Hi All,
First of all, I want to say thank you on behalf of Frieda's family, as well as our family for all the calls, emails, etc. It has been overwhelming. I was at THE PAMLICO NEWS earlier to pick up a paper, to see Karen and to "just be there." The paper looks stunning. I am so proud of everyone who contributed to getting this edition out. It looks absolutely fabulous! Frieda will be so proud when she sees it. Then, as Karen said, "she'll start to nit-pick" and tell them all what for! We had to smile at that.
I will be going back to the hospital this evening. For now, I'm going to grab a quick nap.
Basically, Frieda remains the same. I have no idea "medically" what her movements mean, but I can tell you first hand that she does move about when we say certain things to her and when she hears voices. I know in my heart that she knows our voices.
Late last night on the last visit, Wayne came in and spoke to her and she was moving her head back and forth as if to find him, then she did settle in toward the side of the bed that he was standing. She was totally aware that it was Wayne and she did squeeze his hand.
As I said in another post, when I started to leave, I had been holding her hand. When I released it and walked away, I looked back and she was reaching up. I ran back and held it until it relaxed in my own hand and I felt she was sleeping.
Please continue to pray for Frieda. She is not out of the woods, but she is certainly making progress. This is just going to take time.
I have had many emails and phone calls asking about a mailing address. Be reminded that in critical care, visits are limited to family. Also, flowers are not appropriate for those rooms. However, at the close of this post, I will leave a mailing address to the hospital and Frieda's room number.
If there are folks that would be interested in keeping up with Frieda's progress, either contact me via a blog comment, or please forward the blog to those who want to know how Frieda is doing. I am happy to help get the word out as much as I can, but am limited on email addresses, etc. Don't mind asking me to forward, etc. I am glad to do it.
On behalf of the family, I am asking for continued prayer and lots of it. God does hear our prayers and knows our hearts are hurting with sorrow, fear, the unknown and a myriad of other feelings.
Mrs. Nancy, Young Nancy and Jess, Grey and Sarah, Sandy and Karen are all so appreciative and totally humbled at the outpouring of concern for Frieda. No one is one bit shocked. That's just how "our Frieda" affects everyone.
Get a copy of this weeks Pamilco News and cheer on the staff that is doing the best it can under these circumstances. Just know it's TEMPORARY guys!!! Frieda will be back and will be as mad as a wet hen if you all get "too comfortable" in "her chair."
If you care to send a card or a note, the address is:

PATIENT FRIEDA HUDSON-ROOM 214 NORTH TOWER
Pitt County Memorial Hospital
2100 Stantonsburg Road
PO Box 6028
Greenville, North Carolina 27835-6028

Ok, nap time. I'll be going back up this evening and will update at that time.

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Nancy is sleeping in the "recliner" (if that is what you want to call it! HA!) beside me. Doesn't recline much, but that's ok. We have pillows. There is one other family at the end of the room. I have noticed a doctor come to see them. I have noticed a few nurses come to check on them. I have prayed for them. I don't know their story, but I'm sure it's not a lot dissimilar to "our story." Hospitals are strange places. It's the only place I can think of that NO ONE is here because "they want to be." I've seen tears, I've seen concern, furrowed brows of folks that have to make tough decisions. I have seen loneliness and of course, death. Death is actually on the hallway down from me as Nancy's friend Danielle who is an ICU nurse is caring for a man in his final moments of life...literally. Does that give any indication of how little we notice the brevity of "life?" Does that tell us just how much we take for granted? In this environment, it certainly does...but once you leave here...you go back into reality and it seems we all "forget."
Earlier, "Young Nancy" and I spent a good while with Frieda. She opened her eyes, she raised her left hand, she responded to our voices. She tried to turn her head to follow the sounds. I was so happy. Even the smallest of things create joy and celebration. Just shows me how little it really does take to "make us happy." It's not about cars, labels, how big your house is, what kind of high end furniture you have, what kind of boat, if your property is on the water or not...it's about something as basic as the squeeze of a hand of a loved one who is very ill. It's about the pure celebration of a fluttering of eyelids. It's about love. I've said for a long, long time, life boils down to one word: LOVE. That's it. That's the deal. That's the reason God has given us this opportunity to LIVE life. He loves us and expects us to do the same for one another.
I look at the sheer size of this building and think about other hospitals I've either been in or visited. I think of ALL the families who are going through the same things that we are tonight. We wonder, we hope, we pray, we try to find a bit of "normal" in all of this insanity. It's really surreal. "Young Nancy" told Frieda we were down the hall having a pajama party with her tonight.
I sang to Frieda...and NO! Not my "real songs!" She would never go for that! It had to be the good stuff...serious stuff like
EIGHTEEN WHEELS ON A BIG RIG!! And you know what? She liked it!! She was mouthing, she was pushing her feet, she was grasping my hand. I know she heard that foolishness and I know she was doing her best to convey that. I didn't get the odd number one just right and we all laughed and Frieda squeezed my hand. She doesn't miss a trick and she knew I was screwing up the all important BIG RIG SONG (see one of the blogs below to learn about that!).
Life is a series of events that we have to roll with. Some are harder than others and with all the difficulty in my life lately, NONE of those things hold any importance to me right now. Let the bad folks keep being bad. For now, my place is with my friend. My place is BEING a friend. My place is to continue to pray and to watch over someone who has watched over me since we met.
I was walking away from Frieda tonight and saw her left hand raise up again. We had been holding hands for some time. I ran back and held her hand until she relaxed. I kissed her forehead and told her we were just down the hall. (She's going to bust my chops for all that kissing stuff. That's not her style at all, but it's my style and I'm determined that Frieda Hudson IS going to be back.) She is going to do all the hard work it takes to regain her strength be all she can possibly be. I'll reiterate...how on earth can someone in ICU be "supporting" those around her when she is in such a serious condition? Well, you would just have to know Frieda. That's exactly how she operates....giving, loving, showing compassion and being the best friend anyone could ever have.
Continued prayers would be great. I hope you will join me in in continuing to lift Frieda's health and improvement up in prayer. Times passes, lives move on and we have to continue to pray. A nurse told me earlier that "miracles do happen." I believe that with all my heart. I know this nurse sees tragedy every day...I know she also sees true miracles. If anyone will beat these odds, whatever they may be, it will be Frieda.
You can take that to the bank.

