Sarah Walker Gorrell, Author

We're a small town - back in 2019, we had almost 2100 people. Some have come, some have gone, but we're probably still about that many. We're the type of little Southern town where everyone knows everyone and knows what's happening with them (whether it really IS happening, or not!) It's the type of town where neighbors are neighbors and friends are friends and everyone knows everyone (almost). Even if they don't "know you" .... they "know you" on Facebook!! Blakeney is a familiar family name, in our town. Recently, one of our little Blakeney guys was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease. It was a disease of which I had never heard. It was actually discovered, in 1897, by an Austrian doctor but wasn't given the name Legg-Calve-Perthes until around 1910 by the 3 doctors who recognized it, published it as a disease unrelated to tuberculosis, and prescribed a treatment.  LCP is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the femor...

Back in 2013, when my honey was in his "next-to-last" year of living with cancer, I was diagnosed with AFib. AFib can be caused by stress, and caring for a loved one, with cancer is certainly stressful. My AFib has been mild and I am able to "manage" it.....however, stressful situations can also trigger AFib episodes. Thankfully, I've only had a few since 2013. AFib has ensured that I will always have to take a blood thinner, to prevent a stroke or heart attack. My Cardiologist prescribed Eliquis, several years ago, and it works .....but it's expensive because it isn't Generic. I'm surprised that today (when I picked up my 90-day Eliquis refill) I didn't have an "episode." It's absolutely ridiculous that 90 tablets (I take 2, each day) with Medicare and my Supplement cost me an additional $623.00! Of course, it's the first of the year, and I have a deductible to meet.  And then, there was last year, when I was in the "Donut...

 Did you know that today is also known as Candlemas, in Christian countries? It signifies the end of the 40 days of the Christmas - Epiphany season. Some churches remove Christmas decorations after Christmas, some after "Little Christmas" (Jan. 6th), and some remove them after Candlemas. Many church members (Anglican, Methodists, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and Roman Catholics) bring their candles to their local church to be blessed. They serve as a symbol of Jesus Christ, Light of the World, Many churches remove their Nativity Scenes after Christmas, but some leave them until after the Baptism of Jesus. However, in some countries, it is a tradition that the Nativity Scene is removed after Candlemas - the end of the Christmas season. Candlemas got its name from the lighted candles.

Years ago (no, I don't recall how many years!) when we bought our Panasonic Inverter 1250 Watt Microwave, we plugged it in and used it. I had no idea what "Inverter" meant (and still didn't until said microwave just died). Nor did I read the manual. It was a Microwave .... I needed it to do what Microwaves do ..... heat or reheat.                                                                                                                                                                            My microwave has been my morning cup of coffee "mainstay."  I ...