Deterioration of the temple

Or, in words many others have quoted, "If I had known I was going to live this long I'd have taken better care of myself."

Last week I went to have my hearing tested to find that I, like most first world citizens of my age, have a significant loss in sounds of high frequency. So now I am rethinking the Santana and Steppenwolf concerts and the countless hours of headphone use on hundreds of other 60s groups.

I was fitted with two hearing aids that were nearly invisible to others, but because of my glasses were a source of constant irritation. And it would only get worse if I was perspiring as I do when working. OK, I didn't say frequently. But that and the fact that the devices changed the level at which I could hear sounds, but also changed the sounds themselves to unpleasant and unfamiliar made me decide against keeping them. Voices that I have only known since loosing the upper portion of the audio spectrum came to my brain as very different. And since my hearing loss was mostly encountered in the 6 or 8 years evenly surrounding 1970, that is all of the voices I hear now.

Of course hearing is only one of the things I would take better care had I the proverbial opportunity to "do it all over again." My eyesight most likely would not be redeemable, since I needed glasses from about the 2nd or 3rd grade. But I could have done better with staying fit and in shape. While the shape I am in is not unique to me, I really don't care for it on me.

The rec room remodel has progressed slowly but is nearly done. Four more smaller projects in conjunction with the remodel remain to be finished. Georgiann is finishing painting the door jams, I have one of the new fan boxes in and need to rehang the fan, then change the other three boxes. We cut down a filing cabinet and are refinishing it for a side table for remotes, etc. And the thorn in our side stairway is yet to be finished. I will have the walls finished this evening. The steps need lots of work. Filling, sanding and painting. But it will all look great when done.

Still in a decision making mode here regarding my mother's side of the family reunion in June. It will be held in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, where the family spent most of their younger lives together. A few who never left, and a few who left and then moved back. Some of them lived part of their real young years in a small town called Beggs. As they would have said on "Hee Haw," "...we salute Beggs, Oklahoma, population 1364. Yeeeehaaaw!!"

And it is a very small little town still, straddling old highway 16 just 12 1/2 miles straight east of Slick. Which has fewer people, thus less traffic for those of you not interested in getting caught in the Beggs rush hour. Well, small in population size. The buildings seems to be normal size if somewhat in disrepair.

The principle obstruction in going is the distance. Just about 2250 miles round trip. Or, about 100 gallons of gas, and 34 hours drive time.

Need to make a decision this week.

The granddaughters are growing so fast it makes me almost sad to watch. I know there are times their moms and dads can't wait for them to get to the next stage. But they are so pretty and beautiful to me at this age.

More another day. Pics of the rec room soon. Or come on by and see it yourself.