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I am in the ICU waiting area of Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville, NC.
I have been with Frieda twice now. Once was with Nancy (Young Nancy, as I call her) and Jess, Frieda's youngest daughter.
Frieda looks peaceful and comfortable. She looks so, so much better. The doctors are slowly reducing her sedation which is a good thing.
Frieda responded immediately to my voice. I was stunned. When I spoke and said "Frieda, it's me." She started to raise her left arm and squirm. She opened her eyes for me and though there was no "focus," that was enough.
We were told she could have music in her room. I was pondering that on the drive up. I was thinking about how much Frieda loves music, how music we talk about music and how many trivia nights she has won at M&M's during the winter months in Oriental. Frieda will be pleased to have her TUNES! I am going to bring my iPod boom box type thingy so we can line her up with what she truly loves.
On many occasions, Frieda and I would have our Senior moments and those are hysterical. We each knew what song we were thinking of, but not then we'd "hum a few bars" then start laughing when we both knew the song, but couldn't remember the title. In a couple of hours, of course, the title would come to us. If Frieda had already gone home, my phone would ring or hers would ring NO MATTER WHAT TIME....and whoever remembered first, blurted it out.
We have a wonderful "competetive spirit." NEVER have we competed "against" one another. We complement each other and we give each other a healthy level of support. Even shooting skeet, shooting pool, guessing song titles, talking about the 4.5 million subjects we talk about, Frieda and I have such a beautiful relationship.
I know she knows I love her. She's not the mushy type. I am. She's not the huggy type. I am. Though I never hold anything in reserve on how I "feel," I knew Frieda just isn't the mushy type, so I just love her so much in my heart and sneak in an "I LOVE YOU" or a hug every chance I get.
We love our girls together. We pity people who have LOADS of children together and just laugh and laugh! We are women in the middle points of our lives who are loving every second of it. Our kids have made us proud and continue to, but we are loving our independence as "women." We've each seen a lot in life and we each have had similar experiencess. That's our foundation and our love is our constant. It's our True North and I can honestly say, I could never, ever have a better, more trusted friend than Frieda Hudson. Holding her hand a few minutes ago gave ME comfort. Isn't that typical? There she is a few doors down the hall in an ICU unit...giving me comfort, reminding me with a raise of her hand, telling me she's here.
I'm here too Frieda. I'll be here now and for the long haul. I love you and I feel better just being near you.

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First of all I would like to report that Frieda Hudson has been safely transported to Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville. As soon as she arrived an entirely different course of treatment began and according to Nancy Hudson, Frieda's oldest daughter, she looks incredibly better already. Thank God for that. There were procedures that were done last night that Frieda came through like a trooper, as those of us who know her knew she would. I know she is in very capable hands now and that offers some degree of peace.
There are so many feelings that go through your mind, heart, body and soul in a time like this. I feel angry, I feel, scared, I feel alone, I feel empty, I want to cry, but can't. I want to scream, but don't even know how to do that right now. So I continue to pray.
There have been so many calls, emails and contacts regarding Frieda and her improvement. I will continue to ask for you, as my friends, to lift my friend Frieda up in prayer for her full recovery. You know, I've discovered something during this. I've typed "FRIEDA" so many times, yet each time I find (and I don't believe it's an accident or a typo happening) I am typing the word "FRIEND" first each time. My fingers just seem to go there. And our friendship is THAT easy. Completely effortless would be a better term.
I miss her this morning. I had my coffee, quietly. No laughing, no discussion of what "Murder and Mayhem" shows were on TV last night. We're all into that FBI whodunit stuff. We're also in the TV show "DEADLIEST CATCH" and the new show "ICE ROAD TRUCKERS!" Frieda was saying on Thursday night that she was really loving that show a lot. We both were laughing at what big chickens we are and that we would NEVER, EVER get on a frozen lake and drive across it on a big rig! HAHAH! We have this song we sing by Heywood Banks, a comedian we love that simply counts the number of wheels on a "big rig" and each time we would have a blow out on the horse trailer when we were going to get the donkeys, we'd count less wheels than before. Does this sound like the sound, intelligent conversation of a 45 year old woman and a 51 year old woman? YOU BET IT DOES!! AND THAT IS "ANNE AND FRIEDA!" If we don't do anything else, we find something to LAUGH about!! And we will be laughing together and singing the BIG RIG song just as soon as we possibly can!
There's 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18 WHEELS ON BIG RIG!! Now let's sing in 2's! HA! I LOVE YOU FRIEDA HUDSON!! KEEP PUSHING AHEAD MY DEAR FRIEND!! WE'RE RIGHT BESIDE YOU!!!

