Well I believe that I have seen the gates of hell. I even feel that I was on my way through those rusty jagged portals when I turned around and saw my wonderful wife who shooed away all the bad parts of my life and allowed me to come back to the good parts of the world. Now, if any of you reading this has suffered from our little “gift” from China, you may be very familiar with what I write. Yes, I suffered through the dastardly covid. (I refuse to give this terrible thing a capitol letter.)
As I write this, it has been 10 days since my personal nurse took hold of my arms and said, “You are going to bed.” If you didn’t know from some of my scribbling in the past, I am sure I wouldn’t be here if it had not been for her love and attention. She had just finished her own battle with the virus and I had done what I could to make her day a little better, but to be honest, her hardy Swiss blood just took hold of that pesky virus and told it she had too much to do to be bothered with achy bones and stuffy head.
Unfortunately, I am not of the precious Swiss stock. Although I’m as sure as anybody can be that if she could let me have a ration, she would happily do so.
This covid is some bad stuff, and even if I had all my vaccinations, I was not very comfortable for about two weeks. My VA doctor had a lot to do with me being able to get out of the house this past weekend. I had called him to ask if there were any special treatments I should be observing and to have him assure me once again that I probably wouldn’t die from the covid.
He called Jimmy, our town pharmacist and prescribed the heavy duty antiviral medicine, and Jimmy stirred up the owl of newt or whatever he did and I was on my way to believing the politicians that promised if you got your vaccinations, life would be a bed of roses once again. Thank you Jimmy and Dr. Liang and may God smile upon you.
I know you are probably wondering why I am doing all this whining, and I’ll admit it is a little bit excessive, but please allow me to tell you to get your shots and wear your masks when asked. Betcha never thought you would hear me say those words.
In case you didn’t know, Lorraine has volunteered to be the contact person for the American Legion Hall rental for parties. She had sprung that on me some time ago, but seeing as I know she is only doing this for me, so she can share my membership in the local American Legion. Did I tell you that I love her? Well, I do.
In any case, she had rented the hall to a wonderful group of family members that wanted to baptize the youngest member of their family. She said she needed me in good health to help her with the bartending duties. Of course, anything that has the word bartender always makes me feel better, so we spent the day watching a wonderful family dance and sing as they dedicated their daughter to God. I didn’t know how well I was going to be, but there is just something about watching a loving family share with their friends and have a great time that makes one happy to be alive.
I actually started feeling much better today and even pulled my old pickup out of the garage to tool around town. Not having an air conditioner made the trips a little shorter than I would have liked, but it was so cool riding with your best girlfriend as you listen to the stereo. I kept trying to get her to slide over and put her arm around me, but it was so hot she just sort of looked at me like I had fallen out of a tree. She’s not going to get away that easy though. An air conditioner is in the works, and then she won’t have any escape.
I’m hoping to have the truck running good so it can be in the Fourth of July parade that is planned for downtown Gonzales. Also, since I mentioned the Fourth, I want to remind all of you that we have plans to have an old-fashioned party on the Fourth. There will be, as I mentioned, a parade and a 5K run. This has been sponsored in the past by Gonzales Rx Pharmacy, and they will be sponsoring it once again. That Jimmy really loves our town.
The Rotary Club is having the world famous rib barbecue at our city park. Also, since you didn’t ask, the American Legion is going to honorably destroy any and all the ragged American Flags that have been turned in and any that you have and didn’t know exactly how to destroy. It should be a somber time and an excuse to educate the children that didn’t know what to do with old flags.
I will mention that there is a great deal of honor and love for our American Flag. It is the only thing that military units carry with them to respond to aggressive governments on foreign shores. It is part of our country and the one thing that is cherished as a little bit of home.
This Fourth is going to be pretty special, and I want to encourage you to take the time to eat the ribs, honor our flags, celebrate another event honoring Gonzales’ 75th Anniversary and share with your neighbors the honor we all share by living here.
God Bless.
