Happy Christmas

I will have to admit that the past week has been a little hectic. A good deal of time was spent on the bench preparing to play for services. There was an extra long choir rehearsal on Wednesday to make up for the one we didn't have last week. ¶ Wednesday was the scheduled MRI at a decent hour of 9 in the AM. Noisy as it is, I survived the procedure. I dashed downtown to practice and attend the 12:15 service at the cathedral and then back to the Cancer Center to meet with the radiation oncologist. ¶ He went through the pictures and showed me another shadow of concern that has appeared, most probably a new lesion. He explained that I would need another MRI to make sure nothing is being missed and then a second Gamma Knife procedure. This will happen in the middle of January.

¶ It's quite a juggling act to schedule everything. He wants to avoid the weeks I have chemo. The MRI has to be scheduled right before the procedure and the radiation team has to be scheduled. ¶ The doctor says I do not appear to have a problem with claustrophobia. Since that is the case they can avoid using the frame which is bolted to the head for the Knife procedure. Instead, they can mold a mask which will hold one's head in place. It looks a little like a Phantom of the Opera mask but full face. This contraption is then fastened to the machine so one cannot move one's head. That molding session is another thing that needs to be scheduled. And so it goes. ¶ Thursday I received a text from the dean of the cathedral saying that he had tested positive for COVID and would have to quarantine. He wanted me to substitute for him. My reply was "sorry, I have to play the organ for those services." One of the "extra" priests is out of town. Another just had a knee replaced. A third was already scheduled for services out of town. He wondered if I could possibly (1) play the organ, (2) preach, and (3) celebrate the Eucharist. My reply, "I don't think so." Things finally worked out and the services were covered but it was a tense time. ¶ I played for two services last night and attended a third this morning. Tomorrow I play for the Sunday service. I wonder if this is what retirement is like for others. I pretty much do not have time on my hands.

¶ Monday is the beginning of another chemo week. It seems that the two weeks chemo free become shorter and shorter. This is also the final week of the year. It seems that I've only recently begun writing 2021 as the date, and now I have to adjust again. It is a verity that time flies. ¶ It has been a good year. I've avoided any other illnesses than the one being constantly treated. I'm blessed that only one "shadow" has shown up on my surrent MRI. I know the radiation doctors will take care of that in short order. ¶ There have been a plethora of ups and downs during 2021. I've lost a long time dear friend to COVID. Another called this week and said he had been placed in home hospice care. I buried another friend of 61 years who died on Easter. The country could be headed in a more humane direction. My new year's wish is that we all could be more kind to each other rather than looking for things that could/would divide us. ¶ The readers of this blog are blessings to me. Thank you. May you continue to have 12 days of a happy and blessed Christmastide.

Wasn’t It Just?

I thought to myself wasn’t it just September? Then, all of a sudden, Christmas is next week. ¶ One can become even more confused with South Dakota weather patterns. I mean South Dakota weather, for there is no pattern.

¶ Last week we had heavy wet snow. On Wednesday of this week the temperature was in the mid 50s. Tonight the low is predicted to be 10º. And we had the high wind warnings and the truth of the high wind on Wednesday. We did not have the tornados that ripped apart several states in the eastern midwest. ¶ The street plowing in Sioux Falls is erratic, as has been mentioned before. Usually our cul de sac is plowed by the end of the first day of plowing. No so with the heavy, wet lard that fell the previous Friday. Going out to the public worship of the Lord on Sunday morning was a little tricky. Once again I was stuck in the big circle. I managed to free myself and found the main thoroughfares to be clear of snow. Finally, Sunday night, the maintainers roared into the cul de sac. ¶ The citizens of the city had complained for years about the enormous windrow of snow that the plows left across the driveway accesses in the residential areas. One of our city councilors waged a battle for snow gates, and she won! Snow gates are a device that is lowered when the plow passes a driveway to lessen the amount of the white stuff that is left behind. I watched as the plows went by my driveway and the operators never lowered the gates so I received the full benefit of what they were moving around. ¶ I contacted my snow person to come back and clear it and the mailbox which was inundated as well. Even they had a really tough time clearing the driveway. Looking at the city website I found the page where one can complain about the lack of snow gate use, so I did. I received a message later in the week that the situation had been resolved. What? They may have read the complaint and called that a resolution of the issue. Or it may be an automatic reply. I guess I can take great comfort in the fact that my situation is resolved. Will the operators take extra special care when next plowing Manor Circle thinking that I will surely be watching their behavior? Stay tuned… ¶ Any free time this week has been spent on the bench preparing for the Christmas services. There is no lack of music for the season. The difficult part is choosing the numbers to be played and then learning them. Even when one reruns a number, having not played it for twelve months requires some brushing up.

¶ I have an MRI on Wednesday morning. I’ve written before concerning the anxiety I have over the results of that noisy procedure. I don’t seem to notice any particular indications that the cancer may be recurring in my cranium. I didn’t realize it the first time around which only increases the apprehension. I’ll get the results Wednesday afternoon so all will be well after that. ¶ Sophia has taken advantage of some rather dark days to increase her nap time. Cats are notorious sleepers and she is one of the prime examples. She has certain vocations she has determined for herself. Watching the birds and the squirrels on the deck is one. The census of the rabbits in the front garden is another concern. The squirrels and birds in the trees seen from the bedroom window pretty well completes her duties for the day. This is followed by a nap. ¶ Goodies for the season have arrived at the door, for which I am very grateful. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. What you and I can do for others is very much appreciated at this special time. Thanks for reading.

Winter Has Arrived

It was inevitable. It was a few days early. Definitely, winter has arrived. The prediction for heavy snow yesterday was exactly that, a prediction. ¶ We all know that the weather prognosticators have been in error previously. Those of us who have been around for multiple circumnavigations of the sun are well acquainted with some of their miscalls. There have been many panic trips to the supermarket to purchase the necessary items for being snow bound. The purchases invariably include milk, bread, and toilet tissue. These items are purchased even by those who don’t eat bread or drink milk. They are just standard blizzard items.

