Author: searcyf@mac.com

5 May 2024

Cinco de Mayo! Today has certainly been a better day family health wise. One of the things I’ve forgotten in Mississippi is how far away everything is. In Florida, I’m 4 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. At Roosevelt State Park, I’m 17 miles from my brother’s house in Brandon. That doesn’t seem like much but if you travel it back and forth twice, that’s 68 miles.

I picked my brother up around 10:30 (Tanis wanted us to have some time together) and we traveled to Morton via US 80, at one time, the only coast to coast road in the United States.

We pointed out old bootlegger places, old friends’ homes, old businesses, and told stories about all of them.

We visited the cemetery in Morton where most of our relatives are buried and then back tracked to have lunch.

We stopped at Asadores Mexican restaurant and the service and food were a delight. I had fajitas and strangely, on the menu was liver and onions which my brother loves.

From there we went to Pulaski and the Searcy cemetery and I tried to clean pine sap off the head stones of Mom and Dad and Grandaddy and Grandmama. I got them scrubbed enough you could see the names and dates.

I then gave Archie a tour of Roosevelt. It had been years since he has been there. One of the things I showed him was the remains of the old diving platform we used to jump off as kids. It had a high dive and a low diving board.

Our cousin Joe Lee was showing out one day and decided to spring off the high board and land on the low board and then spring into the water. He missed. He hit his head on the way into the water on the low board. I decided not to try that particular maneuver.

On our way back to Brandon, we took, not US 80 but old US 80. It was a fun trip.

Yesterday, I had some visitors at the motel.

Tomorrow, I take the Jeep in to see what’s what. Archie and Tanis will pick me up at the Jeep dealership and we’ll go to lunch and then go to Tanis’ doctor’s appointment. If I can drive the Jeep with the check engine light on (which I’ve been doing) I’ll head home on Tuesday. If not, I may be staying a while longer. Hopefully not 31 days like last time.

Stay tuned!

4 May 2024

I didn’t make yesterday’s post.  It turned out to be quite the day. I reunited with Jean, Roger, Jimmie and Stephen and later met Jean and Roger’s son Kevin and his son Liam.  Stephen treated us to lunch at Ichiban in Flowood.  After a tour of Kevin’s home, I headed to Archie and Tanis’ house in Brandon.  

There was a family emergency there and Tanis’ son, David, and I tried to help as best we could.  The next day, the emergency situation got worse.  Tanis ended up in the emergency room at St. Dominix and it was around 10 pm when we got her back home.  

Today I found her to be much better and I treated them to lunch at a local restaurant in the square in Brandon.  It’s been an emotional experience and isn’t over yet.  Let’s just say aging is not an easy process: for me, my brother, and my sister-in-law.  

After our lunch, I headed to the cemetery in Morton to take some photos of family gravestones and then headed to the park where I went back to bed.  Tanis has a doctor’s appointment on Monday and I need to take my jeep into the Jeep dealership in Flowood and get it checked for the “check engine” light.  

I’m not sure how many days I’ll stay in Mississippi to try to help David with Archie and Tanis.  As soon as I know, I’ll post the info.  The next few post may be very brief.

3 May 2024

This is a brief update from yesterday. I’ll write more this evening before I go to bed. Two things stood out to me yesterday nature-wise.

The first was the photo of the docks at Roosevelt.

Just to show how time gets away from us, these cypress trees were mere saplings when I first started to going to Roosevelt around the age of 8. The photo doesn’t do them justice because they are really quite large.

The second thing was when I was visiting the cemetery I kept hearing this buzz in the air.

It seems it was about a trillion cicadas! When I went to Charle’s house, he had another trillion calling for their mates. Then when I went to Archie’s, nothing. It seems this hatching is only in Pulaski.

This morning, as I got up, I noticed wakes in the lake. Then later I noticed a Canada goose. I didn’t think they came down this far but it has been a cold winter. In any case, I later saw the mother and the babies.

All About Birds says this is a non-breeding population but someone forgot to tell the geese. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife says these are resident geese and they do breed.

More later!

2 May 2024

Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law!

It was an interesting and emotional day. I arrived at Roosevelt State Park a little after 12:30 and decided to see if I could check in. No one was in the office but finally someone showed up. I asked for two extra nights and when she tried to charge my card, the computer jammed on her. In any case, I’ll stay through Tuesday.

