Dh has a podiatrist appt this morning, but he's going alone. I am babysitting again. She has two appts so it looks like it will be most of the day. At least I got a good sleep. Halo slept til 6:30 and then went back to sleep and just woke up a few min ago.

Dh stroke was only in his eye. The doctor called it a diabetic stroke but I am not sure about that really. He does have diabetes but his A1Cs are always good, last one was 6.3. He does not count carbs or anything, but he is pretty active esp in the warmer weather and doesn't eat much. Probably if I followed his example I'd do better too. His first symptom he noticed was double vision and he was driving at the time. Then the lid started drooping. He still has double vision a few times a week, but is able to correct it quickly so dr didn't seem concerned.

Carol, when you said you were having salmon I was surprised your dh was eating it knowing how picky he can be. Funny thing, we used to eat salmon a lot but anymore my dh doesn't want it. Maybe he doesn't like how I fix it, or maybe he just feels he should catch it, that it is too expensive in the stores. I've asked but he just says he doesn't care for it. He does love to fish for them though, but seems to prefer them smoked now. I love the King salmon esp. Now we eat mostly white fish which I like too. Strange how now that I'm in my 70s even 80s doesn't seem as old as it used to. Sometimes I try to imagine the changes that will likely occur in me in the next ten years or so. I know I move slower than I used to but don't feel I've aged that much yet physically. I wish I could get myself to exercise more though...I think that really makes a difference.

Well, I'd better get more done here before the kids come. No sense vacuuming though as it will only need to be done again after they leave.;) but can do some things.

Karrine, take care of that ankle. I know it must be hard not being able to do much.

Sandy - Hope your pain has eased. Glad your dd is going to church with you.

Spiderman!!! My dgs liked Spiderman last year. This year he's too grown up for Spiderman. LOL

I have a Steeler scarf that someone made from that material and was selling. Everyone who sees it wants it.

Mary, the salmon I buy is not very expensive. I buy it in Walmart. It is wild caught pink salmon wrapped in serving size pieces in a big bag. $8.79 for 2 lbs. I just spray my grill pan with olive oil, salt and pepper the salmon, and cook it on each side for 4-5 minutes. I have been eating this salmon for a while now and I like it, but I am not a picky eater. Since I have been eating this salmon I no longer order it in restaurants where they charge so much for a very small piece. Mine tastes as good as theirs. I do prefer to have dill dip with it but you need sour cream to make it and I rarely have sour cream in the house and won't buy it just for that.

We have been feeding a stray cat that has been in our yard for the past few weeks. This morning when we got up, he was 25 ft up a tree. He looked so scared. My step-daughter suggested putting some smelly tuna down at the bottom of the tree. We used a can of sardines instead, and down he came! We didn't see him come down. We left for Walmart (again) and he was down when we came home.

Dh finally got another fish! A steelhead which some call a trout but is in the salmon family and tastes the same. He is so happy! It's only a 10# one, not as big as he used to catch but at least he got one finally and it's a good looking fish. And he has separated the best parts and freezing them so I can cook them, so I guess he still likes them, I think it was just the cost in the store he doesn't like and feels he should catch them. The rest he will smoke. It used to be so easy to catch them but now for some reason it's not. Carol sounds like you buy frozen(?), which is fine but that is perhaps why they are cheaper. Even fresh sockeye and coho are expensive here and chinook is of course even higher.

We babysit til about 6 pm, then sat around to talk a bit longer yesterday. I tried all day to get the kids to eat something besides graham crackers (even that is an upgrade as they usually will only eat saltines!). I offered every kind of food I had in my house that was not frozen but they would not eat it. The little one was mad at me for a bit but she finally ate a small tangerine and 1/2 banana, and the other one drank a little OJ. Then they got the graham crackers. By the time mama came they were hungry and begging for fast food. I explained what happened and she said sometimes they will eat string cheese, so I will try and have that on hand next time. It seems like all they ever want is junk and preferably something out of a box. Later I remembered I had a box of mac and cheese. We never eat it but several months ago I bought it for them, then they didn't come over and I forgot about it. They don't like to wait for it to be cooked and will fuss the whole time, but will eat it I think. Just now I thought perhaps I could cook it ahead of time and then just heat up for them. I hate to enable them with their junk and processed food addiction but also want them to eat.:dizzy:

