A Case of Valley Fever

    During my last discussion about sin, one of my dear friends said she was sorry that I have lung disease. Don't feel sorry for me. Smoking was a bad habit that I acquired as a teen. That's why some doctors call nicotine addiction a pediatric illness. My father was a chronic smoker. When I was 23, he died of emphysema and heart disease. Plus, I was a Mormon. Smoking is against the Word of Wisdom. I knew that smoking was wrong and had been linked to lung cancer.  When I was young, I was too headstrong to quit. 

     There is another reason why I don't want people to feel sorry for me because I have lung disease. Several years ago, I went to the army hospital because I woke up twice short of breath. I couldn't understand waking up short of breath. The radiology techs did a CT lungs on me. My doctor told me I had multiple nodules (or lumps) in my lungs. He was concerned that it might be lung cancer. I thought I was going to die. I was so depressed I didn't even want to go shopping. You know things are really bad when a lady doesn't want to shop.

     After a second CT lungs, the doctor explained to me that multiple nodules on the lungs are found in certain areas of the world. He asked me where I was from. I told him that I lived in California's High Desert for 15 years. He told me that there is a disease called Valley Fever that is found in California and Arizona, especially in the desert. The disease is caused by a fungus that lives in the soil. The fungus can be stirred up by farming, construction or wind. If you inhale its spores, you can develop acute Valley Fever.

       The proper medical term for Valley Fever is about ten syllables long. I can't say it, much less spell it. The doctor said I may have caught acute Valley Fever when I was young, but not have realized it. The symptoms of acute Valley Fever can be mild. You feel like you have a cold or the flu. It may last for about two weeks. It can resolve on its own.  In my case, I don't remember being sick at all. But it could have been much worse. Chronic Valley Fever can make people very sick. Recently, 1700 prisoners had to transferred out of prisons in California's San Joaquin Valley after 62 inmates died of Valley Fever.

     To rule out lung cancer, my doctor said that I had to undergo a series of CT examinations of the lungs. If the nodules on my lungs didn't grow, I was ok -- meaning that the lumps on my lungs were probably old scars and that I probably did not have lung cancer. But if the nodules grew, I probably had lung cancer.

      Every six months I went to the hospital for a CT lungs. No growth was noted. After three examinations, the doctor ruled that the lumps were old scars. He said I didn't have to undergo any more CT lungs examinations.  That's when I knew I didn't have lung cancer. I was so relieved. That's why I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I'm grateful it was only Valley Fever. I can live with a fungus.

      Naturally, this experience was very stressful. I decided to quit smoking because I didn't want to do anything that might make the condition of my lungs worse. The army hospital was giving nicotine patches to people who wanted to quit. I got a set. I picked a date. On that date, I applied the patch to my skin. I used to be a real b**** if I ran out of cigarettes. With the patch, I didn't jones at all. A week later, I completely forgot about the patches. I forgot all about cigarettes too. 

      I gave my leftover patches to my dear friend Wilhelmina because he wanted to quit but couldn't handle nicotine fits. Two people who had been smoking for 30+ years were able to quit with one set of nicotine patches. Three years have passed, and Willie and I are still smoke-free.

      I hope my smokealogue hasn't been too dull and boring. I wanted to inspire you. We all have our vices, our weaknesses, our little sins. Mine was tobacco. I didn't think I would ever quit smoking. I thought I would die with a cigarette in my hand. But I  feel so much better since I quit. I don't cough nearly as much as I used to. I no longer have to suffer those unpleasant nicotine fits. 

      I don't have to tell you what your bad habit. You already know if you smoke, drink or eat too much. I don't want to be a nag. I want you to know that when it comes to the point that your indiscretion is ruining your health or destroying your life, you can quit. You really can. 

      Here's to your good health and happy life!

Spring Has Sprung in Portland!

On Sunday, June 9, 2013, my family and I visited the International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon. The garden is one of the many attractions located in Washington Park in Portland's West Hills.

Ten thousand plantings of more than 500 species are grown in the garden. They've got just about every type of rose you can imagine. There are floribundas, hybrid tea roses, grandifloras, climbing roses, English roses, miniature roses and rose trees.

