By Lorelei Colton I hope you and yours enjoyed your Easter weekend, as did Ron and I. Our friend Lois Myers joined us Thursday evening and we attended the Maundy Thursday service at the East Canton Methodist Church where we heard a wonderful presentation about the Upper Room – both inspiring and educational – of the Last Supper, Communion, and how Passover came to be. It was very nice indeed. And Friday evening we attended the special service at our own Alba Church titled “Sights, Sounds and Smells”. It, too, was a very moving experience of reflection and prayer as we came “in touch” with the thorns, the nails, the wine vinegar, and the rest of the items attributed to the crucifixion. Pastor Charlotte did an outstanding job of this presentation.
By Lorelei Colton Did you do anything special to celebrate the first day of spring? We shoveled snow… When I talked to my brother Jeff in southern Alabama he said he and his wife Karen went swimming in their in-ground pool. I distinctly remember the weathermen telling us that we were done with the bitter cold nights. However, Monday morning at 6 it was a mere 15 degrees, and while I was listening to the radio getting ready for work, they said it was 8 degrees in Coudersport! And, the high for the day was going to be lower than the “average LOW” for this time of year – around 30. Is it any wonder that everyone is on their last nerve with the weather? To try and cheer myself up a bit I bought yellow straight-neck squash and straight-8 cucumber seeds at the store with the intention of starting a few plants. I am determined to get the garden going before June this year! And then again, on Tuesday morning at 6:15 it was 9 degrees. And the saga continues…
By Lorelei Colton First of all, those of you who may have read in the Sunday Review the article written about the gathering held at the Rialto last Saturday regarding Dr. Kirkowski’s office closing, my husband Ron was misquoted. He did NOT say that Dr. K was asked to train Ms Albright and he refused, but, rather, Ron said Dr. K was asked to train “someone” at the Mud Creek Arnot facility to take over his patients and he declined to do so. Regardless, this whole thing is so upsetting and heartbreaking for so many people. Having a doctor who is also a friend, someone you trust with your life – and your family’s life, only to have them snatched out from under you for what appears to be no good reason - given or implied – is tearing up a lot of people. Ron and I are still very undecided where we are going to turn to for a family physician.
By Lorelei Colton Wishes for a speedy recovery are sent to our Minnequa Grange Master Elwin Roberts, formerly of Canton, following his recent heart surgery to replace a valve.
There is a lot of sickness reported throughout the area – folks with the flu and regular colds, as well as stomach bugs and general aches and pains related to arthritis with this rotten weather we’ve been having. With the temperature finally climbing into the 30’s this past weekend, Ron was able to chip away the ice that was built up on the sidewalk. And, how can we have even one conversation without talking about the weather? Last Friday at 6:10 AM the thermometer read minus 11.5˚. My boss at the shoe store said it was minus 16 degrees at his house just outside Troy that morning! And then I read in the newspaper that someone in Alba had spotted a robin. By Lorelei Colton As usual, the main topic of discussion remains “the weather”. Everywhere I go it’s the first thing out of our mouths. Statements like: “keeping warm?” “ready for spring yet?” “how cold was it at your place?” and so on. Last Saturday morning the thermometer read minus 16.6 degrees at 6:15, which I reported when I stopped at my first go-round of errands at Rockwell’s Mill in Canton – there to buy MORE birdseed.
By Lorelei Colton I want to begin by saying “thank you”, from Ron and me, for all the messages, phone calls and cards sent to us expressing sympathy regarding the passing of my brother Art Shoemaker. He most certainly had an impact on many lives, contributing also to so many he never really knew, in his three-plus decades working on his mission to feed the hungry. He was laid to rest last Friday in his home town of Albany, Georgia, complete with a military funeral. Though I did not attend, my younger brother Jeff and his wife Karen made the trip from Alabama and said it was a lovely service held at Art’s home church, Avalon Methodist where several of his church family, friends, and fellow volunteers gave moving testimony about the thousands of hours Art dedicated to all the projects, boards, and committees that ultimately helped tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people in need. Many went on to say it would take several people – if possible at all – to replace the now big empty hole left by him. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how much we miss him already.
By Lorelei Colton It’s with great sorrow that I tell you that my brother Art passed away peacefully last Saturday, Valentine’s Day, around 8AM, at his daughter Lugene’s home in Georgetown, Florida, following a brief battle with cancer that lasted less than 3 months. Though I am extremely sad, I am ever so grateful for the time that my other brother Jeff and I were able to spend with him just the week before his passing.
by Lorelei Colton By the time you are reading this, I will have returned from a 5-day excursion to central Florida via Daphne, Alabama, where my brother Jeff and his wife Karen now reside. The main purpose of this trip was to visit my brother Art, who had been staying at a hospice house for a few days before returning back to his daughter Lugene's home, where he will be residing. When Ron and I (and Palin, of course) left Alba last Friday at 2 AM to head to the Scranton/Avoca airport, it was minus 13 degrees! And when I arrived at the Mobile, Alabama airport, it was in the 60's. When Jeff and I traveled to Florida on Saturday (440 miles) the temperature was climbing into the high 70's. I could NOT believe it! We found Art doing rather well, and was released from the hospice house on Monday to return to Lugene's Florida home, and we are ever so grateful to her for taking care of him.
