Melodee Visits

 Well, the rain began yesterday (11/5) around mid-afternoon and continues to this very moment (5 PM, Nov. 6)…..and will continue through the night. Yesterday, the dreariness was combated by our usual Friday gathering. This week it was Chris’ turn to select the location and she picked a winner – the Burnt Church Distillery. It’s fairly new and none of us had been there although I’d seen several events being held there. It has a modern, trendy interior and it seemed noisy when we entered. Even so, we had no problem hearing the conversation around the table, And, the food was delicious! We all agreed that we would visit again.

Today has been dark and rainy from beginning to end! When I awakened to the sound of the rain, I rolled over and stayed in bed until almost 9 AM. Even then, I changed from my PJs into another pair of PJs that looked like a sweatsuit…..in the off chance anyone would drop by! It was about 2:30 PM  before I actually got dressed only because Lynn and Tom invited us over to see Ted Lasso since I don’t get Apple TV. Again, it was a nice escape from a dreary day and I did like Ted…..how can you not! It is the feel-good program of our time and I’m all in favor of that!

An interesting thing happened when I went to get my $15 haircut at House of Great Clips (11/9). I’d signed in online so was next up for a clip when I noticed a stylist cutting the nape of a ladies’ neck the way I wanted mine done. So, I said I would wait for Amber to finish and ask her to cut my hair. I had noticed the young lady come in and she said she had been letting her hair grow for about 3 months. She showed the stylist the cut she wanted and they carried on an animated conversation, looking at photos online, as she worked. As I’m watching, I see this young lady turn into a young man before my very eyes! If I had run into her before the cut, I would have sworn she was a girl. If I’d run into her after the cut, I would have thought she was a male! Once the cut was complete, she rolled a large piece of luggage to the counter as she paid her bill. When it was my turn, I mentioned my amazement to Amber and she told me that the young woman was an impersonator of famous people. She was on the island to do a wedding as Justin Bieber! She was from NY and her next gig was in California. She had stopped at Great Clips because it was Sunday and one of the few places open. It really was kind of an informative moment. I’m not bothered by one’s sexual/gender preference or identity, but I’d never really thought about how strongly our appearance influences our perceptions. It really was a moment of awareness.

Liberal Ladies had their first live luncheon since Covid. They required proof of vaccination, which everyone appreciated, and they will keep the information on file so that we will not have to go through the process for future gatherings. They also accommodated fewer people with ample spacing. You could tell that everyone was happy to be able to gather again and have some semblance of normalcy.

It has also been a month of birthday celebrations – Tom, Chris, and Tippy have all celebrated this month and we had gatherings on or about the dates. Another special treat was a visit from Melodee from St. Louis. Those of you who have followed this blog for a long time know that Melodee lived here for several years, so there was not a lot of pressure to accommodate her visit. I did have some food on hand that we could grab according to our schedule, but my plan was to do and see whatever Melodee had in mind. She arrived late in the day on Wednesday (11/17) and that was strictly a gab and wine fest – it was non-stop catching up on the years since we last saw each other. One of her requests was a walk on the beach, so we checked the weather and decided to do that and “the island” on Thursday. After a leisurely start, we went to Mitchelville Freedom Park for a walk on the beach. It was a perfect choice as we had been to many events there in the past and the beach is a short walk through the woods. It’s also a peaceful, quiet beach with not many people around. It really was a lovely walk. – sunny, breezy, and almost 80 degrees! We then drove around the island a bit before stopping at a ceramic exhibit at the Arts Center by  Sheri Frabstein, an artist I’ve known since my days of working at the synagogue. From there, we returned home in order to prepare for dinner with friends from Melodee’s days with Drinking Liberally – Chris, Rhonda, and Lynn and Tom. Unfortunately, Tippy and Kieran were celebrating Tippy’s birthday in her mountain retreat and were unable to join us. Even so, it was a festive evening and we all enjoyed it.

