Sunday, February 20th as we head into the last full week of the month

 TERRY

I woke up to the sound of the TV as Terry woke before I.  As I write she is into the huge Sunday paper and I would say she is same same.  There are a couple concerns but they need not be put into writing if you get my drift.  So one day at a time as usual.

As I write today I have much on my mind.  OK so it is Sunday and often I take time on Sunday to think about things and that is not always good.  BUT it is what it is so will put some of my thoughts down on paper and maybe, just maybe, that will help me get them off my mind for a while.

• It has been a year and a half since Terry and I flew down to Naples after her weeks in the U of M hospital and rehab.  I am lucky to have Travis living in the house but I have concerns about not being there.  I mean when you have a house that is 116 years old I would say it often needs a bit of extra attention.  Anyway I know Travis will let me know when or if something needs help but yes it is often on my mind.
• Of course #1 on my mind is Terry's health.  She now has been battling GBS for over 2 years and at this time she is pretty much bed bound.  She does get up sometimes and I move her into the living room with the wheelchair but for now the walker is out of the question as her legs are just too weak.
• One thing I do not have to worry about at this time is money.  Terry has three sources of income and I have two so between them we are doing fine.  Could we buy a Bentley???  No and we would not want to but we are comfortable with our income and expenses.  As usual the taxes in St. Paul climb each year and that could get to be a concern.  It is interesting.  I would say Terry's home here in Florida is worth maybe 150% of what my St. Paul home is but yet the taxes in Florida are about 60% LESS than St. Paul.  Interesting!!!  I think I said that right.  another way of saying it would be to say Terry could pay taxes for 2 years and her bill would still be less than my one year of taxes.  
• I admit I miss the open spaces of the country.  I say that and I have not lived in the country for 56 years yet I often think about the air, the sky, the fields etc that made growing up a great place to grow up so to speak.  I should make it clear I do not have a desire to move back to ND but I still think I can miss it!
• Each day I say to myself that I need to get some help in to help with Terry but each day I put it off.  Can I care for Terry?  Certainly I can but it really would be nice to be able to go shopping or play tennis and know that Terry is being cared for while I am gone.  I try to not be away very long and by that I mean more than an hour or two.  When I golfed it was much longer than that but I have not done that for many months.
• I think about family often and realize that a family of 8 is now down to 3.  It would be nice to get together with Joan and Helen but I do not see that happening anytime soon.  Helen was with Joan when Joan and Ron celebrated their anniversary but I was not able to go.  Maybe down the road that can happen.
• So of the most fun memories are of older siblings coming home to visit.  Ronald/Gorine, John/Janet and Ron/Joan always provided great times when they visited.  I did not include Dave/Marlys as we were closer in age.  The hunting, the boating, the water skiing and more were times to be cherished. Then there was the building an outdoor shower and building a trailer also go down as fun times.  
• Yes, I wish I could spend more time with the grandkids.  Again, maybe down the road that will be possible but as they get older I am sure they will scatter far and wide so we will see.

I think that is enough for this morning.  IF I could climb the light pole by the barn and lie on my back looking westward I may have more to day but of course that is not going to happen so will sign off for now.  The FP is pretty much gone and here we are at almost 11:00 so really time to sign off.