7 January 2024
I managed 1.5 miles today but it seemed like a 5 mile hike in the mountains. It was all that extra clothing I was wearing. Normally, on a walk, I’m near naked. I must have had 50 lbs of clothing this morning.
As bad as I felt yesterday, I feel pretty good today. No idea the difference in the two days. Residual chemo?
I lied about yesterday. I did do one project. The bookcase in my bedroom needed some attention. Here’s what it looked like after I removed the books to dust.
Here’s what it looked like after the dusting and putting the books back on the shelves.
I’m surprised I don’t have allergies with all that dust. I hadn’t dusted the inside of the shelves since I bought the bookcase. The bottom row of books are Flora of North America volumes. By my count, there are 4 more volumes to be published and the entire of North America flora will be documented. The project began in 1965 and for quite a few years, I thought I would be dead before the project was finished. Then a few years ago, the project got another life and several volumes were produced within a few years. I have hopes that I’ll have a complete set when I die (assuming that’s not too soon).
While cleaning the bookcases, I ran into something of my Dad’s. It seems to be his biology lab notebook.
The first entry is November 25, 1929 and it details the experiments to test for starch and sugar. Interesting, he used Fehling’s Solution to test for sugars when we used Benedict’s solution. Even more interesting, in the 9th grade, he was performing experiments we did in freshman biology at Ole Miss.
I have to say my Dad’s handwriting improved mightily as he aged. I can read this but with difficulty. Later his handwriting was like the books you copied your letters from.
His teacher was his Mother, Nola Hurst Searcy. He once asked her why she was so rough on him in class. Her response was that she could not show favoritism. She taught in the old school in Pulaski.
I was fortunate enough to know both sets of my grandparents and loved all four of them. I spent a lot of time following Grandaddy Searcy around like a little puppy on his farm and Grandmother Searcy with her cooking and sweeping (she never thought I mastered the broomsedge broom). It gave me a touch of country life just like my other grandparents gave me a touch of town life – the best of both worlds.
Tomorrow, I hope to do movie night. Keep your paws crossed Tucker. Stay tuned!