SARA AND SAYLOR

My last Blog was about the 5 days I spent on a ranch near Houston with friends. Our hostess was Teen Corey. One of the people I am privileged to call a friend was her 14 yr Grandson, Saylor. He was born, with his twin sister, Sara at 26 weeks, 1 lb 3 oz. each.

Grandma talked about holding them each in the palm of her hand and their little feet resting on her wrist. Their Dr. wasn't encouraging but he told Grandma, "No one else here believes this, but I KNOW that these babies need human contact, especially for the first few hours of life. Please sit and just touch their tiny finger. YOUR LOVE WILL FLOW into them and, if they're going to survive, it will be a major help." He told all the nurses to let this lady and the twins' Mother (who in a few days was back on her feet after delivery)to stay in the Neo-natal unit any time they wanted. So she sat there, day after day with an incredibly small finger between hers. Sara actually dropped below a pound before she started gaining weight.

I was Blessed to spend a week with them three years ago this June. Saylor is blind. Sara has a mild case of Cerebral Palsy. They are both incredible, typical young teenage kids.

Saylor's grandma told me he wanted to be a DJ. I talked with him about it. I told him girls just didn't "dig" DJ's and he has a great singing voice. Why did he stop singing and practicing his guitar? He said he just got lazy. But when I asked him about being a DJ, he said that was just a step to becoming a radio station owner. I asked him, "Where would you like to do that?" And he said, "Lots of stations in lots of different cities." He talked about having some stations not only carry the music across the air waves, but to gear towards the needs of the blind, by having scheduled air time to read the daily newspaper and to have "novel readings". And I believe he will do it.

We went for a long motorcycle ride. I learned that I couldn't make any really quick turns because although he KNEW that he was supposed to sit right behind me and lean with me, his reactions took over and if I leaned quickly, for just an instant he'd lean the other way. I thought about what kind of a passenger I'd be on a motorcycle at 60 mph with a blindfold. I don't think I could do it.

Grandpa got a 10 hole putting green for his birthday. Saylor and I did a little putting. I'd line him up and then tap the pole in the cup.

He beat me.

What an inspiration for all of us.

And two real, LIVE reasons to say "OH YEAH???" to abortionists who say we aren't killing babies at 26 weeks.

THE RANCH

We survived packing and shipping all the stuff that we didn't sell at HAI. On Wednesday morning I took Sandra back to the airport. On the way back to the RV Park I picked up Bev at her hotel and she helped me pack up stuff in the Airstream, hook up to the truck, unhook water, electric, etc etc etc and get us on our way to our next stop.

Jack and Teen Corey own a beautiful ranch just north of Houston. She invited a bunch of us to spend a few days with her decompressing and five of us were able to take her up on it.

Bev, Ian Turner, Tina Schleidt, Pieter Sandor and I joined Teen, her mother and her Grandson Saylor. We partied, ate, and laughed 'til we hurt ourselves.

The Whirly Girl Men's Auxiliary - Houston contingency

Peter, Saylor, me and Ian




Cooking Breakfast




It's a Brave New World out there - Men cook and Women Fly - Teen and Tina




Sorry Guys, this is as close to Cheesecake as I could get - no cameras were allowed in the Jacuzzi area.


Tina and Teen's beloved "Charlie Tango"




And Bev




Teen has the most beautiful Jet Ranger in the world.




Everybody left over the weekend, Teen was leaving for CA on Tuesday and I pulled out Monday morning.

My plan to spend the spring in TX changed sometime during that week and I decided, homesick as a puppy, to head back to Salem, VA for Easter.

With a couple of stops on the way.

Life is good. But, right now at least, Home seems Best.