After getting the key, I checked out the room. My room supposedly has recently been updated and modernized. If so, they need to ask for their money back. It’s decent enough for the price.

From there I toured the park and brought back old memories.

From the park, I traveled the Morton/Marathon road to Pulaski and visited the Searcy Cemetery where my family is interred. It’s also called the crock pot road because Archie and Tanis were bringing a stew to my Mom and Dad and took a curve to quickly and spilled the contents in the car.

From here I visited my 1st cousins. I haven’t seen them in quite a while. Minnie Jean managed to get us all together for the first time that didn’t include a funeral.

Just as I left Charle’s house to go to Brandon to see my brother, the check engine light on the Jeep came on.

Stay tuned!

1 May 2024

It was an inauspicious start to the trip. I left the house at 9:10 and as I was about to turn on Riverland I thought “Did I turn the warmer eye off for my coffee?” I made a loop and went back in and yes, I had turned it off. Better safe than sorry.

My second departure was at 9:15 and I headed west on Riverland and immediately got tied up with parents dropping off kids at the middle school. I managed to finally bypass that and get on the Florida Turnpike.

By the time I got to Palm Beach, the digital road signs kept saying the two north lanes of the turnpike were closed ahead and to seek an alternate route. They didn’t suggest an alternate route nor did they tell you where you could get back on the turnpike to go to Orlando. My GPS suggested going to Jacksonville to I-10 but that would add an hour to the trip.

I tried at the Jupiter exit to get back on and that was a no go. By the time I got to Stuart, you could see the north bound lane of the turnpike and it was a parking lot. I kept on I-95 and followed some transfer trucks. I finally got access at Port Saint Lucie and made quick time from there but I was already badly behind. It was supposed to be a 6 hour and 30 minute trip from my house to Quincy but it ended up being 8 1/2 hours.

Strangely, I felt pretty good driving and when my back started to act up I turned on the heated seat. That works wonders. Even my neuropathy seems better today. It’s a little early in the year but the love bugs are back. My windshield was spattered a little bit but not as bad as it can get. When I pulled in to fuel up for tomorrow, I took a little time getting them off the windshield. They sure make a mess.

Tomorrow should be a 6 hour and 4 minute day (if there are no stops) and the route takes me through Mobile and then up to Hattiesburg and then to the park. I need to leave pretty early tomorrow because at 2:30 I’m going to Charles and Minnie Jean’s for a 1st cousin reunion. Charle’s sister Jean will be there and I’m excited to see them all. If I have time, I’ll check in with Roosevelt and if not, drive directly to Charles and Minnie Jean’s. If I can remember how to go. I grew up on those roads but it has been a while.

Tomorrow is also Tanis’ birthday (Archie’s wife) and I want to take them out to eat either tomorrow night or with the other cousins for lunch.

There are no restaurants close to the Hampton Inn in Quincy. It’s a good thing I have half a sandwich from lunch left.

Stay tuned!

29 April 2024

Surprise! The state of Florida sent my retirement check a day early. That’s always nice to wake up to. Of course, the majority of the check is already obligated.

Another surprise was my cardiologist’s office called and canceled today’s appointment. I’m rescheduled for sometime in June. By then I’ll have the results of my third echocardiogram. He’ll spend 10 minutes with me and listen to my heart and tell me to come back in 3 months.

I made my usual pilgrimidge to Walgreens to pick up two prescriptions. As I sat at the drive through, Chip, an old Coast Guard buddy called. He’s going through some significant health issues and he was updating me. He’s been very supportive of my problems and I hope I can be an ear to listen with him. Once a Coastie, always a Coastie.

I stopped for lunch at the Georgia Pig. It was packed and you had to put your name in for a place. I walked in about the same time as another guy and he told me to put my name in and we could share a table if one became available. It was in line that I met Russell, a retired Delta employee. He was wearing an LSU hat and off we went with stories and tales. He says they still play the Billy Canon runback every year at Halloween in Tiger Stadium.

We both ordered the BBQ Pork deluxe which comes with fries, Cole slaw and a drink. Service, once seated, was quick. The Georgia Pig makes a mustard based BBQ sauce that’s pretty good.

Russell grew up in Hollywood, Florida and, with Delta, went all over the world and the U.S. He was quite interesting and I enjoyed sharing a table with him.

I began overpacking for my trip. It’s hard to guess what to take but May weather in Mississippi can be iffy. Central Mississippi is about 10° cooler at night than South Florida. The weather service predicts rain on a few of the days.