Last night we went out for Chinese. I ordered veg egg rolls and orange chicken. I ate 1 1/2 egg roll but could not eat the orange chicken. Ate about 2 pcs. It tasted like fat wrapped around yucky chicken. I am not big on chicken but do often like it if it's cooked just right. This just turned me off. When the waiter checked on us, I told him I didn't like it and he offered to order something else. I couldn't think of a thing I wanted ...I mean I would have loved grilled or stir-fried fresh veggies but they always put that sauce on them and I didn't want that and also it would have delayed our meal and dh was already eating. So I just said no and he took off the price of my dish instead. I brought home the other egg roll which I will have for lunch in a little bit. I'm tired of all restaurants in our nearby area.

Mary, can you ask them to make the grilled vegetables without the sauce? I used to love Chinese but DH doesn't so I never had it. Now we go to a buffet that has an Asian Station. They have Orange Chicken and General Tso's, but neither of them taste good to me. Maybe my tastes changed, or they just don't cook it right. Now days I prefer my chicken roasted with no sauces of any kind, or simmered in water like when you make chicken soup.

The salmon I buy is frozen. The fresh probably tastes much better but we are satisfied with this, and we just don't know what we're missing. When we are at the mall and stop in the food court I will order egg rolls sometimes. I still like them. DH sticks with McDonald's. LOL

My grandson used to be picky like yours, but now he eats what they eat for dinner. Everything. It surprises me that he will eat grilled salmon and tuna, ribs, steak, pork chops. My friend's son just turned 14 and he still will only eat things like chicken nuggets and mozzarella sticks. I told her I feel sorry for his wife when he gets married. LOL

Good for DH on getting the big fish! Where does he fish? I'll bet he was happy to land that one!

I might have been able to ask for veggies without sauce, Carol, but they probably have the saucy kind already done, and I didn't know whether they would have veggies all prepared to grill esp for me. I was full enough with the egg rolls. It was my fault...I remembered after I got it that I'd tried the dish before and didn't like it. I usually like the orange chicken in the mall food court but no way is it healthy esp for a diabetic! This restaurant makes it different however and not nearly as good. Wish I'd remembered, as I don't like to waste food but at least we paid less. ;)
There don't seem to be many restaurants that prepare delicious light healthy dishes. You'd think that would have changed by now with many people so much more health concious. I sure hope these gc grow out of their pickiness. Guess that's not a word..LOL as spell check can't correct it.

Good morning everyone,
I am very worried about my tenant as I think she may have cancer. She had breast cancer 6 years ago and now she has a big lump on her neck. So far she has had an ultra sound and a full body bone scan done. This coming Monday she has to be at the hospital for a ultra sound biopsy. She still needs to get a CT Scan appt. Once all test are done we then get the results from a surgeon. Please say a prayer for her. I can't make her feel a little positive and that cancer is no longer a death sentence.

Carol Good to hear that your knee is feeling better now. I'm not a big fish eater. The only fish I eat is canned salmon for salmon sandwiches and fish and chips where the fish is battered which sure isn't a good choice if you are diabetic.

Gayle The theme blanket you made looks very unique and pretty. I hope your GS likes the smaller version.

Mary How wonderful that you are still basically physically fit for our age. I'm not too bad except for my ankle and arthritis in my knees and breathing problems as a result of smoking years ago but I sure am overweight and not getting any exercise. That is great that your DH fishes and cooks up what he catches. My father used to do that and I used to love fishing when I was very young. There isn't any good place to fish around where I live and you have to travel quite far to find a good spot.

Hope you all have a good day,
Karrine

I used to fish years ago when DH would go. After a while I got tired of paying so much for the fishing license and we would only go a couple times a year. But I liked to go with DH and sit in a chair and read my book while he fished. I was out getting some sun and relaxing. On the way home we would stop somewhere for dinner. He only did catch and release, for sport. I would like him to do some fishing again this summer and I would go along.

