Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 May 18 - 09:19 PM

Amos needs all the help and good thoughts he can get. See MOAB.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 04 May 18 - 08:45 PM

I'm glad you jumped that hurdle, Rap. Of course I'm hoping for good results. Let us know. In the meantime, get plenty of rest.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 May 18 - 10:50 PM

The test is over and since I haven't heard from any doctor I suppose nothing immediately fatal was found. However, going 13 hours without food or drink (save my own spit and two sips of water to take pills) I was very, very hungry and thirsty. Now I'm just tired.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 03 May 18 - 01:59 PM

Now Amos prepares for his hospital procedure a few days hence,
while today Rapparee -- as he has disclosed --
is given a stress test.
Keeping both in my heart.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 01 May 18 - 07:50 PM

Oh, my.
Thanks, Rapparee.
Amos ... oh, my. I'm not going into joke territory.
This doesn't sound like any joke to me.
Thinking of you and yours.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 May 18 - 06:33 PM

Amos wrote, in part, 22 hours ago:

I have just returned from a loverly weekend in the wilding hills of West Virginia where a clan of song-loving folkies gather to spend the days and evenings swapping songs at a rustic inn called The Brazen Head. A long long drive. But well worth it for the chance to get my fix of people in song. :D

On the 8th of May I will be delving into the unknown as the amazing technology of modern medicine again converges on my mortal shell to tweak and remodel it. This time it will be a robotic surgeon with six arms which will be moving in through six very small incisions to remove my trusty bladder and some auxiliary bits including the seminal vesicles and prostate gland, so that when I awake I will have to re-learn the rare art of urination all anew, but this time en plastique. As far as I can recall I was an average student of micturition in my first training on the course back in the 1940's, and improved steadily to the point where I could write my name in the snow. I am not sure how well that will work with this new system, but the nurse who was trying to coach me on what to expect reassured me cheerfully that I would still be able to point the stream. Preserve the small pleasures, that's what I say.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Donuel
Date: 01 May 18 - 02:37 PM

"Its wonderful to have such a friend that it is so hard to say goodbye."
Milne

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 30 Apr 18 - 02:09 PM

Wonder how Amos is maintaining --
he could use our good will during treatment.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Pete from seven stars link
Date: 29 Apr 18 - 08:37 AM

I've had pains that move around my body , but only minor stuff . Here's hoping yours is just a tempory problem and 'normal ' is the continuing accurate diagnosis Rapparee

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Apr 18 - 08:40 PM

This afternoon I had a pain in my chest. It seemed to be moving to include my jaw. I mentioned it to my wife.

The urgent care place didn't have the equipment so off we were to the Emergency Room.

I was jabbed to start an IV and blood was drawn for test. An EKG was done. I was hooked up to a cardiac monitor. I was given three nitroglycerin tablets.

Then we waited. Various doctors and nurses checked on me. Eventually I was allowed a sandwich and to visit the bathroom.

EKGs were again taken and blood tests done. Nitro was sprayed into my mouth.

All tests showed normal. They will tell on me to my doctor and I'll probably have a stress test.

Everything normal, but when I sneeze the nitroglycerin explodes.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Apr 18 - 09:18 PM

In some ways, K, it was more of a swearing-at. We stood on a drill floor and were sworn into Federal Active Duty. In the background, someone had put on recordings of martial music -- one I remember distinctly was "Lili Marlene" and I felt ready to rush into Europe and do something or other with the Germans. Harmonize, maybe.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 27 Apr 18 - 11:58 AM

I stand corrected, Rapparee, thank you.

Thank you, Petefromsevenstars. Touching disclosure about the pet who remains with you.

Frogprince, from your photographs that you have in the past shared with us, spring is a time of year that has a lot of meaning for you.
It's easy to guess that spring will be bittersweet this year.
Thinking of you as you get through it all.

Mysha, hope you are more and more secure in the here and now, and that your emotions and feelings are healing.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Apr 18 - 08:53 AM

No, we were sweating it. My brother and I had to pull out of college; somehow staying alive in a place full of unfriendly folks became more important that the Ossian Cycle.

Here's part of the reason for the sweat: In January, 1968, an Ordnance Company that repaired trucks and things became a Quartermaster Company that distributed food and fuel. An Infantry Platoon (me and others) was slammed into the QM Company as the Bath and Laundry Platoon w/attached Graves Registration Unit. Save for the supply room and the company clerk, no one was qualified in their job. No one knew what they were to do. NATURALLY we were the only unit from Illinois which could be activated! However, we brought back a second "Meritorious Unit" citation and streamer for the company flag and had a (not activated with us) guy in the company earn a Silver Star for bravery (posthumously).

Oh, yes -- that Bath, Laundry, and Graves Platoon was chopped off and the individuals sent to various other units, mostly Infantry. All of us got a chance to serve overseas, including a bunch that went to Canada to test chemical warfare equipment in not-very-dilute mustard gas.

