Busy day! Gary and a friend worked valiantly on the Buick for quite awhile before they figured out that when Helen had it re-keyed, the security code became a new one, meaning that if the original key was put in, the security device would "know" and completely shut the car down!

Old key has "disappeared mysteriously" and the mad hunt is on for the duplicate new one Helen had made, but d/n know where it is. The Buick dealer may have to make one when they get the car ready for Texas unless the locksmith, who already knows what the new security settings are, can make Helen another one.

Becky, God love her, had a cloth image of Don Williams ironed on to some sort of stiff material and framed. It looks just like a painted poster. Simply amazing. Helen and I went to Powell to pick it up. Needless to say, she loved it to pieces.

Becky also brought a chicken casserole for me to cook and Gary brought chicken livers from Hancock's. But, as fate would have it, Helen opted instead for a cheeseburger, tater tots and milk at Hancock's. Oh well, she has plenty to eat now. We bought her some milk while we were there. Her tab has been taken care of.

Cactus also came by. He's so enthusiastic. We stuffed him full of quiche and birthday cake. It was an active day full of friends. A good day for Helen all around, basically.

However, on the downside, I suspect another mini-stroke has occurred; maybe this weekend, maybe Monday. Her repetitions have increased maybe two-fold, which hurts and is difficult, but not too much, as Helen is still good-natured Helen and the repetitions....well, you just sort of get used to them, that's all you need do: just listen, encourage and smile. Never, ever, say "you just said that." It throws her whole sense of reality into question.

After all, much of it is real, live, Oral History of a time of which none of us know about except from books. Just imagine, 1939, and having to watching TV by candlelight.... (old joke). No DVDs today. No book reading. We start Lonesome Dove tomorrow, I think. I hope. It's her all-time favorite, as well as mine.

One last piece of good news is that the VCR recorder/player was found under the printer under the big TV in the living room. I will do my best to clean it up with some stuff I have here at home and try to get it working this weekend, then take it out and hook it up Monday. Then we can all be Gone With the Wind and, along with Rhett Butler, tell Scarlett O'Hara that "frankly, Scarlett we don't give a damn" either. So there. Her video collection is the finest (and largest) I have ever seen. Big fun this winter by the fire, maybe. Above all, keep keeping in touch with Helen anyway you can. She thrives on any little bit. R.