So far, the plan is for me to arrive at Roosevelt State Park on May 2nd. It’s about 6 hours from Quincy, Florida where I’ll spend the night. I’ll try to treat Tanis and Archie to a late lunch. On Friday, the cousins, Archie and Tanis and I will try to do lunch at Ichibana in Flowood. Notice we are doing lunches. The problem is that none of us want to drive at night. That afternoon (or morning before lunch) I’ll see if my cousin Charles is up for a visit.

As far as I am concerned, I feel better today. The neuropathy is ever present but at least isn’t painful today. I did notice that the combinations of medications I’m taking is giving my urine a distinct odor. Shades of asparagus! I suspect after I compete all my treatments I will be classified as a toxic waste site by the federal government. I’ll apply for funding as soon as the classification is made.

Either late this afternoon or tomorrow my neighbor will do my annual tree trimming. The biggest problem is the coconut palm which is loaded with mini canon balls (in a hurricane). His crew goes above and beyond what I expect and my yard looks great for several months after he finishes.

Stay tuned!

28 April 2024

“Wash behind your ears!” A phrase I never remember my Mother uttering. She uttered a lot about other things. “Keep your elbows off the table.” “Chew your food.” “Don’t wash your food down.” “Chew your food with your mouth closed.” But I never heard wash behind your ears. My Mother neglected my hygiene. I always knew to wash “down there” because of her. I scrubbed my pits to rawness. I even learned to clean the inside of my ears but never behind them.

I always attributed the phrase to some book I read, like a passage out of Dickensian novel. Probably about some street urchin taken in and sent to bathe. You know how those urchins are. “Please sir, may I have more.”

So any way, I was sitting in front of the tube and rubbing behind my ear and realized it was kind of gritty, kind of like toe jam (Mother taught me about toe jam). It was behind both ears and I got to thinking, “Oh my god! Have I been going out in public all these years with ear jam.” People were probably shunning me because of dirty ears. “Don’t talk to him, he doesn’t wash behind his ears.” I’m abashed by my lack of hygiene.

Trust me, ever since I found ear jam behind my ears, I’ve become a reformed behind-the-ears washer. I am now acceptable to go out into public. Friends no longer shun me. But why, oh why didn’t they say something. They are always eager to let me know if my pants are unzipped or if I have a piece of food stuck to my lips, why not tell me I have dirty ears?

How did I get to the ripe old age of 75 and not know about this? What else do I not know due to Mother deficit? Halitosis? Messy cuticles? Crepe skin?

Maybe it’s a good thing everything seems to be online these days. Zoom meetings don’t show dirt behind the ears and the people online with you can’t smell your breath. They don’t even know if you showered before the meeting. There’s something to this social distancing concept. Maybe Gen-Z has it right.

On another note, I started pulling out my camping kitchen equipment for Roosevelt. The room supposedly has a kitchenette but in case it doesn’t have pots and pans, I have my camping stuff available and my drip coffee maker. I have plenty of oatmeal and also freeze dried food.

Tomorrow is my six month appointment with the cardiologist. He’ll spend 10 minutes with me and tell me everything is great. Tuesday I have a PT with Shannon and then Wednesday I head for the Magnolia State. It’s a little early for magnolias but there should still be plenty of spring wildflowers.

Stay tuned!

27 April 2024

It’s been kind of a bleh morning. I went to bed at 9 pm last night and did my usual multi-tours of the bathroom for most of the night. I finally got out of bed at 5 am, had breakfast and checked emails. It’s also wash day. The only thing I can get excited about that is fresh linen on the bed.

What started out as a bright, sunshiny day has turned into an overcast one and we’ve even had an unpredicted shower. We could use a lot more rain since we are in our dry cycle right now.

Yesterday, I called Dinnen Electric to come out and change the timer to the pool pump. It quit working and I wanted it replaced for when I am in Mississippi. I was going to skim the leaves from the pool this morning and then run the pump manually for a couple of hours. When I looked out the window, the Great White was working which meant the pool pump was working. Miraculously, the timer seems to be working again. I’ll need to call Dinnen Electric and cancel the timer order.

