Wednesday, March 11, 2026

     I have shifted my social focus from medical waiting rooms to park benches.   Yesterday morning I met a friend at the park bench. We talked about our lives and watched adults play pickle ball and little kids play with their adults. The bench becomes too warm in the sun so we move over to a shady bench.  I am exhausted for the rest of the day. I am working on increasing my bench energy.

     I have my every three month 15 minute appointment with the primary care doctor this morning. I think he is just checking to see if I am still alive. I have a lot of minor concerns that he can’t fix, old age, itchy skin, tired bones, and fatigue. He encourages me to keep going in those 15 minutes.

     My roommate picks up 50 pounds of rabbit manure for the back yard expanded potato patch. I am worry about flies.  She says there will not be any. I am not so sure. Now here is someone who is very energetic.

     We watch the first episode of Steve Carroll’s new show ROOSTER on HBO. I liked it but my roommate not so much. We then watch an intense scary episode of TEHRAN. The music is the best part of this show. Then half an episode of THE LONG WAY AROUND, the two goofy guys on motorcycles in Kazakhstan.

 

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

     I get up at 7am in the dark this morning. I remember driving to work at 7am in the dark, decades ago. I have been retired for 25 years. Hard to believe. Thank you pension and social security. I have been busy not selling my time for money. Thinking back to my work years is like visiting a lost time shrouded in greys. I have told stories of my job so often I no longer know what is true. But my stories are entertaining.

     I plan to sit on a bench at the Via Paraiso Park this morning with a friend. My first attempt to expand my range of activities. It is cold. I plan to wear my puffer jacket and warm clothes.

     I forget doing my laundry isn’t complete until I remove the clothes from the drier, fold them and put them away. The days go by and I don’t remember this last step.

     My roommate is out for the evening.  I watch the MS NOW news of course. We are fighting a war started by a scary guy who seems confused and inept, maybe even evil. I am quite moved by the silent images of the rituals for bringing killed soldiers home to their families. Every place I look now, I see the mysteries of death.

 

Monday, March 9, 2026 

     The Tall Man visits Sunday morning to check on me, Do I need anything.  He reports that I was the oldest person at the memorial mass on Saturday.  85 years old is the oldest?  I didn’t feel like the oldest. Actually, I don’t know what being the oldest would feel like. 

     Sunday, warm sunny day, all day. This morning, we have thick gray fog. I can’t quite get used to the time changes. My clock this morning says 9am when I wake up. I am a bit off kilter.

     My roommate is out most of the day and evening.  I watch episodes of two of my favorite shows, THE CLOSER set in Los Angeles and the Australian series,THE ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR’S SERVICE. I start reading UNDER THE STORM, a detective novel by Christoffer Carlsson, set in Sweden.

     Since I am feeling stronger I am making a list of interesting benches in town for adventures. The idea of sitting outside, by myself or with a friend is appealing. Need to have good parking, my walking is limited. Already I have three benches on my list.