Wednesday.  I’m going to edit today.  The publisher wants me to do a book on the Vietnam era.  Truly a horrible war.  We had no real reason to be there, and so many young men died.

Ken only got hit once.  He took a 50 milimeter through the cockpit--which looked like smoke when the canopy  disintegrated.  He said he leaned forward to pull back on the stick or it would have cleaned the earwax out of both ears.

Sounds like something he would say.  The only other bad thing he had was being burned all over when he was doing his post flight check.  The plane had been shut down, but as he walked around the tail, the plane “belched” fire and he got it.  They threw him in water which probably saved his life.  Almost 60 years ago, but some memories don’t fade.  I thank God he made it home.  So many didn’t.

I walked around the block again at 7 this morning.  As long as I do that I give myself a pass for the rest of the day to sit and watch TV.  I don’t actually do that, but I could if I wanted to!!!

I have been watching the Olympics.  The men’s gymnastics has been obscured by the women’s team for so long that it was exciting to see them medal.

The newspaper is the most exciting event of most days.  But they have a new crossword person who likes to ask for the name of current figures in movies etc.  That really isn’t fair.  Who cares.  I need real stars like John Wayne, Heady Lamarr, Bette Davis, etc.

It’s no fun anyway when they ask for names instead ideas and definitions.  But it still gets me out of my chair to go outside and get the newspaper.  Unless it’s raining...then it’s a toss up.

Yesterday’s lesson was about Deborah.  A female Judge for Israel.  Obviously she was before her time.  Being a female “anything” during those times (and these times) was a rare occurrence.  She sent the Israel army to fight a group that was much larger than they were. Also the enemy had chariots.  And she went with them to be visible as the appointed voice of God.  They won the battle.

I read in the newspaper a few weeks ago that one of the largest denominations in America was going to make a rule that a woman can’t pastor any of their churches.  I’m sure that will cause a split--especially among predominantly black congregations since many of their pastors are female.

I can’t imagine what higher boards of denominations are afraid of--that women are a threat???  There were four different female judges over Israel back then.  They survived it!!  

 I spent all of my time today cleaning up my kitchen floor.  I dropped a quart of sweet pickles in sugar juice all over the floor.  I can’t even describe the mess.  And the floor will still be sticky for ever I fear.

I have kept walking around the block this month at seven in the morning before it gets hot.  Missed once when it was raining.  I hope it helps me get my strength back. I’m so non-mechanical that it took me two weeks to figure out that the walker handles could be adjusted up and down.

I’ve been eating mashed potatoes for breakfast.  “Idahoan” brand.  I have a hot water tap at my sink...so it is instant.  I love things that are instant!!! Food is my biggest problem.  It is hard to cook for one person.  And my mama taught me never to throw food out---which is impossible anymore.

My publisher came by yesterday.  We are trying to get my next book on the market.  I sent an e-mail copy to my brother Bill, and he found over twenty mistakes--that’s after I had edited it myself over and over.  I can’t find my own mistakes because my mind reads what I “want” it to say.  July is almost over.  Where has this year gone?!!?  

The aging process is a enigma.  You never know where you are.  In your 80’s, you realize that time is not on your side, but on any given day, you feel great...and then next day the you don’t.  And you ask yourself, “Is this it?”  I think I am doing everything a person can do to stay healthy,  but my body sometimes doesn’t agree with my mind.

You don’t dare complain.  People don’t like to hear complaints no matter what your age is.  And you really don’t know if you have something going on that you should complain about!!!  Maybe it is just a bad day.

My dad lived to ninety-four and the only complaint he ever made was once: he told me about the plate of leftovers I had set on the table for him.  It was something he didn’t want to eat.  So I fried him an egg and he was happy.  I wish all of us could be satisfied so easily.   

I joined a group named “Rusty Keys.”  Women who learned to play an instrument in their youth, got married, had kids and got “rusty” playing their instrument.  I had been so sick this last year that I had quit going.  But today (I’m better) I played the marimba for them.  My marimba had been in the trunk of my car for a year.  It comes apart into six or seven pieces.  And for the first time in my life (I got the thing when I was fourteenI) of playing it, I flubbed up.  You can’t leave something in your car trunk for a year and expect to take it out and be fantastic.  The redeeming fact is that everyone there played an instrument  and flubbed up.  I think that’s where the group got the name “Rusty.”  They are a fun group.

I would give the marimba away ( I have another one in the family room) if there was some child who would like to learn and stay with it.  It was used when I got it and I’ve been playing it for 70 years.  It’s time for someone else to play.