¶ The prediction was for heavy snow on Friday. When I looked at the “CloseLine” on Thursday evening all the schools in the vicinity had been cancelled for Friday. Administrators, being aware of erring on the side of caution, had assumed the forecast would come to pass. It did. We received about ten inches of the white stuff. It snowed beautifully all day. Once in a while there was a breeze but nothing like a blizzard. The snow just fell, and fell, and fell. ¶ Being the first heavy snow of the season, and, in all likelihood, not the last, it is always a challenge being on the streets with others who have totally forgotten how to drive in such weather. I had to go for my final chemo infusion of the week. The cancer center is all downhill from my house. This is good because driving in the wet, heavy stuff was akin to driving in Crisco, or lard, or a similar substance. I made the journey to the Center with a minimum of white-knuckle experiences. ¶ Throughout the time at the Center the snow continued to fall. At the conclusion of the infusion and my expensive shot, it took many minutes to clear off the car. I always do a thorough job of that because I don’t want all that snow melting in the garage. I also do not want the snow from the hood blowing over the windshield. Nor do I wish the snow from the roof to blow over the car behind me. I wish more drivers would be so kind. ¶ Returning home was a different story. Since the Center is all downhill guess what the trip home is. That’s correct. It’s all uphill. The city varies in its haste to plow and deposit grit on the streets. They hadn’t been around any of the main thoroughfares on which I needed to travel. My current auto is not good in snow. My previous front wheel drive sedan was excellent. This one not so much. I’m smart enough to know not to try the hill which is my usual route. I made it to the cul de sac without incident where I promptly got stuck on the totally flat street! As I said it was like driving in lard. ¶ I finally made it into the garage. The secret solution was turning off the traction control thing. I remembered reading someplace that the traction control was not always helpful, particularly when neither wheel has any traction. Home safe and sound, finally!

¶ Today I went nowhere. I did rake the roof. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the snow sparkled in the sun. As long as I could stay home, it was lovely. ¶ The infusions during the non-snowy part of the week went well. The pharmacy was prompt. My doctor’s appointment was normal. I have a CT scan scheduled for the middle of January. ¶ A friend and I attended a the boys’ choir concert last week. The choir was very small. They sang well. The piano was too loud. Someone forgot to check out the acoustics before the performance. It would have been an easy thing to fix since the piano was electronic. ¶ When I was working with the boys’ choir it amazed me, as it did last week, that young people of that age can exhibit such discipline. Children can rise to the occasion. If you expect much from them they will produce. Yes, there are always exceptions. It was a source of amazement to me that some of the most disruptive boys could be the most disciplined during a performance. The choir brought back fond memories of the days of yore when we would be preparing for the Christmas Tea. ¶ Thanks for reading, for your thoughts and prayers, your messages, and all that you do for others.

’Tis the Season

Everyday there is a new pile of “asking” mail in the box. I can’t recall having received so many requests for year end gifts in past years. I think it may be more noticeable because there are multiple mailings from the same foundations, organizations, charities, etc. ¶ Monthly gifts go to those groups of most concern to me. I trust others will help fund the other worthwhile organizations. Most of them do a good job or provide a helpful ministry. Those charities who send gifts to me do not receive in return. I know it’s a ploy to generate more funds by the guilty conscience trick. One is supposed to think “this organization was kind enough to send me this gift, I’d better send them something in return.” ¶ Every day the news brings more dismay. Lately it is the teenager who killed some of his classmates with a gun purchased for him by his parents. This is unbelievable. The little town of Oxford, MI, is the post office address of the monastery where I was a novice. The monastery is in the country so the connection is tenuous, but the name, Oxford, brings back memories. Having been in the town many times, it would seem to me to be the least dangerous place on earth. May God have mercy on the souls of those who were murdered. May justice be swift and appropriate for the assassin and his parents. ¶ In this season of supposed good will, a friend received a letter from she who is governor of this state. There is not much “good will” in that letter. It is full of accusations and half-truths, and ends, of course, with a pleas for funds for her campaign chest. She claims to be a fiscal conservative. She has recently redecorated the governor’s mansion in the amount of + $60,000. She also felt the need to add a sauna which price was not figured in the preceding amount. The perennial question is “Do actions speak more loudly than words?”

¶ We’ve had a lovely, warm week. Today is gray and a bit nippy. There’s not much of a breeze, but the slightest whisper cuts right through when the temperature hovers just above freezing. ¶ My health has been very good this week. Aside from some slight swelling in my lower left leg there have been no problems. I’ve experienced this before and the doctor ordered an ultrasound. There is no problem showing in that test. I’ll bring it up again when I see the oncologist on Monday, the first day of another week of chemotherapy. There will also be blood work which usually doesn’t change from one test to another. The usual components affected by the chemo will be low but not low enough to cause the medics any concern. I do get a shot to boost my white cell count at the end of the week of chemo. ¶ When the discussion turns to the price of prescription drugs and medical care the following is offered. That single shot is billed at +$11,000.00. ¶ The errant iPad with the perpetual 6 AM alarm returned to the store on Thursday. After a through cleaning and reinstall I do not have a perpetual 6 AM alarm any more. For this I am grateful. ¶ I’m off to hear a boys’ choir this evening at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. The superb acoustic there will really be an advantage to the choir. I’ve not heard this Minnesota group before. I’m looking forward to it. ¶ Sophia and I play a game every morning following my emergence from the shower. She evidently looks forward to it because she regularly shows up for the fun. If I become involved in something before doing the morning clean up, she waits patiently for me. Well, as patiently as a cat waits for anything. She exudes the attitude of “are you ever going to take that shower so we can play, or not!”

¶ She also found it necessary to take refuge from “Roomba” the robot vacuum cleaner. She exhibits a distinct lack of trust in the machine. ¶ Thanks for reading, for thoughts and prayers, and for helping others. Bless you.

Happy New Year!

Not to jump the gun, but this evening begins the season of Advent which begins a new Church Year. ¶ The preparations have been completed for the most part. The greens have been strung outside and the wreath hung. I call them Advent wreaths and greens. Others may think they are ready for Christmas. That’s fine. I will not change their minds. I’m ready for Advent, however.

¶ The empty stable is on the living room mantel. The Advent candles are in place. I haven’t found the animals whose habitat is the stable. They will appear at some point in time. My feeling is they are at the bottom of the Christmas stuff box. ¶ The planting of the bulbs is complete thanks to my gardening friend. I look forward to seeing what they produce come spring. Firstly, we must endure winter. We will. We always do. It always seems like our longest season. ¶ The earth needs to rest. The winter season gives us an opportunity to rest as well. Throughout the pandemic it seems as if we had enough home-time, and rest-time. We could not go any place because most places were closed. Instead of wasting our time going to stores to look for what we thought we needed, we shopped on-line. ¶ Things seem a bit more normal this year. Yesterday was Black Friday following closely upon Thanksgiving. I was out and about yesterday and I was quite amazed that the traffic was pretty much like normal. I didn’t check out any of the parking lots or stores.

