The New Year Begins

Welcome to 2022. Around this house the year began quietly. I did stay up to welcome the new year. In the midst of viewing a movie it happened and I didn’t even notice. I guess after as many new years as I have welcomed, one more doesn’t make a whole lot of difference! ¶ Nevertheless, we could hope and pray for a number of things in this new year come upon us. It would be lovely if Congress and the Supreme Court could do their business without succumbing to partisan strife and stonewalling. It would be a wondrous thing if our state legislature and governor could decide that the education of children is worth an investment in teachers and schools. It would be amazing if the drivers of automobiles in Sioux Falls would recognize that a red light does not mean drive faster so one can get through the intersection before the cross traffic starts. I don’t mean using the yellow light to cross. Lately, many drivers start through the intersection on the already red light. And, for the health of all of us, if the antivaxers and antimaskers would give up their exercise in futility and think of someone other than themselves, get the shot, wear a mask, and quit being a royal pain in the lower region. One can only hope.

¶ Chemo week has come and gone. TUG the persistent pharmaceutical robot went about her business with aplomb decked in her Christmas decorations. The pharmacy was a little slow this week except for Friday. Friday was a holiday for the Cancer Center staff, but a couple of nurses work so that those of us who need infusions can have them. Bless them. It is a wonderful act of giving that they give up their holiday time with their families. No side effects of the chemo were experienced by this patient this time around, which is usual. ¶ The Gamma Knife procedure has been scheduled for the 13th of January. The grotesque mask will be confected in the morning and I’ll return after it has “dried” for the procedure in the afternoon. The doctor says the procedure should take about 15 minutes. More on this adventure will follow. ¶ The week has been more peaceful than the preceding one. Only one service for which to play tomorrow. I have practiced and still have a few more hours to work out some of the bugs. ¶ Sophia has taken to supervising my practice on the piano. From the look on her face she is not terrifically impressed. I think several of my previous piano teachers were of the same opinion. ¶ Sophia is occupied, other than sleeping, eating and drinking, with the livestock on the

deck. There are several birds who enjoy nibbling on suet. There is also a squirrel who has discovered that he/she can hang upside down from the suet cage and have a snack. This, evidently, causes the birds to assume they can help themselves the peanuts that have been put out for the squirrel. They seem to prefer this menu option over the bird seed in their feeder. ¶ Winter has descended upon us. Currently it is -2º here at noon. Tonight’s low is predicted at -8º. ¶ I’m prepared for short, cloudy, wintry days with a new light panel, a Christmas gift to me. I can bask in the full spectrum light and feel like I’m on an isle in the Caribbean sunning myself on the beach. It takes a bit of imagination. It is nice and certainly helps with my SAD. ¶ Another thank you for the holiday greetings, the prayers and messages of thoughts directed this way. You are appreciated. Thanks for reading. Happy New Year!