We had a very normal Thanksgiving dinner on a somewhat non-normal Thanksgiving day. We didn’t have anywhere we needed to go, so it was just the two of us. Normally, Nina goes up to the Pocatello Womens Correctional Center on Thursday afternoons for a craft class. We decided that since I was home and we didn’t need to be anywhere else that day, I’d go with her up to the prison and she’d do her usual craft class. The women there that attend Nina’s class are delightful and we had a fun two-hours with them as they made cards, recipe books, and picture albums, all to send to their families. They were delighted that we’d spend time on a holiday with them. I was delighted to spend time on a holiday with them. Definitely helps the feelings of being thankful!
We have a busy December. Shouldn’t think this is anything new, though. We always manage to pack the month full of things to do. This year we’re flying out to Pennsylvania for our granddaughter Jillian’s baptism. It’s just too dang expensive to fly two people out and back over Christmas so we’re going out on the 13th and back on the 20th.
Two days after we get back Jared is flying in from Seattle to spend Christmas with us. It’ll be fun to have him here … well, not exactly always here. He gets in around 4 pm on the 22nd. We’ll go to Soda Springs to visit my mother on the 23rd before my favorite brother picks her up so she can spend Christmas with them in Green River, Wyoming. Saturday (Christmas Eve) we’ll go down to Heather’s where we’ll be until Tuesday when Jared flies back home to Seattle. So, he will actually spend two nights and less than twenty-four total hours in Pocatello. Nothing against Pocatello, though. We’re just pretty boring compared to all that goes on down in North Salt Lake!
I think I’ve finished up the last of the tests that my Veterans Administration doctor wants me to do. Today I had an upper GI scope test done right after getting a shingles vaccination. The test is one where they put you almost out and stick this huge thing down your throat and down to the stomach to inspect everything. Nothing out of the ordinary was found. The primary reason the Doc’s having all these tests done is to establish a complete health baseline. That’s all motivated by my repeated exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. During the eighteen months I was in Vietnam I had generally every other day off. We’d fly a reconnaissance mission every other day (and these were Very Long Days) and have the next day off, rinse and repeat. On my off days I’d look for “fun” things to do … particularly if it had anything to do with flying. One opportunity always available was to catch a ride on one of the Ranch Hand Operation flights. These were airplanes that sprayed the Agent Orange on the jungle to defoliate the trees and uncover the Viet Cong. So, I’d volunteer to fly and help manhandle the 55 gallon drums of this stuff. Obviously, there was never the thought that this stuff might be bad for anyone other than those bad guys on the ground. I probably flew on twenty or so of these Ranch Hand flights….
Nina’s been working her vast collection of letters. Her mother (Nancy Friend) saved all of Nina’s letters and, of course, Nina saved all of her mother’s letters. So, Nina has been gathering all of these letters together and getting them into binders in chronological order. Some of the letters are hilarious and definitely show how Very Young we were Way Back When. This one is particularly interesting. Obviously this wasn’t the first time Nancy had sent along this particular recipe!
All else remains pretty much the same. I’m still serving on the High Council in the Pocatello Stake, but my assignment changes next year to the Arbon Branch. That unit is located on the other side of the hills to the south of us and is about a 40 minute drive (on a good day with dry roads). It’s also a great assignment and I’m looking forward to spending a couple of Sundays a month out there with these fine folks.
Can’t think of much more. I think I’m still a bit addled from the procedure this morning…. But that’s probably not new, either.
Ta Ta for Now!