I think some of the restaurants in our area have healthy choices. This one restaurant had detailed nutritional information in their menu long before the law required it. That's why I like to go out to eat because I can choose something healthier and DH can choose what he wants. They have grilled fish which is good, and grilled chicken breast, and I can choose 2 vegetable sides instead of 1 vegetable and a starch. Sometimes I get something like a grilled chicken salad and hold the french fries. It's not helping me lose any weight, but it makes me feel that I'm eating healthy. I love fish and I ate a lot of it before I met DH. He only likes battered fried fish. I will eat that if I have to, but prefer grilled or baked fish.

Karrine, I will pray for your tenant. I hope that what she has isn't cancer, or if it is, they can treat it successfully.

Mary, there are some places where I can order something without the sauce because I don't like many sauces or gravies, but I tried to get pulled pork without sauce at Texas Roadhouse and they said it's cooked in the sauce. That sauce is not good for diabetics. When we have pulled pork in our family gatherings it is cooked dry and the sauce is served on the side for each person to add.

Good morning GG's,

It is another dreary rainy day here today. Oh well, it is good for the plants.

Finally feeling better after that cold or what ever it was. I've had slight headaches a couple days ~ think it is a sinus related thing.

I am baffled by my weight. For a few days now, the scale has stayed exactly the same. It is an electronic one ~ measures in .2 of a pound increments. So, 207.4 exactly for several days. Usually it changes a little bit each day. I am thankful that it hasn't gone up, but it us just weird that it has stayed exactly the same.

Oww ~ I kind of strained a muscle in my shoulder neck. I was trying to do a text yesterday ~ Maddie was sitting on my lap playing a game on the iPad, so I probably didn't need to worry, but I didn't want her to see and was holding the phone in such a way that I guess it strained the muscle in my shoulder/neck. Boy does it hurt today. I knew as I was doing it, that it wasn't a good thing to do ~ had done a similar thing one other time ~ you'd think I would have learned my lesson from last time ~ but no. :dizzy: So, some tylenol and a heating pad for a bit.

Had a fun time visiting with my sister last evening ~ we laughed a lot ~ you need that sometimes. We both had a good time. :D

I love her, but she is different than me in many ways. She feels kind of bad ~ feels like she doesn't have many friends. I feel bad for her about that, but I think it is a result of how she is. She is a very strong personality (has had to be to survive ~ a bad marriage and a rough work place) ~ very outspoken about things and doesn't do a good job of holding her tongue. I think because of that she makes people mad/turns them off. I don't think you can have it both ways. She has to decide which she wants more ~ for people to like her, or being able to speak her mind and say what ever she wants to say. If only there was some way that she could speak her mind, but do it gently so that people would get her point but not be upset with her for saying what she feels she needs to say.

I am more of a morning person and she says she doesn't want to/feel like being around/talk to people until the afternoons. I enjoy talking on the phone (to some people) and she does not. I would get irritated with her ~ why she would be awake (I could see her on the computer doing stuff) but never call me in the mornings ~ a perfect time to be able to talk because Maddie isn't here yet. But now I get it ~ LOL. I guess I am just lonesome and missing my mom. Mom and I used to talk every day ~ a couple times a day. It started when my kids were teenagers. Mom was a great listener and talking to her helped me survive those difficult teen years of my kids. I called her my “therapist” :) After those years passed, we just kept on talking like that every day ~ mom was my best friend. We had fun talking. Now, mom has dementia and lives in a nursing home. I still talk to her most days, but it isn't the same any more. I miss how it was and am lonesome and I guess I look to my sister to fill mom's shoes with the phone visits, but she isn't into talking like mom and I did. So, I have had to adjust to life's changes.

Carol Sue ~ I can see why you like to eat out ~ so you can get a chance to eat what you want and not always have to eat what you fix for your husband.