¶ My single errand was to MacPros. Having thoroughly smashed my iPad by dropping it on a very hard floor, I received a new one, courtesy of Apple Care+. It works just fine except for the alarm which sounds forth at 5 AM every morning. The purpose of the visit was to see if something could be done about the alarm. After some unintelligible explanation of why things are the way they are I was sent on my way assured that the 5 AM alarm was a thing of the past. Now the alarm goes off at 6 AM. I guess that’s an improvement.

¶ Following Sophia’s horticultural attempt last week. The plant has found a new home in a new pot which she will have some trouble knocking to the floor, I hope. The pot weighs in at something like ten pounds so any displacement will have to be intentional. ¶ The week has literally flown by. Having a holiday in the midst of the week seems to shake things up a bit. I had difficulty figuring out Friday was really Friday. I nearly forgot to go to my volunteer job at the Pavilion of Arts and Science. ¶ I have felt really well all week for which I am grateful. The exercise program has been a little sketchy mostly due to weather. There have been a few warm days and some cold ones made even more so by the South Dakota “breeze.” ¶ Thank you for reading, for thinking of me, for praying for me, for keeping in touch. All those things keep me on a steady path to healing, whatever healing may bring.

If I Don't, I Won't

It’s a strange title, I know. I’ve just returned from church having been there since 8:30 AM and it’s now 4:30 PM. I’ve decided to write the blog now because I know I’ll fall asleep as soon as I sit comfortably and will not feel like writing when I awaken. ¶ It’s been a rather long day for this retired person. The Dean of the Cathedral asked if I would do a pre-Advent Quiet Day. I answered in the affirmative. So that was this morning. There was a good attendance for such things. People seemed appreciative with several positive comments. That’s always nice to hear when you’ve spent quite a bit of time preparing. ¶ I had time to go through a drive-through for lunch, which was consumed along with a sample lemon bar from tomorrow’s bake sale. Then a journey to the organ console was necessary so I could finish preparing for the service this afternoon.

¶ A priest friend and a former student had asked me to play for a transgender memorial service this afternoon. The service was very nice, well planned and I will have to admit it was the first time I understood a “liturgical dance.” I didn’t have to play for that so I could actually watch it. ¶ It brought back memories from my early days when such things were first introduced into the church to the delight of some and the horror of others. One does not encounter them with any frequency in this day and age. We seem to have enough trouble getting people back into the pews let alone into ballet shoes and other costumery. ¶ Ballet shoes brings up another memory. I taught in same for many years. My elementary school principal was not pleased that I taught in bare feet. He was concerned that I would spread planter’s warts among the children who sat on the floor in my classroom. I did not have planter’s warts, but that’s beside the point. I didn’t have furniture because we needed the space for movement. The solution was something soft so I wouldn’t mangle some small child’s hand should I inadvertently step upon it. It seemed to work well. Everyone was satisfied and no injuries were incurred.

¶ Sophia has taken to gardening. Well, sort of. While I was away today she knocked a plant off the windowsill. When I pointed out that she had quite a lot of dirt to clean up, the responding gaze was, “I thought you had a housekeeper for that job.” The plant will need its displaced soil replaced and I really don’t want that dirt on the floor until said personage appears. Beside the fact that it’s my cat and not his, I suppose I will clean up the mess. She evidently expects it. ¶ This past week was chemo week which also accounts for the fact that I’m a little exhausted today. All went well. The numbers were good. Blood pressure all over the scale, as usual. The pharmacy was spot on most days. I really appreciate that the nurses mark me present before I arrive so the chemo shows up, compliments of TUG, shortly after I really do show my face. It speeds things up tremendously. It’s also very nice to have company while sitting around having poison pumped into my body. ¶ This afternoon is one of those dark and gloomy times which also contributes to my feeling of exhaustion. ¶ I thank you for reading, for prayers and thoughts and thanksgivings. I give thanks for all of you. Thank you for doing for others. Have a good week and a meaningful and joyful thanksgiving feast.

It’s the First

This week we had the first, the first of many to come. I’m speaking of a winter weather advisory which was proclaimed near the end of this week. ¶ We had our first snowfall which didn’t amount to a great amount but it did turn the lawns white. And we had wind. If we’d had more snow it would have been a blizzard. Now, after a couple of days of 32º or less, the prognosticators claim we’ll be back in the 60s in a couple of days. No more snow is predicted for the next week or more. Let’s hope the weather scientists are correct. The changing of the time and the first snowfall all in the same week are too much, too much, I say. ¶ Has anything exciting happened this week? Not really. Sometimes lack of excitement is good. I can keep up with the usual round. My schedule is far from hectic but busy enough to keep me up, out and around. I’ve been feeling really well and always looking forward to the next day.

¶ Twice each year the Washington Pavilion honors its volunteers with a dinner and entertainment. I avoided the crowd this year for safety’s sake. Pavilion staff and volunteers are again required to wear masks. One cannot do that when eating, however. There is usually a crowd so it’s not a good place for me to be. In spite of all the chaos of the last 18 months, several of us were honored for the number of hours that we contributed. It’s always a pleasure to be able to give my time each week, and occasionally at other times when I can fill a need. The Pavilion is such a wonderful addition to our city and I’m pleased to do what I am able to do. ¶ Next week is chemo week again. My but that comes around very rapidly. I’m sure all will go well. It always begins with blood work to be sure my system can take the medicine. There is usually no problem with that. Everything seems to be pretty stable. When the doctor came into my hospital room and told me the cancer diagnosis and that I had 3 to 5 months to live without treatment, I was shocked. Having heard about all the horrors of going through chemotherapy I said yes to the treatments with fear and trembling and partly out of shock. I have had very little trouble enduring the chemotherapy for which I am so very thankful. I’ve been going through this regime for over two years now and I have no complaints. ¶ The bulb planting has gone on throughout the week and there are still more bulbs to arrive in the post. My trusty right-hand man and I dealt with leaves on Tuesday. We have several bags in the garage ready to go to the landfill. The neighbor’s aspen on the east side refuses to give up its leaves until the bitter end. Friday’s wind put an end to that foolishness so all the trees are bereft of their leaves now. Kindly friends have volunteered to come over and finish the “leaf job.” ¶ In spite of the cold and darkness some of the sedum insists on showing its colors. Looking at it can bring hopeful thoughts of spring in a few more months.

