Constance Ore is a retired Teacher, Choir Director, and Organist. And a formidable cook.

September 15, 2006

Filed under: — Constance at 3:14 pm on Friday, September 15, 2006

Now we are having the “perfect days” of September; with many gold and purple wild flowers and the Monarchs still in the forest. I counted 44 of them as I walked through the trees, then I remembered the statistics printed in the Lincoln Journal about older peoples’ “death by falls” and started to look down again. The far-fetched hope is that should I trip and injure myself out there, Alphie the good will either gently drag me home by the coat collar or go and get help. More realistically, I likely should carry the cell phone as Charles sternly and frequently advocates.

I received the last injection of the ten Neupogen shots yesterday, so now I am once again “in full remission”. I feel wonderful and have big plans for the rest of September and the month of October. They include some entertaining, starting two of the granddaughters in piano lessons and accompanying Charles to California for a hymn festival that he is presenting at Concordia University, Irvine.

Alphie is off to reform school for the month of October. I believe, using the measure of seven years of dog to one year of human, he will be receiving the equivalent of about nine months of higher education. This dog is a mixture of great sweetness and appeal and moments of “Oh dear, this isn’t working, is it?” Now over a year and four months of age, his great size and energy coupled with a wild exuberance must be gotten in hand. It’s difficult to say gaily, “Oh, he’s such a pup!” as you are being whipped up and down at the end of the leash while gazing down at a former friend lying there wiping muddy paw prints off nice jeans. After reading many books about dogs and their wants and needs, we have concluded that Alphie needs a teacher who knows more than we do. Mike, the trainer, has gotten acquainted with our dog because we board him at his kennel. He tells us that he feels Alphie is very intelligent and strong, and also very trainable. He told us that he will need two weeks and then we will come and work with him and Alphie so that we will know how to go forward. I truly foresee a lovely future for all of us. Stay tuned.

7 Comments

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Comment by Caroline Schau

September 16, 2006 @ 7:54 am

Ah Connie, ever the optimist! May your days stay lovely, your former friend reconsider,(what, after all are a pair of muddy jeans)and Alphie come home obedient to your ever whim. Well, it could happen. In the meantime, isn’t the splendor of an autumn day a real miracle?
Come see us on your way home from California.
Caroline

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Comment by irene beethe

September 16, 2006 @ 5:45 pm

Congratulations on completing your “series” of injections! We are delighted that you can celebrate the beauty of fall and travel with Charles!

I just finished trying to tame part of our “hill,” moving some perenials and planting some seeds from Ivan’s mom and my sister. We will see how these seeds from Nebraska and Texas like the Michigan climate. We will have to wait until next spring to really find out!

Peace and joy in Jesus,
Irene and Ivan

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Comment by Jim and Claudia

September 17, 2006 @ 7:54 am

St. Paul once wrote that he was thankful to God always for the congregation receiving that letter–and following his example we want you to know that we are thankful to God for both of you, Connie and Charles! Your witness throughout this ordeal has been uplifting and encouraging, full of faith, hope, and love. Thank you!

And we wish both you and Alphie well! You will just have to teach that intelligent dog of yours that “Repetitio est mater studiorum!” Enjoy September with him. After all, September is the best of months!

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Comment by Mindy Werling

September 17, 2006 @ 12:28 pm

Dear Connie,

So happy for you that you are feeling well once again and have that last round of injections behind you!

Wishing both you and Alphie (and Charles, too!) the best of autumns. Maybe when Alphie graduates from reform school, Charles will let him come into the house???!!!

Love,
Mindy

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Comment by neighbor

September 17, 2006 @ 8:26 pm

Surely u mustn’t wory about a muddy anything let alone a pair of jeans—they wash and so do we humans. However you shall indeed enjoy Alphie so much more when he actually listens to you and now and then even minds you—believe me it does happen but like children there are days when you think it never will. Montana is also experiencing their own type of September Joy—with a nice snow in the mtns (and down here) yesterday then warming up from 31 this morning to a sunny 63 this afternoon. the fires seem to be coming under control much as your blood counts–keep up the good work :-)

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Comment by Sharon Struve

September 21, 2006 @ 10:18 am

Hi Connie,
I feel badly about not writing very much this past summer. It seems days go faster in Estes Park or is it that I have such full days of work? Anyway, I do apologize. You have never left my prayer list so I do think of you with great love everyday at my special prayertime. That’s the best part of my day.
I am elated that your illness is in remission at the present. What a blessing for you to have some relief from the nausea, etc., etc. It is really wonderful that you can go with Charles and do some fun things. Heaven knows, you surely deserve it. What is Charles up to? And what are his thoughts on the new hymnal? I am planning to go to a workshop at Pacific Hills on Oct. 7 re: new hymnal. Have the demo CD in my car and have been listening as I drive. More later. You are my heroine. Love, Sharon

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Comment by Carolyn

September 22, 2006 @ 2:00 pm

Connie!
Hello. I know the Neupogen wasn’t fun, but thank you for doing it.

Thank you,too, for telling us about Alphie. I fear that sending him off to reform school is only part of the story….when I went back and read your note again I realized that you and Charles must go with him for the last half of his incarceration. If I were you, I’d wear jeans. It could be a real…drag. Sorry. During October, you can post reports for us from the humans embedded with the Dog Unit, Alphie Company. Woof!

By the way, I am with Charles in this regard: take your cell phone with you when you walk. That way, if you get your jeans muddied, you can have him bring some fresh ones. Ya gotta make it WORK for you, girl!

Well, this was a lovely recess time. I hope you had fun. The bell is ringing, so I have to go back to work.

Love,
Carolyn

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