12 Oakdale

I have paid deposits on 3 trips for 2027. The plus side is that I no longer have anxiety about whether to go or not. Literally, have put paid to that. The negative: have I deluded myself into what I am physically able to do? First was deciding about seeing the Bayeaux tapestry. This has been on my mind for the past 2 years since I read about its upcoming exhibition at the British Museum this fall and next spring. I joined the museum to get early access to tickets. One slight complication is that I decided to go in May and also attend the Chelsea Garden Show. Tickets to see the tapestry March-May don’t go on sale until January, probably too late to join any garden show tour. And I think the flower show would be too much walking for Grant. What to do? I asked Peg if she’d like to join me. I would have a traveling companion who is comfortable making trip plans a year or more out. She liked the tour I’d found and, when I dithered, insisted we put a deposit before the spaces were gone. Done...

October 13th.  After 3 days, I think we have all about recovered from our sleep deprivation. Lenora May (I suggested Pamela Louise but) has taking to nursing like a champ. The house is full of pack-n-plays , baby bouncers, and car seats that have been borrowed or ordered. Soon, the desired ones will be chosen, and the others returned, boxes to recycling. Still to come is a stroller. Bella and I are crocheting miniature amigurumi*: her a leopard, me a rabbit. Most of the pattern directions start, “Make a magic ring, crochet 6 dc in it.”  I was really struggling until I realized these directions are English. The dc is what I call a single crochet, not a double. That helps. Next problem is that the pieces are so small, and the yarn is so springy. My arthritic fingers and dry eyes are rebelling. We shall persevere and win. However, her plan of making all 26 amigurumi may be more ambitious than I am feeling. I do wish I’d made one before I started helping Vera. As I’ve crocheted my...

It’s just sleep. We will catch up. Mary woke me about 3:00 AM yesterday, saying she’d had a couple of contractions, but they were nothing. We decided she should call Triage to report, then we went back to sleep. I thought I heard her call me about 5:45. She was awake, having showered, and having some discomfort. I jumped into the shower, then dressed. By 6:00, her water broke, and we were hustling Bella and Remi to car. No time to speak to neighbor Lisa who came out to wish Mary well. Slowing down to throw kids out at Sarah’s, I used my race driving skills to hustle to hospital, while Mary yelled which lane, relatively speaking, was smoother. Hitting bumps at speed did not help her discomfort. I careened into the emergency lane at Naval Hospital, ran (if one could call it that) to the door, where a person was already ready grabbing a wheelchair. Mary was able to get out of car between contractions and was wheeled away. By the time I parked, hustled to the elevator, rode to the third fl...

Welcome to busy first days of October. Thursday. I gave a fairly off the cuff speech at Toastmasters about coping with change, then Grant and I picked up a Joe Pye weed at the Bloom & Grow sale. That evening, Orlando Shakes’ production of Dracula: A Comedy of Terror.  Since we donated $500 to the organization, at every show, there is a little gift at our seats. This time, 2 vampire teeth lapel pins. Cute. We cashed in the free drink tickets given to us at the previous production. Friday morning, I worked like crazy to plant the 6 Brussels sprouts and 7 romaine plants I’d bought at Lowe’s. I weeded beneath my sad Romano tomatoes for the latter, crossing my fingers that all will be well. I restrung the anti-bunny fencing just in case there are plants to eat. That afternoon, watercolor class of a pipeline swallowtail, and a chance to catch up with Kathy Santz., who had been to Egypt in May. I think my wings turned out well. The body, meh. Next time. Then Stephanie took us to see h...

Tuesday, I had an appointment with Dr. Raja, my ophthalmologist, who said now my left eye, maybe both (?) were making little filaments over my cornea, which was the sore spot I’d noticed every time I blinked. He numbed my eye and picked it off, but recommended a treatment. Sure, why not? This was absolutely a time when Grant should have come with me because too much information was flowing for me to absorb. However, I went by myself because I thought the appointment was just a checkup on the results of the pricey vitamins and wonderful warm mask I’ve been using, which, BTW, were not impressive, according to Dr. Raja. Still not much opening of oil glands in my lower lids. However, I’m going to use the warm mask forever, it is that wonderful even if not effective. In any case, he plopped a huge contact lens made of “natural anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring”  amniotic membrane in my left eye. He prescribed some antibiotics, and said come back Friday to have the lens removed. Whoa, ...

We are home after 25 hours of flight and layover, starting by leaving our Cairo hotel at 12:30 AM. First to Vienna, where wheelchair support whisked us through the airport and customs. Then to Frankfort, and a Viking representative waiting for us. Somehow we lost her when Grant went to the bathroom. Suddenly our long layover with what I’d hoped would be a nice meal turned to chaos. I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and hungry. I started to break down Thank goodness I had added the Viking Travel Support phone number to my contacts, so I messaged for help. Coincidentally, I spotted another Viking rep, and with her phone calls to supervisors, another wheelchair and staff came to our rescue. He even took us to the back area and found clean pants for Grant. Another quick trip through customs and on to the gate waiting area. While Grant sat, I scrounged for food. Several long gates away, I found a sandwich bar with beer, wine and tables. If only I’d had the energy to push the wheelchair, it coul...