The mystery of the lost "pickle".

My cell phone toned yesterday, but I didn't get to it in time. It was on the charger, I was in the office. Krl was indisposed, still suffering from our stomach bug. On my way to retrieve my phone, the doorbell rang. When it rains (or rings) it pours. I opened the door to find Memama and Pepa placing gifts outside the door. They came in for a brief moment although we issued verbal warnings about keeping their distance. If they had any doubts about our being sick, they were put to rest. They had brought over gifts from Kyle Patrick Henry and his parents that weren't under the tree Christmas morning when I made my unannounced visit to their house.

When Memama and Pepa left I followed them out. They were telling me that they had a call from Reidman earlier in the day and he was very distraught. He couldn't find his "pickle". "Would you see if I left my "pickle" at your house?", he asked. A quick look revealed no "pickle", and Reidman was sad.

When I returned into the house I picked up my phone and called Reidman's dad. "Yes, it was true, the "pickle" was missing." I immediately offered to go to Wal-Mart and pick up a new "pickle" and send it to Reidman, but his dad said to wait to see if it surfaced.

If anyone sees a "pickle" marching alone, please let me know so we can return it to it's rightful player.

No one knows how in the world Reid came to call his harmonica a "pickle". I suppose another mystery is when a harmonica became a marching band instrument. But hey, it works for him.

Reidman's Meme and Dandy may have to send him a back up supply of "pickles".

I hate that for some people, their holiday is mixed with sadness. We have been home just over a week. I have visited briefly with our next door neighbor J, the young woman who watched and cared for our house while we were gone, but that was on the day we returned. She keeps a very busy schedule. On the 23rd, I visited with her Dad briefly asking if they had big holiday plans and he informed me no, that his wife's mother, J's grandmother, was hospitalized and not doing well. She has suffered from a lengthy illness. J and her mother have been very regular in spending time with their grandmother and mother. Several times when Krl would call to chat with J during our absence, she would be at the care facility having dinner with her grandmother. The past few days, there has been limited activity next door, although I knew that they were at home because their dumpster was rolled out for service. This was not verified by any personal contact however. This morning, while reading the local newspaper on-line, I ran across an obituary, listing our neighbors as family. This is one thing I hate about the new policies regarding death notices, and obituaries. Today's announcement was the first listing the survivors. Funeral is at 10 this morning followed by a private family gravesite service.

I feel badly. We haven't been very good neighbors. We didn't know and we didn't want to intrude. As it turns out, visitation was last evening.

As I stated in the beginning of this entry, we find our home still in the throws (literally) of the stomach virus. I felt queasy most of the day. Krl spent her day running from bathroom to bathroom. I finally had to make a dash to the post office, I had missed the mail man here at the house. While I was out I decided that my queasiness was due to being hungry. Everything looked good as I made my way downtown. Krl had requested cherry popsicles, and when I was in the store I made my way by the deli. For weeks I have had this thing wanting barbecue. One of my favorites used to be red beans and brisket, with jalapenos and cornbread. Beans 'n Brisket is how the menu read at our old haunt. I knew I had some canned pinto beans at home, I knew I had left over cornbread as well. As luck would have it, the deli had brisket and I purchased half a pound, then just to be safe I picked up a jar of peppers. Upon arriving at home I presented Krl with her prize, then set about satisfying my "taste buds". When I sat down at my recliner with a tray, Krl wouldn't even look at what I was going to eat. Her only statement was "You are a glutton for punishment". Yeah, and I'm not real smart either! For a while there it was touch and go but by the time the aggies had made sure they were beat, I knew I could keep it down.

I talked briefly with Pat last evening. She has been busy working at the parts store trying to do year end inventory. As her luck would have it, the computers have been down. Of course many of the side lines not supplied by the nationally affiliated are not in the computer generated inventory so they have had something to do, other than work on computers. She was very excited. An opportunity had presented itself and they had received notice late yesterday that it was going to happen. The further we talked, she finally said, "Please don't tell me this is going to adversely affect other family members". I don't know. I don't think so, and I would tell her if I though it would. I think it could provide another opportunity.

More on this as it can be disclosed.

FATHER, thank YOU for opportunities, help us to use them as you intend us too. I ask comfort for our neighbors as they deal with their loss. Fill their void with happy memories. Help us to be sensitive to their needs. YOURS is the glory. Fill the earth!