The Slap Seen Around the World

Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards

 Were you watching the Oscar telecast last night? 

Did you see Will Smith slap the shit out of Chris Rock because Rock made a joke about Smith's wife's lack of hair?

For God's sake! What have we come too? 

For me Will Smith has always been overrated. 

Will Smith is no Sidney Poitier. 

Later, when Smith received the Best Actor Oscar he offered somewhat of a strained "apology" to the Academy but none to the man he assaulted on stage. 

Again, are there no consequences for violence committed so openly by a famous person?

The past month I've been sick to my stomach watching the destruction and killing of a peaceful people, the Ukrainians by the sub-human soulless Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. 

I usually watch the news, mostly as background to me doing something else like cooking or on my computer.  Now I mostly turn off the TV when pictures of the destruction and killing of innocent Ukrainians appear on TV.  

The Ukrainian leader Zelensky begs for help from the allied NATA countries but receives little but lots of platitudes. 

Biden stumbles his way through another read speech yet doesn't directly help Zelensky and his country stop the incessant bombing that is destroying his country.  

I realize I am very fortunate to live in a country that is surrounded by two large oceans that protect us from sub-human butchers like Putin but still, it makes me sick to my stomach to see the monster Putin get away with his aggression on his peaceful neighbor.  Why? Just so he can add Ukraine to his portfolio of countries that he controls?

I was born in 1941, a month before our country was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor. All my life I've lived under the threat of war as have all of us.

In grade school we were told to get under our desks if atom bombs were dropped by Russia on the United States. Even then I knew getting under my desk wasn't going to save me from that hot skin peeling atom bomb blast. 

During my adult years I just missed Viet Nam. Pure luck. Lot of guys and gals my age weren't so lucky. 

Then there was Afghanistan and Iraq. Again, many of our fellow young Americans died and injured.

So Will Smith walking on the stage at the Academy Awards and slapping Chris Rock for a joke?  Not a good move Will Smith. 

Apologize to Chris Rock and the public for your tasteless display of violence Will Smith. You're not cool.

A New Day

 

Me and Bill back in the day. Philadelhia rooftop of our center city townhouse 1976.

My brother John is in the ground now. I hear this internment ceremony went well. My other brother and his son and daughter-in-law all agreed that brother John got a proper sendoff. 

It's still hard for me to believe that I'll never be able to call John whenever I felt like it and to just talk and chat with him. Just another adjustment in my life at this time of my Last Act. 

Bill continues to hold steady. This morning was Shower Morning, which he absolutely hates. Every third morning is Shower Morning. The other mornings we just change his Depends and wash down is private parts and lower legs which have edema and open wounds. The one open wound is almost healed this morning so maybe tomorrow morning I can dispense with the dressings.

Our backyard is slowly recovering from the Army worm devastation of last summer. Still big patches of brown, dead grass but new patches are popping up. Today we had rain which will help more grass to grow, especially from all that seed that I spread last year.

I notice lately I've been losing my appetite which of course results in my losing weight. I need to lose about five pounds and a couple inches around my waist. Tired of carrying this "baby" around my middle.

Every night for years I've been having a snack before I go to bed. Oh I know eating before you go to bed is bad for you but this habit developed many years ago when I started a discipline of eating nothing between meals. I had gained about fifty pounds (from 160 to 202 pounds) during my hernia surgery recuperation. I had a hard time losing that weight but once I got my self down into the 160 range I would treat myself to a small snack in the evening before I went to bed. I weighed 162 as of this morning but those pounds have shifted from muscle to flab around my middle. Oh I know this sounds disgusting and probably boring but this is the state of this once young svelte 6'3'' Ron. Now I'm just one of those old skinny men with a pot belly. 

Oh, by the way. Something funny happened the other day when one of Bill's substitute hospice nurses stopped by to check on Bill. During out chat she asked me if Bill "had any other sons besides me."  Well, that UPLIFTED my spirits. I've been looking rather haggard lately and feeling really old. Of course I told her "I'm not Bill's son, I'm his husband. We married VERY YOUNG." Poor  woman, she jerked back initially shocked they quickly regained her composure. Later I told Bill "I should have told her I was your grandson." The nerve.

That's it for today folks. I didn't want to leave that picture and posting of my brother's casket on my blog for days like I do some other blog postings.

Life Goes On

Screen shot of the live stream of my brother's services last night at his church

 Last night I watch the live stream of the church service for my late brother John Lee Tipton. 

I am so thankful I could watch it live stream. I almost missed it because I didn't activate the stream when I signed on to the church website fifteen minutes before the service started. I missed the photo collage my sister-in-law had established by Power Point. However, after the service started and I had no video I knew I was doing something wrong so I signed in again and viola! I got the live stream.

I also recorded the service which was long (one hour and forty-six minutes). 