I can’t believe the drastic changes in temperatures and weather conditions we’ve experienced in the past week or so. It was around zero Saturday evening when we went to bed and 21 degrees Sunday morning at 6 am. It started snowing in the afternoon, and we accumulated almost 8 inches by Monday late morning. I waited to go into work until 11:00 so the roads would be good for travel and it was 33 degrees. Ron had spent over an hour and a half plowing out several folks in the neighborhood. By the time I left work at 5:00 it was 10 degrees and the wind whipping made it feel below zero for sure. My niece in Florida, where Art is staying right now, said it was in the mid 60’s today. Unbelievable. We have several “snow bird” acquaintances that are already down in that area, hopefully enjoying themselves and the balmy weather. By the way- Tuesday morning at 5:15 it was minus 9…
Ole’ Man Winter has decided to return to this “neck of the woods”, and it sounds like it may be with a vengeance. We’ve had more than our share of extremely cold temps, and now it’s lots of snow. I know one thing – I’m very grateful for our large pile of firewood and for my husband that keeps it cut, split and in the furnace that keeps our home nice and warm without having to use neither the natural gas heater so much, nor the electric room heater either. I see on the television news that the east coast area is really getting blistered with another “Nor-Easter”. My answer: “They can have it!” I’m counting the days until spring (53, to be exact) and am really looking forward to gardening and other planting.
Last Wednesday Ron and I made a trip to Williamsport to the Susquehanna Health Medical Center to see the thoracic surgeon in the cardiac department that Ron was referred to by his orthopedic surgeon regarding the issues with his disconnected collarbone. What a busy place it seemed to be! The huge parking lot was packed – we entered on the East Entrance of the hospital (on Rural Ave.) and were able to find the office we needed rather quickly. After filling out all the necessary initial paperwork we sat in the waiting room and did a word-search together, and all of sudden heard “beep-beep-beep”. Looking out the door we saw an unmanned cart, a robotic contraption that was going down the hall after being programmed to travel to another location with whatever data was contained in its files and/or drawers. My, how things have changed, but it was a good feeling knowing that the facility was very much state of the art and that Ron was in good hands. We have always been impressed with this hospital, its doctors and nurses as well as its care and service and this was no exception. Although we did not get any definite treatment or cure for this dilemma, Dr. Lazar was going to make contact with the Cleveland Institute to see what, if any, new treatment should be administrated. Surgery is out of the question. He may have to have steroid injections, time will tell. He associated it with a type of sports injury – quite rare, actually – and will follow up with us as soon as he hears anything supportive to our situation. As always, I’m asking for your continued prayers for the both of us. By Lorelei Colton Don’t forget the free breakfast at the Alba Church on Saturday, January 31st, from 8 to 10. All are welcome.
Minnequa Grange’s regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27th, at the Alba Church’s fellowship hall beginning at 6:30 PM – so we won’t have to start a wood fire at the grange hall. Please bring finger foods for refreshments.
Rural Brotherhood is this Thursday, Jan. 15th, hosted by the Alba Christian Church – starting at 7 PM. All are welcome.
Ron and I (and Palin, of course) made a rather quick trip to Albany, Georgia last week to visit my brother Art Shoemaker, who has cancer, and not really doing the greatest. I’m asking for continued prayers. My younger brother Jeff and his wife Karen came from their new home in Alabama and joined us to help Art make some decisions about his current care plan as well as some of the arrangements in the manner in which he wanted, which, I admit, was extremely difficult for me – all of us, really – to do. The trip was a whopping 1,050 miles each way. By Lorelei Colton Ron’s needle biopsy that took place the day after Christmas was deemed a success. We were up at 5, left before 6, checked in at 7, took him to the OR at 9, he was back in his room by 10, and was discharged to go home at noon. It was quite painful to say the least, and they had drained off quite an amount of fluid from his collarbone area. We returned to Williamsport on the 31st to his orthopedic doctor (that did his knee replacement) to be told that the good news was, there is no infection, no cancer. However, he will have to see a specialist to see what’s next. His collarbone (clavicle) is dislocated from his sternum. That is what’s causing the swelling and pain - obviously! There was no direction given to Ron to follow in the meantime, only saying “if it hurts – don’t do it, and if it feels good, do it”. Gee, thanks. It’s odd how Ron can spend time running the wood splitter and throwing firewood down cellar and it doesn’t bother. But, it’s painful to hold up a newspaper to read. It’s just odd how the muscles work, especially when they’re swollen and bones are dislocated.
By Lorelei Colton In this week of the Christmas holiday, I have such a heavy heart. The situation with my brother Art and his cancer is far from being good. And also, Ron is scheduled for the needle biopsy of his collarbone in Williamsport on Friday the 26th. I am sincerely asking for your continued prayers for ALL of us and for wisdom for the doctors, nurses and caregivers in their expertise and support.
Authored by Lorelei Colton
I’m sorry to report that on Sunday my brother Art had suffered another stroke – this one more intense than the first, and remains in the hospital at the time of this writing. However he is receiving radiation treatments for the tumor on his C-7 vertebrae. I ask for your prayers for all of us and request wisdom for the doctors, nurses and caregivers tending to him. I am so grateful to our younger brother Jeff who has much knowledge of these medical- type things, as he ran the oncology department while serving in the U.S. Air Force during Operation Desert Storm, and Art has given permission for his oncologist to talk/consult directly with Jeff regarding Art’s condition and all treatments. |
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