What a powerful song!

I've been listening to my collection of Carter Family songs recently and I heard this last night. What a powerful song! Oh how we need this to happen today!! You can hear them sing it here

When first I heard of a people who claimed
This old time religion was real
I says, “I'll go down take a look at the crowd
It's just the weak minded I feel”

But something got a hold of me
Yes something got a hold of me
I went there to fight but on that night
There’s something got a hold of me

I walked right down peeked in at the door
And the devil says, “Don't you go in”
I says, “I’ll go in for that will not hurt
And sit as far back as I can”

But something got a hold of me
Yes something got a hold of me
I went there to fight but on that night
There’s something got a hold of me

About that time he got up to preach
And he looked right down upon me
He told everybody how mean I had been
Don’t think he thought much of me

But something got a hold of me
Yes something got a hold of me
I went there to fight but on that night
There’s something got a hold of me

They sing and shout and they all clapped their hands
And they all got down on their knees
When the fire fell from heaven it fell upon me
And then I fell to the floor

But something got a hold of me
Yes something got a hold of me
I went there to fight but on that night
There’s something got a hold of me

So now I've learnt and no need to doubt
That the old time religion is real
I have a spirit I'll never forget
That something got a hold of me

Yes something got a hold of me
Yes something got a hold of me
I have a spirit I'll never forget
That something got a hold of me

Something Got A Hold Of Me, written by A. P. Carter

My MRI experience

this is our destination. downtown Charlotte

1. I was ferried up there and back by Dennis Davis. Thank you, Dennis!

2. I had indicated that I just might be slightly claustrophobic so they gave me Adavan (to relieve anxiety). This was why they said I needed a driver. Adavan begins working quickly and I started to feel good. I also began having a hard time walking straight and following orders – Dennis several times grabbed my arm and said, “It is this way.” And let me tell you, Do Not lean forward while on Adavan because the tendency is to keep on falling forward!

the machine. you lay down on the flat bed-like thing and they insert you into the giant ball. it is always on
and the room is magnetized constantly, I had to stand at the door to take this photo

3. They led me to the machine itself and said, “Lay down here.” He then asked if I needed a blanket? (“It is kinda chilly, so he got a sheet. Perfect); How about a washcloth on my face? (I am felling good, Sure). Do you want ear plugs (it is loud) or ear phones to listen to Pandora? Can I pick the music? Sure, what would you like? George Kahumoku (classic Hawaiian hula music). That’s what I got! Although the machine is so loud that it is difficult to hear.

4. I’m ready so they slide me into the tube and I’m there for 20 minutes. It is very loud! And I would like to say I felt every ray they shot into my shoulder and body, but that may have been the Adavan!
At one point the noise subsided and I could hear a woman’s voice, “How are you doing? We’re getting a little movement, can you stop breathing?” Again, that may have been the Adavan. I was slid back in for more of the same. Then she came on and “Almost done. Six more minutes.”

5. Then it was over! Twenty minutes is not that long. They pulled me out of the tube, removed the sheet and washcloth, and told me I could now stand up. I asked them to help me get up; they did. “OK, you can sit there for a while and get you bearings before you try to get up. And just to let you know, we have wheelchairs if you feel you need them.” I was standing up by this time and I declared, “Whatever else happens, I am walking out of here.” And I did.

It is really too bad that the MRI only diagnosis problems and doesn’t cure them! I probably could have done this without the Adavan, but the Adavan felt good. Everybody told me I had to have a driver because of the Adavan. But I can tell you, I could have done it. I have driven, let me just say, you would be shocked and scared for me if you knew some of the conditions I have (safely) driven under!!

It’s over and now I await my Tuesday visit to the Doctor to explain the results of this test, which are probably going to be surgery to repair the rotator cuff. Wednesday we leave for New Mexico for a ten day trip out west, hanging out with Erica & Dan so surgery will most likely be the last week of March of first week in April. Everything seems to be moving quickly now.

One final note. The doctor’s office said I would be in “la-la land” all day and told me today not to drive all day. I was a little disappointed. I was introduced to la-la land, but we really didn't hang out . . .

The night I spent in a New York police station

The other day I was asked if I could pick my grandson up from school on Friday. Half-jokingly I replied, “Unless I'm in jail or the hospital I think so.” It’s funny how your mind (OK, my mind) works - that reminded me of the night I spent in a police station in New York.

My brother Sean and I were living with our sister on her farm in Copenhagen, NY. I went up there to work on the farm. I was 18 and lazy, and it turns out farm work is hard. So after only a few days I said, “I’m outta here.” I talked Sean into leaving with me and we left to return to Nashville, TN. We set off, hitch-hiking our way to the Canadian Border. Yes, you’re right, that was the wrong direction! But our plan was to enter Canada, hitch-hike across to north of Detroit, then head back south. We stopped at Thousand Island Park for a swim and then made our way to the border.

We got turned away.

From the Canadian Border.

I must be one of three or four people ever denied entry into Canada!

So, we headed south again and hitch-hiked our way to North Syracuse. About 95 miles. It was hard to catch a ride that day, maybe it was my shoulder length hair. By now it was night and we couldn’t go any further, so we found a grocery store that had closed for the day. We unrolled our sleeping bags on the dark side of the store and went to sleep.

In the middle of the night we were rousted by the police: “Get up! You can’t sleep here!”

We entreated him to let us stay at the police station because we had nowhere else to go. And that’s where he took us! We spent the night in our sleeping bags on the floor of the North Syracuse Police Station. Six o’clock the next morning the officer behind the desk said, “Wake up! Get outta here!”

And that’s what we did. We decided that hitch-hiking wasn’t working (and the officer may have warned us about it, as in, “And don’t let me catch you hitch-hiking”) so we bought bus tickets to Bellefontaine, OH, where another sister lived. We arrived with no money. She wasn’t expecting us and wasn’t particularly pleased to see us. But that and what followed are for another day.

So, yeah, I spent the night in the police station in North Syracuse, New York. And the funny ending to this tale is I will not be able to pick up my grandson from school because I will sorta be in the hospital that day – I will be having an MRI. They suggested I take Adavan to help me handle the close quarters of the MRI and, in the words of the lady helping me make the appointment, I “will be in la-la land all day.”

I made a fire and sang!

I made a fire tonight and while I was enjoying it these songs just rose within me and I began to sing. Join me!

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul
And all that is within me
Bless His holy name (2x)

He has done great things
He has done great things
He has done great things
Bless His holy name

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul
And all that is within me
Bless His holy name

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Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
I'm redeemed, I'm redeemed
Praise the Lord!

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I was lost in sin when Jesus found me,
But He rescued me, all glory to His name!
And the cords of worldly pleasure bound me,
Till He saved me from sin and shame.

’Twas a glad day when Jesus found me,
When His strong arms were thrown around me;
When my sins He buried in the deepest sea,
And my soul He filled with joy and victory.
’Twas a glad day, O hallelujah!
’Twas a glad day He claimed His own.
I will shout a glad hosanna in glory
When I see Him upon His throne.

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I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!