Thursday, December 18, 2025

     At 11:15 I hear the mail man’s truck.  He is several hours early.  I grab my cane and my letters and limp outside to the street to catch him.  He is at the neighbor’s mailbox. I yell, Hey Mr. Mailman several times in a loud voice, but he must be wearing ear buds. He doesn’t hear me. Sigh, I am wearing my flannel nightgown and a puffer jacket.  When have I become the weird old lady yelling at the mail man.  

     Mostly a quiet day as I take naps and slowly learn to eat again. I have a lazy esophagus according to my doctor ten years ago. Runs in my family.  But 23 hours of not swallowing and spitting up is scary.

     I started reading HELL OF A BOOK by Jason Mott. Compelling novel and quite funny at times. More books waiting at the library.

     In the evening we watch another episode of LONG WAY UP, the same two middle aged guys on motorcycles in South America. The show is actually quite fabulous in spite of the motorcycles. Then we watch the latest THE LATE SHOW with Stephen Colbert show to hear some really funny jokes. Laughter is good before bedtime.

 

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

     Not a single red leaf left on the old apricot tree now.  But the quince tree, hundreds of brown leaves are holding on tight. Spring in Monterey starts early, the bare limbs do not have long to wait.

    On Monday, my daughter’s two high school friends spend the afternoon rearranging her bedroom. I listened to the laughter, and chatter, and furniture being moved.  And the room is transformed into delightful area. 

     My two writing buddies spend the Monday morning writing with me. We do timed writing and then read and talk together.

     On Tuesday I am incapacitated with an esophagus problem.  My esophagus refused to work for a day. I don’t die. Eventually my body fixes the problem and I am now fine but a bit tired. Today, Wednesday is a good day again.

 

Monday, December 15, 2025

     This Sunday NYT paper is over whelming. They list this year’s ten best books, movies, TV shows. gifts, etc. I haven’t even opened the section and already I am filled with desire and greed. I want the best now and at the same time I want to know my choices during the year turn out to be listed as the best. There is no winning in this game of bests.

     There are piles of stuff in the living room waiting for a new home. Just looking at the piles makes me tired.  I need my office cleared to make room for my daughter to be my roommate. 

     We watch WAKE UP DEAD MAN, a Knives Out Mystery. I wasn’t sure about movie watching, my brain is attuned to long endless TV stories. But this movie is lively and satisfying. There will be more movies in my future.

     I am continuing to read Mick Herron novel, SPOOK STREET. A long spy series.  SLOW HORSES, the TV series is based on these books. So satisfying. My roommate brings in the live Christmas tree from two years ago. She finds the boxes of decorations in the basement.