I’m starting to get organized for the trip. Today I sorted pill packets for morning and evening meds. Opening the packets and inserting the pills is quite the feat. The arthritis in my hands gave me trouble opening them and then trying to pick up the pills and put them in the packet was a challenge due to the neuropathy. I had completed the morning packets when I looked over and realized I had forgotten to include a baby Aspirin. Back to opening and adding the pills. Fortunately, I had enough medications on hand to meet my needs for the trip except for Omeprazole for my esophageal reflux. I quickly went online and Walgreens fill the prescription which should be ready by Monday.

Tomorrow, I’ll start pulling out “camping” equipment such as my coffee pot and other kitchen items and start filling the suitcase. As usual, I’ll overpack.

Jimmie sent me three more photos from her morning walk. I really appreciate it.

I remember the first time I saw Red Hot Poker in a botanical garden. It certainly catches your eye. It’s native to Africa and has, of course, been introduced as an ornamental in the states. It belongs to a family of plants I’ve never experienced: Asphodelaceae. Calflora.org lists 5 genera and 6 species and all are non-native.

Biota of North America Program lists 5 genera and 6 species but different species and genera for the family. Even the taxonomists agree that the family is a mishmash and catchall family. Generally, the leaves are in a rosette pattern and a central flowering stalk is sent up. As an example of a plant in the family you may be familiar with is Aloe vera.

My first exposure to bleeding hearts was in the Pacific Northwest. I found the Pacific bleeding heart after a long search. Of course, when I did find it, it was so abundant I was tripping over it. This is a plant genus that would possibly be found in Tishomingo State Park in northeast Mississippi and my major professor, Dr. Pullen, asked me to look for it. It is found in Tennessee so there was a possibility. I never found it. I’ve since found it in North Carolina.

I was introduced to a similar plant as a graduate student at Ole Miss called Mother of Thousands. The reason is everywhere the leaf was notched, it would produce a tiny plantlet.

As the “babies” fell off the plant and rooted, the “mother” would secrete a chemical to retard the growth of any plantlets around her. Only when she died did the tiny plantlets begin to grow significantly.

Flaming Katy certainly stands out with those red flowers. It’s a native of Madagascar.

It’s time to fold clothes and put them away.

Stay tuned!

26 April 2024

I think I shocked the people at physical therapy today. I used my new walker. Shannon came running out of the facility and asked if I was OK. When I told her that two nurses had recommended I get a walker, she immediately replied “two non-PT professionals. She then brought out the two other models and explained that the one I had was for people that were in constant danger of falling. The one with two wheels on the front is for a more mobile person – like me – and the one with 4 wheels is the Cadillac and has a seat for people to rest if they like. She then told me I didn’t need a walker and the cane was just fine. My possibility of falling went from 46% to 38% from the last two evaluations. Of course, when I got home and started to clean leaves out of the pool, I fell the last few inches. My Apple Watch asked if I had fallen and did I need help. Nope. I finished cleaning out the leaves.

What’s interesting to me is I went to several websites and they explained the difference among the various types of walkers but very little was said who needed one and why. Shannon cleared that up for me. I may still use it in the middle of the night when I get up from bed and go to the bathroom.

My cousin Jimmie knows I haven’t been walking lately due to the sprained ankle (better today) so she sent me some flower photos from her walk!

Spring is certainly the time for Azaleas. Here’s a little known fact. Azalea is a common name. The scientific genus for Azalea is Rhododendron. So, Azaleas are of the genus Rhododendron and Rhododendrons are of the genus Rhododendron.

This is a member of the Caryophyllaceae family and if it looks a bit like a carnation, that’s because carnations belong to the same family. It’s commonly called Rainbow Pink or China Pink. The scientific name is Dianthus chinensis.

These used to grow in the yard of the house I was renting with three others when I was in graduate school at Ole Miss. It’s called a Dutch Iris but I have no idea why the moniker. I found them coming up at different points in the yard so I dug them up and lined the path to the front door with them.

This is Bearded Iris. When you look closely at the petals and they attach to the stem, there are short “hairs” and thus bearded. There were a lot of these planted in yards in the Burgundy region of France when I was there years ago but it is called the flour-de-lis. The Fleur-de-lis is based on an Iris but not the Bearded Iris. Instead, it is Iris pallida (Sweet Iris). To confuse you even more, Iris pallida is also a bearded Iris like above.

Thanks for sharing the photos! Spring has apparently sprung in most of the South. Here in South Florida, the weather stays pretty constant and we don’t really see a change in seasons.

Stay tuned!