Today I'm 90

Yes, today I am 90 years old. Most people say I don't look 90, and also I am able to do most things on my own without assistance. My meneory is good and I was able to learn how to type about 6 months ago. I do it slowly, but I am able to do it. I type letters, email, even blogs like this.

I have to get spiritual at this point, because my whole life has been charmed. It started early when I was about 6 years old, and I developed acute appendicitis. A neighbor told my mother that her son died recently from a ruptured appendix, and I overheard the conversation. Soon after, I developed a pain in my abdomen on my right side,and I was afraid to tell anyone, thinking that it might go away. However it did not and got worse, but it was not really very bad. I didn't move very much, because it made the pain worse. After several days the pain was a little better, but my side was tender for a long time. Eventually the pain disappeared, but I didn't feel too good. It was mostly a loss of appetite and no energy. Then about 2 or 3 years later I urinated a large amount of purulent liquid which I presumed was the abscess from my ruptured appendix.

I have read in an old medical treatment book that abdominal pain could be treated with hot compresses to the abdomen. So perhaps there were some survivors during those times also.

So at any rate, God our Father had other plans for me, and here I am at my 90th birthday and still going strong.

Dr. Ray

At the Dude Ranch

For many years the Broz family spent our summer vacations at a Dude Ranch called Drowsy Water Ranch, in Granby, Colorado. A wonderful place to go. There a bunch of amateurs go horseback riding on trails in the Rocky Mountains. They also go through forests and meadows. One lady guest was riding through a forest when her horse rubbed it's side against a tree and scratching her leg as well. She continued to ride when they reached a meadow. Then the horse decided to roll over with her in the saddle. Over they went, and then stood up with her still in the saddle. After all that, our brave lady rode her horse back to the stables. It's my impression that the horse was trying to get rid of the rider, but she won.

Garden Update

To all you tomato growers out there. I read in the paper that there is a Tomato Mania out there. 90 per cent of gardeners are growing tomatoes. Well I am too, and I have 15 plants that are doing pretty well. They started out doing great, but about several weeks later I noticed we were getting long leaves and branches. That would indicate a possible high nitrogen content and low phosphate. I located some tomato sticks that had a high phosphorus content, and I used them. Now I have tall plants with plenty of blossoms quite a few tomatoes. But now the plants are started to wilt, and I thought it could be acid soil or lack of water. So we bought a pH tester,and it showed acidic soil. Back to the store to get a lime product to sweeten the soil. The next day the plants were still wilted, so now they need water. Now yesterday I spent most of the afternoon watering the plants. We have an elevated planting area,and we are having just light showers which did not penetrate deep enough. There is not much else to do except to pick tomatoes, I hope.

Mark's cycle trip

Earlier I mentioned that my grandson Mark was making a transcontinental cycle trip and it will take 3 months. Well last Friday they were going through Colorado going to Denver. My daughter, Sue, is a rural mail carrier, and she was on the road delivering the mail when she met some cyclists who were in his group. She was able to talk to one of the women riders and found out that Mark was in the next group behind. So they planned a trick. Sue parked her car, and the cyclist placed her bicycle on the shoulder near the car. Then she laid on the grass to make it look like an accident.Mark came by, saw the mess, jumped of his bike, ran over to see what happened. They jumped up to meet him, and they all started to laugh for the next ten minutes. Then Mark took a ride with Sue to finish her route. Then they went out for dinner, and finally Sue drove Mark to a church in Denver where he rejoined his group.

Mark had a little rest and did not have to pedal the last 35 miles to Denver which is mostly uphill. I'm sure that Mark enjoyed the respite after that scare on the road. I'll keep you posted as I get the news.

Dr. Ray