Merry Christmas 2006

Howdy to all of my friends and family all over the world!

I can’t believe it’s the holidays again already. This year has flown by so fast. It has had its good times and some bad, but overall I am thankful to have all of my family home and relatively healthy.

January found us nursing Dad, just home from the hospital after his stroke on Oct 21, 2005. He had almost daily therapy with speech, physical and occupational, as well as a nurse checking in every other day. I stayed at their place in Sun City for several months while Dad was recovering. Once he was able to get up and walk a bit, I moved back home, but still spent the entire day as his daytime caregiver. Julie was living there and assisted Mom caring for him at night. 

He was well into his recovery when they decided to do the surgery for his carotid artery clean out in June. Jo was on her way from California the day before the surgery was scheduled, when I had to call and tell her to come to Boswell Hospital where Mom had been taken after a fall that broke her hip. A silly little kick of her slipper to dump a rock knocked her down. (I guess that’s why they call them slippers!) She was rushed into surgery for a hip replacement within hours.  Her roommate had the same surgery for almost the same reason – kicking a rock out of her shoe. Let that be a lesson – rock in shoe – sit down!

Dad went ahead with his surgery the next day and was out before Mom came home. It was a good thing he did, because they found a major clot that could have been life threatening had they not got it out when they did. I moved back into their place for another month to care for both of them. Therapy again, this time for Mom. After three weeks she had cabin fever and I started taking her to Bingo which made her happy. She’s walking pretty good with a cane now. 

A few weeks later Dad had another minor surgery to remove his gallbladder. In and out in two days. It was a super easy procedure and has made him feel much better.

My Buckeye AZ Paramedic brother-in-law Ron Smith went through a scary episode with what they called spinal meningitis or a brain infection. He was totally incapacitated for months and we feared permanent disability. He used Dad’s wheelchair and was so weak the firefighters had to carry him up and down the stairs. He was in and out of the hospital for weeks. Then finally he healed. It was a very painful episode for him and hopefully all over. We pray there are no long term repercussions. He is back to work now training as an Engineer (driving the big fire trucks). (News Update!!!! Ron got the promotion to Fire Engineer as of 12/31/06!)

Gina is happy with her job stocking shelves at night at WalMart. She can be home mornings with the kids, Roger and Stephanie, to get them off to school. The kids are doing great! They also moved into a new house in the last year, which was a pain to have to move when Ron was sick, but a blessing in that they now are buying their own home. And they really like the new neighborhood.  It’s all brand new with young families.

Jo and Jeff in Temecula have moved into a new home as well. They are very happy with their new home in the same area they had been living, but a nicer home. The boys, Jeffery and Matthew, are happy and growing up so fast! They look like young men now in their school pictures. We will see them the week before Christmas as they come here for a few days.

Julie is happy working with her friends in their own computer company. She is always busy working with many interesting clients.  I have been happy to work with her on a number of jobs as an extra set of hands. She’s so talented with networking and web development. They have some really big time accounts! She is also playing hard these days with trips to Canada, Seattle and multiple trips to California. As an annual pass to DisneyLand holder, she enjoys frequent adventures there and in surrounding venues. Between the hockey games and concerts, she is on the run all the time.

My life has been occupied with caregiver duties for most of the year. Now that both Mom and Dad are well, I have been back to writing and side jobs. I’m still Editor of the Mounted Shooters World magazine which is a labor of love. (no $)  I worked for a couple of north valley publications as freelance writer and ad sales rep. (very little $) You can see all of my freelance writing on my website at http://members.cox/lasharpe . (still very very little $) I’m also doing layout and website work for clients to pay the bills. I'm always looking for odd jobs I can pick up doing anything - house sitting, web sites, writing, shopping, care giver, you name it!

As far as travel, it’s been light for me this year. I did go to Canyon de Chelly in September  for a couple of days. We stopped and visited with Debbie in Payson too. That was fun. In October I attended an Arizona Press Club seminar in Flagstaff at NAU. Very interesting and I made lots of great contacts for future freelance work opportunities. November I went to the MSA World Championships in Laughlin NV, right on the border with Arizona. Julie and I went to Tuba City and Window Rock for her work. And Vegas for the NFR and SASS Cowboy Convention and shopping with my good friend Phyllis! Some pics at http://members.cox.net/mhsba/pics.htm

Entertainment highlight of the year was the Rolling Stones concert at the Glendale Stadium. What a show those guys throw. It was well worth the ticket price! I enjoyed it with Julie and her friend Gretchen.  Also went to several plays including Chicago with Mom & Julie, and Swan Lake Ballet, extraordinarily beautiful with Mom, Aunt Reggie & Julie.  I also went to the Wild Western Festival for the newspaper as a reporter. Attending events as the press takes on a whole new view. Oh and meeting Floyd one of the Navajo code talkers, a hero of WWII was really great!

My high school alumni association continues to raise funds for scholarships and provide opportunities to meet old classmates. We managed one scholarship this year and I made the onstage presentation to the recipient in May. We also laid flowers at the graves of all of our known alumni (about 300) in Arizona for Veteran’s Day.  See more about that at www.maryvalepanthers.com

I worked with my friend Cortland who sponsored a Trail Ride in memory of our friend Robin who lost her battle with brain cancer. He has done so much to honor her memory including a beautiful memorial service. We raised over $7500 for cancer research with the Ride for the Walk. All the funds raised went to a team in the Breast Cancer Walk.  He might do it again next year. So keep October open for a great Trail Ride!

My work as a reporter for the Desert Advocate has been fun. Several of my interviews have been so interesting and led to new friendships. I hope that work continues. I’m also maintaining several websites and doing lots of layout work. Call me if you know anyone who needs writing, layout or web work.

Well that’s about all that’s going on in my world this year. I hope you and yours are happy and healthy.

I wish you a Joyous Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love,

Dec 17, 2006 Everyone got together for a family portrait. Mom & Dad in front.

Jeff & Jo and boys Jeffrey & Matthew in front left. Gina & Ron and their daughter Stephanie & son Roger on right. Fred is hiding behind Dad's head next to me and Julie with Fred & Gina's daughter Jessica next to her mom.

Jessica Cheles, Gina & Ron Smith with Roger & Stephanie Smith.

Jo & Jeff Cribben with Jeffrey & Matthew Cribben.

Fred & Jessica Cheles

Everyone gathering for the family picture at Grandma's.

Ron & Julie relax after Christmas Eve dinner.

Six of the nine puppies out of Lugnut and Oreo at 5 weeks old. They sure are cute but will grow up to be huge!

Ed with a beard hohoho and Julie Christmas morning.

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