My last column was written in mid-April and here it is mid-May. Several of you have asked about the silence. So, now you have this personal note.

Unfortunately, these weeks have been filled with real concerns.

My only son, already weakened with COPD, has had two emergency trips to the hospital.

The first revealed congestive heart failure and a big fluid build-up, and the second found him in the midst of a massive heart attack that resulted in three stints to correct a 100 percent blockage in one artery.

The good news is that he is now improving, and, although not really able to do much physically, he declares that he actually feels better than he has in months.

No wonder: Being able to breathe is a wonderful thing. Of course, daily doses of various medicines, a low-sodium diet and frequent sessions with the oxygen tank also helps.

Additionally, we have real concerns about his daughter (my only grandchild), who lives with her mother and stepfather in Rabun County, but has always been an important part of his life and mine. Although a sweet, beautiful person, she is a "special needs" child, and as she chronologically approached maturity, she became more aware of differences. Thus she has suffered from depression. We pray for a break-through for her.

Whereas a month ago, I was hopeful that I could transfer from walkers to a cane, now my steel knee and lower femur seem to have lost some of their strength. Back to therapy and perhaps to the surgeon who implanted them a year ago.

In the meantime, we moved from winter to near-summer and back to spring.

As usual, our area was beautiful with colorful azaleas, forsythia and gleaming white dogwood adorning lawns and woodlands.

Flowers and vegetables have been planted; bare tree limbs have been transformed into all different shades of green; schools are wrapping up end-of-year activities; families and organizations are changing routine schedules into summer plans; and political ferver has been fanned pursuant to local primaries.

Many locations, however, have been in turmoil; some places with fire and floods, others uprisings and kidnappings. Of course, if you're reading this, you have access to a local newspaper and can check up of all sorts of Dawson County events.

And, to my surprise, several people have been planning a 90th birthday celebration for me. I am not sure who all is involved, nor exactly what will transpire, but I truly appreciate their thoughtfulness, and I hope you'll be there.

Helen Taylor's column appears periodically in the Dawson Community News.