Friday, with cooler temperatures, we did a day in Bluffton. We started with Palmetto Bluff, which somehow Melodee had missed when she lived here. It’s always a lovely place to visit and we had a nice stroll around the village, topping it off with lunch at Buffaloes. Unfortunately, the Inn has been under renovation and we were not able to go inside so I will be eager to see the final result when it reopens. From there we went to downtown Bluffton, parked at the Church of the Cross, and did a walking tour of oldtown. Since Melodee lived here, they have added two new parks to the area which really adds to the feel of the town. I was happy to explore (which I should have done earlier!) and have an opportunity to browse some of the galleries. I also found Woofgang Bakery, which is dedicated to all things doggy! I came home with a bag of treats that Rosie really loved and my guess is that I will be going there frequently! When we had browsed to our hearts’ content, we stopped at the Burnt Church Distillery for a light bite to eat. I thought Melodee would enjoy seeing the newest, trendiest place in town (that I know of, anyway!) and we were both eager to share the plant-based “grazing board.” As luck would have it, that menu item was not available as some of the items were not in stock AND it was a popular item, which is good and surprising. So, that will be on my list to try at some point. In any case, we found tasty substitutes and enjoyed the atmosphere, which is very modern and hip. One thing of interest is that when Jan visited some time back we sought out the Secession Oak (do you remember, Jan?). Well, within the last few years, the tree had split and was removed, and the distillery has a huge portion of it in their entryway with plans to use it as a base for a decorative table. Part of the charm of the distillery is that a room is devoted to the history of the area and the Secession Oak fits right in….and I thought it might spur a memory for Jan!  From there we went home and had a leisurely evening as Melodee prepared to leave the next morning. It really was a great visit and a fun time, and I’m pleased that she made a stop here. It was wonderful to catch up and really made me appreciate our “old times” together.

Melodee left today (Saturday -11/20) and I had a quiet day planned. I was expecting a delivery of Rosie’s food (Farmer’s Dog food which arrives frozen). I received a text message that the package had been delivered and when I went to the door to retrieve it, there were two packages, with the second being from Harry and David! My curiosity was piqued! Well, the Harry and David box was from Melodee…..who had just departed! How is that for planning and timing?? Well, it was a wonderful surprise…and not at all required, but I certainly appreciated Melodee’s thoughtfulness. How can that not make your day?! It has really been a nice week with Melodee’s visit and get-togethers with longtime friends. Rosie and I have been to the park for her walk and I’m ready to settle in for the evening by watching The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. For some reason, I had thought of it recently and it suddenly popped up in my Amazon Prime scanning, so it was meant to be and I’m looking forward to seeing it tonight. Dopesick and other more serious things are on the list, but I know the Marigold Hotel will do me good!

While I have been enjoying the company of friends and being able to get out and about, my thoughts have been with other friends. As many of you know, Eileen’s older son was rushed to the hospital on Monday with what was thought to be a brain tumor. It turned out to be a brain bleed and he was kept in an induced coma, which he seems to be coming out of today (11/21). It has been a tense, up and down week for the family and I hope that Darrin’s responsiveness is a step in the right direction. Eileen had planned to visit me right when Covid hit and travel was brought to a halt. Travel from the UK has just opened again and she has her ticket in hand but I’m sure it all depends on Darrin’s recovery. Please hold them all in your thought thoughts and prayers.

Also, on November 8, Cheryl posted on Facebook that they had suddenly lost their sweet doggie Darcey! Knowing how I would feel if something unexpected happened to Rosie, Cheryl and Phil have been in my thoughts since. Cheryl, I hope you are feeling better and I send comforting thoughts your way. I know you miss her.

 

A Trip to the Mountains and Other Things!

Shortly after my last post, I joined Tippy at First Watch for brunch and by the end of the meal, I had agreed to join her in the mountains for a few days. She was leaving on Tuesday and offered to drive up in tandem, which appealed to me as I was trying out my new(ish) car and traveling with Rosie, the nervous traveler. Being able to call back and forth on our car console made the trip easy although it certainly added to our overall time. All I will say is that you don’t realize how bad our interstate roads are until you travel 300 miles with a nervous passenger!

We made it to Franklin, NC, stopped at the local grocery store, and headed up a little one-way, winding, vertical road to Tippy’s cabin. It really is the perfect get-away retreat. Even though the mornings were overcast and foggy, the afternoons cleared up and were delightful. Sandi, a friend from our last Africa trip, came up from Atlanta and spent 2 days with us. It was great to see her and we spent a lot of time out on the deck enjoying the nice weather, beautiful scenery, falling leaves, and fun conversation. We also had enough food to feed a small army! We had a walk by the river which included two picturesque bridges. And the day before Sandi arrived, Tippy and I had gone to Dry Falls, which was unique in that we could actually walk behind the falls. That, too, was a lovely day. This was really my first outing since all of this Covid business began. It was wonderful to get away and have such a peaceful change of scenery. My thanks to Tippy for inviting me and allowing me to get away and to Sandi for joining us and giving us an opportunity to catch up.

