Sunday, mindfulness and dragonflies

I got a walk Sunday morning, before the day got too hot. The dewpoint was high but there was shade and a wind. 

The people I met were largely absorbed in their thoughts and I wondered if their early morning walk is a meditation. 

I did see a biplane type of dragonfly 

We have many species of dragonflies, darners and demoiselles in this region. Sometimes in the early morning sun I see them everywhere lit up by sunrays, clouds of them. Since they tackle clouds of mosquitoes, I like them. 

The other day while I was reading on the deck, a tiny green metallic one landed on my shirt and rested a while. Maybe half an inch long, wings buzzing continually, until he lifted off and was gone. We also get tiny green metallic sweat bees but usually on sedums, not on people. 

Then, once home I did a yes2next exercise, this one ten minutes of mindfulness, a great change from doing things all the time.

About aging and friends and losing friends, as Barbara Rogers mentioned on her blog -- do you follow Boardwalk Barb? You should, it's full of thought and art and family, definitely worth the price of admission.

Anyway the subject of outliving people came up there. I've outlived all my sibs, and my agemate friends, including two (!) recorder playing quartets.

Since I've been active in various arts, I have friends in many age groups including twenty somethings. No hierarchy of age in art. And I'm often the oldest person in any group these days. Some of my friends are helping care for parents, younger than I, but whose health is poor.  

It does pay to be willing to find new friends, though lifelong ones are good, I wouldn't know. Emigration tends to make childhood friends fall away eventually,  despite all your efforts.  

Particularly when you've emigrated from the UK to the US rather than the colonies -- mostly the approved destinations are Canada, Australia and NZ. My own relatives never got over my going to the US. 

But the world is full of nice people to meet. So there's that. And there's innocent merriment to be had in the obituaries, which I read to check I'm not in there. 

One thing I love is the kind of doh expression such as William, known to his friends as Bill. Or Thomas,  whose family called him Tom! Like, what the heck else, this isn't exactly groundbreaking. But then obits may be written by family without much writing experience so I will refrain from criticizing further. But I won't refrain from being amused.

Happy day everyone, meet nice, play nice, don't tease your friends!

Good news and comic relief

This afternoon I feel like blogging a bit, because I think blogistas might like a bit of good news, as well as Gary-related comic relief.

I finally got all this week's appointments done, and Helen Hip was very unhappy about all the cars, waiting room chairs, examining tables, and climbing and walking, especially having to lie on that side at length for the echo test, but now it's done. 

And the four hour series of scans including the NUCLEAR stress test (hilarious name! Sounds like scorched earth approach), was well, interesting. Very capable technicians, nice cardio, and being injected with Danger, danger, Will Rogers, radioactive stuff, then the antidote, like in movies,  was an experience. 

I did my usual reaction, nausea, but it passed. And the cardio plus two technicians stood close around, I suppose to catch me if necessary, since I was perched on a table. Very glad it's done and all the malpractice lawyers can check it off.

Good news minor: hearing ability is very close to last time, no need to recalibrate the hearing aids.

Good news major: the heart valve issue is there but needs no action, just observation, and I got cardiac clearance.  Yay! Emil the pt is so happy too.

Yesterday I had the hearing test late morning, at one location, then echo cardio early afternoon at another. I had originally planned to just drive myself, then had second thoughts. Just as well, since I was done for by the end and struggling to walk, Helen shouting that she never signed up for this. 

Today handsome Son drove me early, but not through a rainstorm this time, to the long NUCLEAR (!)  appointment, where there's no caffeine for 24 hours and no food after midnight, oh dear. Breakfast was a cup of hot water.   Then he went to return my car, get his own, and go to work. Gary was set to pick me up four hours later. 

This was after a blizzard of texts with four people very upset they couldn't give me a ride home, largely medical appointments of their own, deliveries, etc.  It ended with Gary switching his delivery to another day, gallant man, and the ride was set. 

Then, while I was in mid test, what happened was that texts and calls from him and another friend came in while I was in a machine, not in a position to do anything about it! 

He'd forgotten which doctor's office, where was I.. I also found that the reason for the other friend being roped in was that in the middle of this texting he lost his phone and was beside himself in case I was calling! 

I responded to everyone with directions, and remembered to tell him which doctor, there's a ton of them in the building. And when I emerged finally, he'd arrived and was grilling the receptionist about my whereabouts! 

Home again and starting to think about a thing I'd like to make, a crocheted summer top in cotton. This is a good sign, when creating and making rears its curly head.

And a pot of tea. All good. And I wonder why I needed these stress tests when all you have to do is check the news. 

Anyway, glad to be in touch, and you've missed a couple of Gary hoots, but there will be more, I expect. Did I mention a third neighbor also wanted to help? I have as close as you can get to assisted living without moving!

And here's some grains of sand in action 

A Friday thank you

I have four different neighbors currently texting to offer shopping, just give them a list. Plus my son, just a list, Mom,done.

I think they're all in league to keep me at home cooking treats for them..

Here's a surprise that showed up yesterday, on the step.

 Asked by neighbor what I needed,I'd mentioned ginger and garlic, but said no hurry, just if you ever  happen to be in a shop that has them, since their trip was to a store that doesn't.  Not to make a special trip.

An hour later, these showed up. Payment firmly refused.

This kind of gesture doesn't just happen overnight. Years of friendship go into making a community, and the care goes both ways. I tend only to talk about what is done for me, but I'm sure you realize we've all done our bit for each other.

And right now the bread we've tossed on the water is coming back multiplied. It's such a help to feel valued when everything's frightening. And to feel useful.

 My state has now lost more people than we did on 9/11.   We're in the epicenter of the virus. Field hospitals operating, thousands of retired medics back as volunteers, revised licencing, cutting red tape to allow fully qualified immigrants with MDs from their home countries to practice in NJ.

Volunteers at food banks, making gowns, masks for medical personnel. Grocery workers in masks and gloves, sturdily working their shifts as usual. 

It feels as if the whole state is mobilized. Staying home out of the way, refraining from grumbling, being a cheerful presence, are such tiny things in comparison to people daily risking everything. But I think it helps.

And I think ginger and garlic just illustrate it all nicely.

So I'm thankful. And now I have to chop and freeze them.

Welcome, friends! and since tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the US, I'm kneedeep in chestnuts for stuffing, turkey, various vegetables, and general preparation. Son and I do the meal together, partner enjoys it. It used to be three cooking, but now that only two of us are able to, two of us cook for three!

I love Thanksgiving largely because I didn't grow up with it, and it doesn't have any long memories, so we've been able to create it for ourselves. And there are no presents involved, always a welcome feature as far as I'm concerned, not being a big fan of big giving and getting! I like to give things at different times of year for different reasons.

So, from our little Thanksgiving to yours, happy day! and friends reading from other countries, just have a nice Thursday.