Three days before I was to fly to California, a Florida judge vacated the CDC’s nationwide mask requirement on public transportation. Immediately, all the airlines and TSA said they wouldn’t enforce it while the Biden administration decided whether to appeal (they did, updates to follow). I was so happy. The New York Times readership was aghast. The couple sitting next to me on the plane wore their masks periodically, I guess to cut their odds of catching something, without actually having to wear their masks all the time. Didn’t seem rational to me, so absolutely appropriate to these crazy times.
In any case, off to see Mary and grandbabies. I am still hobbling, considered getting a wheelchair at the airport, and would definitely used one at the zoo, but we decided to skip that this trip. We did go to Bella’s dance class, then picnic at Balboa Park and a short walk through the rose garden. A medium sized hawk with a striped tail landed in a tree there, perhaps a red shouldered. Must look up their range.
I wore my sweatshirt, long pants, and sneakers, yet I was freezing. The temperature was in the low 70’s, but even in the sun, the cool breeze just was too much. I don’t know if it because I’m thinner or older, but I needed to carry the stereotypical old lady sweater, which I hadn’t brought with me. Good information for our trip to Salt Lake City next month. Saturday, while my hands were almost numb, Spaulding and Molly were running the SLC half marathon in the snow, with rain almost all the way. They want to go up in the mountains while we are there. Will my down coat be overkill?
Monday, we got to visit Ryan on his ship, the USS Makin Island, an amphibious assault ship, before he was gone 4 days on an inspection tour. Turned out, only 1 day at the sea; the rest tied up at dock, but no comings or goings during the operation. It was the last time he would see all the ship’s medical corp before he leaves in June for his anesthesiology residency, so he had us bring pizza, salad, and drinks for the 30+ group. Mary made cookies and brownies. She has sent baked treats before, so the corpsmen were extremely happy to see her. Bella and even Remi were outgoing and charming, she chatting away, and he willing to do high fives with many of the personnel. I got a tour of the medical suite which has 8 ICU beds (if you’re just sick, you get a bunk), labs, operating room, blood bank, Ryan’s office, the senior medical officer’s (or SMO, pronounced schmo which tickles me) office, and where they’ve set up emergency lights for an additional operating room, if they needed more area. It was the same room where we were having the pizza party, but I guess in case of war, they can sterilize it quickly as need be. This ship would receive wounded from other ships, so their medical team is fairly large, as I understand it. Thank god all these younger people have decided the military is a good fit. With the world’s dictators all rattling or using their swords, I despair.
On a happier note, Remi seems to be coming out of what I think was a Covid induced reluctance to interact with people. Finally, the libraries are open, so we went to a kiddie story time. He was willing to take my hand and walk over where the librarian was reading aloud. He and Bella waded through the crowd and found a place to sit, while Mary returned books at the front desk. One morning, his speech therapist came, and he greeted her without prompting. Most importantly, he followed Bella’s lead, and ran to me and smiled when I arrived from the airport.
He still has very few words, but he communicates well with official sign language signs (more, please, eat, drink, etc.) and common typical nods, head shakes and pointing. He has a long attention span and amazing coordination. The librarians had made goody bags for each child which included tiny faceted jewels on a paper strip which were to be picked off and put on feathers for decoration. I assume something to do with the books she’d read, but I think an odd craft for this audience, everyone under 5, most 2-3 years old. Bella quite enjoyed the process. Not sticking well on feathers, soon there were little gems all over the floor. Each time I spotted one, Remi was able to look where I was pointing, pick up the 1/8” jewel and bring it too me. (I wondered why my foot felt weird. I had 2 stuck to the ball.)
He is also a typical two year old, demanding and self centered, as he should be. He is just learning to share. As I said to Patten, “Stop picking on your brother. He’s going to be bigger than you one day”. Even though Remi is quite small, I think Bella is going to have the same experience. Payback is a bitch.
My flight home left at 7:00 AM. Not going to see me in the morning, before he went to bed, Remi said aloud, “Bye”, and climbed next to me to give me a hug.
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