24 May2025…or…5.24.25 Yes, we love palindromes.

Life in TheHermitage has been ALL over the spectrum, and for a myriad of reasons. It has definitely been a rollercoaster the last month.

Mid-April One of us cut ourselves TWICE shaving our legs; left leg, just below the knee, and the outside of the ankle. It wasn’t bad really, BUT it started a HUGE storm of issues. The Witch Doctor did her thing as usual, however, both cuts continued to worsen in weird ways. The Witch Doctor was trying everything. Peroxide, Neosporin, Cortaid/Cortizone, ETC., however, more and more eruptions were surfacing faster than most of us thought should be happening. Two days later Gardener was stabbed in the arm by a tree she was removing from the ground. One of the brittle limbs broke off in her right forearm and left all kinds of debris. THEN that area had eruptions going on. And then it spread to other areas. And while the leg and arm pretty much healed within a week, the other didn’t. We were awoken many nights, when we actually got to sleep, by intense itching. Nothing helped really. Although sometimes it did. We were ALL beginning to wonder if this was some psychosomatic illness like those in the past. It got SO bad that Witch Doctor threw in the towel and suggested we visit someone with a higher degree of knowledge. Not having had a “regular” GP since 1996, Chauffeur took us to the local “urgent care” on Wednesday, the 14th. They wouldn’t see us even though we have been going there since 2012. “I’m sorry. We don’t take Medicare (Radiology did last August!) or the secondary you have with it.” Whatever! Hmmm…what to do? We were NOT going home without seeing someone. Communicator pulled out the transmitter of conversations, ETC., and called Medicare…who transported her to United Health Care…who said she couldn’t do anything until October! OCTOBER!!! We are having a birthday very soon. A BIG ONE! What the heck?!?!?! She asked why we didn’t update last October? Perhaps someone should have alerted us to an update! Alas, she explained that our PCP (we didn’t know we had one) wasn’t too far and to go there. Chauffeur drove the carriage right there, and they took us right in. To say we were ALL stunned would be an understatement. However, Disciple was NOT surprised, stunned, shocked, or anything else. She “KNEW” this had all happened for a reason and was impressed, and in awe of God’s hand in our lives…AGAIN. She always knows. Always sees these things.

Well, they took blood, a LOT of it. Yes, we peed in the little cup. AND THEN, close your eyes, we had THAT dreaded test. They asked the last time we had had one? We guessed it was about 1983 or so. They were unimpressed. We explained that since most of “THAT” was removed in late 1983, what was the point?! While the doctor, SHE is AMAZING by the way, somewhat agreed, she also explained some other things she thought We should know. And that test was done. Insert eye roll,etc. The office staff called saying they needed to do THAT test again, as the lab said it “wasn’t viable!” WHAT THE HECK?!?!?! Decades without having one and now two in a week. Not only were we NOT impressed, now we were in panic mode thinking the worst. The mind is something not to be messed with, and in The Hermitage, where there are MANY, MANY minds, it does get out of control more than any of us would like to admit. AND it was. This was on Saturday, and by Monday morning, most all of us were freaking out. The ONLY one who was anywhere near calm was Disciple. She tried to calm the rest of us by having a constant prayer going on, but a couple of us weren’t having it. It seems to be a common consensus that some of us just like to FREAK OUT unnecessarily. And we waited for the results. She did give us an Rx, and THAT seemed to be helping.

They called and asked us to come in early Thursday morning, the 22nd. Most of us were calm, a few were anxious. They weighed us, AGAIN…down two pounds from…well, never mind. Took our blood pressure, which was 120/80. That was okay. Then the doctor came in. She said, “All of your tests were normal, or better!” WOOHOO!!! She also said our Vitamin D levels were remarkably high and was impressed. She said most people have low Vitamin D levels. We told her we are outside a lot. Anyway, she said to keep doing what we are doing. In the meantime, finish taking the Rx, and enjoy life. We thought some of our problems had to do with TOO much sugar, so we haven’t had any, other than what comes naturally in food, for several weeks. That wasn’t the problem, but we haven’t indulged either. The problem is a dormant virus that pops out under weird circumstances, AND this was one of those circumstances. Everything is undercontrol, and all is well.

Mother’s Day was very nice. Disciple was taken to breakfast by the two oldest, their SO’s and Chris. Then they went to Church and sat with her. Time is one of THE MOST important things. Everyone is SO busy with life, that spending time with each other is almost nonexistent. When someone gives of their time THAT is a precious, and extra meaningful gift. Appreciated more than anything else.

Three birthdays this month! Lucas was 14! Can hardly believe that…Where does the time go? Jenny’s was the 20th, and Mike’s is the 28th. A lot going on with those and the holidays.

Board Member has been busy with new trees, irrigation, and street cleaning.

Gardener has “thought” about transplanting plants to larger pots, and taking care of some of the things in the backyard, however, when she was helping Builder and Painter, they ALL got sunburned, and they are laying low for a bit. It will either have to be early morning or late afternoon.

Employee was asked to set-up the photo booth for the 8th grade dance on the 16th. When she went into the office, there were new employees…and they didn’t want to let her in. However, she made a call, and her escort came up and retrieved her. She was also able to see some of the friends she worked with there. It was a fun morning. AND God’s hand was there…And brought about another “story” for us to relate later. We are always intrigued by this.

Chris had a “Trail Life” awards meeting. He received four awards, like the other boys, but received a special one that only one other boy received. It is the “Worthy Life Award” and focuses on the “FourD’s;” Devotional, Discipleship, Disciplines, and Demonstration. It is something they work on with family, or at their church. So, Grandmomma was excited for him to receive this.

Organizer is back at it, and we are ALL filled with hope again. She was moving furniture, with help from others in The Hermitage. She bagged up things to donate. Organized the armoire. Figured some things out, and is organizing drawers. She told Employee that since she is no longer working there isn’t a “need” for ALL OF THESE CLOTHES! Half the time NONE of us gets dressed. We sometimes stay inour pjs all day. So, she is on a rampage to clean out and get rid of a lot. Yes, SOME of us are freaking out!

ALL of us in The Hermitage are thinking of those who gave their lives for our country. A year or so ago, Family Historian discovered that several ancestors are buried at The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. We have ancestors who fought in all of the American wars, and some gave all. We will be thinking of them on Monday.

We are SO blessed and grateful. Life is so precious. Health is as well. We have seen many prayers answered, we’ve seen God’s hand in our lives here in The Hermitage and elsewhere. May you be blessed, and grateful.