Gosh, I would love to have a bit of chicken or fish. I think I need to show Steve the recipes in Dr. Fuhrman's book where he uses some fish or what ever that Steve thinks is off limits. Actually, Fuhrman has two versions ~ a vegetarian version and a non-vegetarian version. The vegetarian version is for “aggressive” weight loss. Steve could actually lighten up now as he has reached his goal weight. I could benefit from the aggressive version, but have reached a point where I am struggling to stick to this strict way of eating. Steve said he eats this way to increase his longevity. Funny though, he is always fussing at DS Jason for going to extremes. But I think Steve is just as bad in some things (like how he is eating ~ not lightening up even though he could now). I think he really got scared with his heart blockage last spring and that is why he continues to eat this strict version. For me, I have reached a point where I am struggling with this diet. I think I would be better off to do the non-vegetarian version. I would still be eating better than I was before this diet. I think I am getting frustrated and at risk for eating badly because it is so strict. Thank you for letting me “talk” through this. Sometimes just writing it down, helps me sort things out and helps me decide what to do.

Karrine ~ praying for your tenant ~ keep us posted ~ how her tests turn out. How is your ankle doing? Hope it is starting to feel better.

Mary ~ glad Joe got a fish. 10 pounds might not be as big as he used to get, but it still seems like a pretty good sized fish.

Sandy ~ How are you doing? Is your granddaughter feeling better now ~ recuperating after her surgery?

Guess I'd better get off here and get something done. Hope you all are having a good day.

Gayle, I feel bad that you don't have the relationship with your sister that you would like to have. It sounds like you two are opposites. I have acquaintances but not many close friends. I like to stay at home and be alone. DH and I are both at home but doing our own things except for shopping and meal times. I like online friendships because I can come here and post when it's convenient for me and so can the people I'm posting with. I have a friend I've had since high school and our communication is mostly by email, and also a woman I used to work with. I don't do much one on one face to face. My mother was the same way, but there were no computers back then. She just kept to herself. I never feel lonely. That's just the way I am.

I don't see why you can't have a small piece of fish or meat with your meal once in a while. Everyone is different, and what is good for Steve might not work for you. I wish my heart issues had scared me as much as his scared him and I could drastically change my diet. Does he exercise? I don't remember if you mentioned that. It really sounds as if food doesn't matter much to him.

I hope your shoulder/neck feels better. I have still been having some slight dizziness or lightheadedness and I'm not sure what to do about it. Yesterday I lost my balance getting out of my recliner twice, and fell back into the chair. I don't think I was dizzy, but the chair is a rocker/recliner and I think when I tried to get up it started to rock and just set me off balance. I know I have to pay attention to how I feel because of my heart valves, but I really don't think it's that because I don't have shortness of breath. My doctor said I would get shortness of breath if my valves begin to fail. My husband doesn't want me to go back to the hospital so if I tell him something happened he says it's nothing. He really hates to be by himself. I don't know what he will do if I am the first to go. He also doesn't have friends other than his brother and son. He has 4 brothers but rarely sees the other 3. I tell him if I am the first to go to find himself a rich woman.

I use a balance beam scale, like the ones they have in the doctor's office. I also have a digital scale that measures body fat, etc, but I can get on it 3 times and get 3 different answers, so I don't like to use it. On the balance beam scale you just move the weight until the beam balances.

Dh went fishing again this morning. Now that he finally got one, he wants to go all the time.:D He goes early and usually comes home about 1-3 pm. I'm like you Carol, I don't mind being alone, but when he's gone so much I kinda wish he were here. There are things I like to do/or go with him. Also left up to me, I won't be dressed til noon and never get out of the house. :D He gets me going.

My weight is up again 3.5#...this is how I do up and down..very hard to get anywhere. I've been going over a little on my calories and also ate some cheese and crackers last night..so sodium is prob part of it..plus the eating out. Restaurant food always has more fat and sodium than I get at home. I've done well today though and hope it will be down again tomorrow. Tonight I baked a chicken breast surrounded by veggies...red onion, zucchini and sweet potato. Dh doesn't care for sweet potato but he ate a little. I also made him some cream gravy to top the chicken as he doesn't like anything dry, but I ate it dry, actually prefer it that way.

