I love reading Barbara Lombardo's blogs. She makes me laugh with her realistic outlook on life. I'm realistic, too. But maybe not as funny.
It wasn't Cadbury eggs that I longed for on Easter Sunday. But the small size Reese's peanut butter cups. That way when you eat more than one you think you're really not cheating.
To make matters worse or better whichever way you want to look at it, I didn't feel too guilty popping a couple in my mouth. I went for my bi-annual examination with my cardiogist, Dr. Andrij Baran. He told me I was doing great. However, my dual chamber pacemaker is getting close to its dying point. The sheet he printed out looks like a gas gauge. When it gets down to near empty you must go every month to have it checked. The last marking is EOL, which means end of life of the battery not me. Then what happens? He laughed. That's when the battery must be replaced.
Well, believe me I'm not going to wait until it reaches EOL. Get the darn thing out and let me start kicking up my heals again.
In the meantime, I'll go faithfully to have it checked and hope it doesn't get to close to EOL. And, even though I shouldn't I'll pop a couple of Reese's peanut butter cups in my mouth until it almost reads EOL.
I'll might as well be happy.

On April 14 I lost my oldest sister, Marie Ventre.
I returned home late on April 13 from my 4 and 1/2 month stay in Jupiter, Fla. As I had written in an earlier blog it is our last excursion to sunny Florida after 21 years. My husband has lost some of his eyesight, which made getting around Florida fall on my shoulders. I don't like Florida driving.
Anyway, I had talked to my sister on her birthday Feb. 12. She was in good spirits, but did have some pain in her back and stomach. The doctors never could find anything wrong. I received a dreaded phone call from her son, Michael one week before she passed. I called her immediately. Her very devoted husband, Lou, said he didn't think she'd be able to talk to me, but I asked if I could try. I said: "Marie, it's me. I'm flying home next Wednesday (April 13) and I'll be there to see you."
She responded in a very weak voice: "Louie she's coming home next Wednesday,"
I know she waited for me to get home. I just know she did. I got there first thing Thursday morning. She was very frail and did not seem to recognize me, but in my heart I know she did.
I told her I'm here and it's all right if you go to heaven and visit mom and daddy and Fran (one of my younger sister who passed at the age of 58.) That very afternoon my youngest sister, Edie, called to tell me she was gone.
I know she waited for me to get home. I just know in my heart she did.
Goodbye sweet Marie. You were loved by everyone who knew you. You were always warm and loving and remembered everyone in your daily prayers.
Goodbye sweet Marie.