Old Age Day by Day June 30, 2013

Today we're going out into the hot, hot day and watching baseball.  My younger daughter and I are waiting in line for sandwiches from our favorite deli to take to the game.  Sunscreen and hats are de rigeur.  I hope we don't feel like fried eggs.  After the game we are going to a restaurant and celebrating our younger son's birthday.  I picked out a key lime pie for dessert, and this one looks like a winner, with little mound of meringue and fresh lime on top.  Summer is definitely here.

I heard from my two dearest friends in emails, and feel like a lucky person with such supports.  That they are very funny is a absolute must, and the big hearts as well.  But they are smart and give me much needed perspective.  They are my anchors.

Well, off to the game, just call me a sizzling slice of bacon!

Old Age Day by Day June 29, 2013

We went to bed with the fan full blast, and were snoring away when a huge crash woke us up at 2 am.  For an instant I thought it was THE earthquake, then we both thought a tree had crashed into our garage or house.  I went outside and my neighbor was there and we saw a car across the parkway.  He's a doctor so he asked several times if she needed help, as we could hear it was a woman.  She was talking on her cell, and seemed drunk, and finally I yelled up to my husband to call 911.  A bunch of police cars came and then an ambulance, which took her away, though she was still able to talk and hopefully was unharmed.  Then we could hear the police trying to figure out what had happened.  A bumper was in the middle of the road by our house, and two cars hit it before it got dragged out of the way.  This morning there are blue flags everywhere and a caution tape surrounding the area.  She must have been coming down our street, hit a tree, then crashed through the parkway and ended up facing the wrong way on the street below.  After we finally got back to sleep at 3 am a huge something took the car away and made a racket, so we both feel gnarly this morning.  We'll never know what happened, exactly, but we just hope there is not an injured tree just waiting to come down on one of our houses later.

I plan to spend the rest of the day recouperating.  I couldn't help, lying awake after the accident, thinking if it had been one of my kids.  I was spooked.  There but for the grace of god...........

Old Age Day by Day June 28, 2013

We had a relaxing dinner out with our younger daughter last night.  She's easy to be with.  I was virtuous:  salmon with vegetables and a green salad.  Well, a glass of sparkling wine as well.  So maybe good, not virtuous.  The book "The Swerve" is amazingly fascinating.  I can see why it won the Pulitzer Prize.  When you get to the part that describes what Lucretius proposed, it is dazzling.  I won't spoil it for you, but it is indeed modern thinking. 

Today I have a walk with one good friend then lunch with another, so I'm set.  It's a good day to chatter and giggle and talk about the heat, which is excessive.  I love it. 

Old Age Day by Day June 27, 2013

I'm reading "The Swerve", by Goldblatt, and it's fascinating so far.  It's about a book discovered in the Middle Ages by the Roman poet Lucretius, "On the Nature of Things".  It was deeply influential in the time it was written, then lost for centuries until found in a monastery.  I've already learned a great deal about parchments and papers used, what vellum means, and other details of books.  I seem to remember doing a report in World History in high school on Lucretius.  We'll see if this is the same person.  The book is pretty fascinating, and very palatable history.

Today is warm, summery and a good day for using our new leaf blower.  Yes, we are going to sweep up our front walk, and all the leaves which have rained down upon it.  My husband is really getting into gardening, and I myself love weeding these days.  I think the gardener's defection is going to prove healthful and rewarding for us.  I also want to get up to the cabin though.  I'm torn.  The best month of the cabin - July - is around the corner.  I hope we go next week.

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to seeing friends, a baseball game and celebrating our younger son's birthday.

Old Age Day by Day June 26m 2013

The crown work in my mouth really has caused soreness.  I always forget how uncomfortable I am for a while after.  I took tylenol all yesterday and may have to today.  I'm taking my granddaughter out to a movie and lunch, and I don't want to be distracted.  I am grateful I'm with a dentist now who knows her stuff and is clearly professional, competent and compassionate.  But still...I hate doing this in the summertime,when I want to be up at the cabin.  It's beautiful today after the rain and warm.  It's a good day to be out and about. 

I look forward to the rest of the week, and a baseball game on Sunday.  My team is doing great, and won 7-3 last night.  Mighty gratifying.

Old Age Day by Day June 25, 2013

We watched a Steven Seagal film last night that I'd gotten for $5.  I have a weakness for the guy, though he can't act and his films are violent and unredeeming.  He always plays someone, in this case a Navy Seal, who kills all the bad guys, pretty much by himself.  He doesn't mess around with romance, though there is always a pretty girl to look at, and he doesn't try to avoid wounding or killing, in fact, he dispatches with no pause whatsoever.  His martial arts skills are amazing, and his hands are super fast.  I think I like the films because they don't pretend to be anything more than they are:  fantasies about a world of good guys and bad guys with no gray area, where the enemies are so bad, their plots so heinous, that it's just logical to get rid of them.  Nothing in real life is like this, therefore it's an escape.  Real life is so complex and blurry that it's hard to know what action to take and how and when.  Seeing his movies give you a break from thinking.  And it doesn't harm your body like alcohol or drugs. 

I had a great phone conversation yesterday with a friend.  And it was complex and interesting, about challenging human relationships.  I guess I was done for the day after that, hence the Seagal movie.  My brain can only take so much these days.

Old Age Day by Day June 24m 2013

I had a nice interaction with the technician who was doing my mammogram.  We discussed cell phones and liking to speak to a person, not text.  We are of the same generation.  She's a virgo, I'm a virgo.  I love serendipity, and these chance encounters, where you connect for a brief time, but you somehow KNOW each other in those few moments. 

I'm reading a terrific book, The Examined Life, by Dr. Grosz.  He's a psychaitrist, and it's a small book with vinettes about patients he's had over the years.  Very wise, gentle, and profound.  I know, I'm finding everything profound these days.  What can I say?  I'm in profound mode.

This so-called rain is fizzling out.  More like a very light drizzle.  My yard needs real rain.  We'll see if something more profound develops this afternoon.