November 16, 2005

After spending six days in the ICU, with a rapidly spreading infection in my abdomen, I am grateful to be home again and feeling much better. The pain in my abdomen was so extreme and my blood pressure dropped to a level that took all of the life out of me for two days.

The help and fast thinking of my family coerced me into going to the hospital emergency room. The medical profession was quick to nip the bug and stopped its spreading. After six days in the ICU, my blood pressure returned to normal and I was able to go home.

Needless to say, I surely don’t want that bug again. It has taken my seventy-five-year-old body a while to recover from this infection.

Enough said, I came home and just didn’t realize all of the good friends that have written and come by to see me. Quite honestly, I didn’t realize that I have so many friends. I thank everyone for all of the flowers, callas and get well wishes.

One of my old faithful Cherokee cousins came by to bring us some fresh ripe tomatoes. There is a lot of benefit to the tomato that ripens in the sunlight.

One of my friends installed a new shower sprayer, which may have been the source of the bug. Dan Owen’s son-in-law, Kevin, inspected all of my plumbing and repaired and improved it where it was needed.

Church folks were certainly a welcome to me. One evangelist missionary came in to pray with me. Her prayers were so personal, direct and to the point. Pastor Lyle Benson of the Methodist Church most certainly did not cut any corners with his visits and prayers. He brought the communion service to my sick bed.

My Cherokee friend and tribe historian, M.L. Melton, was also generous with his prayers.

I would also like to thank Commissioner Cynthia White for her prayers during my ICU stay. My thanks to this talented musician and intellectual who holds an office which requires a quick and intelligent mind with openness and fairness. I am impressed with her wisdom and stand ready to help her if I am ever needed.

Also, some of my Cherokee friends brought me some good historical Civil War books.

I recently ran into Glen Redfearn. He was very gracious with his comments and said that he looked forward every week to reading my columns in the paper. I asked Glen what he enjoyed the most, and he quickly commented that my talking about the Village of Onega interested him. He wants to learn more about the Onega Indians. The Redfearn family has been a vital contributing family to the growth spiritually and physically of the area. The Redfearns entered the Onega area just after the Civil War when the village was known as Onega.

The Redfearns are a prolific clan in this area, and their historical standing in the community is noted by their genuine honesty and loyal contribution to the churches, schools and community in general.

I have enjoyed knowing the Redfearns all of my years. This is a superb family and it has been a pleasure watching the grandchildren grow up with the same community spirit.

The Redfearns came from Missouri with several other families at about the same time after the Civil War. Some of the descendants of the original Redfearn settlers were Bill, Charley, Bailey, Deck and Edna. There were more that I didn’t get to know; I also don’t remember their parents, yet I have many records of their accomplishments.

Simply said, "Aubrey is way better off, as a result of what this extra large family accomplished in the area."

Deck and Vernie were the parents of Glen, Bobby, Dale, Joe, Howard and Edna.

I remember Deck in church. He possessed a beautiful baritone voice. When he put his heart into singing, the volume would increase and his voice would penetrate through the walls of the building.

It was a voice that is still in my memory. One song I remember in particular was "I’ve anchored my soul in the haven of rest." When I think of that song, I think of Deck singing it. What a beautiful memory of the voice that still lingers.

I remember listening to his singing voice and wondering in amazement as to how the boards in the old church building held together under the waves of my racoon, possum hunting friend’s voice.

So Glen, I will get back to talking about Onega soon.