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This will be a brief post, but I did want to let you all know that Frieda has been transported by helicopter just a short time ago
to Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville, North Carolina.
I am sure that she will be in the most capable medical hands possible and I am relieved that she is in their care.
Please continue to pray for Frieda.
She is now where she wants to be and where she needs to be.
I am touched and overwhelmed by the calls and email messges. Frieda will fuss at all this attention. :)
All of you are so wonderful to care and show compassion to our family and to Frieda's family. The family
members appreciate the prayer more than I can convey.
KEEP FIGHTING FRIEDA!! WE'RE RIGHT WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!

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(Frieda and Wayne on Mrs. Nancy's porch during the Croaker Festival. WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH FRIEDA! WE'RE RIGHT BESIDE YOU!)
First of all, I cannot thank you enough for all the calls and emails of support to Frieda Hudson. She is simply going to be amazed...and humbled. Frieda is not one of those "in your face" kind of people. She does what she does in quiet, simple ways and believe me, she does a lot. Since Friday evening, my life has been a blur of uncertainty. It has been a feeling of "numb."
I have watched Frieda's family move from one emotion to another, wait, ask questions, wait, ask questions, etc. It is a relentless cycle of the unknown. It is exhausting....the whole process is exhausting.
Frieda continues to battle. As I said, she's a fighter and we know she's fighting as hard as she can to come out of this. Today, we are under the impression that she will be moved to Pitt Memorial in Greenville. There are doctors there who are more involved with the type of stroke Frieda has had...and that is what she wants. She has told me on many occasions that "if anything significant ever happens to me, I want to go to Pitt." Having conveyed that to the family, Frieda is on her way to Pitt at some point today by way of helicopter. She will like that. She doesn't like planes, but loves helicopter rides. Go figure! I am kind of digging "terra firma" myself these days.
I will continue to ask you to pray for Frieda, for her family, for the wisdom of her doctors and care team. I miss her so much. I came in last night and was washing dishes. It was pure impulse to "see if Frieda had called." Wayne even said, "On Saturday nights, Frieda's always sitting right there," pointing to "her chair" here.
We're lost puppies right now. We're helpless puppies right now and can rely only on what a medical community can do for her.
However, there is ONE Great Physician. Wayne and I have handed this to Him on Friday night and though we still worry, we can take comfort in knowing that God is in charge of what happens here. I do not believe Frieda's work here is finished. She has so much to offer and so much more to give to everyone she comes into contact with.
Please pray with me for Frieda, her family and all of those who are taking care of her medical concerns. I will keep you posted on how things are going and when she gets transported to Pitt Memorial.
Thank you all for being "our friends." We love each and every one of you and wish you peace, contentment and most of all good health.