I watched it along with Pat. 

I have to say the pastor who gave the John's memorial "got" John. He knew my brother and what he was like. I appreciated that. 

I got a chance to see my other brother who was there with his son and his daughter-in-law. His name is Isaac. Later he texted me that he was the only one there without a white shirt. Nor a tie I might mention. His son, Isaac III didn't have a tie either. Oh well, the very conservative Christian Southern Baptist Evangelicals have probably seen worse. They'll get over it. 

I'm still disappointed that I wasn't able to attend. And here I even had my dark blue pants let out. Oh, and I would have worn a white shirt and tie. Probably best I didn't attend. I wouldn't want to show up my brother and nephew. Once a hillbilly, always a hillbilly. Hey bro, don't worry about wearing a suit at my service, if I have one. 

This morning I had my bone marrow biopsy. Don't let anyone tell you it doesn't hurt. It does. Not a "passing a kidney stone" hurt but not comfortable either. Although the nurse did everything possible to make me comfortable prior to the procedure when the instrument was stuck in my back hip bone and bone marrow extracted with took about five minutes. Seemed more like fifteen minutes but probably only about five minutes. 

Pitiful me this morning just prior to my bone marrow biopsy procedure. You can't tell but I'm  trying to smile behind that mask. I should have taken the mast off.

Followup with my doctor in two weeks.

Funeral Services For My Brother John

My brother John with wife Barbara, and daughters Vickie and Nancy. Me (with the ice cream cone) and our Mother during a visit to their home in Windsor PA October 26, 1974. This was before John became a pastor. Me with the ice cream cone?

 Funeral services will be held tonight at 7 PM, EDT at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, SC for my brother John Lee Tipton. For those of you who are interested to know what a treasure and joy by brother John was, you're invited to attend the live stream of his services. Go HERE.

Rev. John Lee Tipton

My brother John was the care pastor of his church for over thirty years. It was his job to comfort and console those who were ill and at the end of their life. John loved his job. I mean he LOVED his job.

Many years ago, after he lost his new born son at childbirth and almost lost his wife, he vowed to devote the rest of his life in service to his church helping others as appreciation for God saving his wife's life. 

John had to previous children, both daughters before his son was born. His wife had difficult pregnancies with those births. He was warned not to get his wife pregnant again but he wanted a son and thus took the chance. He lost his son and almost lost his wife. Because of almost losing his wife, after being given a warning, he left his lucrative career and moved to Greenville, South Carolina and attended Bob Jones University to obtain his degree to become a pastor. John was one of those old college students in his early forties (or maybe late thirties). 

John LOVED Greenville and Bob Jones University and his church. John was always my happy little brother but the years of his life living in Greenville were the happiest of his life. His optimism was infectious. Often when I would get down about life, all I had to do was talk to John and I felt better.

One would think that John being a minister of a Southern Fundamentalist church that he would be proselytizing me every chance he got. He did not do that. He never proselytized me. Never. Unlike some of my friends who are also evangelical who often took the opportunity to "save me" and proselytize me. I always took offense to their arrogance in "saving me." I would respond to them "Worry about yourself friend, I'll take care of my soul." 

Indeed, my brother John practiced true Christianity, not the organized Christianity that is practiced by so many evangelicals that assume that they and only they are going to Heaven because they and only they know The Way.  

My brother John always provided me with help, peace and comfort when I needed it. As he undoubtedly did for many of his parishioners who I don't know. 

My great regret now is that I am not able to attend his services which will be held tonight at 7 PM at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina. However, our other brother Isaac will be able to attend along with his son and his daughter-in-law. I will be there in spirit as well as watching the live streaming of his services.

No longer the Tipton Trio (The "Tipton Boys") Now there are just us us. 

Hopefully, if I survive Bill, I will be able to visit John's wife later. There are no promises in this life. I may go tomorrow but assuming I outlive Bill, I will visit Barbara (John's wife). 

For now I have John's memories. As my brother Isaac said when I was talking to him on FaceTime last night when he arrived at the Holiday Inn in Greenville, South Carolina, "I'll miss talking to John on the phone." And indeed, I will miss those calls I had with John. There is a big empty hole in my life now. And this is just me. I cannot imagine what his wife and his daughters are going through now. 

The one thing that sustains us is that John is at rest now. His pain and suffering over the last three years as come to an end and he now has his heavenly reward. 

If there is a Heaven (which I still have my doubts), I know he'll be there with that big infectious smile of his and saying "What took you so long Ronnie? I've been waiting for you!"

See  you soon John.

My brother John, gone forever. 

I will miss our calls. 

I will miss his laugh. 

I will miss his wit, wisdom and humor. 

I will miss his ability to bring me back to earth.

I will miss him.

I am less now.

