Saying goodbye to Frank Tucker, MD....

It's happened to everyone but we're never ready.  You have a wonderful chat with a dear friend or loved one on one day and then "the call" comes...they're "gone" forever.  You can't believe what you're hearing on the other end of the call. " It can't be!"  "I was just talking to them yesterday!".... And so it was for me and my good friend, Dr. Frank Tucker, Surgeon.  Our offices are next door to each other and almost daily we had a moment of cutting up, or political yak-yak, or whatever.  I say he was a dear friend....anyone that knew him be it family, patient or friend, would call him the same thing.. "a dear friend".  He was intensely opinionated  and never waivered or backed down, stood toe to toe with you if your opinion differed, but still allowed you to have your say.  There are some people who come into your life and make a dent in your world.. and Frank Tucker was just such a man.  How blessed so many of us are to have been allowed the privilege of sharing this planet with him and we are the better for it.  I'll miss his elevator jokes, hearing him whistle, sharing lunch, and just knowing he was there.   Thank you for all you gave us,  Dr. T...but I find solace in knowing...one day....I'll be seeing you.

Just watch my me create a centerfold!

Okay, most mothers may want their daughters to marry a doctor, lawyer or engineer.  Not me. Nope. I begged my daughters to marry a landscape architect. You see,  I believe that a man that piddles in his garden ought to be able to use those skills in other areas---areas that I'd leave to my daughters.  But, their skill in the dirt is what I was interested in!!!  But did my daughters do what I asked???     One has only  to drive by my house to know the answer to that.  A pharmacist and a biological researcher produce only one thing:  beautiful grandchildren, but that doesn't do pip-didley for my flower beds, ya know??  So, here it is...a beautiful Spring and I'm all over the stores drooling over the flats of flowers but as confused as a Midol in a man's body.  Okay.  Give me time... I'm going to make it work.  Its not going to be easy...oh, and WARNING:  anyone driving by my house in the late afternoon is liable to get a headlight full of my behind bent over pulling weeds and talking to bulbs.  But, I'm determined!  I'm a woman with garden gloves and I"m not afraid to use 'em!  I plan to have my flower beds be the next Burpee Catalogue Centerold.  Stay tuned!!!!

WICKED

Mr. C and I and a dear couple friend of ours zipped down to New Orleans this weekend for a quick one night trip.... the weather can only be described as delicious.  It just so happened to be the weekend that there was a Republican Leadership Conference and the French Quarter Festival but neither of those are what we went for!.. Nope.. we went to see WICKED and it was just that!!!!....Wonderful....It was my second time to see it but this time I actually got most of it.  The subtleties were so wonderful and it was absolutely captivating! It's a must see!

Love, Sidney--where'd it go?

Many people have asked me what happened to the advice column, Love Sidney, that was in the Meridian Star a year or so ago.  A little history first.. the Star had asked me to consider writing a column about..well "anything"...or more specifically...."what all you do".  I couldn't even begin to imagine anything more boring for anyone to read so after a nanno-second of thought, I graciously thanked them with a "no".  Later, they asked, given my degrees and experience in counseling, would I consider an advice column.  Thinking that might be fun, I agreed and "Love, Sidney" was born.  I had the column for a little over a year and then decided to let it go by the wayside.  I received many letters and emails but many of them became the same thing or same topic...variety disappeared mainly because we're all basically alike.  Since then, I've had many, many, many people ask me to bring it back---purely for the entertainment factor I'm sure rather than my profound wisdom and circumspection (and ability to use big ole fancy words like circumspection).  So, I offer to you through my blog, the opportunity to give me your input on this.  Do you think we need an advice column?  Should it come back like hip huggers did or should it stay gone like hip huggers should have?  Feel free to respond here or contact me via email.  Until then...my advice:  avoid pollen.  Smart, aren't I?

Whoever he or she was....they reminded me to Love You!

