MY AUNT JEWELL

THIS IS MY AUNT JEWELL TAKEN THIS PAST SAT. AT AN ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD FALL FISH FRY WE HAVE ON OUR LAKE TWICE A YEAR WHERE I LIVE. WE HAVE ONE IN THE SPRING AND ONE IN THE FALL. EVERYONE BRINGS A DISH AND WE HAVE THE BEST FRESH FISH COOKED OUT BY THE LAKE I HAVE EVER TASTED WHILE WE ARE ALL GATHERED TOGETHER FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S GREAT FUN AND SO BEAUTIFUL AND YUMMY !!

AUNT JEWELL IS 88 YRS OLD. SHE HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY THE FIRST OF JULY AND STAYED IN A NURSING HOME WHILE RECOVERING FOR ABOUT 2 AND A HALF MONTHS. I PICKED HER UP BECAUSE THEY GAVE HER A FEEDING TUBE DURING THE SURGERY IN CASE SHE DID NOT RECOVER AS WELL AS SHE DID AND IF THEY NEEDED TO USE IT. THEY DID NOT WANT HER TO GO HOME BY HER SELF WITH THE TUBE IN. SHE HAS BEEN WITH ME ABOUT 3 WEEKS OR SO. SHE IS EATING GREAT AND WE NEVER HAVE TO USE THE FEEDING TUBE AT ALL. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE HER HOME ON WED. AND TO THE DOCTOR FOR A FOLLOW UP AND TO HAVE HER TUBE REMOVED. SHE HAS GAINED 8 LBS AND STRENGTH SINCE I PICKED HER UP AND WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT ON HER OWN NOW. 

AS I SAID IN AN EARLIER BLOG AUNT JEWELL WAS IN THE ARMY AS A SURGICAL TECHNICIAN AND WORKED AS A X-RAY TECHNICIAN FOR 20 YRS FOR THE STATE OF TN. BEFORE SHE RETIRED. SHE HAS NEVER BEEN MARRIED AND LIVED ALONE ALL HER LIFE IN HER PARENTS HOUSE THAT THEY HAD BUILT IN THE COUNTRY. SHE NURSED BOTH HER PARENTS UNTIL THEY DIED IN THEIR 90'S AND MY MOTHER ( HER SISTER ) WHO DIED

FROM STOMACH CANCER WHEN I WAS 8 YRS OLD. MY FATHER RAISED ME ALONE AND NEVER REMARRIED. HE DIED FROM A HEART ATTACK WHEN I WAS 29 YRS OLD. MY DADDY WAS THE KINDEST SWEETEST AND HAPPIEST MAN THAT EVER WALKED THE EARTH. 

MY AUNT JEWELL IS LITTLE BUT SHE HAS A LOT OF SPIT FIRE IN HER AND SHE WILL GIVE YOU HELL SHOULD I SAY IF THINGS JUST DOESN'T SUIT HER JUST RIGHT. I CAN HANDLE HER EVEN THEN THOUGH. SHE IS HOME SICK BECAUSE SHE HASN'T BEEN HOME IN 4 MONTHS. SHE IS HOME BOUND AND WILL BE HAPPIER WHEN SHE ARRIVES. WE HAVE HAD A FEW ROUNDS SINCE SHE HAS BEEN HERE BUT I UNDERSTAND SHE IS HOME SICK AND JUST WANTS TO GO HOME. I HAVE WORKED IN A LIVING ASSISTANT HOME BEFORE SO I'M VERY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT MOOD CHANGES WHEN THE ELDERLY CAN'T GO HOME JUST WHEN THEY WANT TO. 

SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD COLLIE DOGS LIKE LASSIE. WHILE SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL HER COLLIE WAS OLD AND HE DIED. SHE HAS BEEN VERY SAD ABOUT THAT AT TIMES WHILE SHE HAS BEEN HERE. 

SHE WANTS ANOTHER ONE SO MUCH BUT WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING UNDER $500.00 AND SHE CAN'T REALLY AFFORD THAT. I'M TRYING TO TALK HER INTO ANOTHER BREED MAYBE FROM THE POUND. SHE WANTS A BIG BREED TO SCARE PEOPLE BECAUSE SHE LIVES ALONE AND HAS ALWAYS HAD BIG DOGS ESPECIALLY COLLIES.

 MAYBE TOMORROW WE MAY GO LOOK TO SEE IF SHE SPOTS ONE AT THE SHELTER SHE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE HOME WITH HER. SHE WANTS A PUPPY. I'M KIND OF TORN ABOUT GETTING IT BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF SHE REALLY NEEDS THAT KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY AT THIS TIME. SHE WANTS ONE SO MUCH IT IS VERY HARD TO SAY NO TO HER ESPECIALLY HOW SHE SAYS I WANT HAVE A DOG WHEN I GET HOME.  WE WILL SEE WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS FOR US. 

THE ONE THING SHE HAS ENJOYED ARE ALL THE ANIMALS I HAVE WHILE SHE HAS BEEN STAYING HERE WITH ME. SHE HAS ALWAYS LIVED IN THE COUNTRY IN HER HOUSE AND HAD CHICKENS, ROOSTERS, GANNIE'S, GEESE, TURKEYS AND RODE HORSES WHEN SHE WAS GROWING UP. SHE HAS CHICKENS, ROOSTER AND A CAT AT HOME WAITING ON HER SO IF WE DON'T GET THAT PUPPY RIGHT NOW I'M SURE SHE WILL BE OK UNTIL SHE IS ABLE TO GET ONE. 

MY AUNT JEWELL REMINDS ME OF DRIVING MISS DAISY AND ACTS LIKE HER. LOL