Obituary for Rev John Lee Tipton

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7–8)

John Lee Tipton of Greenville, SC, met his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, on March 18, 2022. He was born in Coatesville, PA, on June 10, 1944, to Isaac Walter Tipton and Betty Hadfield Tipton. He leaves two brothers, Ronald Walter Tipton of Milton, DE, and Isaac Walter Tipton, Jr. of Downingtown, PA. He was married for 58 years to Barbara Princo Tipton, and they had three children, Nancy Lee Tipton of the home, Victoria Lynn (Mark) Payne of Gillette, WY, and John Lee Tipton, Jr. (deceased). John also had two foster daughters whom he loved dearly, Jan Loftis Sinde of Greenville, SC, and Cathy Bridges Powell of San Antonio, TX. He is survived by seven grandchildren and three foster grandchildren. He served his country in the US Army 529th Military Police in Heidelberg, Germany, and Washington, DC. He earned a master of arts degree in Bible in 1982 from Bob Jones University and joyfully served the Lord as an assistant pastor at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Cedar Lane Road, Greenville, SC, since 1983. Visitation and viewing are at Mount Calvary Baptist Church (115 Cedar Lane Road) on Monday, March 21, 4:45–6:45 p.m.; with the funeral service to follow at 7 p.m. Private interment at Coleman Cemetery in Travelers Rest, SC, will be held Tuesday, March 22. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Men’s Ministries at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 1430 Hampton Ave. Ext., Greenville, SC 29601.

Family Updates

 

Me and my little brother John 1947

As some of my regular blog followers may have noticed, I haven't posted in a while. 

I just recently posted the notice of the passing of my youngest brother (77) who has been battling a series of medical issues for the past three years. Sadly that battle ended yesterday with his passing.

I had plans to go to his funeral in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. 

I actually had two plans. One was to place Bill in the local hospice respite center for three or four days while I traveled to Greenville for a few days to attend my brother's services. The other was for Pat (my friend in Canada) to come down and stay with Bill and perform minimal care for him while I am gone.

Bill had initially agreed to either one of these plans but last week, when my brother's death was imminent, Bill backed out. He didn't want me to leave. No way, no how. He wouldn't go to the hospice respite center (hotel like accommodations available to me every six months for my respite which I have yet to take advantage of). Or Pat's generous offer to make the trip from Canada to take care of Bill. No way, no how. That's Bill. 

I don't know that I can blame Bill entirely for being selfish. He is used to getting things his way. He throws a big enough tantrum he usually gets his way. Sometimes. Not today when he was looking for a rope to hold up his pants. I instead that he wear a belt. Bill's cognitive issues are getting worse but I won't get into that now. Other than to say he's driving me crazy at night. He's either too hot or too cold. Even now that's he's off of blood thinners, he still complains about the temperature. Lately it's not even making sense so I guess it's a further decline of his cognitive health. 

Bill's getting weaker, albeit slower. Nothing dramatic like you see in the movies. Just a gradual weakness. He's exhausted after his every third day morning shower. Even when we have to change his Depends daily he's exhausted. He's frustrated by his blindness. I'm having a hard time understanding him, most of his speech is slurred. He doesn't realize it. He tries, bless his heart, he tries. Thank goodness he can still walk and go to the bathroom by himself (thank you Jesus) but I can see the day when that goes by the wayside.

I have to tell you folks I'm getting dragged under. What with Putin and Russia invading Ukraine and causing all that senseless death and destruction (for what?) and the constant Fifth Column here of brainwashed Republicans who are convinced Biden lost the election.  Somedays I just want to not wake up. 

But after seeing courage of so many every day Ukrainians fight for their country makes me realize my situation is small potatoes. I actually have it pretty good. So what that I haven't been to a restaurant in over two years? So what that I haven't been anywhere in over two years? I have my Zoom friends and FaceTime friends although I think one has gone by the wayside because I'm not paying enough attention to him. That's too bad but I have enough on my hands right here and now.

And perhaps the worst insult of all I can't even get Facebook's online Scrabble game to load. That was one source of relaxation I had during the day and evening. What IS their problem?

The good news is that my springtime daffodils are up! All that bended knee of the fall is paying off now. And I don't have Russian bombs dropping on me when I take a few minutes each day to walk around Casa Tipton-Kelly to enjoy their cheerful reminder of rebirth. 

Some of this year's daffodil crop

John Lee Tipton

 

Me and my brother John at Flag Pond, Tennessee 2010

My youngest brother, John Lee Tipton, passed away last night. 

He had been ill for the past three years will various ailments.

The chemotherapy finally killed him.

His suffering has ended. 

We, his friends and family, will mourn his loss.

His memory will live on.

Rest in peace dear brother John.

Palm Springs Retirement?

