Thanksgiving in June

Some people have said that Thanksgiving comes in November, but I have been experiencing it daily lately.

Today I am most thankful for my son, Michael and Jenny the girl he married. Between them, with some help from his sisters, they have taken both Lester and me to numerous doctor appointments in Fort Scott, Joplin and Nevada. Michael also has taken Lester to Kansas City MANY times. Susan has even taken precious vacation days to drive Lester to Kansas City and to Joplin. Shirley has brought home groceries, picked up prescriptions at the pharmacy. She has also been on the Fort Scott route when her job allows it This doesn't seem like much until you start marking them down on the calendar Since it is Michael's birthday and Jenny has practically spent her vacation from teaching at Cedar Ridge to help me or others in the family and communities I put them first in my list.

And speaking of Michael and Jenny, they have raised some great sons and grandchildren and great- and great-great-grandchildren who either help, amuse, or let me pose on that special motorcycle. I even get to baby sit the ones past toddlerhood sometimes.

There are mrore than 75 people in Nevada, Butler, Kansas City, Moundville, Deerfield, Florida, Connecticut, the Washington, D.C., area, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Montana, Texas, the Carolinas, Maryland, Virginia, and some other places I'm not remembering right now, but I am feeling very thankful for each of those people who selected and sent cards. Then there were the dozens who left greetings on Facebook or sent ecards. And then there are the phone calls and remarks when I run into people on the way to a doctor's appointment or going out to a meal with some of the family. I hope to go to church this Sunday if the doctor at the Friday appointment OKs it.

There is another very special group of people that Lester and I both are very thankful for. That is the large group of church friends, club friends or neighbors who have brought in meals, snacks, or soups. We really appreciate that because cooking is something I never was good at, but now am even worse. I'm like our own babies used to be -- cranky and tired just at suppertime. Some of the meals were so plentiful we got three days' worth of food from them.

I thanked my family for transportation but there's another group that have been great -- that is my neighbors, club friends, and some special friends in the church. I have been used to providing rides for others and didn't realize how comforting it is to have someone help me.

I saved a most important group until last. I am grateful for Nevada and the resources it provides. I don't use them all, but if I were in town I would. I am under the care of two specialists and I don't have to leave town to see them. They come here. I have a nurse practioner who sees me in between the specialists and all of them AND THEIR NURSES treat me like I was an old friend The old is self-evident, but the friends is a feeling they give me of not just being a patient but someone they care about. After losing a doctor and a dentist all at once who were, and hopefully still are, long-time church friends, it is good to feel that same friendship from these other doctors. And when special tests are needed, almost every time they are available right here in our hospital.

With all this friendship and medical care I plan to be writing Middle Age Plus for a good many more years. Remember, the Internet told me I would live until Oct. 13, 2027.

Last, and certainly not least, is my partner in crime for 69 years who has worked with me to provide this beautiful green spot, with Mother Natures' help, to enjoy when I'm not playing Scrabble on Facebook, reading, sleeping, or talking on the phone.

I'm already thinking of more things that should be listed but it's supper time and we still have several nice pieces of chicken and half of a big cake to eat, so I'd better start. Thanks so much to everyone!