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(Picture #1, we call "What Happens in Luray, STAYS in Luray." This was about as crazy as things got last February when Wayne, Frieda and I took a vacation to Luray, Virginia. This is how we operate...best friends, relaxed and all is right with the world. Dave Shirk asked that I post this picture, as it does truly represent "contentment." Thanks for the suggestion Dave. WE ARE WITH YOU FRIEDA! WE ARE RIGHT THERE!)
Last night around this time, I was writing the first blog I had composed in nine days.
Tonight, I am writing from a profoundly sad and heartbroken place. Once again, "life" is showing me that nothing stays the same. With each rising and setting of the sun, life as we know it will be different. Sometimes in only small ways, others are, as I said, profound.
My dear and precious friend Frieda Hudson lies in Craven Hospital as I type this, fighting for her life.
I suppose I am in a state of shock, because in this moment, I feel nothing. I can't cry, I can't feel anger, I can't feel anything except a deep and relentless sense of emptiness.
I was on the telephone with Frieda, as we are a lot of the time. We talk all the time about everything and nothing. She had called me to talk about the tarpon tournament this weekend, fishing in it with her brother Sandy, all the food her mom had made for them and how she was going to run into the grocery to buy some nabs. "You can't go fishing without some nabs," she said. So, when she got to the store, she said she'd run in and then call me right back. The next call I got was that she had collapsed just after entering the store.
Frieda has been a solid and intrinsic part of my life basically since the moment we were introduced by Dave Shirk at M&M's Cafe, (a local eatery that Dave and Marsha Shirk made a landmark in Oriental) a few years ago. She never complains about anything. She is one of those people who always has just the right thing to say or knows just what to do in any given situation. She lives, eats and breathes her newspaper, which is The Pamlico News...the weekly news source in our small county.
Frieda and I are like frick and frack. We're like peanut butter and jelly. We're like ice cream and chocolate sauce. We have been joined at the hip for a long time now.
When I've had something to celebrate, Frieda has celebrated louder than I could. When I have cried, she has offered her shoulders, her support and her love. Frieda Hudson is the most staunch, loyal and trusted friend I have ever had. There is nothing I would not do for her.
In learning the ropes about living in a new place, Frieda Hudson has been like a guardian angel, advising Wayne and me, directing us about situations that would not be in our best interest. She has been there to support us and love us with no conditions, no restraints and no boundaries.
I love Frieda Hudson. I love every single thing about her. I love her laugh, how she looks at life, I love her knowledge and I love the total ease in which our relationship revolves. I love her wickedly sharp wit, I love how we "feed" off of each other and all the craziness that ensues when we are on a "comical streak."
It's very seldom that she's not here. We cook, we watch movies, we eat, we talk and when Wayne falls asleep, she and I talk some more. Then when she's not here, Wayne and I take "coffee rides" and go sit on Frieda's "pizer" as she calls it, watching the world go by in Oriental.
Every morning, we have our "coffee talks" over the phone to begin our day. I'm a fan of her radio show. I'm a fan of her column and I am a fan of one of the most fantasic people I have ever been priviledged to know. And typically, Frieda is the last person I speak to each day. We generally have a "wrap up" and close by saying, "Well, talk to ya in the morning!"
Her family has embraced my family and we are all very close. "Mrs. Nancy," her mom, is G'ma to Wayne and me. She welcomes us into her home, her heart and offers us a sense of family. The entire family has embraced us as though we have always been there and there are no words to express how much that means to us. When nothing else in the world is right, Frieda and her family are ready and waiting with a willing hug, a smile and all the love you could ever wish for.
I pray for healing for my precious friend. I pray that God will hold her in His healing hands give her body the strength to fight and to heal.
Everyone who knows Frieda knows she is a fighter. She is staunchly independent and she doesn't give up. I admire all of those qualities so much.
I am asking you to pray, to send energy and to send love to Frieda Hudson in the coming days. She needs our help now. Her family needs prayer and Frieda needs all the energy that we can possibly send to her.
I don't understand how things can go so upside down in a few seconds time.
For all my friends who are Reiki pracitioners, I ask you from my heart to please SEND! SEND! SEND!
I was able to spend quite a bit of time with her in the Critical Care Unit and I was able to give Reiki hands on. She did respond. I will continue to send the remainder of the night and for as long it takes to get through this.
I do believe that prayer changes things and that our energy is to be shared. With those two components, bodies can and do heal. Miracles can and do happen every day and I believe that a miracle can and will happen for Frieda Hudson. I ask that you believe that too. Even though you may not know her, believe in her healing anyway.
I have written about her in my blog, she has been my photographer, she has done graphic work on my CD's and she has been the deepest confidant I have ever had.
I will spend this night praying without ceasing for her. I ask you to join me in prayer for her complete healing and restoration.
One of the closest people in the world to me has had a stroke. Life has dealt a severe blow to Frieda and her family. In my heart, with our help, she can overcome this. With our help, she can win this battle.
On the way home from the hospital, there was a sign posted at the volunteer fire department for our neighborhood. It read:
BE KIND TO OTHERS. EVERYONE IS FIGHTING THEIR OWN BATTLE.
We never know what others are going through and how they might be suffering. What happened to my friend today is a perfect example of that. I will not stop praying that Frieda can and will win this battle and I hope you, my friends, don't mind me asking for your help too.
I love you Frieda. Keep fighing. We're all right beside you.

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(Has it really been NINE DAYS since I posted a blog?)
Well, I guess I need to start this blog with an apology of sorts. It was called to my attention this evening that I hadn't posted in NINE, yes, NINE days! I had a great big laugh at that and was totally flattered at the email I received pointing out this little faux paux. You can see the email for yourselves and we'll all have a big laugh together.
Shelia Sammons, of Mocksville, NC has now earned the moniker "WATCHDOG" for me! And I appreciate that so much! I didn't know I was missed!
Here's a little sample of Shelia's email: (and it was in a BIG font! She meant bid'ness!)

Anne,
I hate to call this to your attention, but...........ummmmm there has been NO update on your blog in NINE DAYS!
So either you are too busy taking care of Wayne, or you are just keeping us in suspense! Man, are you going to turn into one of those famous authors who baits us, and then makes us wait?????? I have been reduced to re-reading Janet Evanovich books and Anne's blogs! What is this world coming to?
Have a great weekend.
Shelia Sammons

