DP Reunion

   Today was the annual Data Processing reunion was held at Boggs Lake Restaurant today. It is for all those people who worked for data processing at Crane when data processing just started to the time data processing got their new building. Basically everyone there had experience with punch cards and a UNIVAC main frame computer.  :) It was great seeing some old friends and catching up on where they are today and what they are doing.  Mostly all who attend are retired.  Although some retired and went back to work as contractors.  Last year there was no reunion due to COVID. So this year, even though the numbers were still down, was very special.  Louis Kavanaugh keeps track of everyone via email and does a great job organizing this once a year get together.  Below is a picture of those attending this year.  They all played a great part in bringing Crane into the computer era and beyond.  Yes we all know what a modem is, what a floppy disc is, and what COBOL is used for.  :)

Ruminations - Too many friends getting health issues

    It seems like the older I get the more friends and family are having health issues.  This week I was informed that Beverly, as very special person in Belize, was undergoing treatment for cancer.  She is very instrumental in our mission trips being successful.  She is a very kind person who does an exceptional job running the hotel we normally stay at. I will be adding her to the daily cancer prayer list.  I would really like to have more drop off that list from healing than keep adding to the list.  I hate cancer.

   I have also been praying for the health of my good Yellowstone friend Jack.  He has had some heart issues and will be needing a pacemaker.  He is a great christian man and one of the bright spots to working at Yellowstone.  I worry about him but I would not change a thing about his life.  He is happy doing what he does and he also is a great witness for Jesus to the foreign workers that come to Yellowstone.  Besides he is a Cub fan and I don't find too many of them at Yellowstone.  :)

  Took my mother-in-law Norma to Bloomington for a dermatologist appointment. After the appointment, which went well, we ate at Cheddar's.  It was very nice to spend some time with her and discuss family history.  I also think she enjoyed getting out and about for awhile.  Since COVID my in-laws don't get out very often.

   My grandson Myles birthday is today.  I look around and see all the people in my life having birthdays.  Everyone is getting older except for me.  :)  I can't believe some kids in my life will be graduating high school later this year.  Time is flying by and no matter how I try to slow it down it keeps flying by faster and faster.  I can't believe I will be going on 7 years in retirement later this summer. 

Ruminations

    Well all good plans sometimes get derailed. We were supposed to leave today to visit family in West Virginia, but Cathy ended up waking up with a fever.  It did not take much convincing to have her stay home and get better.  The problem is with all this COVID/Corona Virus stuff, you just cant take any chances with being sick.  She will rest for a few days and see if she gets better.  It could be just a virus from the grand-kids, as our granddaughter Viviann was under the weather this week.  If it is more serious then we will get her taken care of.  The nice thing about being retired is that we can leave anytime we want and we did not have any reservations to cancel. The bi-product of her being sick is that I can't be around anyone either.  A just-in-case precaution.  

   We had a cold snap come through last night and got a little snow.  Unfortunately our flowers started blooming this week and I think their beauty will be short lived.  I got pictures of them for my memories though.  I also think that the hummingbirds  have stopped their progress into our area until this cold snap passes.  I think the weather man indicated we will have cold temps for the next few days and then more spring like weather will come back.

   Got my stitches out the other day and even though I cannot see the area, Cathy says the scar is not too bad.  I am glad they are out as I need to get to the driving range and practice some golf as the Hobbs Brother's Golf Throw Down is coming up next month.  I need to get my slice under control if I am going to win the trophy this year. We will be playing 5 rounds of golf in Crossville Tennessee.  That is a great place to play several golf courses that are geared toward senior golfers, which I admit I am.

   I received the following email from our missionaries in the Philippines this week.  It broke my heart as we have been praying for Ruby for quite some time, but I know she is not suffering anymore.  Life is so precious.

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Ruby’s Journey Ends

   We are sad to report that Ruby, the local preacher’s wife near our place in the Philippines has passed away on Saturday afternoon April 17th. It was five years since she was diagnosed with cancer and although she had around 14 months of remission which proved a real blessing to her husband and daughters, her journey came to an end! 

   So many people have been praying for her and rejoiced when she had a time of remission and was able to go out and visit and worship in church as well. Sadly, in the last couple of months the cancer went through her body and she became unresponsive to any treatment. She had moved over to her family’s home where she was raised and they gave her the care she needed as her illness got worse. 

   She will be buried in her home place shortly and we thank those who have been interested in her health and have prayed for her during this time. Her husband will raise the three daughters and two are teenage but the youngest is only very young and does not understand why her “mother did not wake up.” Please keep them in your prayers and we all are thankful for her life and ministry during her lifetime.

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Ruminations

    Well after several anxious days I received good news from the Dermatologist that they were able to cut out all the precancerous cells.  I went back in to the doctor and got the wound stitched up.  I have to go back in a few days to get the stitches out.  Praise God for answered prayers.  Now Cathy and I are comparing stitches.  It is tough getting old for sure.

   Today I got my second vaccine shot.  So far I have had no side effects.  Indiana does a good job at keeping a person informed of their appointments via texts and emails. When I finished getting the shot I received an email that I can us to prove to someone that I have been fully vaccinated. It may come in handy when I have to leave and work in Yellowstone.

  My youngest son has purchased a drone.  While I was relaxing on the front porch after mowing the lawn, I hear a buzzing sound and look up to see it hovering in front of me.  Pretty good flying as he lives about a tenth of a mile away.  Just wait until I have a whiffle ball bat in hand.  :)

  Just a prediction, but the humidity has been pretty low around here.  I know it has rained a lot but after the rain the wind has been drying things up fairly quickly. I hate to think that this may not bode well for the summer to come.  I think we may have a very dry summer and hopefully no drought, but it is beginning to feel that way.  I hope I am wrong.

  I have been seeing on Facebook that Yellowstone workers are starting to report to the park for work.  Some places are stilled closed but others are opening up slowly.  I am anxious to get out there and work. I miss the mountains and the great people I work with.  July can't come fast enough.

Ruminations

    Ashley Furniture update.  Two guys showed up with the correct drawer and expertise to get the bed functioning correctly.  So our endless saga with Ashley furniture is finally over.  Three and a half months from time ordered to final fix.  I will not be doing any business with Ashley Furniture in the future for items that I cannot take from the show room.  Their stores are very nice but behind the scenes they have a terrible business.

    Well today is Easter and Cathy and I spent it at church and with family.  Cathy's parents house was the location of the family get together.  The whole family chipped in to make sure Cathy's parents had very little to do, as they are getting on in years.  I think everyone had a great time and I am sure Cathy's parents were very happy and very tired when all the company left.  

  My son and his wife were using the day to move out of their old house as it has sold.  So Cathy and I ended up with three grand kids to watch.  Which means the internet is taking a beating in our house.  But it is good to have them around even though Cathy and I get tired quickly baby sitting.  I think we are getting too old to entertain young kids anymore.  :)

  It was nice to see so many faces at church I have not seen since COVID hit.  But I was also disappointed to not see many that I thought would be there.  It seems we have lost quite a few members.  Many left for varying reasons, but it is very hard to know that they will not be a part of our church anymore.  So sad.  The Elders need to take stock of the reasons why so man are leaving.