The best part of it all was about August 15, 1969, when we came home.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Apr 18 - 08:51 PM

Swearing-in, right?
that darned spell-checker.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Apr 18 - 10:22 PM

My wife's reunion trip went very well. She saw old friends and her relatives, although her uncle (90+) seems to be failing. As she said, "What will be, will be." Last of his generation -- worked on the Berlin Airlift.

Come May 15 I fly to Illinois for a reunion celebrating the 50th (a half century? NO!) of the activation and federalization of my National Guard unit. My brother Tony, at least 8 cousins, 2 sets of twins -- all went to A Country In Southeast Asia. Me, I went to the sunny DMZ in South Korea. The day after our sweating-in, my youngest brother, Ted, went off to Air Force basic training; he was trained as a linguist in...Vietnamese! This was not my widowed mother's happiest few years.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Apr 18 - 07:59 PM

waaay back in the 90s my colleague sat next to a deaf woman so learned to sign to communicate with her. She became an official signer in our office & as her colleague became a close friend, her children learnt Aslan - Australian sign language too, & it was fun watching her 5-yr old daughter using English & Aslan in the same conversation when she visited the office.

This girl & her older brother spoke 4 languages as their parents were Italian & Greek!

sandra (who only speaks one language)

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 24 Apr 18 - 06:46 PM

Signing is a wonderful skill, as wonderful as speaking another language. Of course I hope your granddaughter never loses her hearing, but even if she doesn't, you may someday come across someone who needs help and can only communicate by signing. When I taught elementary school every morning my class and I would sign the alphabet, but that would be a tedious way to communicate. I know a few other signs, too, mostly because they are used in children's songs! You probably know that the sign languages used in the US and UK are different. I had read somewhere that because of a genetic disorder, many people on the island of Martha's Vineyard off the Massachusetts coast were once hearing impaired, so most people on the island, hearing and non-hearing, could use sign language. This is no longer the case. I always assumed they used American Sign Language, but I read recently that the island people had developed their own sign language. I can't be sure that's true, though.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: billybob
Date: 24 Apr 18 - 02:12 PM

So some happy news from me. Although my feet have blisters and my hips and legs are aching. (A sign of age maybe) our family went to London to watch the Marathon at the weekend. We walked a few miles, Tower Bridge to Westminster, hence the weary legs, but the atmosphere was amazing.
Some of you know that our eldest grandaughter is deaf, she has hearing aids and lip reads, she has perfect speech and does well at school however her parents have always been told, by health professionals,that she does not need to sign. The National Deaf Children's Society have said signing is so important in case she should lose her hearing suddenly by a blow to the head or high temperature.So the whole family will start learning in September.

Bunny has an amazing godfather, who decided to run the Marathon to raise funds for the NDCS , it was the hottest day of the year and many runners suffered dreadfully, however Stuart completed in 4 hours 25 minutes.He raised huge £6,000 which will pay for many families to learn to sign. In total £140,000 was raised for this wonderful Charity.

There are some photos on my Facebook page(hopeless at blue clicky here??) feel free to look.

Sending love to all the crew
Wendy xxx

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 23 Apr 18 - 12:51 PM

Hey, get back up there ...

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 21 Apr 18 - 01:30 PM

Keep this ship above the horizon.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Apr 18 - 07:04 PM

Your Imperious Rapturous Rexness,
how was your wife's reunion trip, by the way?
(re your post a few weeks back)

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: gnu
Date: 18 Apr 18 - 03:17 PM

Lurk lurk.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Apr 18 - 01:54 PM

Out of sight for the better part of a week!

Need you back!

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Pete from seven stars link
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 03:52 PM

Thank you keberoxu. Becky and I were talking about it this evening. Much of the time we are ok though it's always below the surface. I had thought I was getting over it , but then there was talk of putting down the dog we had got for tommy , and I fell apart for a bit. Fortunately following a second visit to the vet and steroids and other tablets , she quietened down and rarely nips now.                         Blessings all.   Pete

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 12:13 PM

Thinking today of Petefromsevenstars.
His household is still healing and grieving from loss,
although the immediate changes have been seen to.
Such mourning takes time and patience to endure.
You are not forgotten
nor is the one you lost whom you so loved.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 10:29 PM

but have the hummingbirds come back from Mexico?

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 10:25 PM

I hope gnu is doing okay. We've had our own problems here in the Idaho Rockies -- the coconut palms keep dropping their coconuts on cars and people, the surf hasn't been much to speak of, and the hibiscus aren't out yet. The breeze has even been too brisk and warm for comfort!

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 07:58 PM

Keeping this boat afloat!

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 04 Apr 18 - 10:29 AM

Mysha on deck! A welcome sight.
Hope gnu is hanging in there.
Gnu is far enough north
that he may still be contending with SNOW...