So, I promptly got an email to Mrs. Sammons to thank her profusely for noticing and to let her know that she in fact, gave me a blog topic for this evening. Where will that go? Who the heck knows...I have decided simply "to type."
Shelia did ask about Wayne and how we BOTH are doing....and to answer that...we're both doing fine. Thanks! Wayne, as you have read in previous blogs is a tough guy to keep still. That's been the tough part for me. My nagging is getting old, I'm sure. "You should rest. You've been up for too long. Don't you think your leg is swelling? Do you REALLY think the doctor had in mind for you to just ride around on the bull dozer?" Those have been comments heard recently on the Dumb Bell Ranch. Oh yes, and the ever popular mumble "I swear I think I'm changing my name from Anne to something else." My name resonates frequently as this recovery thing happens for Wayne. If you have kids, you can relate to this...Remember when your child was a toddler and you heard MOOOOOOOM?????? And you ran to see what the crisis might be and you got basically a blank stare as your child tried to think of something to say...and you get "Ahmmmmmm....I love you!" (Yeah! That'll work!) Well, I've been getting a few of those too. I can live with those kinds of calls though. I'm scrambling a lot. I'm trying to think of it as "exercise." That gives me a positive perspective on things. I actually try to convince myself that I'm doing something good for myself after my 30th trip down the hallway to answer a question or something! I've laughed a lot lately. I've been irritated a lot lately and I've been a gammut of things really, as you would expect. It seems that I get just about down the hall and I hear the dreaded two syllable "ANNNIEEEEEEEEEEE"....I've learned to turn around without huffing audibly, though.
The dynamic of a marriage totally changes when one or the other is infirm. The balance is all out of kilter, you lose track of time and space, and life can be a blur. (Hence 9 days since a blog posting!) This whole week, I have been one day off. Marah has an appointment on FRIDAY and basically since TUESDAY, I've been asking her "what time is your appointment tomorrow?" Finally, yesterday, which truly was Wednesday, she called me on it, asking "Mom, why do you keep asking me the same thing over and over?" I laughed because I had no sensible answer for her and I simply said, "I don't know." I'm sure she's picking out a facility to place me in right now as a result of that answer.
Healing is an interesting process for everyone involved. I am sure that the ying and yang of life as you know it gets all out of sorts. The patient and the care taker each have a lot of giving to do and a lot of lip biting. There's a lesson in there somewhere! I know I have gotten on Wayne's nerves beyond his wildest imaginings during this. (Does ANYONE like for someone ELSE to tie their shoes? NOPE! No one can tie your shoes to suit you...EVER!) When you make a burger, do you want anyone else to make it? NOPE! You know how you want it done. For the record, on a burger, Wayne wants mayo on the top AND bottom of the bun. NO CHEESE. Then he also wants mustard on the BOTTOM of the bun, then the burger itself. At that point, he wants lettuce on the burger then tomato and then onion. The ketchup goes on top of the onion. THEN, you can put the top on his monster burger! Oh! And on a hotdog, NEVER, EVER put 2 swipes of mustard. Mustard goes down just one side of the dog. Ahem. WHAT EVER! I have to admit...I did it on purpose the other night. I put two swipes. I confess. I just stood right there and did it. TWO swipes of mustard on my husband's hotdog! Wayne never said a word and so, my attempt at aggravation was lost.
When you or your spouse is infirm, you delve deeply into that "for better for for worse" part. That too is a good thing. I wouldn't have really hid his crutches from him. I was only kidding when I told him that...for the most part.
You can learn a lot about a marriage when two people are totally relying on each other to work together constantly. I have learned a lot about my husband during this time of recovery from his surgery. He IS learning that he has to slow down. He has learned to ask for help when he needs it. He has learned although I don't do things exactly as he would do them, it doesn't mean my way is wrong. I have learned that it means a LOT to Wayne for me to wash his feet and make sure he feels good and clean. I have learned that he appreciates me for the things I do for him and I know it. I have learned that my husband sure does do A LOT around here and for so many other people! I don't know how he manages all the things that he does. I can assure you that I would not normally be in my nightgown at 9:30 at night unloading "five quarter board" (what ever that is!) off a truck to make sure it was on the job first thing in the morning. But, in his normal self, Wayne would have been right there making sure it was all getting done.
I have always respected Wayne's work ethic, his intelligence and his incredible way of being able to figure anything out. During his surgery and recovery, I have learned that Wayne does an incredible balancing act of keeping many, many things going, on task and on time all at once. I think I'd rip my hair out right at the roots if I had to do what he does every day.
He's really good at what he does yet the accident has given him an opportunity to learn to delegate and let go. He is learning to trust that the world will continue to rotate on its axis if he actually does lay on the couch. That's a good thing.
So, where did the nine days go? Whew! I couldn't tell you! But, I know there have been cool evenings that we could sit on the porch and talk, movies watched, lots of web surfing, plans discussed for the farm, phases of those plans and a lot of just lovely times when things were just peaceful, quiet and restorative for Wayne and for me too.
No, he'll never be totally still and I'll never be thrilled with walking up and down the hallway 200 times in one hour, but...we are a good team. We do ying and yang quite well and that works for me. I'm sure if you asked Wayne, he'd agree. (He's on the couch looking at barn plans right now, so even reclined, he is building something in his mind, you can bet on that!)
The donkeys bray, the goats have new little bells so we can hear them tinkling all over the place as they roam around, the doggies to their thing and the kitties do what kitties do. With the exception of Wayne and me adapting to "change," all is normal around here really. We are doing things very differently than usual, but there is enough "normal" to keep us both happy and sane!
I so appreciate those of you who read and enjoy my blog. I appreciate knowing that what I have to say just might resonate with someone else. I simply try to convey "our lives" which I am sure wouldn't be a whole lot different to those of you who read this. Well, maybe ours might be a tiny bit wackier than most, but we also do wacky well and we love sharing it with you!
Shelia, keep an eye on me and if I get out of line again, a nice little THUMP will suffice as a reminder.
I promise it won't be NINE DAYS next time! You can count on that! On that note, if there is something any of you readers what to know about "our crowd," don't mind asking! I'm always open to suggestion and will talk about what ever you'd like to hear. Case in point-- Shelia Sammons! You never know what will turn into a blog topic!

