THE LOWE FAMILY NEWSLETTER : VOLUME 90 FEBRUARY 2014

Dear Children and Friends,

On Monday February 3^rd I spent a delightful day with Miss Ava Claire blissfully unaware that it would be two weeks before I would be able to do so again. I noticed that my throat was a little sore around bed time and a few hours later it was on on fire. I doused it with a glass of water and was able to get back to sleep. I awoke on Tuesday morning with not even a smoldering ember in my throat but I did seem to be coughing a lot. That day over ten inches of snow and freezing temperatures kept Josh and I trapped in the house. Josh noticed that I seemed to have come down with something and was extremely concerned that whatever virus I was hosting might want to visit him at any moment. I was not allowed within twenty feet of him. He said he would definitely be leaving for Texas the next day and began packing. The roads were treacherous and drivers were being asked to stay off them so the snow plows could do their job. There were so many accidents that the police said not to call them unless there were injuries. I mentioned to Joshua that it might be more prudent to wait a day or two before leaving for Texas. Josh replied that being in the same house with me was a greater danger to his life than the snow covered and icy interstates.

Wednesday morning Josh was out in the driveway clearing all the snow and ice off his car. One of our three kind neighbors,who love to use their snow-blowers, had already cleaned our sidewalks and driveway but the city crew had not sent any snow plows through our snow packed cul-de-sac. This did not deter Josh. The next time I took a peak outside to see how far along he was in cleaning off his car I was amazed to see him standing in the street, snow shovel in hand frantically scooping snow. When he came inside to warm up I suggested that it might be easier to wait for the snow plow to come – maybe it would be by this afternoon. Josh informed me that he had a plan. He was going to dig his way over to my neighbors who had a four wheel drive pick up truck and hopefully drive in their tire tracts to the main road. I dared to point out that he didn't have a four wheel drive vehicle himself and would probably get stuck in a rut any way but Josh was not to be deterred. He was a tunneled visioned man on a mission: to escape from his germ ridden mother braving frostbite and dangerous road conditions to do so.

I would like to think that my other children would have felt more concern for their mother than themselves and would have insisted on staying until they were sure I was not going to die alone in my bed. I don't think Josh even considered my plight in light of his flight. His focus was on saving himself from his mother's ills which have lasted for over two weeks! I thought I was coming down with a cold the first few days but Saturday, February 8^th found me hugging my toilet bowl all day as between chills and fevers and an aching body I realized I had the flu. I spent the day in bed. Sunday I asked Kay to pick up some cat food and to leave it on the porch as I didn't want her to catch it from me.

During this time did my Josh call to see how I was feeling? No, I called him to ask how he was and learned he was helping a friend build a greenhouse, while his fragile mother was withering on the vine and in dire need of a little hot house care herself.

Week two found me with the worst cold I have ever had and the more tenderhearted family members called to suggest that I might want to visit my doctor. Mother was quick to inform them that there was nothing to be done for either disease, they just had to run their course. I am now in week three of my misery but have been able to do much more this past week thanks to my arsenal of cold medications: night and daytime capsules, a nasal spray, vapor rub, cough drops and my best combat of all, nasal strips which have allowed me to keep breathing at night.

On February 17^th Coryn emailed her family a short video of her dad blowing out his birthday candles last year . That caused a few tears for me as it would have been his 86^th birthday and our 39^th wedding anniversary. But I pulled myself together and got ready to drive over to Coryn's for the day. We were going to meet Kay for lunch on the Plaza as there was no school since it was Presidents Day. Ava Claire wore her new white fur coat and matching hat that I recently made her as she definitely needed something a little dressier for our upcoming New York trip. Coryn had picked the restaurant and it was just like her movie picks. That girl has a positive talent for picking lemons. The restaurant was very empty – not a good sign I thought to myself as we were seated. I made the mistake of admitting to the waiter that it was my first time dinning there so I was treated to an overly long diatribe about the Chef 's philosophy: locally grown organically raised food in small quantities served up at great cost to the patron. Coryn ordered a chicken dish, Kay a turkey burger and I tried the Mahi Mahi. Fortunately the waiter bought out a fruit cup for Ava Claire which she demolished before our entrees were served. I had a bag of teddy grahams in my purse in case of a long wait so slipped a couple of them to Ava Claire until our food arrived. I think my cold has definitely affected my taste buds but my healthy meal was very bland and could certainly have benefited from a zesty sauce – fortunately Ava Claire was happy with my fish, Kay's burger and her mother's chicken. Frankly my light and healthy lunch seemed to have made no impact on my growling stomach and I suggested dessert. Coryn made lemonade out of her lemon by deciding that we should go to the Cheesecake Factory after a stroll to the fabric store. I was delirious with joy just thinking about all the creamy cheese, rich crust, whipped cream and chocolate that would soon be sating my empty tummy. No one was happier than me when we got to the fabric store's going out of business sale and realized that there was nothing there to turn into an outfit for Ava Claire. We were soon perched on stools at the cheesecake factory reading the mouthwatering dessert menu. Coryn announced that we would be splitting two desserts between the four of us. I suggested that we might want to pick three since I knew that Ava Claire could probably eat one all by herself and since I was starving I was sure I could eat a whole one too but Coryn and Kay were appalled at the thought of anyone eating a whole dessert so we picked two and fortunately there was plenty even though Ava Claire was the first to start and the last to finish eating.

Our friends Becky and Fred have been fighting off various ills this winter too and unfortunately earlier this week Becky had to be hospitalized with kidney stones – in her eight month of pregnancy. Fred felt so sick himself that he couldn't care for Elena so she came to my house for her first over night stay and did very well. She only woke up once in the night and quickly went back to sleep cuddled up to me and unfortunately my germs but hopefully I am no longer contagious!

Sean facetimed me from Cambodia in the last few days and described eating fried tarantula to me in nauseating detail – maybe he should try out for Survivor. I miss my boy and his dimples so much but know it will be months before he comes home.

Love your mucus ridden mother who can't wait for some warmth and sunshine to dry it all up.