Recovered

Tuesday, we took the red eye back from San Diego, however because we flew Delta, it wasn’t a direct flight. We stopped in Atlanta at 4:45 AM, waited 2 hours, then flew home. Not only was my normal 6 hours of airplane sleep interrupted, but ironies of ironies, I’d paid for first class seats, and I couldn’t get comfortable. Too wide to learn against the window. At least I had the blanket to cuddle up in. I’m rethinking if the extra dollars are worth it. 

We arrived at our doorstep at 10:00, exactly when I was supposed to call Steph’s attorney to answer questions about what I was going to say about our buying the house with her. I dialed the number as soon as I turned the ignition off, only to be told he would call me back after he finished his current call. I had figured that would happen, but didn’t want to take a chance. After wasting more of her money chatting with him for about a half and hour, he mentioned the trial, scheduled for Wednesday, our wedding anniversary, might be cancelled, because the judge probably wasn’t available. Arrgh.

Well, thank goodness it was, because my exhaustion caught up with me. Even going to bed at a reasonable time didn’t help. Wednesday I felt like either death warmed over or something the cat dragged in, choose your cliche. Would not have been at my best answering questions in a courtroom. I was able to weed and garden to keep my vegetable beds in good shape. The pathways were a mess after only 2 weeks of being ignored. I’ve assigned Grant the job to Roundup all the edges and walkways every Friday morning until we leave for New Zealand. Perhaps we will return to less chaos. 

I was thrilled that my drosera thrived with all the rain while we were gone. I have moved it outside, since there are many fewer bugs on the patio, now that the screens have been repaired. I still haven’t figured out what to do with it while we’re gone 6 weeks. I’m also happy that the banana Spaulding gave me, and which looked like it died after we transplanted it, seems to have new growth. Crossing my fingers. After my short time outdoors, I forced myself inside to do paperwork, catching up on Quickbooks and looking at hotels for our Sydney stay. I eroded some of the piles.

I got up at 5:30 Thursday morning to be ready for my Toastmasters meeting, giving the invocation and leading the pledge. I really should read my emails more carefully, because after doing my part to start the meeting, I was settling back, when I heard the president say she’d was delighted to turn control of the meeting over to the toastmaster of the day and then said my name. WTF? I guess I’d been assigned that role in my 2 week absence. Fortunately, muscle memory kicked in.

More paperwork, then lunch at Bella Italia with the Windermere Garden Club. I sat next to Peggy. One would think I’d remember the name of a woman with the same name as my sister, but one would be wrong. Once again, I introduced myself and asked her name. My only happy thought is that I recently read that if you think you’re loosing your memory, you’re probably not, and if you’re sure you’re as good as always, you probably aren’t. I hope I’m in the former.

The night before, Grant and I had gone to dinner at the Pinery, over in the Ivanhoe area. Because Grant had mentioned it was our anniversary (36th), the restaurant started us off with a glass of champagne. For dinner, we shared the best shrimp and grits I’ve ever had plus an overwhelming bread platter (biscuits, fry bread, and a baby sized loaf of cornbread with pimento cheese spread and maple butter), and a beet/arugula salad. Wine was Grazebrook Sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. By the time dessert time came, I was done in, sated, full, etc., and passed on their bread pudding. Grant said it was delicious, but 1 bite was enough for me. It also was the more loaf style, not my favorite. I like chunky pieces. Which brought up my next tour idea: bread puddings on parade. Not to start until we have wasted away a bit. But perhaps in the future. 

Now, Friday, I’m up early again because Kathy and I are driving to Gainesville to visit Sally over the weekend. A short time in the garden, packing, eating lunch, then we’re off.  Not bad for an old lady.