April 2018 – Musings …

26 April …

I am a day late with this week’s blog. Yesterday was soooooo full. But to get back into the swing …

The eye surgery went well in spite of what the professionals call “second eye syndrome”.

When George had his eyes done the first went splendidly, but he complained he had felt the second one. I chalked it up to imagination. Seems I suffer from the same imagination as do enough folks that it is recognized as a “syndrome”. We asked why they don’t do both eyes at the same time, as they do in Canada, and were told it was because it takes a specially set-up operating room and two surgeons.

Interesting …

The day-after check was good. I had foggy peripheral vision, a rainbow around the candle flame, and my eyeball felt swollen. All normal for the day after I was told.

I go for the second check tomorrow.

I am seeing better than I have in years.

I’d like to be wearing glasses to hide the age-induced bags under my eyes, but I now see better without them. I may have the corrective lens in a couple of pairs replaced with clear lens so my vanity will be sheltered.

~~~

The radio folks are getting busy … what with the middle school classes, the license testing, the upcoming summer events, and the training as SkyWatch weather observers.

At the class this week, Mark ran a simulated health-and-welfare practice. I got to help. It was role play based on a real event with lost participants, an injured participant, and other twists so the students could get a feel for real radio use.

Then last evening we all attended a session taught by one of the meteorologists in how to report weather to the local NOAA office. It was review for some of us, but necessary since some reporting parameters have changed. I am still SY39 (#39 in Siskiyou County).

~~~

I missed the spring work day at the garden at Paul’s school. Tyler and Tiffany went with Paul instead. Seems they were the only “family” there.

I’ll have to make sure I am able to go next fall.

But for now, Spring is still teasing. We’ve had a few warm (in the 70s) days and the plum has come into bloom. We expect rain tomorrow and chillier temperatures.

Oh well …

~~~

Progress on blending the three generation family is progressing slowly. Life style changes for everyone … especially eating habits and entertainment choices.

I am now dealing with food allergies… gluten (Kamille), lactose (Tyler), and walnuts (Mark) … and just plain dislikes … beans (Paul), meat (Tiffany), and cucumbers (Mark). In addition, they need a lot of protein. I will start incorporating TVP into whatever.

Learning never ends.

~~~

Last week Mark got chicks to start the family flock. It did not go well. I couldn’t remember George’s routine exactly and we let them get too chilled. The hardy chicks will be the start and we will go from there.

Learn by failure, right?

We found George’s livestock manuals, including the ones about poultry, so we now have an edge on learning.

~~~

The other mishap last week was that I inadvertently poisoned the dog.

Did you know that onions are poison to dogs? I didn’t and I put some left over cucumber salsa (which had been prepared to go on broiled salmon) into the dog’s food. It had a few chopped onions in it. That was last saturday evening and sunday morning he wouldn’t eat, was listless, and his hind quarters were paralyzed and painful.

An emergency trip to the vet was inconclusive, but Mark dug into Google and found the information about onions.

Later sunday (after painkiller pills which made him high), Siku was up and about, romping with Paul. Had there been more onions he might not have made it. I don’t think I’ll forget that information soon.

~~~

And to finish this week, a picture of Paul and Tyler’s dog out for a walk which I posted previously on Facebook (Tyler was with them … you can see his shadow in the lower right).

And some good advice …

An Elder once said the most important thing you can do in the course of a day is to pray. If we get up late or oversleep, which is more important? Rush to work without praying or pray first and then go to work? The Elders say it’s more important to pray. If we get angry, should we act on our anger or should we pray first? The Elders say it’s more important to pray first. If, during the day, we face indecision, what should we do? PRAY. If, during the day, we become irritated or we experience fear, what should we do first? PRAY. The Warrior who prays first will lead a different life from those who pray last.

Great Spirit, teach me to pray first!

So … ‘til next week …

18 April …

Last week, just after I posted the blog, I stepped out the front door to take some additional pictures and was greeted by the sound of Canada geese.

They’re back.

