Getting Ready for Company!

I’m going to start by telling you a Rosie story that I forgot to tell you last time. One morning we were taking our normal walk and on our way home, Rosie decided she wanted to visit Norma and Kurt. I’m standing on the walkway in front of their house and Rosie is pulling at the leash and whining to go to the door. I’m just waiting it out for her to get tired and give up, but Kurt passes the window and sees us. He opens the door, and Rosie is off like a shot! We’re invited in and have about a 20-minute visit. The thing is that everyone (seems to!?!) gets a kick out of it and she is very loving once she gets inside. Yesterday we went to Wright Park for our afternoon walk and several kids came up to pet her and she loves it. Then she travels around and just visits people. Most people are very receptive to it and one lady said, “she looks so happy.” I hope that is the case and that she adds a moment of joy to their day.

I heard from Pamela, who lives in San Poncho, Mexico, with an invitation to visit. Her daughter had planned to visit in May but had to cancel and Pamela thought of me, which was very nice. I could definitely be tempted as I feel like I need to break out of my routine and get back into travel mode. My biggest concern is leaving Rosie! After our last Africa trip, she was so whimpery and needy when I got home. It broke my heart! Now, with being home so much due to Covid, she is that way if I go out for a couple of hours with friends. So, if I want to travel peacefully again, I have to get this figured out. In any case, I’m looking forward to Eileen’s visit on the 9^th so the timing doesn’t work, but maybe we can make it happen in the future.

Tippy and I have gotten into an occasional habit of meeting for breakfast on Sunday mornings at First Watch, which we both like. On April 24^th we changed it up a bit and Chris and Kieran joined us at Frankie Bones for lunch and then we all went to a play by the Lean Ensemble – Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody! It was a quick-paced, clever, and humorous script whose characters were well-known characters from American literature – Willy Lowman (Death of a Salesman), Balance DuBois and Stanley Kowalski (A Streetcar Named Desire), Martha and George (Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), and the stage manager from Our Town. You can imagine the dysfunction and humor that ensued. It really was cleverly done and provided lots of laughs, which were much appreciated.

Felix, close to me but looking at the door

Maria and Mark across the street had guests for three days and had a full day planned in Savannah. Mark came over that morning and asked if I’d check in on Felix and let him out in the (fenced in) backyard, which I was happy to do. So, Rosie and I headed over around 1PM and I was amazed and saddened at how subdued Felix was! The sprinklers were on and I sat on their patio until they stopped and Felix just stayed close and kept looking at the door. It was like he was just waiting for Mark and Maria to come out and join us! Rosie enjoyed sniffing around and I did get Felix out in the yard. He wiggled around in the grass a little and got a tummy rub, but then he was ready to go inside. It really broke my heart to see how much they miss us when we are away.

Eliana, Rosie, & Felix, saying goodbye!

Another neighbor, Deanna, who has 4 special needs doggies emailed me to say that they were going to have to put Eliana to sleep on Friday (4/29). She asked if I’d like to say goodbye as she knows I’m one of Eliana’s favorite people – I always have a pocket full of treats! We met up the next morning on our walks and were joined by Mark and Felix. Eliana was in her carriage and I brought some special treats for her, which she fully enjoyed. She has/had the kindest face and was so sweet. I will certainly miss her. Even so, she could no longer walk, was incontinent and, even though she was eating, continued to lose weight. Deanna certainly did everything she could for as long as she could, but that is such a difficult decision. I felt for them all. Not an easy time.

Groups (Liberal Ladies’ dinner) and committee meetings (LCAH and Blues social groups) continue, but last night Chris, Deborah, and I met with Melyssa, our “young friend”, who has recently and suddenly moved to Asheville. Melyssa organized us for a monthly gathering for years until Covid came along and made that difficult. It was always nice to get together with someone of a different general and share ideas, beliefs, and outlooks. We always had lively discussions and lots of laughs. Suddenly – or what

Deborah, Me, Melyssa, and Chris

seemed sudden to us – we saw on Facebook that they had moved to Asheville. Luckily, she was coming down to finalize the packing and we were able to get together for a farewell dinner. It was exciting to hear about their adventure – Melyssa will be able to carry on in her current job and Danny will be working at the famous and gorgeous Park Grove Inn. It was wonderful to hear and see the enthusiasm at the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. I hope we will continue to be in touch in order to share their experiences and we all wish them well.

Then, as in the trump years, I arrived home from our fun gathering to the news of the leaked Supreme Court opinion. I am 75 years old, never had an abortion, and not sure I ever would if the situation had arisen, but it angers me to the core for other human beings to think that they are God. They know what is right for everyone else, especially in a dire situation. Maybe I’m a simpleton, but I can’t begin to imagine what might bring one to consider an abortion, but I can’t help but think that maybe they need care and compassion, not white, male, authoritarian judgment. I’m also smart enough to know that I will never be able to fully understand their circumstances in the most private and personal decision of their life, and it does not require my (or anyone else's) input. It’s strange that those who want “small government” are perfectly willing to tell everyone what to do in their most private life! And let me also say, it angers me that some women are perfectly fine to let this happen to other women – and don’t think they won’t consider abortion if something happens with their child. They will just do it quietly, on the sly, and get away with it, all the while judging and betraying other women (and don't think this is the end of it. ...birth control, gay marriage, etc. This is only the beginning). I am PRO-CHOICE. I want women to be able to do what is best for them and the ones they love. It is not my business and it is certainly not the government's business. This is not the country I thought it was. It is not the country I thought I would grow on in. Sad....and mad!

I’m just trying to squeeze this in before Eileen arrives. on Monday The rest of the week will be cleaning and cooking. I hope this finds everyone safe, well, and enjoying the summer. Much love.