 

Indian lot available in Palm Springs. Sure, I'm going to lease an Indian owned lot in Palm Springs. NOT!

Remember all that talk I've been having about retiring to Palm Springs? Well there is one big "thing" that I forgot about, the high real estate/school tax. For the type of home that Pat and I would like to move to, the real estate taxes would be just too high. It seems that I conveniently forgot that the main reason I moved to Delaware in 2006 was because I couldn't afford to live at our home in Pennsylvania anymore because of the high real estate taxes. 

I came to this brutal realization yesterday when a friend of mine told me he just bought a house in Cathedral City, near Palm Springs. He's paying close to a million dollars for his house but he won't have to pay a five digit real estate tax bill because he's a California resident who qualifies for a lower tax bill. Of course Pat and I wouldn't qualify for lower taxes since we are not California residents who would qualify for that lower tax bill.

Even though I now live in the low tax state of Delaware (no sales tax, low real estate taxes and I don't pay Delaware's income tax because my pensions are below the taxable rate), I still have substantial annual insurance taxes. Even though I have the so called "free Medicare", I still pay over $5,000 a year for Medicare and Medicare supplemental insurance, and that keeps going up. If Bill should die before me, then my sole income is Social Security and my small bank pensions. I probably could go back to work at the hotel part-time but how much longer can I work now that I'm over eighty? 

So there it goes folks, my dream of moving to Palm Springs for my retirement years. I'll just have to get by on an annual visit during Modernism Week in February of each year.

But you know folks, I have to put this into perspective. Look at those Ukrainain refugees who have lost everything they have because of the evil of Russia and Putin invading their country and leveling it for what reason? Just because Putin, who has more money than any one individual in the world is bored and wants to return Russia back to it's former "glory" of the Soviet Union empire. I'm sick to my stomach over that whole mess, the rest of the world is helpless to do anything to stop Putin. What's next for Putin? The Baltic states? Poland? The other former east European countries that the Soviet Union previously occupied after World War II? 

All my life I've lived under the threat of nuclear destruction and it seems as if at the end of my life I'm still living under that threat. But, and this is a big "but", I have been so fortunate to have the wonder life that I've had. I live in a beautiful home in southern Delaware that is paid for. If I can't move to a more beautiful home in Palm Springs, big deal. I am so much more fortunate than those millions of Ukrainians who did nothing to deserve the hell that has descended on them now from the Hell of their Russian neighbor Putin. One thing is for sure, Putin is finished because of what he has done. Unfortunately, he's taking a lot of innocent people down with him. 

A Conundrum

 

Bill in happier times

Good morning folks! 

Haven't been here for a while as regular readers of this blog have probably noticed. 

So what is going on here at Casa Tipton-Kelly? 

A lot.

The past week I was informed by my sister-in-law that my youngest brother is now on home hospice care after three years battling various health issues. 

They live in South Carolina. I want to go to his funeral. Managing that is the challenge. I need someone to take care of Bill while I'm gone. 

I can put Bill in the Hospice Respite care program for a few days but the only snag is that I don't know when my brother will die. The hospice center only has a certain number of beds available and they need a date which I obviously can't provide.

Pat has agreed to come down from his home in Canada to care for Bill while I'm gone. Problem there is he has two different jobs he has to coordinate with before he leaves. He also needs a date. I am caught in a conundrum. 

This morning I had two medical appointments (more blood work and an ultra sound) scheduled for me. 

I'm juggling a lot of balls here folks. Of course I'm trying to stay healthy to take care of Bill. 

This morning while the cold jelly was on my stomach during my ultra sound my friend Lar calls me on my phone. I apologized to the woman performing the ultra sound on my flabby eighty year old body and explained "I'm sorry I left my phone on but I'm keeping in on in case I hear news about my brother." Normally I turn my phone off when I'm in a medical facility. I've tried texting my friend Lar to tell him when I'm not available for phone calls but for some unexplained reason his phone isn't accepting my text messages now. Lary has ALS and is getting more confused every day so I don't know what is going on there but I don't have time to straighten out his problem, I have enough of my own right now.

As of this morning my brother is still alive so it looks like I'll be able to have Pat down here to take care of Bill.

Now, what to wear to my brother's funeral? I pulled out my one remaining suit that I kept specifically for funerals. Guess what? It DOESN'T FIT!  That's the problem when I let clothes hang in my closet too long, they shrink.

Where I used to have a 32 inch waist, it is now 34 inches. I weigh the same, it's just that my flab has shifted. Loose skin folks, what you young folks have to look forward to when you reach the grand old Crypt Keeper age of eighty that I am now.

I took my suit pants to the cleaners this morning and they said they could let out the waist. I parted with $20 on my credit card for the chance that this will work. Better than paying $500 for a new suit that I would probably never wear again.

Now for my shoes, will my Sketchers work?