I stay glued to the tube---be it radio or television and it's always on the news.  I go between FOX and CNN.  There's no way to listen to either station and not become jaded.  To hear it told, no one likes anyone that differs in opinion.  You didn't vote for the President?  You're doomed to H*** and obviously are a racist.  You did vote for the current President?  Well, then obviously, you're an amoral moron.  You get my point. It's hard not to hear all of that and start to think that God is on vacation, that His people are wrapped up in hate and loathing.  Yep, I was pure-D-jaded.  That is...until yesterday when strangers on North Hills Street reminded me that our God is still in control and that we are still bound by love and respect for one another. How did this come to me?... by virtue of an unknown person who had passed from this life.  I don't know who he or she was. I don't know their race or their family background.  What I do know is that his or her last act to the people that were left behind was to remind us that life is precious.  Right there, on North Hills Street and on to their final destination, we put our differences  aside and pulled over or stopped in the middle lane of the street to pay our last respects to that sister or brother.  We stopped our crazy lives long enough to be reminded that life is precious and so was that person.  That no matter what's happening in Washington or Jackson or wherever, we Southerners love one another and respect the departed and support the survivors.  They saw it as we stopped our lives long enough to embrace theirs.  May we remember, always, that there's a magnificent God who loves us all despite our spots and dots and He asks for nothing more than the same from us. May your Easter be one of love for strangers and a reminder to forgive everyone. Life Resurrected. He lives!!!

The DL's of Olde Poplar Place Apartments

Today, as Mr. C and I were walking----what a day for a walk it was!!!!---we decided to drop in on "Mrs. Margurite" who had been assigned to him, as a Deacon,  to check on now and then.  We knocked on her door and a cheery "Come in" reminded me of one of the beautiful things that makes this town so special.  At first I thought to myself, "Oh, that's not safe!  You don't know who's outside your door"...but no sooner had we opened her door, I realized that she was quite safe!!!  As we stepped inside to visit, suddenly there were two other dear ladies at the door outside.  They had come to check on their friend...to make sure that she was safe.  What a sign of love!!!  Right there at Old Poplar Place Apartments, there's a coalition of DL's (Delightful Ladies) who are family, who watch out for one another, who show what good old Southern Charm is all about!!!  I can't tell you what that did for my heart!!!  But,  isn't that what it's all about?? .. In your senior years to still have the quiet company of others who only want the  best for you and are there to protect you just at the sound of a doorbell!!

  Our visit ended and as we walked off, admiring Mrs. Wilma's gorgeous flowers on the corner, I sent up a prayer of thanks for Southern Women, Southern Charm and Southern Graciousness.    Yes, Southern Graciousness...that rare spirit that is serene, quiet, peaceful but strong-- VERY Strong!!  Mr. C and  I knew that Mrs. Margurite was safe. And how did we know?   Because behind all  that Southern Charm and Graciousness, are women who are willing to grab an iron skillet and  whack the devil outta anyone that dares to mess with their friends!  God Love 'Em!!!!

Making the men feel better

My precious friend, Joy (whom I affectionately call Pickles and I have no idea why---it just seems right) made some great points in her latest blog post...she's one of my Blisits (Blogs I Visit).  Anyway, in talking about men being "bad" patients, I have to agree in so many respects!!!  But, as a Patient Advocate, one of my jobs is to make sure our patients are more than satisfied with their hospital stay.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job---and believe me, it's a JOB--but, one thing I've learned that make our men patients happy is a (drum roll please)...REMOTE CONTROL!!!.  You know how it is.  You're in an uncomfortable bed, your boohiney exposed to the world by those attractive gowns, and there's that dreaded remote control that makes you loop all 68 channels to get back to the channel you want!!  But not at "my" hospital.  I learned early on...hand the man a REAL remote control and he's a happy camper!  Yep.  Simple.  I bought about 5 one day and tested my remote theory.  In fact, one precious patient was so enamored by his stay and his personal remote, that he actually made a donation to our hospital to ensure that I had plenty of those medical gadgets for anyone needing one!!!  Yep.  That did it.  So, now, if you come to 'my' hospital, you'll not only get the best medical care, you'll also have your own remote control---ahhhhhh....talk about "The Life of Riley"!!!!