¶ One of this week’s appointments was at the tire department in the local Costco. My front tires have been gradually losing pressure. It had become a ritual to purchase fuel and then bring the tires up to pressure. I finally decided to do something about it and had them checked. Corroded beads and a nail in one tire seemed to be the diagnosis. While waiting for the tire repair I was joined by my former personal trainer. Chatting with her made the time fly. How fortuitous that she had a tire appointment at the same time! ¶ Once again Sophia has been very helpful with the office work. Research seems to be her forte. She follows the principle that my first year German professor espoused. When something is difficult put the book under your pillow and sleep on it. For Sophia the method is also is of value when sitting on the volume and taking one’s bath. ¶ Thanks for reading, for prayers, and thoughts, and all you do. Thank you for all you do for others. At this time of year we need to be especially aware of all those in need. I give monthly to our local food bank. I know that you are doing something similar. There is no need in our society for anyone to go hungry. ¶ Have a good week.

The Long Night

Tonight is the great changing of the clocks. As the clocks move back we should all get an extra hour of sleep tonight. Well, all but one. My sleep patterns are crazy. I could blame the prednisone. Maybe that’s the culprit. Anyway, I sleep soundly for about four hours and then fitfully for the rest of the night. That’s if I go to bed at a reasonable hour. If I stay awake until 2 AM or so then I might sleep until a normal awakening time. I’m now trying to calculate the hour at which I should go to bed so that I won’t be awake at 2 or 3 in the morning. I refuse to get up, read, or do anything other than toss and turn which makes the whole thing worse. I’ve not had a nap, so far, today. Perhaps that will be the remedy. Perhaps not. I’m anticipating a long night.

¶ Today and yesterday have been beautiful. The high today was 66º which is phenomenal for South Dakota on November 6. The bulbs have arrived and are in the process of being planted. The newest part of the landscaping is again a work in progress. Come spring it will be lovely. ¶ Our governor wants to be fair, so she says. Therefore, she refuses to share the file concerning her daughter’s path to becoming a licensed real estate appraiser. Lest you forget, the daughter was refused a license. Then a meeting was called with the higher-ups in the department at the governor’s mansion, not her office. Her daughter was present. That is interesting since ostensibly she would have no reason to be present at the discussion of the content as it was reported. Following said meeting her daughter was issued a license and the person in charge of issuing same (for 30 years) was fired. She filed a wrongful termination suit and was paid $200,000 in settlement. Part of the settlement said she was not to testify disparagingly about anyone involved. Release of the file would allow the legislative panel investigating “possible” nepotism in the case to reach a conclusion. So once again the people of South Dakota are left in the dark, with unanswered questions. However the governor is being fair. ¶ The week has been a bit busy with Zoom meetings, our usual Benedictine Tuesday evening, and a trip to Yankton to participate in the institution of the new rector of Christ Church. Again it was a lovely day and a nice drive with good company. Getting out of town seems to be a real event after months of just staying home.

¶ I’ve felt really well this week. I think having an extra week off before last week’s chemo helped with the tiredness. After looking back at one of the doctor’s reports, he suggested that an extra week now and then would be helpful. ¶ Sophia has outgrown the length of her “tree top” perch. Unless she curls up she hangs over the end. It doesn’t appear to me to be comfortable, but I’m not her! ¶ Thanks for reading. Thanks for everything. Thanks for helping others.

What A Lovely Day

The day just sparkled. On Wednesday it was dreary the whole day while a record rainfall came down gently the entire time. The day ended with 2 inches of rain in the gauge. It was lovely to have that moisture to soak into the ground and water everything well before the first cold snap and the ultimate frozen ground. ¶ It was certainly a blessing for the new plantings in my front garden. Friend gardener has planted the daffodil bulbs and the allium. We are still waiting for the onslaught of 100 some bulbs that will need to go in the ground before frost disables the planting. We have a neighborhood squirrel whose mission in life is to dig things up immediately after they are planted. Not all work is in vain. There is only one of him and he can only do so much damage. I’ve spoken to him about finding greener pastures in neighbors yards. So far he has rejected my advice.

¶ The bright and sunny day today was perfect for a drive in the country. There was not a cloud in the sky as I left for Sioux Center, Iowa. The American Guild of Organists sponsored a workshop on hymn playing in which I was interested. Hymns are my favorite thing to play and I really want to interpret them so the congregation can sing them with meaning. The workshop was excellent. The leader was the organist from First Lutheran here in Sioux Falls, a very talented and gifted young man. So the trip and the workshop were both a pleasure. ¶ The trees about the city are really at their most gorgeous stage right now and the colors of brown, gold and red sparkle in the bright sunlight. When I head over the hill and down towards the bike trail the view is breathtaking. All the trees along the river are doing their best to cheer everyone. ¶ This was chemo week beginning with a CT scan on Monday morning. According to my oncologist there is nothing new, meaning there are no new lesions showing up in the pictures and the old lesions are static. It is best to keep checking because my type of cancer can spread just about anywhere at any time. The chemo seems to be keeping it under control, which is the good news. ¶ All of the chemo sessions began promptly. There was no long wait for the pharmacy to deliver the goods via TUG. TUG the robot was all decorated for Hallowe’en. I doubt she will be let loose to go trick or treating tomorrow evening, however. I expect next that she will be sporting Thanksgiving themed decorations. Whatever the staff does to insert some humor into a place in the hospital where the focus is on cancer is a welcome thing. That is just one more example of the excellent professionals that serve the cancer patients do to make what could be a grim and foreboding place a place of healing and light.

¶ Miss Sophia the cat seems to have reconciled herself to the fact that I am back home to stay. She has been extraordinarily cuddly. I like cuddly kitties so that’s fine with me. She has a game she wants to play every morning right after my shower. She attempts to capture a string which I try to keep away from her. When she tires of the game I can get on with my day. Often the signal that the game is over is Sophia sprawled on her back with the definite look that says “I’m tired of this!” ¶ Thanks for your prayers and thoughts and good wishes. Thank you for reading. Thank you for all you do for others. You are a blessing.

Over Before it Begins

The pilgrimage, about which I wrote last week, continued with a journey to Algoma for Sunday Eucharist at St. Agnes by the Lake. A friend of mine is the priest there and it has become a tradition to go there for Sunday. We enjoyed lunch with him before heading into Door County.

