March 6th, 2012

      What a beautiful day! I actually had the energy to go with KinDee to Oelwein today to get a few groceries. I sure enjoyed having the windows cracked and smelling the fresh air. This is my favorite time of year. My father’s favorite time of year is Fall. I like the fall, but it depresses me. Everything is dying and winter comes after. In the spring, it’s all about renewal and rebirth. I love the smell of the earth on a spring day. It takes me back to my youth. It makes me think of Dad out planting corn. He had this old two row planter and would only plant a small patch, but I would go out and walk behind that planter. I’d feel the cool earth with my feet. I would smell that “earthy” smell and that has always stayed with me.  

      When I went outside this afternoon, after my nap, the kids were playing on the trampoline that KinDee just put up again. I sat on the deck and listened to the geese heading north again. I smelled those lovely spring smells and heard the sounds of people enjoying a spring day. I listened as families were out walking, visiting with each other. I heard more vehicles go by today than I have seen in a long while. With gas prices high, people seemed to have really cut back on how much they drive, but on a beautiful day like today, I think it was a case of “gas prices be damned.” It made me think of being on Dad’s farm in the early 1990’s. Sitting there a mile west of Walker, on a day like today, you could hear the hustle and bustle of Walker. Many times I would walk into town to see Toby. It would take me by the Bowling Alley and the taverns. On nights like tonight, they’d be busier than hell. This sort of weather makes people almost giddy. I know it does that to me.  

      I’ve been feeling like shit lately. We found out last year that my thyroid is all messed up. It has been a very large contributing factor to my failing health. They’ve been monkeying around with medication ever since. I thought we had it down pretty good by November, then I went downhill like a lead balloon. I had several infections, and then by late December, I got a bad case of cellulitis in my leg. I really thought it was going to be my swan song. Heavy antibiotics and some more rest cleared that up, but I still haven’t been the same since. I get tired every day between Noon and 2 P.M. I can hardly function. I need to lay down and generally I take a nap, or just lay there for a few hours, then I’m fine until bedtime. Even though this past winter has been mild, it’s been one of the worst for me. I’ve felt worse than I ever have. What was it, last week or so when we had a mild day sort of like this one? Whenever it was, I remember I got outside then and I felt a lot better. Today has done the same thing for me. I’m hoping that spring comes early and stays. Hopefully it will improve my health. Back in the old days, they would call it your “constitution.” Well, this nice weather is certainly improving my constitution. This afternoon, I have felt better than I have in a long time.