Friday, May 15, 2026

     A bit of fog and a bit of blue sky this morning.  And cold, 57 degrees in my bedroom. What is unique each morning even if it seems a bit repetitive. A young blue jay is messing around in the bottle bush tree outside my window. The heater is not on yet. Finished eating breakfast and reading the NYTimes, now I am wondering what will I write today.

     Thursday, I act as an Uber driver delivering two people to their medical appointments. My roommate and a good friend. I am startled by how beautiful the town has become, with flowers and trees blooming. We didn’t talk much.  I listen to the classical music station on fm 103.9. Not much traffic. Fewer cars on the road.

     In the late afternoon I sit in the shady front yard to do my daily chair yoga exercises. A slight breeze and warm sunshine. Moths and bees working the plants.

     I am engrossed with PAPER GIRL, a Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America, by Beth Macy. The author is in her early 60’s, my kids ages. Why am I so moved by this book? I identify with the community and with the mid twentieth century living. I though my painful and good experiences were unique. I am amazed at the economic and cultural changes occurring in the last 80 years.

 

Thursday, May 14, 2026

     Up and dressed early this morning. Today I get to be the helper rather then the helpee. I am driving two friends to their different medical appointments. I am so excited.

     I finish reading CLOWN TOWN by Mick Herron.  I found the book somewhat confusing, maybe it needs better editing. Or maybe my brain is just too tired to understand the complicated story.

     I start reading DR. BOT, How Doctors Can Fail Us and How AI Could Save Lives, by Charlotte Blease.  Kind of makes me nervous questioning the effectiveness of doctors when I am in the middle of treatments. I need to like my doctors during this part of my life. And I do question and reject some medical decisions and recommendations while still trusting them.

     I watch the last two episodes of YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS in the evening. This show is smart and entertaining. And then my roommate and I watch the latest episode of MARGOT NEED MONEY, another good show. I spend the whole day inside the house. Today I will change that pattern.

 

 Wednesday, May 13, 2026

     I wake up at 9am this morning, really 10 hours of sleep. Of course, a few times up for bathroom visits. When my eyes finally open, I am rested and ready. My legs are stiff, my whole body is stiff. Brewing coffee, fixing my breakfast loosens up the old body and I am ready for the day. 

     An old talented friend comes by for an infrequent visit. She is still working and busy.  And we can’t stop talking, sharing our lives, our families, our medical experiences and our joys. I tell her the secrets of some over the counter medicines, and what I have learned about incontinent supplies. I am an expert.

     Outside the living room window, the old oak tree branches are swaying in the breezes. Old tired dark green leaves draped with long, stringy lichen.  Where are the new light green leaves. Yesterday I saw a squirrel hanging on a floppy bottle bush branch. This tree is bursting with red flowers, perfect for humming birds and small song birds. But squirrels, no.

     I am obsessed with the reviews of the SHEEP DETECTIVES. I know it is playing in theaters locally. Going to a movie theater is not possible for me so I just have to wait until June to see it on my TV. Sigh. And maybe the anticipation is actually more exciting than the actual movie.  Political news is terrible and yet I can’t quite put it all aside.