¶ We headed for Sister Bay and had been warned that their fall festival was taking place. This involved blocking off the streets, parking far from the “main drag.” There were numerous PortaPotties, bouncy houses, vendors, and party goers. All Johnson’s restaurant is famous for its turf roof complete with goats. The goats were not present. We were told it was too cold for goats. Who knew?

¶ After dealing with our disappointment, goat wise, we traveled to Sturgeon Bay to spend the night. Waterfront Mary’s was the chosen place for dinner where we got involved with the famous Door County fish boil. The cooking is an outdoor event. The night was a beautiful with a lovely moon shining over the water. ¶ The next morning we visited the Maritime Museum and then headed for Austin, Minnesota. Following the hotel breakfast our next stop was the Spam Museum. It really is a fascinating place especially when one was raised on Spam as a young person. Then it was a fairly short trip to Sioux Falls. It seems like the pilgrimage was over before it began. ¶ The fall colors were not spectacular this year, yet. Door County had some pretty scenes. Even though the pilgrimage is the same time every year, the fall color varies widely. I’ve yet to receive a firm answer on why that is. The weather was excellent while we were away. The temperatures were above average over the weekend. ¶ The welcome home from the resident cat was interesting. She seemed to want attention but her essential catness prevented her from being too welcoming. The look was more like “you’ve been away, and now you’re back, big deal.” The next day, however, the need for attention was desperate. Sophia even took up residence in the suitcase in case I had any thoughts about leaving her behind again.

¶ The rest of the week flew by quickly. I attended an interesting OLLI class on cults which provided enough information to make one uncomfortable in the current time. ¶ Today I saw the live HD stream from the Metropolitan Opera. It was a new opera and the first one by a Black composer with an all Black cast. “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” is based on the early life of Charles Blow, a columnist for the New York Times. Jazz makes up part of the score. The “step dance” is amazing. It was a worthwhile afternoon, for sure. ¶ When Monday comes I will have yet another CT scan, visit with the doctor and begin my week of chemotherapy. I know that all will go well. I don’t seem to have as much anxiety about the CT scan as I do the MRI. For one thing, it’s considerably more comfortable and is not noisy. The doctor will share the results when I see him Monday afternoon. ¶ Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. Thank you for all your kindnesses to me and to others.

On the Road Again

Here. I am in Wisconsin! Travel, which used to seem so natural, now seems like such an exotic adventure. The whole experience of packing, the decisions about what to take and leave behind felt like a strange and different occurrence. It almost felt like I’d not done the whole preparation/packing thing before.

¶ Sophia cat is not used to the packing procedure. Previous feline occupants had plenty of practice in panic mode upon the sight of a suitcase. It’s not that they were not cared for while I was away. I think it’s the fear of not having someone at their immediate beck and call. The report is that Sophia is coping well. It will be interesting to see how she acts upon my return. ¶ The old song said “What a difference a day makes.” I should write new lyrics beginning with “What a difference two years makes.” Two years ago, friends and I made the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Sheboygan, WI. I’ve been attending with various groups since 1991. The current group has been attending for five or so years. The cancelling of the pilgrimage was such a disappointment last year.

¶ This year, friends from Colorado drove to Sioux Falls and added me to their car. On Thursday we drove from Sioux Falls to Sheboygan (500 miles). Another friend from North Carolina met up with us at the hotel. ¶ Yesterday we went to Holy Hill, always an experience. Since it was the feast of St. Theresa of Avila, the patroness of the friary there, the service was celebrated with great solemnity. ¶ Many years ago I was in Avila arriving on this very day, the 16th of October, and the remnants of the celebration there were still visible. It was good to recall those memories of the first trip abroad following retirement.

¶ Today was a bit cool but bright and sunny for the procession around the block led by the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham. As always, the flowers are spectacular. The services today were beautiful. The people at the church were thrilled that pilgrims attended. It will be some time before many people are willing to travel again and the pilgrimage will regain its normal numbers, but it is a start. ¶ Tomorrow we will travel northward and take in a bit of Door County. Monday and Tuesday will be travel days back to Sioux Falls. We will cover lots of miles, and my Colorado friends many more before they return to their home. ¶ The South Dakota scandal of the week was revealed in the newspaper. The Majority Leader of the state senate had a son. Said son has a business. Son has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in South Dakota COVID relief funds and Paycheck Protection Program funds to keep his business afloat. All of this sounds perfectly legal and transparent. The only slight problem is that his business is in Texas! Ooops. ¶ We have a reputation and we are keeping it up in grand style. One only wonders what can come up next in the nefarious affairs of state government. There will be another, I’m sure. ¶ I’m feeling well and keeping up with my friends in hill-climbing, social activities, and things ecclesiastical. I’m grateful that I’m able to do it. ¶ Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I’m grateful for the constant prayers for me offered here at the Shrine everyday. We pray for safe travels home again.

Autumn Leaves

There is an old song which comes into my mind every October or November. It was one my mother’s favorites. That song is entitled “Autumn Leaves.” It begins: “The falling leaves drift by my window, The falling leaves of red and gold.”

¶ That is exactly what is happening right now in this part of the world. My driveway is completely covered with leaves from the ash tree and there are many more waiting to fall. My neighbor’s tree is one of those producing brilliant red leaves. They are starting to change and it won’t be long before it is stunning. One of the delights of the season is the cooler weather and the chance to take walks through the rustling leaves. It’s a beautiful season. ¶ It is not often that one can anxiously await the next issue of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. As a newspaper it is wonderful for enabling naps or starting fires in appropriate places. Recently, however, we look for news of the next scandal to involve our fair city or state. ¶ As it was reported this week, Sioux Falls is one of the largest tax havens. Billions of dollars are sequestered in trust accounts right here in river city. The Cayman Islands, Switzerland, or some other far away location usually are the places where the wealthy hide their money. Sioux Falls ranks right up there with the exotica of the world. Who knew?

¶ There is always a juicy tidbit or two coming forth from our state capitol concerning the governor or the attorney general or someone else involved in the government of the state. Currently our governor, who just received her bachelor’s degree in recent history, is on a campaign to dictate the kinds of student services provided at our state schools. She wants to wipe out Diversity Centers because she fears they are spreading information that is not far right-wing enough politically.

