run on sentences

My friend and Sunday running buddy Sid, often quotes this entire essay from memory.    I think it has a good message. THE STATION By Robert J. Hastings    TUCKED AWAY in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision.  We see ourselves on a long, long trip that almost spans the continent.  We're traveling by passenger train, and out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls, of biting winter and blazing summer and cavorting spring and docile fall.      But uppermost in our minds is the final destination.  On a certain day at a certain hour we will pull into the station.  There will be bands playing and flags waving.  And once we get there so...

Written by Randy Sparks Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine I'll taste your strawberries I'll drink your sweet wine A million tomorrows shall all pass away And ere I forget all the joy that is mine today. I'll be a dandy and I'll be a rover You'll know who I am by the songs that I sing I'll feast at your table and I'll lie in your clover Who cares what tomorrow shall bring. Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine I'll taste your strawberries I'll drink your sweet wine A million tomorrows shall all pass away And ere I forget all the joy that is mine today. I can't be contented with yesterday's glory I can't live on promises winter to spring Today is my moment and now is my story I'll laugh and I'll cry and I'll sing. Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine I'll taste your strawberries I'll drink your sweet wine A million tomorrows shall all pass away And ere I ...

The last of a long line of lucky left- over and unwanted- by- others- cats who shared a good life with my sister and Siggie, died last week.  Her name was Mama Meese and I previously wrote about her in another entry entitled "Georgetta Legs".  Mama Meese is deserving of a second tribute. For the past several years, when I went back to see my sis, I thought it might be the last time I would see Ma Meese.  No one knew exactly how old she was but she now was deaf, had no teeth and weighed about 8 pounds I bet.  My unofficial diagnosis was that she has some sort of cancer that was not allowing her to absorb any food so everything she ate came right through her.  She seemed constantly hungry and when Siggie was still alive, she spent a lot of time trying to find just the right thing that Mama would eat -opening many different cans of cat food before the finicky cat would be satisfied.  Siggie could often be heard calling her a bitch...but of course Mama was de...

Several years ago when we were visiting my mom and dad, and after a long conversation with her grandpa, my daughter said to me "Your dad is underrated".  I knew exactly what she meant and as the years go by after his death - it will be 7 years on the 24th - I realize more and more just how deep he was.  He didn't go to college but he was smarter than many people who did.  He didn't go to church (except on Christmas Eve) but was more spiritual than many who go every Sunday.  He didn't have much money but gave what he had.  He loved the outdoors and being in the woods.  My dad didn't say very much and sometimes one wondered if he was ever going to answer a question or make a comment.  Some may have thought that he was a little "slow" but the truth is, he was a thinker and didn't always come up with a fast answer. He was also a writer and I wish he had saved more of the things he wrote about growing up and his thoughts on society.  He submitted a ...

A few nights ago I had a work dream of a different variety.  I was attending an emergency department nursing conference and was a speaker.  Unfortunately I had forgotten I was asked to speak and was not at all prepared.  "But I am not even working anymore," I protested to someone who remained unidentified in my dream.  "Well you said you would speak" that person said.  "And they are counting on you".  I thought of all my work experiences/accomplishments.  I could talk about doing evaluations or putting together a budget or creating a new charge nurse role.  But I wasn't working.   So I would not be credible as a speaker.  Then it came to me....the title of my speech would be "What a hospital cafeteria cook can teach you about kindness".  I woke up wondering how I would have pulled this off.   I did know a lot of hospital cooks in my time and many of them were great at what they did - but I could not think of...

So this post won't make any sense to anyone but direct family members...but come to think of it, maybe a lot of my posts don't make much sense anyway to the three people who might read them.  And why am I making excuses for what I am about to write?  I don't know.  Forget I said anything.  This is great.  My family is great.  My blog is great.  My delusional self talk is great. A few weeks ago, Kseniya and I were texting back and forth.  We had just returned from Dan's medical school graduation in Chicago (another post at another time - coming soon) and we had gone to a Cub's game.  It was freezing there and if it were not for Dan's girlfriend who lent us an assortment of hoodies, we would have been more uncomfortable.  She said she was well stocked up on hoodies because she is always cold - I can relate to that. Freezing at the Cubs game - but loving it!  Anyway we were talking about the Cub's game and I said: "We should ...

Today I set out on my Saturday run around 8:15 am. It was already about 65 degrees.   I should have started out earlier but if I am running by myself, I have a hard time doing that even though most days I am up at 530 or 6 a.m. My once large Saturday running group has dwindled down to just me most days. I wasn't sure how far I would go – usually it depends on how I feel.  I play funny games like if I find a coin on the road, I use it as a sign that I have to go further than usual. Today I didn't find any coins but I used a different measure – seeing people I know. During the first mile, I saw my friend Julie and her husband riding their bikes – packed and ready to go somewhere.  Julie used to run with me until she got painful hips. Seeing them made me vow to go at least 6 miles. Then at mile 6, I saw another friend, Eileen, also riding her bike. “I will go at least 7 miles”, I said to myself or maybe I said it out loud. I am not sur...