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(In the picture, good ol' Buster loves to enjoy a good butt scratch!!! He has no shame and I guess at 10 years old, he doesn't have to! He's quite the character!!)
Summertime in Coastal North Carolina can be an interesting experience. "Interesting" might be a nice choice of words. Even when it's hot, I can't complain. The heat hasn't been as intense as it usually is this time of year until this week. We've had some nice evening thunderstorms and that has been a good thing. BUT! All good things must come to an end. The flies are out in droves, the mosquitoes have decided to bombard us and bugs abound. You get that here. We like to say it's part of the "ambiance!" (giggle!)
I am reminded of someone who moved here from the north and (clearly) didn't check out the area very well. I'll never forget being asked, "YOU MEAN YOU HAVE MOSQUITOES HERE?????" (SHRIEK!!!) Gently I broke the news...yes. They're at least mannerly mosquitos. They will actually tap you on the shoulder and ask permission to eat your arm off. (Real estate agents may forget to tell you that part.)
Lots of our friends from the north migrate down this a'way to live near the water. And I don't blame them. The climate is mild in the winter, the landscape is gorgeous and folks are friendly. (NO! I DO NOT SELL REAL ESTATE! I AM NOT A PAID REPRESENTATIVE FOR PAMLICO COUNTY! I just happen to love where I live.)
There are a few things we do have to contend with when choosing to live in this area and NATURE is one of those things. Nature is wonderful in all her glory and in all her reality. She can be gentle or she can reign fury like you wouldn't believe. I respect and honor those characteristics.
This time of year, we don't say "THE "S" WORD...which by the way, there are several "S" words. One of them has to do with skeeters...the other...well, it has to do with lots of wind, rain, flooding...you get the picture. Oddly enough, we begin to prepare for the unknown. Wayne always says "plan for the worst, hope for the best." I tend to agree with him too.
We learn to live in our environment. I have been asked why we would choose to live in an area where bugs, storms, etc. are a fact of life. The answer is easy. I'd rather be right here more than any place else in the world. Cities? I've done that already. Too much traffic, too busy, too crazy, too big, too much of everything. That's not for me anymore. It's a big deal to go to Brantley's Village Restaurant and get all excited to see what Mrs. Sil has on the lunch buffet. It's a great thing to go into the Town and Country and see someone who says "HI ANNE!" It's a great thing to live your life according to the weather and what it may bring, how it will affect us and how nature truly dictates what goes on.
I can sit on my porch and see any number of wildlife! Heron, geese, deer, bear, even bobcats come to our pond to drink. You sure don't get that in the city.
I love VISITING cities now. I get a good dose of it and then come home.
A big Saturday morning is when my pal Frieda and I decide to hit the county seat, Bayboro, then venture toward the thrift stores, the Habitat store, lunch at Charlie's, and just a good old ramble about the county. No agenda, no plan, just being out and about.
This is my life now. I am blessed to have it. I am blessed with good friends, a gorgeous landscape that surrounds me and I am blessed to call Pamlico County home. I DO love Pamlico County and I do my very best to show it in every way possible...and MEAN it. GIVING back to a county that gives me such pleasure is a great part of my life now. I find myself looking at many possibilities of "giving" and knowing what I get in return is far greater than any dollar amount.
The land here deserves respect. Many feet have trod these grounds long before mine. Native Americans had a village along the banks of the water on my very property. I walk these hallowed grounds with respect and honor and thank God every day for the opportunity to live here.
I can live just fine with the Skeeters, the Storms, the Coyotes (well, sort of on the coyotes!) and all the other creatures I cohabitate with. I'm glad they let me share this place with them!
If you ever get a chance, visit here and you'll know exactly what I mean. Life is good on the Dumb Bell Ranch. We are enriched every single day by some new experience, sight, or person we come in contact with. There is no other place in the world I'd rather be.
And that's a big statement!
I hope that you too will find your place in the world and embrace it fully! That's the stuff "a beautiful life" is made of!