¶ What’s next? Who knows? There will be something, guaranteed. When the state government is ranked as one of the most corrupt in the nation we just have to wait for the next shoe to fall. ¶ Having this week off from chemo is almost like a vacation. I’ve felt well and have had some time to enjoy some freedom of choice in my tasks of the week. ¶ There is a neighborhood cat who is given the freedom to roam. This is never a good idea. Cars on the street and cats crossing same is an item of concern. Said cat did pay a visit to our deck yesterday. It was not greeted kindly by Sophia. Growls caused the interloper to leave. Sophia ran from door to window to door to make sure her property was safe. It was some time before she could resume her nap and feel secure. ¶ Thanks for reading, for thinking about me, for praying and for all you do for others. I’ll be traveling towards the end of next week but hopefully will post the adventures next Saturday.

When the Weather Matches the Mood

I have a propensity for sitting down before bedtime and starting to watch something or doing a crossword puzzle or reading a book and often fall asleep for a longer or shorter time. The time is just long enough that one no longer feels tired upon awakening. Going to bed then seems like an exercise in futility so I stay up later than I should. That happened last night. Today I “overslept” (I know some think that to be a ridiculous statement for a retiree to make). When I do that, the day seems to be long and unproductive. There are a million things I could do, but I’m not interested in doing same. The whole lazy attitude is exacerbated by the weather which is grey and cloudy and windy. My attitude and the weather are in sync. ¶ It is definitely autumn now. The temps in the morning and evening are cool. There is noticeably less sunshine. Nature is beginning to rest. The autumn joy sedum are at their darkest red. The mums have burst forth into bloom. The ornamental kale reveals its true color.

¶ All of this means it’s time for the annual fall heating system check. That happened last week and this week was spent in picking up the pieces. Right after the furnace man was here the thermostat ceased to work. The same person replied to my complaint by showing up again. He claimed it was a connection not done correctly. Following his visit the thermostat went dead. Previously one could do some things like call for heat. Now nothing! Furnace man number 2 then responded to my SOS. He claimed everything was just fine except that the system didn’t work. After he left everything worked fine, once again. This is, obviouisly, one of the mysteries of the Age of Computers. I taught with a woman whose husband’s fix for most everything was to “let it sit.” In some cases that’s all one must do.

¶ This was chemo week and everything went smoothly. The pharmacy was very much on the ball and I was in and out in record time. Instead of the usual two week break I will have three weeks due to the annual pilgrimage held in Sheboygan, WI, bratwurst capitol of the USA, if not of the world! Friends from the Denver area and North Carolina will be part of the crowd. It is a joyous reunion time as well as being prayerful. A full report will no doubt be given next week. ¶ Again, one of the autumn tasks is the evacuation of the sprinkler system. All of the water must be blown out so it doesn’t freeze and crack the pipes. The technician arrived early yesterday morning and went to work. It’s all done outside the house, but there is some noise carried into the house by the pipes. Sophia found the strange noises to be very disconcerting. Rather than be a brave cat, she retreated to her favorite “hidey-hole” until the whole thing passed. Cats definitely do not like things out of the usual.

¶ She’s recovering nicely and I will also as soon as the nap is completed. Tonight is the first symphony concert of the season so I am looking forward to that. ¶ I hope you have a good week. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for all you do for others. Have a good week.

Not to Worry

Last week I expressed my worry-wart thoughts about the upcoming MRI. I awakened bright and early on Wednesday morning. Well, not so bright. At 4 AM things are not too bright. The arrival at the imaging center was right on time. I waited a few minutes until Jason, RN, fetched me to access my port. The everlasting search for betadine began. I am evidently allergic to the alcohol based cleaner the nurs

e usually uses to clean the port area. The alternative is betadine. It gives your skin a nice healthy glow. It actually doesn't look all that healthy, but it works. ¶ Then it was off to the infernal machine. My head was locked in after the ear plugs and sponges were positioned. Then the racket began. Thirty-five minutes later it was all over. After my port was deaccessed I was on my way home. ¶ Back to the Cancer Center at 11:30 for my appointment with Erik the Red. After the usual run-through with the nurse, he appeared. He really does need a haircut. The news was excellent. There is no further involvement in the brain and the main lesion appears now to be a scar rather than something alive and growing. ¶ The relief was tremendous. As he explained, every small cell cancer is different and predictions really can't be made as to how it will metastasize. For the time being, at any rate, it has decided to avoid my brain. I am grateful. ¶It seems to have been a busy week although I can't say exactly what kept me busy. The stacks still remain on the desk only to have increased in size. My friendly gardener has dealt with the weeds to the point that they seemingly no longer exist. I'm sure they will return however. A little planting was done, a hosta, some iris, and a veronica. There is still plenty of room in the new lanscaped area but will not be for long when the 150 or so bulbs arrive. I think I will have some to share.

¶ Today is just a perfectly beautiful day. It began rather chilly but by now (4:00) it has warmed up nicely. I walked over to Wetminster Presbyterian Church for a chamber music recital this afternoon and the stroll was lovely as was the concert. ¶ Some of the contortions achieved by Sophia cause one to wonder if it is really she who is present or some otherworldly being. If one goes by the coloration the images could be related to Sophia. Otherwise it appears to be only a collection of legs and tail. ¶Thank you for your prayers, concerns and thoughts. Thank you for reading. Thank you for all you do for me, and for others. I hope your week was as good as mine.

What’s To Worry

Perhaps I’m a worry-wart. It could be I have too much time to think. Whatever the problem I know I try to analyze, supervise, harmonize, dissect, research, etc., far too much. That’s pretty much how it has been for the last few days. ¶ I have another MRI coming up on Wednesday. That will reveal if the main lesion in the brain is still shrinking, has shrunk itself into oblivion, or has hatched new lesions (one or more). I know perfectly well why I obsess. When my imagination runs wild every little pain in the head, every time my vision becomes blurred, and in the infrequent times when I have double vision means that my brain is full of nasty little cancer critters who are determined to be the end of my rational being. The vision problems are usually cured with a couple of eye blinks.

¶ The thought of the MRI drives me nearly up a wall. It is such a horrendously noisy machine that even with the ear plugs and the ear pads it is painful to me. My fondness for the cage in which the technician places your head has ceased. My rational self tells me that it is for my own good and that everything will be just fine. Still I worry. ¶ After seeing the doctor on Wednesday morning I will probably hear the good news that all is well. But then, the office people will schedule the next MRI and I’ll have to start obsessing about that. I think the problem is that I have too much time to think. ¶ It’s been a nice week although a bit too busy to allow enough time to clean off my desk. My filing system is called the “stack” system. Panic set in when I sat behind a car at a red light and noticed their license plate renewal tag. It said “9.” That brought to mind that my renewal month is September and I had not ordered my tags. Then, I wonder where the card is that DMV sends you to remind you about your renewal and contains the valuable information needed to renew. There it was safely tucked away in a stack! Not having an enormous trust in the USPS to deliver on time I though it best to go to county administration, stand in the line and get my tags. That took one afternoon. It’s amazing how one’s time is consumed with tasks that were accomplished while working full time and now seemingly take a half-day. ¶ We are definitely heading towards autumn. It’s dark in the morning and dark by 8:00 in the evening. The evenings have been really cool and some days aren’t all that warm. Thursday’s high was 90º and Friday’s 75º. Mornings have been in the low 50s. ¶ Autumn is such a beautiful season. I look forward to it each year. Winter, not so much.