With my new car, my hope is to be able to do a few road trips and include Rosie; so, the trip to the mountains was a test run. On the way up, we took interstates and she had (only) two panting episodes even though I had given her medication to relax her. Each time we stopped and gave her time to regroup. We did have one funny episode on the way up. We had stopped in Spartanburg, Tippy’s hometown, for lunch at Wade’s, a well-known restaurant in the area. Rosie and I are sitting at a picnic table waiting for Tippy to join us when this lady drives up and says “Hey, Rosie, what are you doing?” I was flabbergasted! Little did I know it was Tippy’s cousin Mindy who just drove by in the off chance she would catch up before we resumed our journey.

Then there was discovering Rosie’s other fears! The whole change was difficult for her. She didn’t eat for the first day and was frightened to go out on the deck.  We made a little circle with our chairs and put her bed in the middle and she slowly joined us on. There was one moment when her alter-ego took over. One afternoon we walked over to Robyn and Mary’s to enjoy their deck. On the way, we ran into their new neighbors, who, along with their dog Brutus, joined us. The property was fenced in so Rosie and Bruno could roam free. Things went so well that she remained unleashed as we walked home. Sudden, she realized her freedom and did her crazy run, but this time, unleashed, she could do it her way. At top speed, she ran down the drive, around the fence, and took a left, running completely out of sight. My heart sank!! Then she appeared and ran to the right – out of sight again. Finally, she came back to us having totally enjoyed herself! I didn’t learn from that experience and leash her so as we approached Tippy’s, she ran straight up the “mountain” into the woods! Thankfully, the new neighbor ran up the hill and chased her down. She had exacted her revenge and I learned my lesson (though it was fun to see her enjoy herself as she ran free).🐶

Tippy stayed on a few days after Rosie and I left. On the way home, we took secondary roads and I put her in the back seat across from me so we could see each other. She rested much better; however, there were no rest stops or convenient places for either of us to stop for bathrooms, water, or walks. So, it’s all a work in progress and I’m still hoping she will become less threatened on longer journeys.

Since getting back (10/18), I ventured into Savannah again, this time going to Macy’s. It should have been easy but Waze took me around my elbow to get to my thumb! My guess it that it was due to construction, but it took me to parts I’ve not been before, including down to the port!! Anyway, I made it and did some shopping during a good sale. My purpose was to buy some clothing that fits and then to purge my closet To have a closet full of clothing that doesn’t fit is depressing so my aim is to have a smaller selection of items that fit. Let the process begin.

Saturday, (10/23) I got my Covid booster. I wasn’t even sure Moderna booster had been approved but when I got online, I found that it was. After checking around locally, I was able to sign up at my local CVS and get the shot the next day. It was quick and easy, leaving me with only a twinge and a bit of redness at the point of the shot. I’m happy to have it done.

Then on Sunday (10/25), Tippy joined me for the Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival. I probably would not have gone except a neighbor is an organizer and I knew how much effort he had put into it. It was a nice afternoon, and we did a leisurely stroll through checking out the vendors, having some ice cream, and listening to the music.

This coming week I have an unplanned dental appointment – NOT one of my favorite things! I’ve been having some sensitivity in one of my front teeth and I’m dreading what may ensue.

When we returned from the mountains, our weather here began to feel more fall-like. Except for one day of dismal rain, we have had bright, crisp days. I’ve added a light blanket to the bed and love waking up snuggled and warm in the morning. Love it!

My house under a full moon.
Sent by a neighbor.