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Mysha
Date: 03 Apr 18 - 04:56 PM

Looks like the worst of the weather is behind us. Time to unbatten the hatches.

Mysha

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Mar 18 - 01:34 PM

...and don't forget Mrrzy who has been keeping us updated
on a family crisis. Keeping you in my prayers.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 23 Mar 18 - 06:42 PM

Just to say thank you to
Pete, Mysha, frogprince, and Gnu
for keeping the finger on the pulse
and letting us know you are doing so.

Thinking of your losses, and of your healing.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Pete from seven stars link
Date: 22 Mar 18 - 11:17 PM

Just re read page 35 ; all those loving expressions. May some sweet memories of Jane ease the sadness of this anniversary of her passing Nigel            Blessings. Pete

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Rapparee
Date: 22 Mar 18 - 08:13 PM

He did. Nebulizer, Advair (not yet, too expensive, he's looking into a cheaper alternative), lots of liquids (not whiskey, whisky, vodka or any of that stuff), rest (I've have about 9 hours sleep in the last 48). He also wanted to give me a codeine cough medicine, but I already had some left over from the last time I had a bad cough.

My wife leaves for DC tomorrow between something o'clock and oh dark thirty. She, too, is coughing, but very much wants to make this trip to her high school's 150th anniversary (no, she was not in the first graduating class!). If she's not some better when she comes back on Monday she's going to the doctor.

We may not go back to Hawai'i, nice place though it is.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 22 Mar 18 - 08:11 PM

And now that I've reread 35, yes it was a very good page, but just one of the many very good pages on this thread. However, I won't read them all tonight!

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 22 Mar 18 - 07:56 PM

Let us know if the doc came up with a better idea, Rap.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Rapparee
Date: 22 Mar 18 - 10:45 AM

The doctor prescribed some medication which was marginally useful. I see my own doctor in an hour.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: billybob
Date: 22 Mar 18 - 08:54 AM

Nigel and Ann

That page 35, just filled with so much love, 5 years on we are all still here sending the same love to you both.

This thread is an everlasting tribute to Jane and has brought so many wonderful people together in times of need.

Bless you both

Wendy xxx

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Mar 18 - 06:09 AM

page 35 is pain & joy filled & very moving - so much love & reminders of other lost friends.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 22 Mar 18 - 03:54 AM

Tomorrow, 23rd March marks the fifth year of Jane's passing. Many a mile have we sailed since that desperate day. If you have a moment or two to spare, visit page 35 of our thread...deeply felt comments, poems, music, an outpouring of love & support, the like of which I would have never thought possible. You will also see the names of other dear Friends who have joined Jane beyond the horizon.
                               With Love & Gratitude,
                                                                   Nigel & Ann Paterson.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: gnu
Date: 21 Mar 18 - 07:36 PM

Nice to hear from you, froggy. Really nice.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: frogprince
Date: 21 Mar 18 - 10:17 AM

frogprince has been on a long roll of keeping track of the thread, and feeling appreciative of the folks here, without thinking of much to say. I've gotten back to what was our routine of morning walk and exercise at the town "community center" (primarily a fitness center) and coffee and gab afterward with regulars there, so avoiding becoming a complete hermit.
Flu has been going through town here like the black plague, but it hasn't got me yet; I've been lucky in that respect for some years now.

                   Dean

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 20 Mar 18 - 06:30 PM

Hope frogprince knows that all of us are thinking of him.
Gnu, keep on keeping on.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Mar 18 - 06:21 PM

grrrrrr.

Rap gets ill
and
we get snowed on.
I know I'm supposed to say uplifting things on this thread.
There's another nor'easter coming.

grrrrr.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 17 Mar 18 - 09:45 PM

Well, Rap, what did the doc do for you and your wife?
Maybe you should avoid Hawaii.
Do I sound jealous?
Yup!

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Mysha
Date: 17 Mar 18 - 04:03 PM

Hi,

Maybe you really have to travel by way of the Arctic grounds when rolling down to old Maui. It might be a way to build up resistance, or something.

Bye
                                                               Mysha

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Mar 18 - 12:45 AM

It's also quite pleasant here on Maui. However, I have a nasty cough (saw doctor), as does my wife. Same thing happened when we came here two years ago. Come to Hawai'i, get sick.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Mar 18 - 05:20 PM

it's a glorious later summery/early autumn day here on the other side of the world

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 09:54 PM

Someone needs a day trip to Mystic Seaport where there are lots of opportunities to ask staffers what sailors' expressions mean. But not tomorrow! Wait until a glorious day.

Subject: RE: Jane's Rainbow: for all needing support & comfort
From: ranger1
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 01:11 PM

Keb, you got it in one. Hatches are the openings on the ship's deck, battening them down means to close them up tightly. Mostly so below decks doesn't fill up with water.