What a week! Joe and Sandy arrived about 6:30 Saturday, Sept. 25th. We just stayed home and had dinner and they settled in. Sunday, Sandy and I went to church. We had Jeb's family, Ted, Grant's family for lunch on Sunday. It was rainy but we had a nice visit mostly inside. Danny and Nicole came, too. Later that evening, Nicole called to tell me that she had gotten the job at the Flagpole in Athens. She starts to work on Wednesday and will move in with me for a while.
Monday, Joe, Sandy and I went to the YMCA to work out in the morning. Then we too a Historic Tour of Athens from the Welcome Station. The lady driving the bus/van must have been 80, but she could certainly wheel that vehicle around all of Athen's narrow streets and gave us a nice, informative tour.
Tuesday, we went back to the Y, again in the morning. Then Jami arranged a private tour of Terrapin Brewery at 1:00 p.m. We had a great tour and tasting. Joe and Sandy asked all of the right questions because they have so much knowledge about beer. They have been on tours of breweries as far away as Germany. We went right to Five Star Liquor Store and bought some Terrapin beer! Kathy delivered Nicole to my house while we were gone.
Wednesday, Joe, Sandy and I drove to Pell City. They followed me through Atlanta and we stopped at Alabama Welcome Station to picnic. Had a call from Patsy as we were about to leave and she had just passed the Welcome Station. We met up with her at the next exit and all headed for the motel in Pell City where Joe & Sandy were staying. We got in touch with Betty and Robby and they were almost to Montgomery at that point, so we waited until they arrived to go visit Horace all together. We got to Horace's about 5:15. He was pacing the floor because he thought we would be there by 3:00 p.m. We had a glass of wine and visited about an hour (see picture on porch). Then, we all went back over by the motel (9 miles from the house) and ate at Cracker Barrel. Horace had 3 biscuits with honey and eggs. We visited in Joe's room for a while after that and then Patsy and I left to take Horace back home. We spent the night with him. Betty and Robby also stayed at the same motel.
Thursday, Patsy and I walked about 2 miles early in the morning. Horace took a little walk, too, but he cannot walk as fast as we do, so he went by himself. We ate breakfast and tried to convince Horace to move and not try to take care of the big house and yard, but he convinced us that he would never move. We went to the motel and piled in Betty's van for a trip to B'ham. Robby was great to drive all of us "old folks" around all day. Joe and Horace sat in the middle seats of the van and talked about growing up and enjoyed each other's company. We went to eat Bar-b-q at Golden Rule, first. We went to St. Martin's to visit Frances and had a very good visit with her. Then we went to Elmwood Cemetery to see mother's and daddy's graves, and Peggy's grave. Then we went to Cotton Ave. where Horace, Joe and Betty lived (but before I was born). They talked about each house and who lived in them, and remembered riding their tricycles down the sidewalk. Then we drove to downtown and went by "The Place" where Daddy's business was. Then over the mountain to Savages Bakery and drove down Lancaster Rd. where Patsy and I lived. Very desirable neighborhood now since Homewood is so "uptown".
We headed back to Pell City. Horace was very tired and wanted to go home. I drove him home and then I returned to the motel where all of the rest of us visited until about 10:15 p.m. Patsy and I then went back to Horace's house. He met us at the door and was furious. He had been so worried about "those young girls out by themselves at this time of the night". He gave us a scolding like I haven't had in 60 years! We shamedly climbed the steps and went right to bed. We had plans to go back to St. Martins for a private lunch with Frances to celebrate her birthday on Friday.
The next morning, Patsy and I got up and walked again. Horace wasn't up, yet. We came back and he was still in bed, and I thought I should wake him up, but Carol Grant called and she said to let him sleep because he had a big day the day before. Patsy and I showered and got dressed and I went in to wake him up about 9:30 a.m. He was definitely not right. He could not speak very well and his right hand was trying to reach for something. He had wet the bed, and he told me he had wet it. I went to get Patsy and she came in and sat on his right side and took his hand and he squeezed it. I took his left hand and told him to squeeze my hand, but he could not. Patsy called 911 and they sent an ambulance, fire truck, and police car, arriving in about 15 minutes. There were 9 people (that I counted) who came. We got in touch with Margaret and asked her what hospital to take him to. She said to bring him to B'ham to the one close to St. Martin's. I rode in the ambulance with Horace and Patsy drove her car.
No one was there when we got to the hospital, but Margaret came soon after. They took him to do a MRI and found he had a stroke with bleeding in the brain. He was not going to be able to come out of it. Margaret and Carol decided not to have him put on life support. Eventually, he was moved to a room on the 5th floor and they made him as comfortable as possible, but no food or water. He talked a little bit on Friday. Joe and Sandy, Betty and Robby, Patsy, Margaret and I were all with him all day Friday. Grant and Todd also came by. It was very sad. Carol Grant flew in and her flight came about 9:45 p.m. Patsy and I stayed at the hospital so Margaret could go home and get some rest and go with Todd to meet Carol at the airport. They arrived at the hospital about 10:30. Patsy and I returned to Horace's house in Pell City.
Saturday, Patsy and I returned to the hospital and we stayed there from 9:30 a.m. until about 7:30 p.m. that night. We told Carol and Margaret to try to get some things done and to be with Frances while we were there to sit with him. Betty and Robby left for home after breakfast. Joe & Sandy came to the hospital and stayed a good part of the day, taking a break at lunch time. Carl, Jr., Lillian and Tempie came and stayed about 3 hours.
After we left the hospital Sat. night, Patsy and I went to Wallmart and bought some flowers for Frances and took her birthday cards. She doesn't know how she can go on without him. They were so close and I know she will miss him terribly.
Sunday, Joe and Sandy left for Tennessee to visit Janet and Robin. Patsy left for Lakeland at 6:45, and I left for Atlanta at 8:30. I had lunch in Atlanta at Kay and Bill McHugh's and Jim and Charlotte were there. Then I drove back to Athens. Nicole had gone to Snellville to pick up her "new" car that Jeb found for her. She pulled in the drive way at my house right after I did, and we went to 5:00 p.m. Mass a the Catholic Center.
I write on Friday, Oct. 8th. Horace is still alive, and he is comfortable, so they say. I don't know how much longer he will live, but I pray it won't be too long. The girls are exhausted. I'm very sad but know he will be in a better place. I'm so thankful that we all had Wednesday night and Thursday together. It really is a miracle. Joe and Horace had their brotherhood again. What a blessing.