Yesterday, I had an unexpectedly pleasant day. Chis and I had planned to go to a matinee performance of The Thanksgiving Play by the Lean Ensemble. As I was having my morning coffee, Tippy called to say that she and Kieran were going to a play that afternoon and she’d get a ticket for me if I would like to join them. I told her Chris and I were also attending and we’d see them there. Then, off we went for Rosie’s walk. I had just finished breakfast when the doorbell rang. It was Reyna’s Joann and Richard’s twins in full Halloween costumes. There was a unicorn and a bumblebee. When I asked Joann what she was (no discernable costume!), she said she was a Diva!! I almost laughed out loud. Only Joann would come up with something like that. No longer had we gotten through modeling the costumes than the doorbell rang again! This time it was my neighbor Mark and the adorable Felix. Mark apologized and said that Felix led him straight to my door and would go no place else!! Aside from the fact that Felix always gets treats from me, I’m sure he saw the girls come in and that was more than he could resist. In any case, I introduced them to the unicorn, bumblebee, and the Diva! So, I went from a leisurely morning to rushing to have lunch and get dressed in order to meet Chris on time. The play was not one of their best – about over-the-top politically correct intentions run amok. Even so, it did provide an opportunity to get together with Tippy and Kieran over a glass of wine. Once home, I walked Rosie and then joined a driveway party for one of our neighbors who will be moving to Pennsylvania mid-month. Tiki torches lined the driveway and everything was set up outside. I had just been invited that morning as I was walking Rosie, so I self-identified as the party crasher! There were about 5 couples and the occasional trick-or-treater. I only stayed for a glass of wine but I did appreciate being able to wish my neighbor well and it was a nice way to end the day.😀

Something from Conde Nast:

October Ushers in the Holiday Season!

 Well, a chaotic month has flown by, ushering in the holiday season which whizzes by even faster. I have to confess to not being in the mood for any of them. Maybe it will improve as the festivities arrives.

I had been thinking that I've sat at home so long that the thought of getting out and doing anything became daunting, intimidating. So, on Monday (9/20) I set off for a trip to Savannah to check out an Indian grocery (which the guy at our new, favorite Indian restaurant told me about) and an Adli grocery store. The only problem is that it was the rainiest day we have had all year. It blagged it down!! I would not be deterred and scoped out both places to my heart's content. Other than the rain it was a successful outing and proved that I can still do it!! My question is whether the intimidation I felt before venturing out again on my own was a product of being cloistered away on my own for so long or a product of aging?? Is anyone else feeling this?

The following week (9/28), I had my roof redone. That created more anxiety for Rosie than for me, but we took it in our stride. One morning I was in the kitchen all morning and I brought her bed in with me and she slept there all morning. When the crew took their lunch break, she ventured into the sunroom for a nap and then joined me on the sofa when they started up again. One day we spent most of the day away, so that gave us both some relief. All went well. It was a great crew, though the foreman looked like he was 12 years old! They worked steadily and did a great cleanup job. No complaints whatso ever and I'm glad to get it done.

The big news is that Donna has a new car! A bright, shiny, red Honda CR-V! Here's the story. I've been thinking about it for a while because, while my 2006 RAV-4 was fine around town, I no longer felt confident doing longer trips. So, on Monday (9/27) I struck out to look at Hondas, Hyundais, Subaru, and Toyotas. I was dressed as I normally slob around the house because I had no intention of going inside. I'd just browse the lot and expect a salesman to join me to answer my quesitons. Well, Honda had NO 2021s! I thought it would be a good time to look for 2021s, but little did I know the full extent of the chip shortage! They had one grey, used CR-V with 27,000 miles on it. So, on I go to the Hyundai dealership - same situation. Then on to Subaru. They, too, had no 2020s or 2021s but the guy said that he could sell anything in the whole mall, "let me check my computer." In the meantime, he asked what I was looking for - a real color (not black,white,grey), fabric seats, all the new safety features,etc. I told him this was going to be my last car and I wanted all the bells and whistles. He, who looked 12, made a sad face and said, "dont think that!" I told him I might live another 40 years but at 115 I would not be driving! That lightened him up a bit. He worked his magic and said that the VW dealership had a used, red, 2021 Honda CR-V, did I want to look at it. Why not? He got someone to take him over and he was back in a few minutes. He came in and said "it was meant to be," it even has fabric seats!! So, I looked and took it for a spin, and it was like new, with only 9300 miles on it! There really was no deal to be had, nor would I likely even find another like this for a long time. So, by the end of the day, I drove it home! As I said earlier, I was not really presentable but also I had done nothing to clean, empty, prepare my car for trade-in. I felt so  bad about that, but they didn't seem to mind!

