in a nursing home, it was better if you were not mentally coherent. So, for that, I guess we are thankful. So, keep us all in your prayers as we are all in for a period of adjustment. Life never stays the same, changes come and go, and we must adapt.

A Step Back in Time

Yesterday I went with Addi to soccer practice. I actually was going to have to take her, but in the end Kim ended up getting to go (long story), so I just tagged along. None of my kids ever played soccer, but they all played softball/baseball, and the boys played football. During the softball/baseball years, which certainly spanned over a decade, we spent many hours on the bleachers. We used to joke about putting up a mailbox at the complex. Addi is playing soccer at the same complex. The soccer fields are where the old practice fields used to be. As I was sitting there, I could not help but to think back- where has time gone? My little softball player is now the mommy handing out team snacks (boy I handed out a lot of those!). I think cheering Addi on is going to make me feel young again- not that I feel old. Kim's MaMa and PaPa Courington used to love to come to her games; now, sadly, PaPa can't remember those days, or even yesterday. You know, we all need to "savor the moment" because we have no clue what the next second, minute, hour, or day will bring. So, for those of you who have life, breath, and soundness of mind- thank God for the day and enjoy it!

My New Abode

Only those who have had the honor of visiting the "old" Wilkerson Middle School, can truly appreciate the above photo of "my" new media center. There is also a computer lab on the other side of the room. I can't wait!

Days You Never Forget

Today is the anniversary of one of those days you will never forget. I started to think about other days that I would never forget and this is my short list:
1. The day I became a Christian
2. My wedding day
3. The days my children were born
4. The birthdates of Addi, Levi, and Hannah
5. My children's wedding dates
6. The days that my parents died
Also, I have to include these dates:
1. The day that President Kennedy was assassinated (who alive at that point in time does not remember where they were or how they found out that the President had been killed?)
2. September 11, 2001 (another date ingrained in the minds of those old enough to know and understand)
What dates are forever ingrained in your memory?

How Popular is Your Surname?

Nobody in the whole United States can spell the name "COURINGTON" unless they are familiar with it. Could it be because out of 50,000 of the most common surnames in the US, that COURINGTON is like number 47,000 and something. Check this link out and you will find out where your name ranks.
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2001/thesweetestsound/popularityindex.html

I've Been Tagged

Well, Rachel tagged me to list 8 weird things about myself- I have read everyone else's list and they were so informative. I don't know if I can be that entertaining- well, here goes.
Weird thing # 1-
Hey, why do you guys think that I am weird?????
After 5 minutes of starring at this computer, I am at a loss.
1. I have a fungus under my big toe. It is yellow and ugly.
2. I don't like yard work.
3. I have taken a liking to hitting golf balls in my old age.
4. I had a virus once that caused my liver to malfunction. It was scary.
5. I have never had a permanent in my hair (or anywhere else that I know of).
6. I have never had a manicure or a pedicure (who would want to touch my yellow toe?)
7. I can't take Pepto-Bismal. It makes me throw up. I really can't hardly stand any liquid medicine.
8. I use to have a hard time saying the word "aluminum"- I can do it now.
HOW BORING I AM!!!!!

The Circle of Life

Well, yesterday marked the "official" end of Summer. We cooked hamburgers and hotdogs and had the family come visit. I always enjoy family time, and feel so sorry for people that do not have family. Our family, although small to many, is growing. Sometimes it is hard for me to think that there is a group of 11 people that are together today because of a marriage that took place almost 30 years ago. Then when you add in the nieces and nephews and wives and husbands, the number starts to add up. It is amazing how quiet our house is when it is just the two of us there. While we are enjoying this new period in our relationship, I would not trade the chaos, loudness, laughter, and energy of the family for permanent quiet for anything in this world.