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Anyone who quotes about chocolate is a friend of mine, says I!
My pal Melvin and I were having a quick chat on the phone yesterday and the quote I used for a blog title slid like a thick, warm, Mississippi mud cake out of Mel's mouth. I was totally entertained and told him then and there that the quote was a "keeper!" I said immediately THAT WILL BE MY NEXT BLOG TOPIC!
We were talking about family, folks who cross our paths, how things work out for all of us. (Mel and I just love to get philosophical about stuff.) I had made an initial analogy that was something about there being so many types of chocolate and "they" wouldn't make them if folks weren't buying it. Meaning...there is a place for us all in this world even when it seems like everything is crazy, given time, things work out. Out slid the chocolately rich, velvety smooth, yummiful calorie free quote!
We all have experiences that we'd rather not have had, we all have hard times, good times, etc. We know happy people, sad people, cRaZy people and those who are hard-nosed and hard-lined. There's a place for each and every one of 'em too. An interesting experiment is to take two people and put them in the exact same circumstances and see what you get. The responses would be entirely different. Oddly enough, if you listen to each person individually, you might even swear there was no way they were clinically doing the same thing. So, that's the variety of chocolate...and I guess myself and my friends are the nuts in it! HA!
There are so many people who have sent cards, emails, made phone calls, etc. and they have truly extended kindness to Wayne and me during his surgery. We cannot say how much we appreciate you all. Last night, Wayne was telling me that he was afraid that we wouldn't get everyone covered on the "thank you's." So, this can be a blanket thank you from us!
I'm going to continue to ponder life as a chocolate bar. I'm going to ponder the nuts in my chocolatey life. I'm going to be grateful for each and every bite I savor.
I plan to think about many things using Mel's quote...you can too! On a crappy, no good, horrible, very bad day...get yourself your favorite type of chocolate and in one bite, all will be right with the world. I can pretty much guarantee that!
Meanwhile, remember my dearest Mel Stanforth's quote and turn your life into chocolate too! Just make sure you have enough nuts in it to keep it happy and interesting. :)

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We're home. It was a whirlwind and I'm so glad to be here!
We left on Monday to head to Duke for Wayne's surgery. Peepaw came to pick us up and we endured the ride to Sanford listening to Wayne rationalize how he was going to be "out of the hospital and back home before the 4th of July." Yeah, right.
Peepaw and I did a lot of smirking and eye-rolling. Wayne was clearly out of his mind with pain or plain just out of his mind.
We left early on Tuesday to get to the hospital. Wayne had to be registered and do all the things you must do to enter the hospital.
We got him back into pre-op and once the staff took him away, we sat in the lobby to wait it all out. I was delighted to know that there was access to the net. I could read, email, etc. and keep myself occupied while Wayne's surgery was going on. I had plenty of time to do that according to what I had been told. Or so I thought.
When Wayne was taken away to be prepped for surgery, I was given a little disc. It looked sort of like a video game or one of those things restaurants give you when you're crazy enough to stay and wait a really long time to eat. I put the disc in my pocket, and knew it would be a while before it buzzed and all the lights would go off. I sent an email to our pals saying HE'S IN SURGERY NOW...more later. Talked to my mom, looked at the weather, wondered what was happening to Wayne and said prayers.
Frieda and I were IM'ing and all at once, MY TABLE WAS READY!!! The little disc started buzzing! I pulled it from my pocket and the lights confirmed that I needed to go to the nurse's station. Honestly, it scared me. It was much too soon for the surgery to be over.
When I arrived, the PA was giving me a update to say that the surgery was in progress, Wayne had a very large hematoma and that had been removed. The repairs were about to start. I put the disc back in my pocket and went back to wait. It all gets fuzzy from here...
I think I was chatting with Frieda again and the disc started to buzz and flash. I hurried back to the station again and never made it that far. I heard Wayne's voice through a curtain. Praying I didn't open the wrong one, I opened the curtain, peeked in and there he was....ginger ale in his hand and a big grin on his face. I was totally confused. Wayne was yacking it up with the nurse, then he looked at me and said, "See? I told you I was going to go home!" I was sure it was the anesthesia talking...until the nurse confirmed his statement. Hmm. No way. No how. Then the doctor walked in and started discussing being fitted for a hip brace, what to do, how to move about, etc. He WAS going home! I learned later that my charming husband had a card up his sleeve and he negotiated the 4th of July holiday with his doctor and his anesthesiologist! MEN. Hmph. He bargained his way right out of that hospital and I didn't even get a chance to get my seat warm!
We agreed to stay in Sanford (part of the deal) for a night "Just in case." So, the next thing you know, we're back in the vehicle driving away from the hospital. My good friend Flavel even emailed just to be sure when she read that he was out. She was really sure that the type of surgery Wayne had was NOT outpatient...and I assured her that she was correct. I am also still wondering if Wayne anesthetized the doctors and put some sort of "LET ME OUT OF THE HOSPITAL" mojo on them.
So, we're actually at home. It's the wee hours of Friday am, he's sleeping and I'm listening out. He's very sore, but his theory is that he can be more "comfortably sore" at home. I tend to agree with that, so he gets no argument there.
The hip brace will help him behave. Prayer will keep me from doing mean things when he doesn't mind me and be still! HA!
Wayne's brother Brian and his wife Freida came to Sanford to help out and be with us. We had a great visit and I had some extra help...which was more than welcome. We all ate well, marvelled at the fact that Mr. TYPE A POSTERBOY was not in the hospital and were all glad to be together.
We're home. I'm glad. Frieda Hudson came over and brought dinner. WOW! It was great! I mean GREAT! She and I ate like piggies!
It was great to see the animals, great to feed them, great to feel normal and it's great to be in MY BED!
Wayne slept for several hours, ate some cereal, talked, talked talked with Frieda H. and went back to sleep again. I'll be sleeping shortly too. I know I need pretend these are "baby hours" and sleep when he does, but I wanted to get a blog out, so here it is.
There's no place like home...cliche, yes. But, it sure felt great coming down the driveway today. Everything was fine here and we were more than happy to be right back on this wonderful farm that we love so very much.
Thank you for the thoughts, cards, emails, calls and prayers. Wayne is totally digging the emails and has even been heard asking if he has any!
We both deeply appreciate all everyone has done and let's cross all digits and send mental telepathy to keep Wayne SLOWED DOWN!
I just have to shake my head...he gets by with the doggonedest things!
He's either tough as nails or crazy....or better yet, my husband is a little of both! But, he's safe, he's home and all is well this night.