The story doesn't end there. My intention was to withdraw funds from an annuity and pay for it outright, but it would take time to transfer funds. They were satisfied with a deposit, so the next day I called my financial advisor to tell him what I'd done and whether my plan was better than financing. He went with it and I got all of the paperwork ready to submit to the Lincoln Financial. Normally, I would fax it, but since I not longer have a landline, I scanned everything and sent it by email. You guessed it - I sent the email without the attachment! Every day I check the Lincoln Financial site and nothing is happening. Finally, on Friday I call and they tell me they received the email with no attachment. I correct that immediately! Even so, that delays things a week - it's the end of the month for the dealership, in addtition to that they have been sold to AutoNation and are consolidating financial loose ends, changing computer systems, etc. It could not have happened at a worse time and it was all my fault! The guy I was dealing with at Subaru was patient, but I knew he was under pressure and I felt the same. I provided them with verification of the annuity and got someone at LF to confirm that things were actually in progress. Finally, Friday (10/8) the funds were in my account and I was able to provide them with a check. Everyone involved was relieved!

One little funny aside: When I told my financial guy what I'd done and after the shock wore off  (for both of us!), he asked what I'd gotten. When I told him it was a CR-V, he said they wree great cars. Both he and his wife have one and his has 300,000 miles on it. I told him the story of the Sabura guy's response to this being my last car, and that he, my financial guy, gave me hope that I might live long enough to put 300,000 miles on this car!! He got a chuckle at that.

Other than the new roof and car, I've just been busy with the usual things. Tippy and I did our Kenya and Tanzania presentation for OLLI/Beaufort, which is always fun. Lots of eating out - and by that, I mean at restaurants but outside - with friends. Just this week, Chris and I welcomed back the chef at Olive and Fig. The restaurant has been closed for about 2 months due to his diagnosis of colon cancer. He had surgery at Duke and appeared to have lost a little weight (had just had his first chemo treatment), but otherwise seemed well and happy to be back. Maria and Mark, my neighbors across the street, and I went for Indian again, and the Pandemic Pals got together on Friday without Lynn and Tom. Lynn called at the last minute to say that Tom was having some type of episode and they would not attend. Later that evening they called 911 and he was taken to the hospital. He was home the next morning and I haven't seen them personally yet, but he says all is well. And, just this morning I met Tippy at First Watch for a late breakfast. At this rate, there is no chance of losing weight!! I'm not sure what will happen with being able to eat out once the Covid and cooler weather so we may as well enjoy it while we can.

I can't leave without sharing a little Rosie with you! This is squirrel spotting and you can see the intensity. You can also the whiteness around her muzzle.It's hard to believe that my baby girl is almost 7 now! 

And something for kitty lovers! You remember the glamor shot I had done of Rosie? Well, my friend Rhonda had one done of their recently deceased kitty, Olivia, for her husband's birthday. It's hard to beat the original photo of Olovia peaking out of the tub, but I thought it turned out well. I hope Bryan liked it.

Peace and Love to All.

Stay safe and well.

Out-of-Town Company and Other Socializing!

Seems like forever since I've posted as I've been busy socializing. You all know me well enough to know that with socializing comes days of lying in a darkened room to recover! I'm happy to be revived enough to touch bases with you!

Several days after my last post, Pamela arrived (8/27/21) from Mexico via California and lots of other places. The original plan was to park her trailer and stay with me and her friend on the island. She was unable to find a place to park it (and we're not allowed to park them in local communities) so she had to rent s spot in an RV park. It cost enough that she decided to get her money's worth and stay in her camper/trailer. That gave me a chance to visit her several times there and it was interesting to see the park. It was very nice with a lot of amenities, including a fantastic restaurant where we dined on our last night together. It had a tennis court, a playground for the kids, and lots of water sports. It was also great to see that lots of people traveled with their dogs and in Pamela's case, her cat!  Among the things we did was to brunch at First Watch, lunch at my place and a leisurely afternoon at Palmetto Bluff, a delightful day in Beaufort, and a delicious dinner at Sunset Grille in her RV park on Sunday. I didn't see her on Labor Day as she was getting packed up and hooked up. Even so, it was a very nice visit and it dragged me out of my nest, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Use the 3 little dots above for full-screen version and to determine viewing options.

Amidst all of that, I managed to have my teeth cleaned and get a mammogram, as well as hosting a doggie play date with Bogey, Lynn, and Tom – way too much activity for me, but it didn’t stop there! On Labor Day, Tippy and I went to Pooler for Indian food and a good catch-up. On Thursday, I did the same thing with Maria and Mark, my neighbors across the street. It goes without saying that I’m happy to have found good Indian food thanks to Chris!! Friday was our usual Pandemic Pals gathering at Amigos and on Saturday David came over for some Rosie time before we hit the Tropical Café for lunch. So, as I sit here in my plumpness, I am replete, fat, and sassy!!

