No Coal in My Stocking But a Flare Up of Kidney Stones - December 3013.

I spent the last two Christmases in far off India so I was looking forward to a 
change of pace and sharing the holiday with my bouncing, cheerful 
granddaughter, Harper Ann.  While all three of my sons would not be gathered
for the occasion ( Shawn, the oldest, is on Air Force duty in Kuwait ), Jeremy,
my youngest, drove up from San Francisco and we had a special Christmas
eve dinner at Laura and Alex's.  Harper Ann, of course, was the star of the
evening in her "waiting up for Santa" pajamas - though she was snug in bed
about 9PM.

I added a "baby's first Christmas ornament" with Harper's name on it to the 

tree which smelled wonderfully but was fast losing it's needles.  At 8-1/2-months,

Harper was easily diverted from the gifts by a shiny red bag filled with gold paper 

which kept her amused, no matter how often she reached for it.

Needless to say, with my three sons, football is going to be part of this young lady's

life.  Here she is sporting the San Francisco Forty Niners hat her Uncle Jer gave

to Laura.  Nicest of all is that Uncle Jer won the fantasy football pool this season

and donated it to start Harper's college fund.  I can't imagine what college will 

cost when she is a freshman.

Slowly but surely, there is a little bit of hair sprouting on that head.  She has bright

blue eyes and, for the most part, she's cheerful and happy - HOWEVER, Harper

can certainly exercise her lungs and let you know when she is displeased.

I just couldn't resist this little outfit - though she only got one day's wear out of

it.  After all, there is just one FIRST Christmas in a granddaughter's life.  I am so

glad I was home for the occasion.

Much to my dismay, however, early in the wee small hours of Christmas day, as

Santa was still soaring over the tree tops, I'm sure, I woke up with the first twinges 

of right flank pain.  They kept increasing in severity and, even after medication 

and drinking a couple of gallons of water, I knew I was in for a bout of renal colic.

I've had kidney stones for about fifteen years, have had lithotripsy twice withour

success, and have learned to live with them, for the most part.  If I stay adequately

hydrated, I'm usually fine but I guess I had been remiss with my water intake.  

For most of Christmas day and the next, I stayed in bed, missing most of the

festivities.  I did, however, manage to get up long enough for unwrapping of 

gifts and enjoying watching Harper Ann tear into the paper, ribbons and nibble

on all the gift tags.  While the rest of the family went off for Christmas dinner,

I stayed home with the granddogs and thanked my lucky stars I, at least, 

didn't have to head to the emergency room.

"Unlce Jer - sometime I call him Uncle J - says he is going to teach me all the

important  things like how to crab and fish and shoot a gun.  I ike it because he

reads to me from the Spanish books my mom buys.  He speaks Spanish

better than Dad or Nana."

"I know Nana was glad to have a granddaughter...she tells me that all the time.

I think she is worn out from having three sons.  Besides, I can wear cute clothes

like purple hats.  I like all my presents but I really liked chewing on the tags."

"Nana REALLY does take a lot of pictures...not just of me but of everything."

"Ohhhh, I knew this was a Spanish book - "El Camioncita Azul" or something

like that - because Mom said Uncle J had to read it to me.  Nana said that,

someday, he will take me to Barcelona, one of her favorite cities or, maybe,

even to Cuba!"

Well, that was my Christmas.  I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and that

it did NOT include coal or kidney stones.

Blessings and may 2014 be filled with love, properity, happiness and peace.

As The New Year Dawns, 2013

As The New Year Dawns, 2013

It seems to me the year goes by,

With such amazing speed,

The new year is upon us,

And the world is filled with need.

We make such strides in many ways,

Yet atrocities abound,

Wars rage on about the globe,

There seems no common ground.

Politicians promise many things,

That are forgotten through the year,

If there was just a single thing,

To which we‘d willingly adhere!

Resolutions come and go,

As fast as minutes on a clock,

And when a tragedy befalls our world,

We’re in a state of shock.

If only we would pause and think,

Each and every one,

Of ways to make life better,

Before the new year has begun.

Change has to start within,

With regard for our fellow man

With our doing a little bit,

Each and every time we can.

  

Open up your hearts,

To those outside your sphere,

Every child and man and woman,

Could make a difference here.

For me, it’s been a special year,

In which my dreams came true,

I’ll cherish all the memories,

As I bid this year adieu.

I pray the year to come will hold,

Days full of joy and peace,

When people have enough to eat,

And wars will finally cease.

I wish you every happiness,

You help to make my life complete.

I hope before this new year ends,

We have a chance to meet.

Best wishes for love, health, success, happiness in 2013.

