12/20/2020 “LIFE, SUCH AS IT IS,” UPDATE

Initial Introduction

Four days ago, on 12/16/2020, a rainy Wednesday, at 3 PM, I started working on this article. Being published today, I am writing topically. Sermons are either topical or textual. I hope, dear reader, that you have been staying dry and that you will enjoy this topical “life, such as it is,” update.

By the way, this website is set up, so that subscribers will be emailed when an article is published. It's a free subscription, and I will not know who you are. I cannot know your email address. It is completely safe and has better identity protection than social media platforms. I even subscribed to receive emails for my own articles! I can’t, however, see that I signed myself up! I am now receiving emails when I publish an article.

Since the 11/22/2020 article and within the context of the 12/13/2020 article, this entry catches up on “life, such as it is,” to today. Warm up a cup of coffee and read for a while!

Introduction Continued

Yesterday, Saturday, I continued to work on this article. Four days ago, I wrote what is below about my mother. Sidetracked yesterday, I had to try to repair our microwave. A technician even checked it. Our 2003 microwave was toast (pun intended). We need to replace it. Otherwise, our Sharp “Half Pint" microwave, which we have had since the 1980s, is in the kitchen. It had been in the basement in protected storage. It still works. We can still “zap" stuff!

On this cloudy Sunday afternoon, I am finally finishing and publishing this article. “Life, such as it is," can be interesting at times.

Mom (11/24/1932–12/27/2000)

On this website, a search for “Mom" finds several articles that I've written about my mother. She would have been 88 years old on 11/24/2020, if she had lived. On that Tuesday, I was working at the office instead of from home, due to the insanity of my work schedule. I remembered my mother.

On 12/28/1999, my mother, as we found out later, did not have a bad case of influenza. A cerebellar hemorrhage, caused by an arteriovenous malformation, a birth defect, had leaked. It did not rupture completely, which would have killed her instantly. I have written about the details in previous articles.

On 12/27/2000, my mother “went to see Jesus," as she had stated that she wanted to do, before she died. Again, previous articles have focused on that sad day. On 12/24/2000, I was with my mother at the Holston Valley Medical Center. That Christmas Eve, I signed the required papers to allow my mother to return home with hospice care and to die at home. That was the hardest thing that I had ever done in life. Before the ambulance, which I followed later, arrived to transport my mother back home, she said to me on that late Christmas Eve late afternoon as darkness was falling, “You all have to let me go. I want to go see Jesus.”

Last Christmas, in 2019, we decorated what I called the 20-year Christmas tree. I wrote about it with a photograph included. This year, we do not have a Christmas tree.

Mom, I love and miss you bunches. I will see you again, in heaven.

Thanksgiving: "Mask Mafia" Compliant

For Thanksgiving last month, my youngest brother and his family stayed home. They worked up appetites by clearing and burning leaves. That is a chore. I have helped him a few times in the past. Several trees around their house drop an abundance of leaves.

My next-to-youngest brother did come here to have Thanksgiving supper (at 6 PM) with us. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I were happy to have a guest.

In contrast, on Thanksgiving, my wife's family, living only three miles away, was “Mask Mafia" compliant. Their enforced compliance kept us from having Thanksgiving dinner at noon with them. Instead, my wife and I “enjoyed” listening to them on an online “video conference” for most of the afternoon. I interjected a few pithy comments at times. Of course, that virtual Thanksgiving event was not much fun.

On Thanksgiving, I should have gone hiking! My wife should have gone with me.

Two days after Thanksgiving, however, my youngest brother and his family did come down to visit us on Saturday, 11/28/2020. The "Mask Mafia" in-laws could not stop Ferrells from standing against what I call Corona Myopia Psychosis! Of course, we were sitting mostly, talking, and enjoying seeing each other face-to-face without wearing masks, physical or otherwise!

New Desktop Computer

In March 2005, we bought our desktop computer from the Computer Depot LLC, my former "computer guy." The total cost was $1,112.17. The company had been my computer source as needed for upgrades and one repair. That desktop has been a faithful servant. It still works. The 2 GB RAM, however, is too slow for the demands of Windows 10. I left a voicemail with an email follow-up to my former "computer guy." I assumed that we would do business again. I awaited a call back or email reply. Crickets chirped. I left another voicemail, indicating my interest in doing business, if they would return my call or reply to my email. Crickets still chirped. I fired my former "computer guy."

Data Tech 11 became my new "computer guy!" On Friday, 11/27/2020, after the initial phone conversation and email follow-up, I bought and brought home our new desktop computer with 16 GB RAM. The total cost was $678.83. The new desktop is great! The only trouble that I had was fighting "Microcrap," as I transferred files and programs from our old desktop to our new desktop. I won the technology war! My computer guy could have done it, but I wanted to do it.