The sound of a wedge Of geese overhead Once heard, never forgotten.

~~~

Mark, Mike, Tyler, and Tiffany got “home” late last monday . They had to come through a blizzard which shut down highways in western Nebraska, but they made it through.

I don’t know how late it was when they got here because I went to bed my regular time. But they were all here (except Mike who went home to Dunsmuir) when I got up tuesday morning.

Now for a few days of adjusting to the expanded family.

~~~

This evening is radio club. We’ll be starting the planning for the summer events. It will be my first year without George and that will be interesting.

~~~

My left eye surgery is tomorrow morning. I started the eye drops yesterday.

~~~

Next saturday George will have been gone five months.

Last thursday was the last of the scheduled grief group meetings, but we have come to trust each other and will be getting together for support once (or more) a month.

I have felt a bit weird about sharing this large life change with you all, but decided that the pundits who claim there is a correct way to grieve are so wrong that I’d share my experiences. When it is your turn, know there is no “correct” or “right” or “appropriate” way … only your way and if you need help, ask for it.

I saw this on Facebook and shared it with the group. I thought it might be helpful for some of you as well.

~~~

A week or so past I signed “good morning” to Paul when he came downstairs for breakfast. I had taken courses in ASL some time ago and was rusty, but he thought it was great fun. Now we practice together nearly every morning and some afternoons.

We are developing a “code”, I am relearning, and he is learning and doing muscle training all at the same time.

~~~

Weather is having a go’round. Last wednesday we had snow.

Thursday morning the sun was ever so bright. Saturday the outdoor temperature reached 42º (I promised Paul no more hot oatmeal breakfasts this spring and summer once the morning temps reach 50º). Sunday the rain and snow was back but melted by late afternoon. Monday we awoke to a scattering of fresh snow and had snow showers on and off all day, mostly “corn” snow (the hard small pellets that resemble tapioca) and hoar frost (rime) all over the place.

As a result of the climate change, the climate divide between the “dry” west and the “wet” east on the continental US has moved 140 miles east.

~~~

And finally, here’s some advice for this week …

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Forget this and attaining Enlightenment will be the least of your problems.

So … ‘til next week …

11 April …

Weather is moderating. Monday the temperature was up near 70º. Yesterday we had a rather good rain between 0800 and 1100 and then, when the sun came out …

I saw the first red on the maple tree.

There are narcissus

and daffodils several places on the land …

and the first of the peonies is showing.

~~~

Last week was Spring Break. Paul was home all week.

Kamille is doing so much better.

Mark left early last monday to go back to New York and help Tyler and Tiffany relocate to Mt Shasta.

I had the second check of my eye on Thursday. My right eye has gone from 20/60 to 20/20+ meaning I was able to read two of the five letters on the 20/20 chart.

I got to spend some time in Yreka and was back in the south county in time for my grief group. I had missed the meeting of the group the week before so it was helpful to get back this week.

~~~

On Friday we all went to Medford. It was an interesting trip.

We started in rain …

just north of Yreka we could see fog ahead …

and at the summit …

The main reason for the trip was my old leg bones. They are having some trouble getting into position so I can trim my toenails, so I went to a podiatrist to have it done. It made me feel awkward asking a “doctor” to cut my toenails. Haven’t yet decided if I’ll do it again.

Mark and Kamille did some shopping while I was at the podiatrist’s, then we all went to dinner at Red Robin. Did you know you get “endless” fries, fruit, and drinks with a meal there?

I did some shopping at CostCo (only three books). It was at the new store and I got lost a couple of times … again.

We were home in time for the ritual bedtime story.

The family may again start making an Oregon trip once a month or every six weeks. It makes a long but satisfying day and the shopping prices are right.

~~~

Life at Cold Comfort is changing … rather drastically.

Not too long ago it was George and Wilma.

Soon it will be Mark (my younger son), Kamille (his wife), Paul (his younger son), Tyler (his older son), Tiffany (Tyler’s partner), John (my older son), Mike (John’s partner), and me.

So far, the last of the clan, Mikayla (Mark’s daughter), has not made the move west. She will be visiting this coming summer, so who knows what the future holds.

This litany is because a couple of readers have contacted me saying they don’t recognize some of the folks about whom I am writing.