Carmen M. Henesy

Copyright (c) December 31, 2012 by Carmen Henesy 
All rights reserved. 

New Year's Eve

I have no plans for tonight.  At first, I thought I might go over to American Sushi House, about two miles away, for dinner.  The family that owns it, from Korea, have become friends, but I don't much feel like going alone - and I have a couple of Netflix movies - so I think I'll just stay put.  I've enjoyed just reading blogs today, with all their wonderful New Year's messages of hope and renewal.  I've only heard from a couple of family members and friends so it is really nice to feel the warmth from my blogging world.  I just visited the blog of Karen at Keeping Secrets

( http://keepingsecrets-karen.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-year-blossoms.html  ) and thought her post was so visually beautifully and uplifting.  You might want to check it out.

It's already dark here and, in parts of the world, the New Year has already debuted.  I just pray that everyone celebrates safely and sanely.  We don't need any tragedies to mar the beginning of a new decade.  

Blessings to our world.  If we all join forces, we may manage to embrace each other in peace and understanding.

At the New Year

Well, I, for one, am not sorry to see this year draw to a close.  I have been on an emotional roller coaster since the dawn of last year, fighting San Francisco City Hall and Mayor Gavin Newsome and the massive budget cuts to the Department of Public Health. There was a subsequent loss of many services to the indigent poor, especially to the elderly and children of the city and, of course, hundreds of dedicated workers, many with years of service, such as myself ( 21 years as a forensic nurse ) joined the ranks of the unemployed. 

Trying to make do, on a half time pension in the Bay area, has been a nightmare.  While the four nurses in my agency covered around the clock, our benefits were only paid on twenty hours per week.  We were given  a per diem, higher rate of pay on the other hours, but did not receive benefits.  Twenty years ago that did not seem so bad but retirement, at that time, seemed far in the future.  Goodness, how the years flew by!  Nursing always appeared to be one of those secure jobs where you were safe from layoffs and the whims of the budget.  Social workers and therapists lost their jobs but nurses did not.  Suddenly, all that has changed, even in the acute care setting which is most alarming.  Fewer nurses are having to care for more seriously ill patients, without the assistance of qualified licensed vocational nurses and adequately trained staff.  Patient care will suffer and fewer nurses will choose to enter the profession.  It is a no win situation.  I look back on forty years in the profession and think sadly of the changes I see. 

So, farewell, 2009!  I am putting it all behind me, with prayers that things get better for all in the New Year.  I hope this world doesn't spin out of control and I pray that someone will see that peace is the answer.  Children should live in a world free of bombs and hatred.

Don't be remiss in saying, "I love you."  People need to know that when they are with you.  The words ring hollow when you utter them at someone's death bed.  Hug your children, encourage them, laugh with them, cry with them.  Give praise where it is due.  Lead by example.  Try to leave this world a better place when you depart. 

For all my family and cherished friends of a lifetime, I thank you for all your love and nurturing, especially during this past difficult year.  For all the new blogging friends I've met since mid-September, I can't believe how much I've gained from you in so short a time.  It has been quite a whirlwind and you have helped me maintain my sanity in the past ten months.  Thank you so much. 

Here goes another poem.

At The New Year

It doesn't seem quite possible.

A year has gone so fast,

As time is running out for me,

I try to make them last!

I guess it's true, that saying,

Time and tide don't wait,

But it wouldn't bother me,

If they would hesitate.

Are we in a better place,

Than last year at this time?

War still rages all around,

And we're overrun with crime!

I hope this world grows friendlier,

Starting, first, at home,

Then we must carry that spirit,

Wherever else we roam.

Keep your resolutions simple,

Things that add joy to your life,

Little changes often help,

Eliminate some strife.

As 2010 makes its debut,

I wish you the best of years,

My love to all of you and yours,

I raise my glass in cheers!

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2009 by Carmen Henesy

All rights reserved.

Dreams and Hope

Dreams and Hope

In a world so often crazy,

And fraught with so much strife,

My dream is that we learn respect,

And value human life.

I hope we teach our children,

To cherish this great earth,

We can show them by example,

Almost from their birth.

I dream of having peaceful days,

Without a single war,

When countries learn diplomacy,

And to negotiate much more.

My hopes are for a cancer cure,

For there to be enough to eat,

Of streets that have no violence,

Of relationships without deceit.

I dream that all can worship freely,

No matter what they believe,

And that every single child,

Is given the ability to achieve.

I pray that in my lifetime,

My hopes and dreams come true.

I will try to help them all along,

In everything I do.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) December 2009 by Carmen Henesy
All rights reserved.