Monday, August 31, 2026

     The kitchen window sunflower has lost it’s golden vibrancy. Now the brown plant is hanging its head and looking dejected.  Goodby sweet sunflower.

     I wake in the middle of the night and I can’t remember my phone number. The numbers are just missing. I am a bit panicked, have I lost parts of my brain. In the morning, I remember my phone number again.   

     What would it be like to not have a cell phone. I would lose everyone’s contact numbers.  Everything is written in my phone. I am going to write some numbers on paper just in case. My connection with the human world is through these numbers in my cell phone. I miss my land line where I had to remember all my the phone numbers.  I do wonder what I am really worried about now.

     I watch episodes of the last season of GRANTCHESTER, a surprisingly thoughtful last season. A long running show that I didn’t much like, but this last season is really good. I continue to read the detective novel, ALL WE HIDE, a long book. The neighborhood is quiet all day. No dogs or people around.

 

 Sunday, August 30, 2026   

    I laugh looking at facebook videos of young triplets and of laughing babies. I can’t help feeling wonderful after a session with these laughing babies and the serious father.

     Saturday is a day of talking, me talking and me listening. Various friends on the phone and in person. I go to bed exhausted. The day starts cold and windy and in the afternoon, warm weather.  I don’t think of the Big Sur fires most of the day. Less smoke in the air.

     I search the kitchen for the last onion. Finally, in the back of the refrigerator is half an old red onion.  I cook a frozen hamburger patty and sliced onions, and toast a stale bun for lunch. Surprisingly satisfying. In the evening, I have left over salads from my roommate’s meeting in town. Good day for food.

     We watch episodes of MAXIMUM PLEASURE GUARANTEED, definitely scary, AIRPORT CHAPLAIN, interesting, and the delightful comedy TRYING. Good evening of TV watching. I start reading ALL WE HIDE, a police procedural novel by Robyn Gigl. I think I like it, I am not sure. I am losing track of the weird misadventures of our incompetent president.

 

Saturday, August 29, 2026  

     We sit in the car waiting for the airbus shuttle to arrive. We talk and say goodbye. The other tall guy is going on a plane ride to Oregon.  I have known him since he was 3 weeks old and now, he has graduated from college and is looking for the next thing to do. He will be back to visit again. 

     I stop at the bank to deposit my tax refund check in the early afternoon. The bank is empty except for two people. The desks are bare and the lights are dim.  I ask the friendly teller, where is everyone. He says they are all out for lunch. I don’t believe him. I finish my business and leave. Strange times we are living in.

     We accidently find a new TV series AIRPORT CHAPLAIN, advertised as a comedy and a warm hearted Australian series. Who knew airports could have chaplains.

     I started reading Rachel Cusk’s latest novel, LIFE OF M. I have always loved her books but this one, I am not sure I understand what she is writing about this time. War, floods, fires, and violent ICE agents continue today.  Who knows what the distracted president is up to.