Thoroughly cleaned my kitchen counters and stove top, and wiped down the upper cabinets plus the daily stuff. I ordered another top from my dd...it is kind of ivory with tiny black stripes..from a distance you can't see the stripes. I am hoping it will go with several things. I still have one patterned legging that I haven't worn yet because not having anything I felt matched. She is teaching me how to match different colors and patterns...I am so used to the old way of doing it. There are instructions here...this stuff is all new to me!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerstei...pA#.dxooZD5GpN

Just found out this eve that my dd will be moving to the OR coast, so she'll be about two hrs away. Right now it's about 40 min, but in some ways it will actually be easier due to not the city traffic. I will miss her though as it's been nice knowing she is close in case we need her or vice versa. Most of the time we talk via text or FB messager though. We will prob go to the coast more often now though.

Glynne - How many years between you and your sister in age? I know I'd like to be closer to my sister, but our lives and ideas are so different that it has always made it kinda difficult. On the diet thing...if there are two versions, why can't you eat the less strict one and let Steve do his own thing? As Carol said not all diets work for all people. I often fix rice or extra sauce for dh but I don't eat it. On the other hand sometimes I'll chop up some nuts to throw on my dish only as he doesn't want them. I think you could make it work just preparing a little grilled or baked chicken on the side just for you. Even if he broke down and ate a little chicken or fish it's not likely to hurt him if you don't use too much fat.

Carol hope that dizziness goes away soon. Do you check your BP and pulse right away? Are you on a BP med?

I'm having that abd discomfort with back pain. Think when I see the dr I'm going to ask about an X-ray. It's probably just the weight but I would feel better checking it. I doubt it's a tumor though because it is not constant discomfort although it has been pretty often recently. Also may partly be my old back pain coming back because I haven't been doing the stretches regularly.

Dh is calling me in to watch amazing race with him. Talk later.

Mary Didn't know that I haven't checked in for so long. I had a lot to catch up on. Surprise!!! When you told of your DH catching a Steel head I thought how lucky you all are. AND it is caught in cleaner water than the ones we caught a few years ago in the Lake Erie. How very, very good that is to eat. I understand the enjoyment of his fishing, and of your being alone at home, but also that after so long you feel lonesome.
Hope your medical issues find a solution and his, too.

CarolSue Dizziness? Do you take anything to help like the car sick medicine? DH had that for a while till he went off one of his heart meds and it rarely hits him now.

Just finished up my 2015 taxes and notice one form I need did NOT come in. I have a call to get it sent e-mail if possible. Hoped to take it to the accountant on Monday. So proud I got it finished this early. I used to go in the last possible week. That Accountant complimented me when I got there on April 9 - "Why are you so early?"

Usually I'm a basket case while working on them. I've prayed and prayed to the Good Lord for relief, and answered prayers!!!! This week I was able to calmly work on them like a normal person for the first time in my life.
When we began the partnership business with our Son, that was the last year I did our taxes myself. We had a part time business in our home, hired help, payroll etc and I did fine. When the partnership was formed I was completely
out of my element and had to get help. I've had it since and certainly appreciate it. This year I was the best orginized ever, but I also changed to a local accountant who helped simplify lots of things.

Yesterday's walk was good, but knee is acting up. Get the lubricating shots in that knee on the 16th, and will baby it till then.

WVU won last night at the last 2 seconds and I cheered. Michigan State won earlier by a far larger margin. Going to TV now to watch Michigan State play Maryland. Hope I can cheer again!!!!

Sandy

Good afternoon GG's,

It is a nice sun shiny time right now. I feel so much better (in a better frame of mind) when it is sunny out.

DS Jason visited for a short time yesterday. He stopped by to pick up some stuff, but didn't stay long because he was having a cold or something of that sort going on and didn't want to make us sick.

