Sunday, February 22, 2026

     Sudden darkness.  Electric power stops as we are watching another episode of LINCOLN LAWYER. My roommate sits in her electric recliner fully extended. I move slowly to find the solar lanterns by the front door.  I am afraid of using candles. Two of the four lanterns work. With lanterns we are able to get ready for bed.  I am able to read for an hour. Power back on at 10:30. I turn off the living room lights and go to bed.

     This morning, I am putting the lanterns outside in the sun to recharge. I have been waiting for several years to see if the lanterns would really work.  They did. These lanterns are made for backpacking and are perfect for house use during a black out.

     At noon, the Instacart shopper brings in the heavy bags from the grocery store into the kitchen. I am so grateful for this service.

     Before the darkness we finish watching the last episode of HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST. Good strong unpredictable ending.

 

Saturday, February 21, 2026  

     Sunny cold morning.  My roommate is out for the day.  The house is mine.  I place an insta cart order for my favorite foods. The sun is warming up the eastern side of the house.  My western bedroom is cold.

     A crow marches across the dry road, stopping to peck at some residue from past puddles. My mind is full of possibilities for walking and driving around. Most likely I won’t do any of them.

     I am almost finished with the Swedish detective novel BLAZE ME A SUN by Christoffer Carlsson, an unknown author to me. A dark fast paced story. A stack of new library books is sitting on the dining room table, along with the 2025 tax forms.

    We watch two more confusing episodes of HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST, the Irish madcap bizarre series. There are lots of things I don’t understand in life. I do understand the supreme court beat down Trump on his tariff activities. Maybe we will endure and thrive.

 

Friday, February 20, 2026

     My doctor, decades ago, says I have a lazy esophagus when I complain about occasional difficulty in swallowing. She says it is part of aging. I check with other family members and some also have these difficulties.  I live with it and usually don’t talk about this difficulty. It is not GERD, and it doesn’t hurt. It feels like a burping disorder. But it is definitely awkward in social situations.

     Elizabeth McCracken in her book A LONG GAME, NOTES ON WRITING FICTION, encourages us to write about uncomfortable situations. Maybe, I am not sure yet.

     We watch the next episode of THE PITT.  No violence but lots of blood and damaged bodies. I am so fond of the medical people and the patients. Later we watch another episode of the LINCOLN LAWYER.

     My personal librarian is still recovering from her adventure in Equador. I pack up my current library books and take them to the library. I forget how heavy paper books are or maybe how weak I am. I use the library’s  walker to return the books and pick up the new ones. The hardest part is navigating the curb.