Jerrie Whiteley

But, this time, Mary Jane seems to be slowing down a bit more, laying off the "Law & Order" to some extent, and working on a couple of small projects at home.

She said her family helped her on her way by "handicapping" the house, nailing down cords, removing throw rugs, putting the kitchen essentials at fingertip reach, etc. That same loving family, she said, is taking turns seeing to her every day, going to the mail box, getting the next load of laundry in and out, and grocery shopping.

The other day, and quite out of sequence, her granddaughter Taylor, a Van Alstyne High School senior, went over to her house before school just to see if there was anything that needed doing. Taylor was watering a plant when Mary Jane said she went to sit down in the correct chair in the living room -- correct because of its completely right 90-degree angles, essential that she doesn't contort her body closer than 90 degrees at all.

About that time, Mary Jane said, the chair's front legs began slowly to go out from beneath it, sinking to the floor. Once, she tried to get up, but the added pressure made the chair sink a bit faster. She called for Taylor, who came and retrieved her grandmother from that very awkward jackknife potential, which could have destroyed the surgical procedure completely.

Mary Jane said she honestly believes she would have been forced to sit there, jackknifed, until the home health nurse arrived about two hours later for her first visit.

Mary Jane said it was definitely a God thing that Taylor "happened" by that morning. Coincidence, she said, is God working in quiet little ways in our lives, so many times even unnoticed. She murmured a "Thank you, God" before we hung up the phone.

Happy birthday Tuesday to Marcia Switzer of McKinney; Brandi Mitzelfelt of Denison; Preston Reynolds, Blair Commons, Marian Work and Mary Joyce Patterson, all of Sherman; Christina Tillett of Randolph, Billie Taylor, Wayne Garrett Ryon and William Clinton McGehee, all of Bells; Steve McClain, Georgia Rasor Elk and twins, Zachary and Madison Clark, all of Savoy; Holden Keenan of Pottsboro; John Steven Stuebinger of Paris; Linda Rowe Anderson of Lindale; Madeline McEwen of Krum; Bill Underwood of Ravenna; Nancy Jones of Bonham; Grace Marx of Frisco.

Happy anniversary Tuesday to Jeff and Jamie Roubinek of Frisco, 2 years; Bryan and Karla Roberson of Sherman, 2 years; Todd and Beverly Taylor of Hendrix, Okla.