DD Sara got home from work earlier than she usually does, so that was nice. But she was back here later. An upset at home with her ex. He had his own place, but ended up back living at her house. She though it could work, but it hasn't. She had asked him to find his own place again, but much like the first time around, getting him out has been a challenge. The stuff that goes on is so upsetting to me. It has been a rugged relationship since it began back 18 years ago. These last 3 years have been the worst of it. I just want so badly for it to be over so she can have a peaceful house once again for her and the kids and get on with her life.

Lots on my mind ~ feeling stressed about stuff and and angry about some other stuff. I've been getting over some kind of cold or something and I haven't been eating very healthy ~ so I haven't felt very good. Thank goodness I was able to talk with my sister. She listened and commented and helped me get my head back in a better place, so I've felt a little better this afternoon.

Steve sort of wanted me to go to some kind of outdoor concert with him this afternoon, but I wasn't feeling that great and sort of didn't feel fit to be around other people, so I opted out. I think he was disgusted about that, but I just was not in the mood. I think he went by himself. I went out for some errands and isn't back yet.

Sandy ~ glad you are getting to enjoy the basketball games. Great job getting those taxes done/almost done ~ that is a big job. Bet you are glad to have that almost behind you. Sorry your knee is bothering. Glad you are able to get those shots again soon to help it.

Mary ~ I can identify with how you feel ~ I sort of like the alone time, but also glad when Steve gets back from his errands. Sometimes when it takes longer than it seems that it should I start to worry about him. I'm sorry that your abdominal pain has returned. Good idea to ask for some xrays. Please take care of yourself.

Carol Sue ~ I maybe gave the wrong impression of my relationship with my sister. I enjoy her. I guess what it really is, is that I miss the way I was able to visit with my mom. Because she was retired, we could talk pretty much all the time, any time we wanted to, and my sister isn't able to talk like that. I hope your dizziness goes away ~ maybe you can go get it checked out if it continues. Please take care of yourself too.

Karrine ~ how is your ankle doing? Hope that the brace is helping it feel better. How is your tenant? Hope she can get the rest of the tests soon so that she can get this taken care of so she can feel better about things.

I called this afternoon to talk to my mom. She was napping the first time I called and again the second time. The nurse said she has been more agitated lately. They might have to adjust her meds again. They are doing a program with her where they use music to try to help her be more calm. It helps sometimes. They had kind of a situation today. Mom threw her new shoes in the trash. The nurse retrieved them. Mom took a nap and when she came out for super, she only had on one shoe. The staff spent 2 hours looking everywhere trying to find her other shoe. They asked the cleaning lady if maybe (because mom had already pitched them in the trash once today) the one shoe was in the trash. The cleaning lady said no, she hadn't seen it. A couple of the nurses went out to the dumpster and dug through it and found the other shoe. Those nurses are a God send. They take such good care of those patients and doing things like this ~ they go way above and beyond the call of duty. I am so thankful that mom is there with them, and the wonderful care they give her.

Hope you all are having a good weekend.

It's been a fun day...went to our gd's last basketball game today. She got TWO baskets! Her first for the season. I told her I guess she was waiting til the last game to go out with a bang! She said "I just jumped and it went in." She says the cutest things.

After the game we went shopping for a new printer. I think mine needs a new printer head...I cleaned it and it still doesn't work. Even had dh install it again (after I did) to make sure I had it in right. It really isn't that complicated though and he couldn't do anything different. The print heads cost quite a bit and printers don't cost much so just got a new one at Costco. Haven't had time to set it up yet.

Our son and his new fam came for a visit. The baby is just getting cuter and cuter. She smiled a lot and cooed some for us.

In a few minutes I need to get ready to go out again...going to a movie called The Finest Hours. Kind of a disaster film which I think is based on a true story. Finally used the last of my Fandango GC win.

I bought a whole outfit from my dd...it's a top, skirt and kimono. Spending a lot of money, she even encouraged me to wait but I couldn't resist it. I guess seeing it altogether made it easy for me...no matching of my own to do.:D I'd better stop buying now though for a while.

