Fore! Play, on the third Sunday of November.

Yes, it's cheating a bit. She didn't really play 9 holes...in fact she just drives the cart and keeps score but hey, she's out there on the golf course, and it's November! We LOVE California. She also is putting on a smiley face just for me because I know in her heart she's thinking, "Take the picture Merrill, we've played the 9 holes, let's go because I'd rather be home wrapping Christmas presents for our grandkids."...which we did later! Among other things. So you see, we both got what we wanted, now THAT'S the way to spend a Sunday in November. -Merrill

(Photo: Martha's first round of golf after hip surgery...six weeks to the day!)

It ain't the Jordan River...

Okay, it's just a swimming pool. But for Merrill and Martha it's like the freakin' Jordan River. Because in these miraculous waters Martha can move her legs -- those unfortunate appendages that were stricken by post-polio syndrome. In this pool, and the weightless environment it provides, is the daily tonic she needs to keep those legs moving, especially now that she has no pain after the hip replacement. So, people, is it any wonder we're toasting the event with a martini! Martha has survived the surgery, and gone on to recover in the newness of life. It's the baptism of: "I'm back, bring it on!" She's back in the pool! Yay! -Merrill

(Photo: By Bradley McLean, neighbour and dearest friend, who spoke those magical words..."Let me get my camera.")

By any other name.

We stopped at a yard sale today. It was one of those yards sales where the junk has been in the yard for, well, years. Everything was covered in dust. You don't really want to touch anything, but you want to stop to take a look just in case. Martha waited for me in the car. Now that she can't walk any distances Martha sends me in to scout the territory, especially when the pickin's are iffy. What a wasteland, I was thinking! Get me out of here!

The yard was still and quiet as I surveyed the piles of "stuff". I almost missed her at first: a little old lady sitting amid the rubble. She wore a wool hat and a fuzzy old sweater. I poked around long enough to be polite, and even found a couple of items to buy. As I was paying for them, Martha called out from the car, "What lovely roses!"

There in the middle of everything was an ancient rose bush, with a few struggling blooms and buds. The little old lady looked at me and said, "Would you like to take those scissors and cut her a rose?"

She helped me cut the stem at just the right place -- and the gift was given. And a lesson learned. -Merrill

(Photo: The Monte Vista Avenue rose. A special gift received on Sunday, November 4th.)

Define Scary!

Let's face it...it's just two old retired geezers dressed up in Wal-Mart Hallowe'en garb, although it's rather tastefully done don't you agree? Especially Martha's lace panties. Hardly scary. But in another part of our world -- Pakistan to be exact -- President Pervez Musharraf has just declared emergency rule. Now that's frightening! -Merrill

Oh-h-h-h-h-h-klahoma!

[Overheard in a conversation in southeast Oklahoma. A conversation between a tourist and a local woman who had just been asked about some local flowers growing nearby:]

"Those are beautiful yellow flowers, what are they?" said the tourist.
"Wildflowers," replied the local woman.
"Oh, what kind of wildflowers?" asked the curious tourist.
"Yellow wildflowers," came the reply.
"Oh."

[Photo: Martha and her sister-in-law Leona, who flew all the way to Oklahoma to lovingly prepare 3 meals a day for Martha after her hip surgery, because, well, after major surgery, having 3 yummy home-cooked meals a day -- served on a deck overlooking beautiful rural Oklahoma -- is a sure-fire recipe for "get well soon"!]