Men are like wine: some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.

5/18/11 from New Bern, NC

We went to visit my brother, Richard and his wife, Alice this afternoon. It’s been two years since we’ve seen them. They moved into a new apartment about a year ago. My niece, Ginger and her husband, Dusty, are staying with them.

Earlier this month, Ginger and Dusty survived a tornado. Unfortunately, the house they were living in was so badly damaged that they still don’t have electricity. The house is being repaired, but it’s not ready for them to return. Ginger’s car was totally demolished by a huge tree that fell on it.

They have two dogs and two cats. The dogs usually stay in their dog houses in the backyard. Thank goodness, just before the tornado, Dusty brought the dogs into the house. One of the doghouses was blown away and the other was picked up and moved. The cats were also inside the house. Everyone was shaken up, but safe.

My brother, Robert, owns the house. He sent us pictures of the damage. There were trees down everywhere. Just down the road, my sister, Jean, lives. She had no damage at all. That’s what is so scary about tornados. Your house can blow away and the house next to you isn’t touched.

Ginger and Dusty came home from work and we had dinner. The dogs and cats are still at the damaged house, but Dusty goes out there every day and cares for them.

We had fun catching up on everything.

Today: May 19, 2011 – Charlie’s birthday!

We woke at 5:00am. The cats were calmer during the night, but they still were running up and down. I know they miss having our house to run around in. But, here they have lots of windows to sit and watch birds and squirrels from. Jonesie gets so excited when he sees them.

I haven’t heard Jason sneezing lately, so he may have just had a little cold. He never stopped eating and that was what we were keeping an eye on. We know that when a cat can’t smell his food, he won’t eat.

Jezibel and Ellie have allergies and Ellie has asthma. Sometimes they are both so congested that they won’t eat until we give them medication so they can breathe again.

Sheila is sound asleep in her kennel. The kennel is new on this trip. Two years ago, we had such a hard time with Sheila while the RV was moving. She got excited when we’d stop for gas and tried to get under Charlie’s seat, etc. We had to put up a gate to keep her from the front of the RV. It was just very difficult for me to get up and go back to check on the cats or get sodas, etc. Sheila would press up against the gate and I couldn’t move her easily.

Now, before we start up, we put Sheila in her kennel and she stays in it until we stop for gas. Then I take her out for a walk and she gets a break before going back in. It has been working out well. So, when we’re just sitting around now, she goes in and sleeps in the kennel. It is her safe area I think, which is what we want for her.

I asked Charlie what he wanted to do today, on his birthday, and he said “Whatever we have planned to do”. I think I’ll take him out to dinner!

More later………..