The International Rose Test Garden is one of the largest public gardens in the United States. This garden is used to test new species of roses. One or two species are chosen to be "Rose of the Year."

The variety of colors found in the garden is absolutely amazing.

Alyson, Korinna and Alex admire the miniature roses. Miniature roses are smaller than floribundas or traditional hybrid teas, but their color can be just as vibrant and exciting.

This is my eight year old grandson, Alex. All the way down to Portland, he kept whispering to his mother, "Mommy, do we have to go to the rose garden? Do we have to go there?" I suppose visiting a rose garden sounds rather dull and boring to a boy. Once he saw the field of flowers, Alex was as wild about the roses as the girls.

Just remember the old adage, "Real men grow roses."

I like this photo of Kristina standing near the fountain.

This arch of red climbing roses was breathtaking. Now you know why Portland, Oregon is called "The City of Roses."

Let's Bring Keith Bennett Home

I've had the privilege of meeting many wonderful people via the internet. I've met romance authors Virginia Henley and Nora Roberts. I've met Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center. This winter I met Alan Bennett and his partner, true crime author Carol Ann Lee.

Alan Bennett was only 9 years old when his 12 year old brother, Keith, disappeared on June 16, 1964. That evening, Keith and his siblings were supposed to spend the night at their grandmother's house in Longsight, England. Keith walked half-way there with his mother, Winnie Johnson, before she turned and headed toward a bingo game. Keith was expected to walk alone a few short blocks to his grandmother's house. Unfortunately, he never arrived.

More than twenty years after he vanished, the Bennett family learned that Keith was a victim of British serial killers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. Between July 1963 and October 1965, Hindley and Brady abducted, sexually assaulted, tortured and killed five children from the Greater Manchester area. Other victims include Pauline Reade, John Kilbride, Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans. The crimes are known as the Moors murders because Hindley and Brady buried four of their victims on Saddleworth Moor.

Hindley and Brady were arrested after 17 year old David Smith and his wife, Maureen, walked to a phone booth and called the police. Dave reported that he had seen Brady murder 17 year old Edward Evans with Hindley's assistance. Myra Hindley was Ian Brady's girl friend. She was also Maureen Smith's older sister. Hindley and Brady were arrested after David Smith told the police that Evans' body was still located in the house Hindley and Brady shared with her grandmother.

David Smith was the prosecution's star witness in what many considered to be "the trial of the century" at Chester Assizes in 1966. Hindley and Brady were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Hindley died in 2002. Brady is still confined in Ashworth Hospital.

Sadly, Keith Bennett's body has never been found. Winnie Johnson spent 45 years searching for her eldest son because she wanted to give him a Christian burial. Winnie died on August 12, 2012, her wish unfulfilled.

Alan Bennett's partner, Carol Ann Lee, has written two excellent books about the Moors murders. Her first book, "One of Your Own," details the life and death of Britain's most hated woman. Her second book, "Witness," is also entitled "Evil Relations." This book examines the life of David Smith. If you like true crime stories, I highly recommend Carol Ann Lee's books.

Since Winnie Johnson's passing, Alan Bennett and Carol Ann Lee have led the campaign for another search for his brother's body. Their website is www.searchingforkeith.com.

If you are a British citizen interested signing the petition to continue searching for Keith Bennett, you may do so at:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40262

If you are not a British citizen, please write to the British Home Secretary and ask to continue the search for Keith Bennett.

Rt Hon Theresa May MP
Home Secretary
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Thank you for your support!

Different Strokes for Different Folks

There are many different types of families in the United States.

We have the traditional nuclear family with a heterosexual mom married to a heterosexual dad and their kids. There are many, many single parents -- both single moms and single dads who might be divorced, widowed or never married. We have extended and blended (step) families living together. We have grandparents (or other relatives) raising their grandchildren. We have adoptive families and foster families. We have married couples who choose not to have children. We have gay and lesbian couples -- some who are raising children.

Whether you like it or not, there are polygamous and polyamorous families too.

Arguing that one type of family is better than the others is a waste of time. Every family is unique. Love should be the factor that defines what is a family. Love is the glue that holds a family together.