¶ The ever vigilant cat has found a new observation position. There is a neighborhood cat who is let free to roam. It was on the deck a couple of days ago. Since then Sophia has been on the lookout for said feline. She watches out the windows. One wonders if she would like to meet the interloper, or if she’d rather attack the intruder. One wonders. ¶ Thank you for your concern and your prayers and for all you do for others. We are all ministers to each other. That’s the basis of community. Bless you.

Twenty Years Ago

My birthday came just six months before Pearl Harbor. I had no idea what that day meant if I even knew what day it was. As I grew up I heard many adults speak about the horror of the news on December 7, 1941. It changed the lives of many who experienced that day in one way or another. ¶ My childhood was spent in Rapid City with Ellsworth Air Force Base at our side door. The sound of bombers flying overhead was a near daily experience. One learned to just ignore the roar of the engines both prop and later, jet. We really didn’t know where the planes were headed but we assumed it had something to do with the war.

¶ In my junior high and high school years the cold war was raging. The airbase made us a highly vulnerable target. I volunteered to work at the Filter Center. It seems like a strange name but it describes what we did. We filtered flights. In those days radar could not pick up low flying, smaller aircraft. There were people who volunteered as spotters all around. Their job was to call in any aircraft that they could hear flying near them. The calls went to the filter center where we plotted the flights on a giant horizontal map. If it was not possible to identify the flight the airbase was alerted and fighter jets were sent up to intercept or identify the aircraft in question. ¶ We had a lot of training sessions. We had direct phone lines to the neighboring Filter Centers. Now, as I reflect, it was probably all the equipment that intrigued me. Nevertheless at that point in time we felt we were of value in our country’s fight against the aggressors, the Communist bloc. After putting in the required number of hours we received our wings. ¶ My parents told stories of wartime events, about the rationing of certain products, the victory gardens, the air raid drills (my parents were air raid wardens), the unavailability of certain products because they were needed for the war effort. ¶ It was a different kind of war that began on September 11, 2001. This one I remember clearly. A friend called and asked if I were watching the news. That is something I gave up some years before. I decided I’d better tune in. Just then the aircraft struck the second of the World Trade Towers. With the availability of movies and television shows constantly providing us with violence of any kind it took a bit of time for the enormity of the event to sink in. Was this real or was it fantasy? ¶ Then, with the constant replay of the event throughout the next days, it was difficult to sleep or to accomplish anything. The events were replayed over and over again. I finally realized what was happening to me. I needed to shut off the news and put the event in perspective.

¶ I had retired from teaching. The assistant principal from my last school assignment asked if I would come in and speak with the teachers who were having difficulty dealing with the whole thing, plus having to deal with the students who were affected as well. Probably the most important thing passed on to them was “turn off the news.” Several of the teachers thanked me for that advice. One simply cannot begin to heal when the traumatic event is being replayed hundreds of times each day. ¶ Today is the anniversary of 9/11. Traveler that I am I had never seen the “Twin Towers.” They had not been built when I was last in New York City. By the time I finally returned, they had been destroyed. I did see the aftermath of the event, and the last time there I visited the memorial which was very touching. It’s unusual and beautiful and calming. What was a scene of horrific destruction and loss of life has become a place of remembrance and peace. People automatically fall silent as they approach the place where the towers stood. They gaze at the names etched in the stone and hear the waterfall. Hopefully they offer a prayer for all those departed souls. May all who perished there rest in peace.

¶ Another chemo week has come and gone. Aside from the tiredness, things have gone well. It’s hard to tell if the exhaustion is from the chemo or from my perpetual lack of sleep, or both. Probably both. Along with the chemo I received my booster shot of the COVID vaccine. My oncologist thought I should get the booster right away, so I did. A sore arm was the only outcome. ¶ Sophia requested that I post a picture of her in her alert state. She’s commented on all the postings that show her asleep. She fears that people will think she does nothing but sleep. This week’s photo will put all those thoughts aright. ¶ Thanks for your kind words, your prayers and thoughts and all that you do for me and for others. May our country and all the nations of the world learn to live in peace and respect for one another.

It Really Did Happen

Last week I wrote about the darkness and threat of rain during the day. Well, it really did rain during the night. There were flash flood warnings, a tornado touched down in Lennox, south of Sioux Falls. When dawn came I found 6.5 inches of rain in the gauge! It really did rain. We’ve had several other nice showers throughout the week. ¶ One can tell that the season is about to change. The bees can hardly wait for the autumn joy sedum to come into full bloom. The new roses are growing. Mums are bursting forth little by little. The first two plants went into the new landscaping today.

¶ My phone was kind enough to remind me today that I was in China ten years ago. That brought back some wonderful memories. When we cannot travel easily, we do have the memories of trips past. I am finding those memories to be wonderful. It is difficult to believe all the places I’ve traveled. I am so grateful that I’ve had the opportunities to be exposed to countries and cultures other than my own.

¶ Visiting the Olympic Village in Beijing, walking on the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, seeing the terra cotta warriors, walking on the glass floor in the skyscraper many stories above Shanghai are all memorable The long plane trip with a stop over in Seoul ended with the cabin attendant bowing and thanking me for traveling with Asiana Airlines. That’s the only time that has ever happened.! ¶ With the European Union’s transparent borders one no longer has a stamp in their passport for each country visited there. When I look back at my old passports and see all of the interesting entry and exit stamps and the visas, the memories of those trips come flooding back. When I last renewed my passport I ordered the model with more pages since my previous passport had no pages left. Now I ask myself, why? There is only one stamp in this new passport and lots of blank pages. Oh well, there was no extra charge for the extras. ¶ Many, many years ago I never dreamed that I would be a world traveler, yet that is what I became. I’ve not visited Australia or Antarctica yet. The other continents have seen my footsteps. This whole blog thing about being a pilgrim started as a record of a journey. There were many trips before blogging became “the thing.” Travel is truly a wonderful experience. When things do not go exactly as planned one still learns something. If nothing else one learns not to do that particular thing again!