Hope this clears it up a little.

~~~

And life continues …

This is the time to allow. Let things go. Be at peace with your transformation. Something greater and better is on the way.

So … ‘til next week …

4 April …

Sorry I am a bit late. It has been an interesting week.

My first cataract surgery was last Thursday. I was somewhat anxious. However, that was just the least of the concerns for the next few days.

Daughter Kamille had been in pain (mid-right torso) for quite some time. First diagnosis … ovarian cysts. Wrong. Second diagnosis …irritable bowel syndrome. Wrong. Third diagnosis … gall stones. Correct. Come back for further work-up in two weeks. Wrong. Trip to Emergency late Wednesday afternoon … pictures taken … referred to surgeon (it was after office hours) … left message with surgeon requesting an appointment.

Thursday morning Mark took me to Ashland for the eye surgery. All went well and we were on our way home by 1300.

When we got home about 1430, Kamille was waiting for us. She was due at the hospital at 1500. The surgeon had seen the pictures and scheduled her for surgery at 1700. So Mark loaded her in the truck (we drive three trucks at this farm) and off they went. Paul and I settled in (me with a pirate patch) to take care of each other and wait for word.

We finally gave up waiting and went to bed at regular time for a school night.

(Picture not for the squeamish … yes, those are gall stones))

As it turned out, Kamille’s surgery went okay but her recovery didn’t. Her post-op pain was not controlled and they were sedating her heavily. As a result, her oxygen saturation had dropped to 80 on room air (normal is 95+ or -), so she was admitted. Mark didn’t get home until after midnight.

Friday Mark was due to drive school bus for Weed on the morning run, a field trip, and the afternoon runs and so was up at 0430. He had planned to take Paul with him on the morning run and then take him to school.

I had a post-op appointment with the eye surgeon in Yreka at 1050, but I took over with Paul. We got to school early so I had a tour of the school and met several of his classmates (more about that another time). I stopped in to see Kamille to let her know all was well with Paul (if it had been me, I would have been worrying about my son). Then I went home to change for my appointment and took off for Yreka.

Mark was keeping track of what was happening with Kamille via phone.

I got home from Yreka just in time to do a quick shopping stop and meet Paul’s bus (it was a minimum day at school). We had fish sticks, roasted asparagus, green salad, and malted moo ice cream for our dinner and shortly thereafter welcomed Kamille home. She was still having a lot of pain, and went almost immediately to bed.

Saturday morning everyone slept in.

Mark had gotten a full night’s sleep. Kamille’s pain was easing. Paul was being a great help and being very protective of his mom. And my eye was doing as expected.

My left eye will be done the 19^th but without all the extras … we hope.

~~~

Weather is getting warmer. The only patches of snow left (and they are small patches) are in well-shaded spots in higher elevations.

~~~

This month, in honor of the coming of Spring, the painting I have chosen is called “Garden with Butterflies” and was painted in 1890 … just at the beginning of Van Gogh’s descent.

I can see the onset of his ability to see motion, sometimes at the expense of overall perception.

What do you think?

~~~

Paul lost his first baby tooth last saturday … the left lower central incisor.

He was playing out in the meadow and accidentally dropped the tooth into the creek while washing the blood out of his mouth. He came to tell me and said he was sad. I said maybe there was a chance the water fairy would talk with the tooth fairy and everything would be okay, so he wrote a note to the water fairy saying he was sad because he lost the tooth and asking that they talk together. He then put the note in an empty Tylenol bottle and put it in the creek where he had lost the tooth.

Sunday morning there was a quarter on his clock radio. I guess the fairies were able to talk together.

~~~

As you all know, last Sunday was Easter. NBC did a presentation of “JesusChrist SuperStar” updated from the 70s. The staging reminded me a lot of the original production of “Hair” with everyone, including musicians, on stage.

The music is heavy. The casting was heavy. The lesson is heavy. There were too many commercials. But for me, it was time well spent.

~~~

That was about enough excitement for the week … so …

Everything is going to be okay. Even when you feel unsure or confused, still believe that eventually everything will make sense.

‘til next week …