Report On My New Knee

Well, things are looking up. I have been walking regularly for about three weeks. What a difference it has made for me. I first walked 15 minutes, sitting after 5 minutes. I have managed to work up to 30 minutes sitting after 10 minutes. It's difficult with the high blood pressure and pain of my knee.

However, today was good. Yesterday, Sunday was the start of it. I woke up without pain in my right knee. This morning, Monday, I woke up without having pain all night with my left hip and left knee.

I had been overcompensating the pain in my right knee by exaggerating use of my left side. It took its toll for the past three months. I was and am praying really hard my left knee and/or hip don't need replacing.

It's an ordeal I don't want to put my husband nor myself through again. I hope the pain is gone for good.

Dieting Obsession

Well, I've come to the big fork in the road, again, so-to-speak. Will I lose weight or won't I? It's a big decision. There are so many "rules of engagement". So many ways people advise others about weight loss.

One thing for sure: it takes a lot of thought. Do you want to become "obsessed" with food? For most the answer is a resounding "no". Sometimes in the past that is what it has become for me. In the past exercise also has become an obsession in order to lose weight. Therefore I spent most of my day obsessed with weight loss. It's not fun and almost became an illness.

So, I read a book called, "Seven Secrets of Slim People" by Vikki Hanson, M.S.W. and Shawn Goodman. Most of the information people know just because the information has been around a long time. There are some good points to ponder.

I'm going to try a new approach. "Eat sensibly and in moderation and walk regularly." Especially since my family Dr. has advised me to lose at least 10 pounds. My knee dr. has advised that I exercise my "new" knee. I hope very much these people know what they are talking about. I'll let you know in a few months how that turned out.

Knee Replacement Surgery

Well, it's been a trying time for me and my husband. After about three to five years of limping every time I walked, I made the big decision: Knee surgery.

I knew it would be tough, but endurance is not one of my better suites. It is difficult to have that nagging pain. Not too much pain to deal with, just enough to aggravate the tar out of someone.

Well, I shouldn't complain. My husband has the worst part of it as care-giver. He was always faithful to tend to my every need. He deserves a lot of stars in his crown for this one.

He was always cheerful and ready to serve whatever I needed.

We had this machine that exercised my knee automatically. It weight about 8 to 10 pounds. My leg would get tired being raised all the time, so I would ask him to take it down every so often. I just know it was trouble. But, I hurt.

So here is my tribute to Tommy Stuart:

Thank you for all the hard work you do. Learning to be a house-husband and nurse-maid to me. Cooking, washing dishes, laundry, giving medications, changing sheets on the bed and numerous other chores you never complained about doing.

Today you finally got to work in your garden (not the virtual one). I am so proud of you and hope you keep your sense of humor always.

TRIBUTE TO ANITA AND THE DOLLS SHE GAVE ME

Anita was my sister and eight years my senior. We all loved and adored her. She was the most giving person I think I ever met.

She worked down the street, in the 4500 Proctor Street. It was near the town of Lakeview which doesn't exist any more. The little restaurant doesn't exist either.

I could walk there from where we lived on Trinity Ave. She would serve me a glass of "coca-cola".

Then one day I couldn't go anymore. She said I was drinking her profits. I was so young I didn't realize she had to pay for the drinks. I was just playing "store".

Then she worked at Glass Drug Store downtown Port Arthur on 5th Street about the 6 or 700 block. They sold "story book" dolls and every occasion she would buy me a doll. They were about 5 or 6 inches tall. One was a "Canasta" doll that had playing cards all over her dress. One was "Little Bo-Peep" that had a staff in her hand and looked like a fairy princess in pink.

My favorite which I still have are "Peter Pan and Tinker Bell". They are dressed in green. He looks rather like Robin Hood with the hat with a feather in it. "Tinker Bell" looks like fairy with "wings". I still have "Peter Pan and Tinker Bell". They are put away somewhere. When I find them I shall put a picture of them on this site. I think I still have the other dolls also.

I entered one of my dolls in a contest for the CavOilCade festival, Port Arthur had a long time ago. She was a dressed with a white gown and red cape. She was supposed to be a "queen". She won 2nd or 3 rd place. I'm sorry I don't still have the ribbon. I kept it for a long time but time gets away from us. I don't remember if I still have the princess doll or not. I was only 10 or 11 years of age at the time.

I must get pictures and post them when I get a chance.

The Old .38 Pistol

When I was about 8 years old my sister, Anita, was 16 years of age. My older brother, Jerry, was 15 and my younger brother, Tommy was 11.

One summer day, while my mom and dad were working during the day, Jerry and Anita had some teen-age friends over to the house. They were all in the kitchen discussing what teens discuss. Tommy decided he wanted in on the conversation and whatever was going on. You know how younger can pester the older. Well, needless to say, Jerry and Anita wanted their privacy and told Tommy he better scoot out of the kitchen.

That didn't sit well with Tommy so he decides to go get dad's .38 pistol. Now you have to understand the pistol was almost as big as Tommy was.

He walks into the kitchen brandishing the pistol and teen-agers scatter far and wide. Out the windows and doors and behind the fridge, any place to protect themselves. Who knows what can happen when a little kid is slinging a .38 around and around.

My part in this was, I heard all the commotion and ran to the kitchen to see what was going on. Jerry said, "Lanell, get outta here, go somewhere else." Needless to say we were all scared out of out wits.

Jerry being the "man" of the house finally talked Tommy out of the pistol and all was safe again.

To my knowledge mom and dad, to this day, never found out about that incident. It is a wonder we didn't kill each other, being left on our own during a hot summer day of the '50's.

Brother's Tom & Jerry Brown

I couldn't ask for better brothers. They are good Christian men in spite of hard times as youths. Yet, I'm sure others had harder times also. Living in Port Arthur, TX was simpler than now, though. If you want to compare.

It's a wonder we survived. Left on our own, we learned to take care of each other. At least, they took care of me.

Port Arthur, TX, known as "The Wicked City" or "The Windy City". A port town with refineries at their peak of production.

A time when most everyone was buying a car, and a home. Who remembers the Port Theatre, in the Del Mar addition, The Sabine Theatre downtown, or The Village Theatre out 16th Street, near St James Catholic church? It was a quarter for the Saturday Matinee, with serials like "Rocket Man", Comic strips, like Elmer Fudd, & Tom & Jerry, & Tweetie Bird & Syl

Who remembers Kress five and dime stores, or Fornett Men's Wear, or Bluesteins? They were the best stores.

Who remembers having your gas pumped by an attendant?

When mom went to Houston via Hwy. 90 she always stopped in Liberty to have her car filled up with gas because the attendant always swept out her floor board. She thought that was being treated like royalty.

Well, enough nostalgia.

We were taught through experience to look after one another. I think we taught our kids to do the same, look after one another, and I hope they teach their kids to do the same also.