Sunday, February 1, 2026

     Lots of sirens and excitement this morning, fire truck and ambulance. This time it is not me.  I sit in the sun watching the first responders bring out my neighbor on a gurney. Three firemen and two ambulance crew. He looks alive, sitting half way up on the gurney.

     My large back deck is on a hillside.  I see into most of the yards and the alley. In the morning, I pace back and forth. I live in an old neighborhood.  We bought our homes decades ago and we are staying until the end. Working class homes 50 years ago but now beyond the financial reach of middle class families. A short dead end street. Fire trucks struggle getting to us. No sidewalks. We are aging in place.

     Several months ago, it was me on the gurney being placed in the ambulance. Just after surgery, I developed sepsis. I am good now. At some point I won’t be.

     The professor and I watch all 15 episodes of season one of THE PITT before she returns to San Rafael today. It feels like a huge mountain we climbed together.  New York photographer has arrived for a week visit.

 

Saturday, January 31, 2026

    In the middle of the night, I am up to use the bathroom.  Moonlight shines through the windows and the sky light. The world is alive at night time.

     We continue to watch more episode of THE PITT during the afternoon. I want the professor to see all the episodes before returning to San Rafael. But it is too much for us, too many bloody painful experiences in the stories.  I love those folks, but too much is too much. I drive to the bank to withdraw some cash. Of course, the teller says.  I ask if she wants to see my ID, no that is not necessary she says. I insist and hand her my driver’s license. A quick glance and it is back to me.

     I drive my roommate to and from her medical appointment in the morning. She spends the rest of the day preparing for the WE THE PEOPLE TEACH IN TRAINING on Saturday.  Over 300 people have already registered. Our community will be prepared for the ICE thugs.

     I mostly hang out in the house, doing dishes, bagging trash, siting in my recliner, reading, taking naps. I am restless to do more. I meet with the oncologist next week to develop the next treatment plan.

 

Friday, January 30, 2026

     Outside mid morning. walking on the deck. Warm sunshine. Many flowers on the deck.  In the back yard grasses are growing.  Also piles of damp dirt and the beginnings of trails in the grass. I never see the creatures but I know they are there. Several construction trucks are parked at my neighbor’s home. I hear voices but not words.

     The visiting professor and I continue to watch episodes of THE PITT, season 1. Seeing it a second time allows me to see the details.  Truly a compelling series. We also are watching the news.  I turn on the TV several times during the day to catch up on the current human dramas.

     My roommate returns library books and picks up the new ones for me. My personal librarian is returning soon from her vacation. The tall man shows me pictures of a used wooden pew he obtained from a local church for the young poet.

     I am reading the non fiction book EVERY LIVING THING, The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life, by Jason Roberts.