…while in Hannibal

I have been battling Windows Media Player for the past month, it just craps out on me.  I love listening to music and this has been extremely frustrating.  I downloaded I-Tunes and so far I am loving it.  I have finally organized all of my songs. My daughter, who shares the same eclectic taste in music as I, gave me some more tunes which I added to my library.  What I am excited about is she got her hands on some Mark Lowry tunes and she is going to give them to me.
 
While in Hannibal mom and I explored the area.  We have been there before but it still feels new.  We stayed at a wonderful park, Mark Twain Landing and enjoyed the cable TV as well as the internet.  We had delightful neighbors that we enjoyed talking to.  The stay at the park was great.

I am going to post some random photos I took while in Hannibal.

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The past couple of months there has been a lot of sadness in the blogs I read.  I have been dealing with my own but it is nothing in comparison to what I have been reading.  I don’t know these people whose life stories I read.  I have never shook their hand or patted them on the back.  No hug exchange.  Yet they have become a part of my life.  With a click of a mouse they invite me into their home and stories are shared.  Similarities are noted, laughter is exchanged, information is shared, lessons are learned….   You cannot help but enjoyed them as if they are family.   Someone said they are my blogger family.  As cheesy as it sounds I have to agree.

Hannibal was not a fun stop.  My friend is in a lock down nursing home.  I am used to going into a nursing homes with their coded doors and elevators but this one was spooky.  She doesn’t go outside, she has no decorations in her room, and she just  sits in her wheelchair.  I mean she just sits.   She really tried to make light of her situation but it was hard to laugh.  I brought her lunch from her favorite restaurant, Long John Silvers, and a 12 pack of soda.  I made sure there wasn’t any glass or metal in the gifts I brought her.  There was just a part of me that wanted to grab her and run like hell.  She always been there for me for 30 years and I feel like I am not there for her.  I don’t know her diagnosis and neither does she.  No one will tell me.  I don’t know if she is still having “rages” and I don’t know how long she will be there.  She said she is leaving in 5 days to 2 months.  There was an elderly gentlemen in the hall, sitting stooped over in his wheelchair and all he said repetitiously was “I want to go home.”    She is only 50 years old.  She doesn’t have a home anymore because once she went in the nursing home she lost her apartment.  She gets a $30 a month allowance and the sodas are $1.50.  I just don’t know what to do and I hate the fact the she is where she is and I am where I am.  I don’t think I can live my life for the both of us as requested.  And no I don’t think she is crazy.  She was just misdiagnosed until the damage became permanent. 

Powell Garden

Another wonderful place we visited was Powell Gardens. 

“Powell Gardens' history dates to 1948, when the land was purchased by George E. Powell, Sr. This 915-acre tract of land has served as a dairy farm, Boy Scout camp, an agricultural and natural resource center, and since 1988, a botanical garden.”

This year there were statues of huge bugs at the gardens.  Also they had a farm with veggies.  I haven’t been to the gardens for a few years. 

I loaned my daughter my micro lens and I used her camera for close ups.  She has never used this type of lens and she had a wonderful time photographing the flowers and an occasional bug. We really enjoyed our time there.

Click here for pictures.

Has It Been That Long?

I have been hanging out with my daughter, Hannah and time just flies. 

The visor has been replaced and our plans were to leave Monday morning (October 4th).  I lost a filling in my tooth and then I broke one.   I am thankful it happened when it did because my daughter has a wonderful dentist.  We are going to hang around for another two weeks waiting for my cap to be made.  Our plans is to visit with Carol who is now in a nursing home and then we will just roam.  Roaming is nice. 

One of the places we went to was Wallace State Park.  Even though it isn’t allowed my grandpuppies went swimming and later Hannah and I hiked one of the trails.  Of course the mushrooms were out and I went nuts with the camera.  The day ended with wet, burr covered dogs and laughter.  You can’t beat that!!!  Especially since I didn’t have to pick burrs.  :-)

Click here for more pictures of Wallace State Park.

On The Way To Hiawatha

MOUNT BETHEL CEMETERY The Mt. Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church and cemetery is located on the highest hill in rural Platte County about 9 miles north of Weston on M highway. The church building was dedicated in 1883.

Iggy's

Back on the road today.   We are heading into Kansas and it looks like we will be without internet for a while. I set Blogger to automatically publish.

Meanwhile back in Carthage.


Wonderful little diner in Carthage Missouri.

Website:  Iggy's Diner

Holy Cow

Mom and I were driving back to the RV Park in Carthage when my phone rang.  I didn't want to answer it while driving through city traffic so I let it go to voice mail.  The next traffic light that turned red I picked up my phone.  I glanced down to make sure I was pressing and holding "1" to call voice mail.  When I glanced up I was face to face with a 18 wheeler.

Scared the holy ned out of me because he wasn't stopping..  I hit my horn twice because I was nervous.   It appears he just couldn't make that turn and I was in his way.  I had to back up and give him room.

I am so happy I am in an itty bitty van.

More Pictures of Carthage MO

Richard Marlin Perkins
Born 28 March 1905
Carthage, Missouri, USA
Died     14 June 1986 (aged 81)
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

Web Page:  Wild Kingdom


The Plaque At The Base Read:

His Life Was Gentle And The Elements So Mix'd In Him That Nature Might Stand Up And Say To All The World, This Was A Man!  Shakespeare

Sculpted By Bob Tommy and Bill Snow 1988

Also At The Carthage Park Was This Fountain

Across the street was the Carthage Library where these pictures were taken.