Memama had a doctor appointment in Lubbock on Wednesday. This was Dr. Lehman, the hand specialist. He dismissed her, giving her instructions to continue to work on the two base joints on her pointer and middle finger of her injured hand.

To be honest, this really pisses me off. He has admitted she has no tendons in those fingers to extend or bend her fingers, yet due to her age he feels surgery isn't necessary. What she has is a "hook" hand. I told her if I could find the sorry dog who did that to her I would beat the hell out of him!

I think that is what she is scared of.

The bathrooms are located adjacent to the elevators so if they are having a good day they stop in the bathrooms on the fourth floor. If it is a bad day they will stop on the ground floor, second, third floor and finally the fourth floor. (Just kidding).

Memama said as they exited the elevators, they were headed to the appropriate restrooms when Pepa lost his balance and fell. He has gotten in the habit of using a rolling walker which has brakes and all, but he refuses to use it outside of their house (it was in the trunk of their car). He told Memama he thought he had a stroke.

For the last few weeks, he has been very depressed. About crops, about money, about nearly anything you can imagine. Add to this he hasn't felt really well, but he won't go to the doctor, even though they have a new one located in Sweetwater. (I don't know, maybe the new doctor isn't far enough away).

Lately Pepa has developed his "little old man" voice. It is not unusual for him to be in bed mid morning.

I keep on thinking about Grandpa Freeman. I know he had to worry about money, as well as other things. Yet even though he had lost a leg, he had a routine and was really pretty active.

I personally think Pepa would be much better if he would get off his duff and make the rounds each morning. I have been in and out of their house several times the last few months and he is asleep in his recliner, sometimes never even knowing I had been there.

Late yesterday, Pepa's truck driver called to tell me he had blown an air bag (some people call them air springs) on his trailer. I told him to stop at the shop and I would find an air bag. I ended up ordering one out of Dallas, but I drove to Roscoe to take the driver home and make plans to make the repair this morning.

This morning the driver came to my house, we drove to Roscoe, picked up the parts, went to the farm shop and made the repair. As we were leaving to return to Abilene, I drove by Memama and Pepa's house, just to say hi. I met Pepa about a half mile from their house and I continued on to their house. I went in, got a piece of banana nut bread, determined Memama wasn't there and was exiting the house when Pepa pulled back up. He wanted to know what I was doing and I reminded him he had called me in the middle of the repair, that we had finished and I was headed home to watch OU/Texas.

He began his little voice, complaining to me about the same thing he had complained about yesterday. I was short, and walked away from where he sat in his pickup, got in mine and headed East.

So much for my day off!

Hope yours went better!

FATHER, I need a lot of patience right now.