Maggie, Grandpa, Victoria

I have not written for several days because nothing has been happening here. We have gotten the chance to take a lot of pictures and walk on a lot of trails but Maggie has not progressed toward delivery in any noticeable way – until this morning. Now it seems that Walter is wanting to get out and she is in the throes of earnest contractions as he prepares his escape; or entry depending on which way you look at it.

Earlier this morning we got a call from Grandma that she took Grandpa to the hospital in Ripley; weak and barely able to move; ashen in color. By the time I had walked the trail from Mendenhall Glacier to the house they had transported him to Charleston. Early indications are that he is having colon issues. That, in conjunction with the heart issues he has had make for an urgent situation.

Grandma has been marking his deteriorating progress for some weeks now. But we have to look back to see it. We are less than completely trusting of her assessments on most occasions because she sees most things in a very negative way – and Grandpa has always recovered fully after each weak spell in the recent past. The fact that she was able to get him to agree to go to Jackson General Hospital is a testament to his grave condition. Neither of them have a high opinion of the medical facility.

The only caveat to the transport to Charleston is that the ambulance broke down in route and as I write this blog he is lying in ambulance waiting to be transferred to a serviceable unit that can complete the transfer to the hospital in Charleston. Such is the story of Grandpa’s medical care. So for the moment we await news on both pressing medical issues – here in Alaska and there in West Virginia.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Victoria has been taking care of the property and animals in our absence. On Saturday she had a run in with a large rat snake that did not want to give up the nest he was eating the eggs from. It was obvious that he had at least one already inside him but he was the greedy sort and did not want to move away from the several he had claimed from the fretting chickens.

She would not touch the snake with her hands –as I would have – but insisted on worrying it with a hoe handle until she had frustrated it into leaving. It will not be long before she will have to repeat the process. At least until I get back home and relocate the reptile.

Sunday was a big day at our home church. It was our pastor’s fortieth anniversary at the church so they had a big celebration for him. That along with the proximity to the 4^th of July made for quite a time with special speakers, special slide presentations and remembrance of the holiday and the years of service at Immanuel Baptist Church.

Mama and I hated to miss it but we have important family events to attend to.