I'd be interested in how those of you here responded to the 20-year commemoration of the event of 9/11? I was surprised at how emotional and sad it was for me. It was also my father's birthday and I posted a photo on FB. When I received a few kind replies, I teared up! If David had not been coming over, I would have had a good cry! I was sad that the original event happened in the first place and all that followed, not the least of which was a 20-year war. I was also saddened by where we find ourselves today, appearing not to have learned anything from our history or anyone's history. And now we have domestic terrorists and citizens willing to go the way of Fascism. I was sad for what was and for what is! I'm finding it difficult to see a brighter future for us. Tell me I'm wrong, please!

Not a lot else to report here. Next week is much quieter so I'll get back to my usual non-productive self. Tippy and I made a pact to purge our closets and she beat me hands down, but I'm not giving up. I'm going to tackle it this week, I promise! Also, the last couple of days have had a hint of fall in the air. The mornings are cooler with much less humidity and Rosie and I have really enjoyed them. I'm hoping it hangs around for a nice, long time!!

I hope this finds everyone doing well - safe, healthy., and happy. Take care and let me know what is happening with you. Love to all.

Birds, Gators, Flowers, and Friends

 It’s been a pleasant Sunday (8/8) as I’ve started the audiobook The Promised Land by President Obama. It is beautifully written, and it is read by the President, which makes it even more enjoyable. But, it’s 29 hours of listening! As much as I’m enjoying it, I may not make it in the allotted 21 days.

It’s also been a good day for bird watching – my little blue birdhouse! I see it as I go down the hall to the bedroom and today, one of the couple was perched on top and the other was by the hole feeding one of the babies! Of course, by the time I got my camera, they were gone but the baby just had its beak peeking out, waiting for more grub!

Speaking of wildlife, Rosie and I wandered upon this fellow on our morning walk (8/14). He was at the same green we had our other close encounter. Rosie pulled me across the street and was sniffing around some bushes near where she had previously found some young armadillos, so I didn't think too much of it. Then I looked toward the green and there was the alligator sunning under the tree. We moved back to the other side of the street and he ignored us. Even so, it reminded me that we have to be vigilant!

I’ve indulged in Indian food again this week and I think this may become a fairly regular thing. Maria, my neighbor across the street (mom of the Adorable Felix!), is on her own this week as her husband is in NY. She joined me for Drinking Liberally on Tuesday and we decided to try the other Naan restaurant in Pooler (Naan Appetit, near the Savannah airport). It differed from the other one in that they served a buffet, as well as having an extensive menu, and seemed to have a steady stream of local working people and take-out orders. We decided to go for the buffet, although I was salivating for another go at the Paneer Butter Masala! I’m glad we did the buffet as it was a good sampling of their food. They had several meat dishes and then 4-5 vegetarian dishes, and 2 desserts. My plate was full and all of it was delicious. To add to that, the service in both restaurants was very pleasant and friendly.

I had just bought the sunflowers and David brought the 

little bouquet as a thank you. He didn't have to but it was nice.

A Day of Good Deeds: Monday (8/16) was our first day of school and it turned out to be a busy day for me. It was on my calendar to take my friend David to Coastal Carolina Hospital for a procedure at 10 AM and pick him up in the afternoon. My doorbell rang at 8 AM and my first thought was that I’d gotten the time wrong, but there at my door was Joann, Reyna’s middle girl, almost in tears. She said she had been up since 5 AM, straightened her long hair, dressed immaculately, and the bus had not picked her up. Reyna was at work so she walked over to my house for help. I gave her a hug and told her to take a deep breath and we would get her there on time, which we did. I got home in time to have a smoothie before taking David to the hospital. I was scheduled to pick up groceries on my way home but received a text that they were delayed until 11 AM, so I went back and picked up Rosie and picked them up at 11. Around 2 PM I was called to pick up David, who wanted to linger at my house a little until he felt steady enough to go home, He’d been here about 45 minutes when the doorbell rang. This time it was Michelle, Reyna’s 4^th grader, and Richard’s twin girls! The bus had delivered them home but the combination to the front door didn’t work and the older girls were not home yet! I texted Reyna for the correct code, all the while feeding snacks and looking at everything the twins had gotten at school. It was their first day in kindergarten and they were obviously excited. I drove them over to see if we could open the door, which we did. By the time I got back, David was asleep on my couch. Rosie and I kept a low profile until he woke up, at which time he felt like driving home. The saga doesn’t end there! The next morning we are out for our walk when we see Valeria, Reyna’s oldest daughter, walking our way. Again, her bus (shortage of drivers!) had not picked her up so we repeated the process from yesterday. Valeria doesn’t like school so she wasn’t nearly as upset as Joann but I was impressed that she made the effort to get there.