I highly recommend Data Tech 11 to anyone who has computer-related needs. Check out the website! They offer other services also. On 12/7/2020, Pearl Harbor Day, I mailed a postal letter to the owner, Michael Jesenick, with my highest praise and recommendation. I hope that he uses my letter to promote his business, as I encouraged him to do.

Homeplace

On the cloudy Sunday afternoon of 11/29/2020, I visited the homeplace. I did the usual chores. I called our across-the-road neighbors and spoke with them for a while. They were taking it easy indoors. The next two photographs are of the homeplace.

The homeplace is still holding up well enough. My 2006 Frontier seems to like getting into a photograph!

Granny Ferrell (11/30/1892 - 6/11/1971)

Molly Gertrude Archer Ferrell, Granny Ferrell, had a heavenly birthday on 11/30/2020. I worked from home that day in the insanity of my work schedule. I remembered Granny Ferrell.

Granny, I love you. I remember you well. I will see you again in heaven.

Bionic Breakthrough?

By the way, winter began on 12/1/2020. On Friday, 12/4/2020 (a work-at-the-office day, based on the insane and bureaucratic schedule), my "bionic" right footstep began to feel almost like my normal left footstep! The right step is not exactly the same yet, but I have been feeling profound improvement since that day!

Since 6/16/2016, when I took my first three steps using a rolling walker, I have seen gradual improvement. December 4th was a significant "step" in the right direction. I almost cried! As a man, I knew better. The last time that I cried was in early 2000, with my face on the floor in our apartment. I was begging God to restore my mother's health.

Further, my "bionic" left shoulder and right knee are showing signs of improvement. Of course, the "crossover reactions," as they are called, are also "talking" to me. I deal with it all. I am going forward slowly, ever so slowly, in my ten-year recovery process, which started on 3/29/2016.

Chores on Saturday, 12/12/2020

On Saturdays, I do a few usual errands and chores. I added three more on Saturday, 12/12/2020. My last new-cold-virus-compliant haircut was on 10/24/2020, seven weeks ago instead of the usual four. I needed a haircut badly. My great barber at Tony's Best Clips (Facebook) gave me another fine haircut. We also had another good visit.

Next, my 2006 Frontier was handwashed at Synergy Auto Wash, in Halls. The rain held off. The cost was only $13.00 for the hand wash, exterior drying, and tire cleaning. I always leave a good tip.

Finally, my truck had an oil change at Halls Express Lube. Since the last oil change on 8/22/2020, he had racked up only 1,835 miles. It had been almost four months since that oil change. The old oil came out almost as clean as the new oil went in. Halls Express Lube is a mask-free zone. No employee or customer has contracted the new cold virus there.

My “Adoptive” Sister

My “adoptive” sister in Missouri emailed me on 12/14/2020 (a work-from-home day). Her daughter's birthday was that day. Why didn't I remember?

First, I called my “adoptive” sister, Carol Sue. We enjoyed catching up by phone. Yes, I was wearing a mask to not transmit any asymptomatic new cold virus germs that I may have to her. I also spoke with her 90-year-old mother, my “adoptive” mother.

Afterward, I called her daughter. She's getting a bit of age on her now, but she is holding up well! That was another fine conversation. It had been a while!

My Brothers

My next-to-youngest brother calls about every other weekend. He called last weekend. He's getting along well enough.

Yesterday, I thought that I would hike House Mountain for the 175th time, after hauling off the trash. My youngest brother called before I took a shower. We had a long conversation. His family and he are enduring Corona Myopia Psychosis, as I call it, well enough.

As I was about to head out to haul off the trash, my next-to-eldest brother called. I'm the eldest. He left a voicemail. I returned home after trash hauling to call him instead of going hiking. He has a new caregiver who is from Russia! He passed his phone to her. We started talking in Russian and switched to English. We finished in Russian. She passed the phone back to my brother. That was fun! He called it his Christmas gift to me!

Conclusion

Well, it has taken me five days, from the 16th to the 20th, to finish and publish this article. "Life, such as it is," does happen.

The Christmas gift to the world was the immaculate conception of Jesus. God, the eternal Word, had become flesh. He was born of a virgin and grew into a man. Christ died for our sins, but he arose from the dead. The Son of God lives eternally. The Savior awaits in heaven for all believers who have accepted his free gift and who are living in honor of it.

Our 2019 Christmas tree was the 20-year tree. It commemorated the Christmas tree that Dad and I got for our apartment in 1999, while my wife and my mother were Christmas shopping. There is no 2020 Christmas tree. Mom became ill on 12/28/1999. She "went to see Jesus" on 12/27/2000. We didn't have a Christmas tree in 2000. We will not this year.

I trust that you all have accepted the Christmas Gift. If not, email me! I can help you accept it! This website's Contact Form is how you can email me.