Every Day is New

It would be nice if everyone could think this way. Each day would be a new day, with new opportunities, new chances to do good, new chances to forgive, new chances to make new friends. My sense is that we have forgotten that line from the Our Father, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.”

¶ We have not forgiven each day so the bitterness continues to grow among those who have different opinions, politically, religiously, between races, countries, any group, person, faction with whom there is any difference. And the very sad thing is that we have refused to listen, learn about, learn from any person, organization, country with which we disagree. All of this is exacerbated by the constant assault of the news. People find the news broadcast that says what they want to hear and it blasts at them every waking hour. Walking around the neighborhood on a day when it is possible to have the windows open I hear newscasts streaming through every window. Every day is new. Would that we could act, we could believe that it is so. ¶ The medical news of the week is another sodium problem. I felt so confused on Monday that I requested a lab test before my scheduled test on Thursday. Indeed my sodium was way below normal. I saw the doctor on Tuesday who made some changes to my medication and prescribed again the antibiotic that I had used earlier. Its intended purpose is an antibiotic but a side effect is to increase sodium. Because it is “off label,” insurance does not cover it and it is very expensive. ¶ One must go through the gymnastics of “prior approval” before the pharmacy will consider dispensing it. I know the reputation some apps have. One recommended to me was GoodRx. It will give you the prices of drugs in your area so you can choose the store to handle the prescription. Less than a mile down the street there are four corners and three pharmacies. The app shows that the price is different for this drug at all three. The difference is not mere cents but a difference of $200 between the pharmacies ranging from $259 to c. $500. If I went a bit further I could pay $800!

¶ End of financial news, and moving along, by Thursday my sodium was closer to normal so I could continue with my infusion. Whether the actually improvement in the sodium count made me feel better or just the knowledge thereof improved my outlook on life someone with more knowledge than I would have to make that judgment. ¶ My gardener friend has planted several new day lilies which bloom at different times. I look forward to each plant revealing its color. This week a gorgeous one appeared that actually looked “good enough to eat.” ¶ Gardener friend brought a helium balloon for Sophia to enjoy. She took one look and decided it was not a threat to her existence in the house and promptly ignored it. One must meet certain expectations in order to be accepted around these parts evidently. ¶ Thanks for reading, for prayers and thoughts, for good deeds to me and others. Take some time to learn about someone else this week. Bless you.

From a Wise Friend

Quote from a Facebook post by a wise friend: “The No. 1 reason why America never learns from its history is that America never teaches its real history.” Well said, I say. ¶ I realize that my own knowledge of American History is sadly lacking through no fault of my teachers. The study of World History and particularly of European History was much more fascinating. Perhaps my background in music was a contributing factor. Even Music History was much more Eurocentric. I do not recall that such distinctly American forms such as jazz were even mentioned. When considered in the greater scheme of things American History was a very minuscule part of my education. In retrospect my last course in American History was in high school and that was a very long time ago.

¶ The week has gone very well. My energy level has been good, if not excellent on some days. My “fat ankles” continue to plague me. Even on the days I take my water pill they seem to swell up. I’ll see the oncologist on Thursday when I have my labs and infusion and all will be revealed—more or less. ¶ Yesterday was a busy day. Friday is my standing appointment at the Pavilion of Arts and Science. That kept me occupied until 1 PM. As I exited my car at the Cathedral parking lot my thought was that I wouldn’t need my umbrella. The thought was erroneous. About noon it began to rain. I was pretty thoroughly wet when I returned to the car. Who knows how many weeks an umbrella was in my case with my collection of magazines except for yesterday when it wasn’t.

¶ At 2:00 the church began preparation for serving The Banquet. This time around I volunteered to cook so was there until 5. It has been since the COVID thing that I’ve not volunteered. It was very good to be back. It is a wonderful ministry done strictly for the benefit of those who are hungry. ¶ Today was given over to marketing. By the time the tasks were completed two hours had passed and countless dollars in shopping as well as fuel for the auto. After much research I’ve found that it is much easier to go to Brandon to shop at the gardens.

¶ The growth of this city is truly amazing. I had not been south for several weeks. Whole towns grow up every few weeks. Apartment blocks sprout where there was once corn or soybeans. These are not six or eight apartments but fifty or more. Still there is a housing shortage. When I came here to attend college the population was 55,000. It is now 202,000. Amazing! The rains have been well timed. Traveling through what is left of the rural area east and north, everything is beautifully green. ¶ The gardens continue to do well. There are new blooms nearly every day. Sophia monitors the squirrel and rabbit situation. She doesn’t do anything to keep the critters away but finds it fascinating to watch them. Compliments of a squirrel who purloined some bird feed, we now have a sunflower taking up residence in one of the planters on the deck. There is always something new. ¶ Thank you for reading. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for keeping in touch. Thank you for all you do for others.

