AN ANNIVERSARY TO REMEMBER

I’m starting a new month of practicing. Swombo shot the picture.

Archery


05.01.2020: 0630: I shot 30 arrows practicing. Many 10’s and 20’s but no 30’s. I have to remember to keep my hand on my anchor point until the arrow hits the target. I tell myself to do that, but my hand doesn’t always do what I say. When I hold it at the anchor, I (usually) hit dead center.
The title of this MM says Living with Parkinson’s. Any changes? I notice I’m taking shorter steps. I step out more often when we walk at Udall Park. At home, especially in the back yard where I shoot, I take shorter steps. Note that brown floor pad to my left. The curled-up edges are dangerous. If I don’t think about what I’m doing, I could trip. I’ll dump it. Some mornings, I have difficulty picking up my vitamins. Other mornings, everything seems normal. Yesterday, (and this morning) I didn’t have to use Dragon. It’s possible that my finger/hand tremor will start up later today. I never know. I hold my hands up and I can’t see a tremor. Last night, when I was moving our dishes, they rattled enough that PJ noticed. When we get out of the car, I always move around to her side to help her. She holds my arm so that we both can balance and step over the curb. Does Archery help? Absolutely! I have to learn to release as soon as the sight aligns with the target. Holding it for ten to fifteen seconds takes chances with the tremor. Holding my breath helps. PD is a slowly progressive disease. All I can do is stay aware, not ignore what’s happening, and keep on keeping on.
I find that I didn’t place Dean Wesley Smith’s site in last month’s MM. Here it is:
https://deanwesleysmith.com
While I’m at it, here’s Harvey’s site:
I only write when I’m inspired, so I see to it that I’m inspired every morning at three.
https://harveystanbrough.com — my author website
https://hestanbrough.com — my instructive Daily Journal
These (above) are the sites that I read regularly that help me focus on my writing.
Another letter:
Your picture of the lizard reminded me of an incident that occurred in my front yard in Tucson. I had put some wire mesh up around a plant to protect it from the rabbits. One day as I walked my property to my horror I noticed a lizard with its head caught in the hole of the mesh. What to do???

Remembered there were wire cutters in the garage. Grabbed them, and with hesitation and a bit of disgust, picked up the lizard and carefully snipped the wire around its neck. In thanks, the lizard bit me. No good deed ever goes unnoticed!

Bobbie

If it had been a rattler as a member of the Hopi tribe, once you survived the bite, (if you do) you become an automatic member of the Snake Clan and you would get to dance in the Snake Dance. Wouldn’t that be fun? SET

05.02.2020: We haven’t walked Udall since 04.28! We thought going to Body Central for her usual Physical Therapy on the 29th would give her a clue why her leg is giving out. She did seem better for the rest of the day, but by Thursday, she could hardly make it to the back yard. Friday, both legs were buckling. By the afternoon, she seemed better. She accompanied me to CVS for some GelUSil antacid. She is my essential navigator reminding me where to turn.

0615: I’m going to practice shooting. Shot 10 Ends. No 30s. Stopped at 0700.

1000: Had my first Zoom meeting with RWA. There were ten members signed in.
We’ll meet again in two weeks. Once I find the right key to push, it is easy.

1500: First quail babies we’ve seen. Lucky to get these as they were running through the shadows. We’ll be ever watchful, now that we know they are about. (That’s a garden hose; not a snake.)

Quail chicks


1700: We had roasted chicken and stirfry for dinner – groceries supplied by Julie and Sprouts – thank you, Julie. We watched the news to check the weather. We are hooked on ANNE WITH AN “E”. and usually watch a couple of episodes before turning in.
05.03.2020: Virtual Church and Talk-Back. Everything seemed to work. I spent three hours typing 3,064 words of notes I found that my mother, Eloise F. Turner, wrote for a journalism class from U.of Southern California in 1950. PJ edited them. I’ll smooth them for publication in The Grand Canyon Historical Society. We watched OUTLANDER.
05.04.2020: We took the Buick in for service at 0700. I helped PJ move some files on her computer. I was successful doing a solo deposit through my cell phone! The last time, I had to go into TFCU for a remedial lesson on the proper procedure. I had to get some archery practice in before it hit 100º. With the temperature only at 92º, I spent twenty-five minutes shooting 13 Ends before I finally got three arrows inside what’s left of the white circle.

Target


We watched THE VOICE and voted for some of the contestants. 2000: I worked on this journal.
05.05.2020: I’m falling behind(er) and behind(er)! Two back-to-back Zoom meetings where I had electronic problems with the sound. Ugh! Gotta’ stop, now. 1700: Too many interruptions today. The ALOHA Zoom meeting showed masks with a clear plate for reading lips. Great idea for the HOH person. We ordered four to give to our doctors. Parkinson’s Zoom meeting was when my laptop refused to activate. (ArrrrGgggg.) Four hours, total, down the tubes. Still no blinds for the Buick. PJ drove it home.

I was in a dither. I was dithered all morning EXCEPT when I shot five Ends with Swombo recording score. It got hot and we moved inside.
We watched the special Tuesday VOICE where the group was cut from 17 or 19 to 7. What a challenge. Then, we watched Call the Midwife.

“Less stressful than the contest,” PJ says.

I think she enjoys push! pant! push! – that reminds her of childbirth. (And she says it is less stressful!) Ah, well, whatever makes Swombo happy.

05.06.2020: 0645-0700: Shot 25 arrows @10yards using my stabilizer. (I picked it up yesterday at the club.) Less scattering of arrows which meant I am holding the bow better. Today, PJ attends Body Central for PT on her back. Her leg was better last evening. There was no way we would walk in Udall with the temp at 92º!

Swombo stands above me supervising the serving of lunch: stir-fry, rice, and ground beef. (She’s above me in so many ways!) Tresha will approve the T-shirts. The coaster is of Sabrina, Ethan, and Zachary. Happy cousins. HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY to Julie and Chris Shulick! Sabrina and Zack’s parents.