What are you all doing for Easter? We are having the kids over. I'm planning on getting a honey baked ham, making a salad and maybe get some buns, some kind of veg, jelly beans for dessert. My dil may bring a potato salad, and my dd may bring a dessert. That's all I know for now. We are going to serve it buffet style this time. So pretty easy hopefully.

No time for personals right now. I'm hurting a little and will be sitting in the theater so need to move around now. The discomfort isn't going away much now. It isn't real painful though...just uncomfortable and annoying mostly.

Enjoy your weekend.

Good morning everyone,
I am so very happy that my new ankle brace is helping me to walk more comfortably. My tenant has to be at the hospital by 8 am tomorrow morning for her ultra sound biopsy. She still needs to get her appt. for the CT Scan before she knows the results of all the tests.

Carol you having that grilled chicken salad sounds like something I would really like. Please be careful when you get your dizziness as we sure wouldn't want to hear that you have had a fall. I too, don't have many close friends as I am such a homebody and going out for dinner & some church functions is about the only socializing I do.

Gayle glad that you are feeling better but sorry you have strained a neck muscle. I have a sister-in-law who is very outspoken and has on occasion been so embarrassing that she was asked to leave.

Mary Sorry your weight is up again. I didn't have a good week and don't expect to have a good scale reading tomorrow morning. I have really been slacking off lately and have to get my mind set back on the ball. Sorry that your DD is moving farther away from you. My daughter is 2-1/2 hrs. away and now that I am older I don't really enjoy the drive anymore as it involves going on major highways that are quite hectic. Your Easter plans sound very nice.

Sandy I did my tax return yesterday morning which is why I never got around to posting here. Mine is pretty straight forward and not complicated like your's is.

Have a good day everyone,
Karrine

I had a very strange but amazing day yesterday. I will try to make the story short and will change names for privacy reasons.

My DIL works for the county, but not our county, the next county. There was an event at their mall where various organizations set up booths to bring awareness to their organization. She was manning the county booth, telling people about the programs they offered. My step son and grandson were going to spend the afternoon so DH and I decided to go also. We are not familiar with this area about 50 miles away. We found the right exit to get off the highway but missed the turn for the mall. We stopped a man who was walking along and asked how to get to the mall. He gave us directions, and then said 'That's where I'm going. Could you give me a ride?" Normally, we would not pick up strangers but felt we were on the spot so I said "You know the way, so get in." Realizing that we must not have been from the area since we didn't know how to get to the mall, the guy asked where we were from. When we told him the name of our town, he said he is from that town also, but had moved to this other town after losing his job and getting a divorce. I guess his wife got the car in the divorce. We thought it was so odd that we were in a strange town, and it just so happened that the stranger we pick up was from out town, and also going to the same place we were going to.

So we got to the mall and it was packed. So many booths from organizations, and it seemed like thousands of customers. We spent some time with our family, then when my DIL's booth got busy we decided to walk around and see the rest of the mall. We hadn't gone far when this woman approached me with a pamphlet and started telling me about her organization. I explained that we weren't from around the area and wouldn't know where her organization was.

She asked where are you from?

I replied "Anytown USA"

She said "I'm from Happy Town"

I said "We both grew up in Happy Town"

So we discussed where we had each lived, and it ended up that her grandmother has lived 2 doors up from me, and she was able to name many neighbors who had lived in that community.

Through all this, DH was just standing there listening to the conversation.

He said "I worked at Smith Warehouse."

She said "I knew Joe Jones who worked at Smith Warehouse."

Shocked, DH said "THAT'S ME! I AM JOE JONES!"

Shocked, she said "You lived in our house when I was a little girl!"

Here, DH and his first wife had rented an apartment in this woman's family home in 1966 when she was 10 years old! She remembered his name and where he worked from 50 years ago, but didn't recognize him as he has changed so much.

Tell me, what are the chances that we would pick up a stranger who was from the same town as us, and also connect with this woman in a crowd of thousands of people in a town we had never been to? We walked around in amazement the rest of the day!!!