Really, It’s not a New Season

¶ Given last weekend and its coolness, one might be given to think that we’ve already entered autumn. This week proved that we had not. Today is relatively cool but the rest of the days have been stifling. Temps have been in the 90s and the humidity has been fierce. ¶ Sunday last set a record. The airport registered over five inches of rain designating that as a new record for Sioux Falls. I had six inches in my rain gauge. We officially set a new record for the amount of rain fallen over a given period. Remarkably, there were no reports of floods in the city. There were flash flood warnings. However, I heard no news of such things materializing in the city.

¶ This week I continued my recovery from last week’s chemo. There was nothing dramatic. I seem to have a bout of nausea every day for about 5 days. The blessed pills work rapidly for which I am grateful. The nausea seems to strike around dinner time. Why that happens, I have no clue, nor do the medics. ¶ The news of the week has been preoccupied with the search warranted issued and carried out on the former president’s home. Classified documents were found which should have never been taken under federal law. Excuses are abundant as well as theories concerning the existence of the documents. At he day’s end it is pretty evident that the law has been broken, that national security could have been threatened, and no number of excuses relieves the former president from responsibility. He has tried, but failed. ¶ This event brought back memories of a child in one of my classes many years ago. There always seemed to be some tumult in the area around him. He was well spoken, well dressed, and an extremely unlikely suspect as a trouble maker. Every class period there was a distinct feeling that something was going on and I could never put my finger on the cause. Finally, said student was caught in the act. He vociferously denied any part in the disturbance. The fact that he was caught, as it were red handed, did not prevent him from trying to wiggle his way out of the situation. The evidence was against him and his angelic demeanor did not save him from a trip to see the principal. The problem in class was no longer.

¶ The week has been relatively peaceful. There were few deadlines resulting in a leisurely pace for most day's accomplishments, if indeed there were any. ¶ Sophia assisted with a sewing project. I jest. She was delighted to have new things to turn into one of her perches. How she determines which item I am going to want next is beyond me. I turn around and she is comfortably ensconced on the very thing I need. She is obviously a reader of minds. Thank you for reading, for thoughts and prayers, for kind deeds done for me and for others. You are a blessing.

See-Sawing Through the Week

Remember those playground see-saws? One always had to chose a reliable partner lest the one chosen choose to depart without notice when one was at the top of the contraption. Unreliable partners enjoyed seeing you crash down to the ground with a resounding thump and related cry of pain. The week’s weather reminded me of a see-saw. We had miserably hot days interspersed with some quite pleasant ones. Today, for instance, it is cloudy with rain intermittently, and only 73º, versus yesterday with 95+º. ¶ Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration. Some of the Biblical events commemorated on the calendar of the Church bring back a flood of memories. No, I was not there at the original event. A couple of thousand years later I did visit the location. Scripture says Jesus took his three favorite apostles up to a very high mountain. Very high mountains are not prevalent in the Holy Land. Mount Tabor is quite high compared to the surrounding territory. We had to trade our small bus for an even smaller vehicle in order to navigate the switchbacks on the way to the top. After the trip up, I was not looking forward to the return. Like Peter, I would have chosen to stay at the top. ¶ I looked back at my blog from the day we went to the Mount of the Transfiguration. I wrote: “There are viewing platforms outside the church on both sides where one can take advantage of the miles’ long vista. It is truly in credible. I have no idea how long it would take or what it would be like to walk up this mountain. What took place here is beyond normal human comprehension. It is an overpowering experience to be here where Peter, James, John, Moses and Elijah all gathered around the Savior.” ¶ The attached picture a view from Mt. Tabor.

¶ Thursday AM was spent at the Cancer Center with Labs at 8:00 and my infusion following. I left at 11:30. All seemed well except for my sodium being a little low. So the oncologist increased my intake to six grams per day from four. No new repercussions from the chemo. I seem to tolerate it well, which is a good thing. There are some problems with the steroids, like lack of sleep, but I can cope.

¶ The garden continues to thrive with some lovely day lilies in various colors showing their beauty each day. There is one very unusual one that, seemingly, does not belong to the day lily family, but it does. I guess no one ever told it was different. That’s the way it is with a lot of things in today’s world. People, for instance, don’t know they are different unless someone tells them they are. ¶ Thanks for reading, for prayers, and thoughts and kind things you do. You are appreciated.