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I have been thinking about several possibilities of topics. There has been a lot going on, so it was hard to pin down any one thing. There has been, however, a resounding denominator in all the topics I considered writing about. We never stop learning, even in the midst of times that seem to be difficult. There is a lesson in most everything that happens to us. The good things, the bad things and all points in between offer us opportunities to inch us ever closer (hopefully) to discovering our own best lives.
I have learned a lot since my last post. I learned that life really is fragile, accidents happen, and nothing is ever the same. On first glance, most of these lessons are frightening, unsettling and can leave us feeling scared and uncertain. On the other hand, these same lessons are empowering. They challenge us to take life to the next level and by God, we grow. We have to grow...there is no other way of getting around it.
My husband, Wayne was in a bizarre, completely unexpected accident. It is very serious and without going into all the gory details, my TYPE A posterboy husband is now incapacitated for many months ahead. He will have surgery on Tuesday to repair a complete avulsion of his hamstrings. (In English, he tore the hamstring tendons from the bone and they must be surgically reattachd.) Of course, Mr. TYPE A had to unload ALL the framing materials for our new home, come down the ladder, drive himself home, THEN take a shower before we could go to the hospital. Nuts? I'll say so, but I'm used to how he ticks. Then to add insult to injury (this is the scary part), when we got home from the hospital, Wayne collapsed and stopped breathing. I had never seen anyone like that, I have never had to call for an ambulance and I didn't know if my husband was still alive. I was horrified. But, we do what we need to in order to move forward in any situation. The most odd thing happened during the 911 call. I became aware of seeing other 911 calls on TV. I thought about how frightened and hysterical some callers seemed, and understandably so. How do you have time to consider these things in the midst of an emergency call? I have no clue, but as calmly as I could, I told the operator I needed an ambulance and our address. I answered her questions and continued trying to get Wayne back. He came around and our friend Frieda, who was on her way to help out anyway, waited for the ambulance at the top of the drive. It all took place very fast, yet there were moments that seemed as though they were moving in slow motion. In a couple of hours, things leveled off, yet Wayne and I knew that everything had changed in a blink. One wrong step. One unfortunate accident. One incident changed everything we knew "life" to be just 60 seconds before Wayne's fall.
This week, Wayne and I have adjusted to a lot. Wayne has done remarkably well. I know how hard it must be for him to both ask me for help and then expect me to do the task in the way he would do it. Patience has been the "word of the day" every day. We're at the close of Day 8 and we have a long way to go.
We have had so many wonderful emails, visitors, calls, cards and other means of support. Those things mean so much and also carry more lessons for us to learn.
Learning all these lessons has taken a seemingly bad situation and made it a means of moving forward. Doors close, others open. What seems to be an "OH MY GOD WHAT WILL WE DO" situation becomes an "OK, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO REGROUP" situation. Though he loves his work, Wayne had been heard saying of late that he wanted to slow down and not work so hard and so much. He wanted to do things at home, he wanted to re-vamp his business and allow others to absorb some of what he does. He now has that opportunity. He didn't plan for the opportunity. Had he waited to plan for it, I am confident those things he wanted would not have occurred. He's just not built that way. His work defines him and he is quite comfortable in the role he has. But, in a flash, Wayne has been afforded to try another route, slow down a lot, be at home more. ALL the things he has been speaking about lately that "he wanted to do someday" are indeed going to happen. "Someday" is here. "Someday" is NOW.
There are bookshelves full of books, dvds to watch, journals to write, and time available to reflect. There are wounds to heal, a body that will continue to need rest and recovery to be accomplished. The one thing I know beyond all else at this point is that you never stop learning. The "life degree" is one that is never completed.
And all of our "classmates" enrich our learning experience all the more and make this journey a beautiful one...even in the most unsteady of times.
Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and support. Wayne thanks you as well.
I am committed to understanding and sharing all we learn through Wayne's surgery and rehabilitation. We both believe that the events of "life" are not in vain. I once knew a woman who often quoted, "God sees the beginning, the middle and the end of the parade...all at once."
Our parade just got started and I do not have the gift of vision to know exactly what is ahead of us. I only know everything will be just fine. It always is.

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