¶ There have been some lovely days this week. It was nice to be able to enjoy them. I’ve felt very well. It was fun having lunch with some long-time teacher buddies. We worked at a school that had just opened and we really bonded as a group. A lot of credit goes to the principal who hand-picked the staff and the person that followed him. ¶ Miss Sophia was delighted that a new bag walked into the house this week. That gave her an opportunity to check out the contents and to pose. She loves being photographed.

¶ Next week is chemo week and I know things will go well. I won’t start until Tuesday because of the holiday and I’ll need to finish on Saturday. I had to go on New Year’s Day. It’s kind of spooky going to a big empty building usually bustling with people and being one of two or three in the cavernous space. ¶ Thanks for your thoughts and prayers and all the ways you’ve touched me in the last few weeks. I treasure your support. Thank you also for what you do for others.

Two Dawns Today

I do enjoy the dawn of a new day, particularly a bright one. Today we had a rather nice dawn this morning. This afternoon darkness descended with ominous threats of severe weather. It literally became nearly as dark as night. The continuous rumbling of thunder far away caused one to think that we actually might have a storm. There were some wind gusts, tornado warnings, ping-pong ball sized hail warnings. The music station to which I listen is Minnesota Public Radio and there were so many interruptions for weather reports that I just ceased to listen. ¶ We had some rain and some wind and now the sun shineth once more. As “they” say in South Dakota, if you don’t like the weather wait a few minutes. It is true.

¶ I’d never considered myself a writer. I’ve taught children to write, not handwriting, but writing. I guess I’ve written most of my life. After nearly 38 years as a priest I’ve written two or three sermons. When I’ve traveled and throughout the two years of this cancer pilgrimage I’ve written every week. When I stop to think about it, I guess I am a writer. What I’ve not done, for myself, is to actually think about how writing reveals our true nature. ¶ This past week, one of Henri Nouwen’s meditations dealt with this very thing. I’ll share it with you. ¶ “Writing Reveals What is Alive in Us ¶ Writing is a process in which we discover what lives in us. The writing itself reveals to us what is alive in us. The deepest satisfaction of writing is precisely that it opens up new spaces within us of which we were not aware before we started to write. To write is to embark on a journey whose final destination we do not know. Thus, writing requires a real act of trust. We have to say to ourselves: “I do not yet know what I carry in my heart, but I trust that it will emerge as I write.” Writing is like giving away the few loaves and fishes one has, trusting that they will multiply in the giving. Once we dare to “give away” on paper the few thoughts that come to us, we start discovering how much is hidden underneath these thoughts and gradually come in touch with our own riches.” ¶ This week has been very nice. I’ve had time to share with friends, some of whom I’ve not seen in a long time. I’ve felt well, have kept up my exercise schedule, and succeeded my goals most days. ¶ My friend planted some moss roses in the front garden. They looked rather sad as very little plants amongst the stones. Bloom they did, sending forth lovely orange flowers. One of many things that exceed our expectations. One of many things that give us joy.

¶ Cats do sleep a lot. Some experts say up to 20 hours per day. Sophia takes her “big” nap in the afternoon. The rest of the day she enjoys “cat naps.” In the afternoon she chooses not to be disturbed. Her chosen place for her “big” nap is on top of the cabinets in the basement. It’s cool down there and, unless you know she’s there, she becomes pretty much invisible. That’s the way she likes it. ¶ If I’ve been away, she often retires to the basement because she’s bored. When she hears the garage door she heads for the top of the stairs. This is just a show so that I will believe that she has longingly waited for me to return, and please scratch my head. It’s a game and I play it with her. ¶ I hope you have a wonderful week. Thanks for your emails, cards, prayers and thoughts. Thank you for all those things you do for others.

On Thankfulness

As I was on my walk today with the blog in the back of my mind, I pondered the beauty of this day and how very grateful I am to be alive to enjoy it. It has been a wonderful day weather-wise. The high temp was expected to be 75º. I don’t think that was ever reached. The sun has been shining and there has been a slight breeze. All the windows and doors in the house have been open and the wonderful fresh air has wafted through the place. The air conditioner has not switched on all day, and its the 21st of August.!

¶ As I walked along I thought about how thankful I should be that I live in a safe neighborhood, that I have sidewalks upon which to walk, that there are neighbors along the way with whom to stop and chat and that I am healthy enough to take the walk. ¶ I also thought about all the times that I have been less than thankful. I have been given so many opportunities, so many friends, so many experiences, kind and caring parents, a lovely home, everything I need to lead a very good life. I need to learn to live more thankfully. ¶ In the Prayers of the People in the Episcopal Church there is often a place for the congregation to add their thanksgivings. Too often this space is a totally silent time. We always have a lot of things for which to pray. There are those who are dear to us who are sick. We desperately pray for their healing. There are concerns about relationships, often revealed to us with the request that we pray for the people involved. There are our own perceived needs. All of these we willingly poor out. When it comes to those things for which we are thankful, silence.

¶ This last week was chemo week. It is something that I really do not anticipate with great joy. I think the reason is that it encroaches on my time. I must show up at the Cancer Center. I complain that the pharmacy is slow, if they are. I neglect to be grateful when the pharmacy is fast. Every person on the staff does their best to ensure that I am comfortable. The chemo keeps the cancer at bay so that I can lead a normal life. How often do I give thanks for the medicine, those who administer it, and those who invented it? The answer, unfortunately is seldom. For that I am ashamed. ¶ I need to concentrate on leading a thankful life. I need to look upon the things I can do and that I am asked to do with thankfulness that I am able to do those things. Instead of complaining about encroachments on my time, I need to be thankful that I have the time to do what I am asked.

¶ The week went well with no side effects. A little work has been done in the garden but no planting as yet. It’s a bit early to think about planting bulbs. There are so many beautiful choices it’s difficult to narrow them down. Soon I’ll say to myself, just do it! Plants are forgiving. If you don’t like what you’ve done, do it over. Just be thankful that you can! ¶ I am amazed each year when I cut back things in the spring and there is this one green leaf. By August, that green leaf has grown into this gigantic bush covered with little blue flowers and bees and butterflies. It is a miracle. ¶ Thanks for checking in and reading. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts. I am grateful for what you have done for others and for me.