Denny has such a great sense of humor and is genuinely proud when he accomplishes a new skill. I replied to one of Jean's posts about Denny's response to anyone telling him what a great job he did - he grins and says, "Pat me back" while patting himself on the back. I love when he recognizes how hard he is working. Tonight, he recognized how hard I was working.

The past few weeks have been crazy at our house. I have had landscapers in to help me clean up the yard that hasn't been attended to for over a year due to Denny's stroke. Now those that don't live in the desert might not believe you can let a "yard" go that long, but here in AZ we have gravel yards and we can ignore a lot. However, the AZ Strokenet group is coming to visit on Saturday and I just HAD TO HAVE THE YARD CLEAN! So I hired a company to come and to a clean up and haul away all the things that Denny had collected during his "Sanford and Son" years. They finished the back yard today.

Denny was out tonight with a friend for a movie so I took advantage of the great weather to sit outside and enjoy a glass of wine by the pool with the outdoor fireplace lit and the waterfall flowing as I admired all the work that was done. AHHHH - I was so relaxed. Clean yard, clean pool, kind of clean house and a good glass of wine. When Denny got home, he joined me pool side. "AHHHH," he says. "Satisfaction." I asked him what he meant. In his apahsic way, he listed one word at a time, the things I did to make our lives good. I wish I could quote him verbatim. Here is the gist of what he said - one word at a time, followed by a pause and accented with gestures - a HUGE accomplishment for Denny:

You

Nice

Yard

Nice

Typing

Talking (holding his hand to his ear like a phone)

Computer

Smart

Money

Nice

Mother, GOOD Mother

Stan (my Dad who I care for as well)

Daughter, GOOD!

Girlfriend, no, wife

Love you

Good

Satisfaction

As far as I am concerned, I just got a big "pat me back" for my role in our lives as caretaker, housekeeper, breadwinner, mother, daughter and wife.

It just doesn't get any better than this!