End of an Era?

Sunday may have signaled the end of an era.


For the first time, Sunday lunch at Memama's was cancelled.


For about the last year, Pat and I have shared duties in Sunday lunch preparation, even more since July 6th of 2013.


It has always been a given fact that if Memama were in town, lunch would be on the table.  Standard fare would be two roasts, carrots, cream potatoes, green beans, corn, german sausage, broccoli with ranch, fruit salad, squash, roast gravy, biscuits and ice tea.


This was always prepared and average attendance would fluctuate from probably twelve to twenty.


Recently Sunday lunch was prepared and there were five who came and ate.


Last week, just as lunch was being prepared, the electricity went off, so there was a mad dash for Ma Allen's to get chicken and trimmings for lunch.  About the time the chicken was on the table the electricity came back on.


So for a week, all the pieces of Sunday lunch were on hand for yesterday.  Pat called Memama and Memama was a little feisty, telling her that she didn't need anyone to help her fix Sunday dinner.
Pat called me and reported. 


So in a bit, Memama grabbed the roasts and put them in the oven, then told me she had to go rest her back.  Pat arrived and asked,  "Where is Mom?".  I told her resting her back.  Pat went into Memama's room and came back and removed the roasts from the oven.


"She's just quitting", Pat said.


I told Pat, "She has been trying to quit for a long time".


Pat told me, "I told Memama I was going to text everyone and tell them no Sunday lunch.  That Memama is in bed, you don't feel well, and I have company".


I suppose Pat was calling Memama's bluff.  But Memama didn't bite.


We have always tried to keep it as Memama's Sunday lunch by including her in the preparation.  Whether it was slicing squash, or cutting up broccoli, or mixing the fruit salad, we always made sure Memama was present and "in charge".  I suppose yesterday she threw in the towel.


Pat and I were both saddened and alarmed by this development.  I suppose we thought maybe if she didn't get to see anyone (that usually comes to dinner) it would make her more determined to get back on track.


It didn't seem to make her a flip.


Saturday I went to Noble's birthday party and left just before 11.  I checked on Memama and she was sleeping soundly.  Pat came put at three and she was still sleeping.  Of course she told Pat she had been up, she just went back to bed.  She even went so far as to tell Pat she had cooked my breakfast.


Only in her dreams.


I'm not sure what our next move should be or will be.  I think we probably should wait on her and see what she does.


It seems as though I cannot shake this cold or flu I have had.  This is three weeks, and to tell you the truth Saturday I felt worse than I have felt at any point.  I felt so bad I began checking other things and since I hadn't checked blood sugar in a while I decided to check it.  158 fasting.  Yikes.  When I got to San Angelo I was still fasting, having only consumed my meds and my blood sugar was 201.  When I returned to Roscoe and was changing clothes I took it again and it was 145.  At bed time it was 132.  Yesterday morning 136 fasting and this morning 107. 


I don't know what is going on but a visit to the doctor may be in order.


I guess I am  going to try to set something up for Drew and the boys.  Drew called me Saturday and told me he was just checking on me because He knew I had a hard week.  Of course before he got off the phone he asked me, "Hey Dandy, isn't it about time you send us some donut money".


I think I am going to talk to the donut shop in Shallowater and see if they have gift cards or maybe even set up an account for the first third and fifth weekends when Rian has the boys so they can go by and treat themselves.  Rian says their standard fare is four small kolaches, two dozen donut holes and two donuts with sprinkles.


I was glad that Rian got out this weekend.  He was invited to a surprise birthday party for a friend from Shallowater and even though he had the boys, he decided to go.  Cody Pack came and stayed with the boys.


This week should see us really up on the farm.  We should finish cutting stalk today and begin plowing our final field.


Everything is ginned except for one farm, even though we are waiting for grades on the most recently ginned farm.  It appears that Memama's year was slightly better than last year.  Some farms were down but other farms were up.  We tried two new varieties of cotton this year and one was higher in production, the other was higher in price.


Maybe this will be the year that production and price are up!


Well, the Super Bowl is set.  I was thrilled to see the Broncos and Peyton Manning dominate the Patriots, but I was disappointed the Forty-niners lost the way they did to the Seahawks.  Personally I have nothing against the Seahawks as a team but I despise Pete Carroll.


I actually think the Broncos match u[p better against the seahawks than they would against the forty-niners.


My choice and prediction.  Broncos by 11.  OU 42..


Funny story about my history with the Broncos in the super bowl.  When John Elway finally got Denver to the super bowl, they were expected to be whipped readily.  I woke that morning and called Brently and asked what the line was.  He told me Denver was a fourteen point under dog.  I told Brently to take Denver even, which meant it was an 8  to 1 wager, for a hundred dollars.  Brently asked me if I was sure and I told him yes.  He said he would call his people.  At half time Denver was on a roll.  Brently called me and told me, "You are going to be mad at me, but I was trying to save you from yourself.  I took Denver and the points and I took half your bet."  Denver dominated.


So what could have been an $800 payoff turned into a $50 payoff but it really didn't matter, I never got the fifty either!


Oh well.  My Momma would say it serves you right.


Well, have a week!


FATHER, I pray for relief and healing from this cold or flu.  I ask YOUR guidance as we deal with Memama and try to motivate her.  I ask for relief for her back pain.