In my last post, I forgot to mention that the first week of August I heard from friends Carolyn in France and Bob in Thailand, both of whom had just gotten their first vaccine! It shows the advantages we have over other parts of the world in getting the vaccine and yet some people can’t manage to do the right thing to help others/everyone!! It’s very difficult to have sympathy for them when they get Covid and it’s sad to realize how little they care about the wellbeing of others.

This morning (8/17) was the morning I've been waiting for – awaking to a gentle, soothing rain! As much rain as we've gotten, none of it has been in the early morning, so on this morning, I dismissed both my 7 and 8 AM alarms, finally getting up around 8:20. I usually feel the need to get Rosie out early, but I know she won't go out in the rain so I seized the moment.

Update: Surprisingly, I’ve finished The Promised Land in record time and it has been a total delight. Granted, it may be too much for those who are not political wonks, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. First of all, he is a wonderful writer and has a memory for detail with vivid, almost poetic descriptions– he mentioned that he journaled in college and I wondered if he did so through his presidency. He is such a deliberate speaker when in the news that I thought it might be slow and dry, but that certainly was not the case. I especially enjoyed his description/perception of Lindsey Graham!! In any case, if you have the option to read it or listen to it. I recommend the audiobook. Then I went from the sublime to the ridiculous by listening to Greenlight, Matthew McConaughey’s autobiography. He reads it in his own inimitable style and bravado  (Alright! Alright! Alright!) and at times I was laughing out loud. To say the least, he has certainly had a colorful life!

Saudi Story: On two separate occasions (with Tippy and Kieran and again with Chris, Lynn, and Tom) I’ve bored friends with my recollection of evacuating Saudi during the first Gulf War. You’ve probably seen the huge cargo plane full of people fleeing Afghanistan, which reminded me of flying in one to get out of Saudi during the war. Our departure was not nearly as life-threatening as the Afghanis, but the experience was one I never in a million years would have expected to have. In any case, teachers were allowed to take vacation days, and some of us (Polly, Cheryl, and others whom I don’t recall at the moment) took advantage of the opportunity.  Since there were no commercial flights, our only means of leaving was to fly out on a cargo plane. Cheryl may have to refresh my memory but I remember being dropped off by Allan and Phil so we could do the paperwork before leaving. The interesting part is that we had to go where the plane was scheduled to go! Cheryl and I had hoped to get to the UK together, but as it turned out, I went to Ramstein in Germany (also in the news a lot recently), and I can’t remember where Cheryl went. I want to say someplace like Diego Garcia, but I could be very wrong (Cheryl, refresh my memory). The plane  (C-131 or C-141) was amazing, with a great hollow belly with flip-down seats along the sides of the plane. The pilots allowed us to go into the cockpit which had huge windows and you could see for miles. We arrived at Ramstein in the middle of the night and the women of the base had food and refreshments for us, which was totally unexpected but greatly appreciated. We were then taken to the airport and it was up to us to make our way from there. Cheryl and I met up at Jean’s, Allan’s sister in Manchester, UK, and had time with them, as well as with Nora, a friend of Cheryl’s. We then made our way to the States for the remainder of our leave. By the time we had to go back into kingdom, the war was almost over. 

I'm thinking of Cheryl this week as she takes her mom Ann, who passed away early in the pandemic, back to Missouri. I know it will be a difficult trip but I'm equally sure that she, Bonnie, and their brother will be lifted by reminiscences of sweet Ann by family and friends. May her memory be a blessing.

Rosie Stories and Fun with Friends

 Rosie Stories: This morning  (7/17) Rosie and I had our longest (time-wise) walk ever! We ambled along at Rosie’s sniffing pace. We ran into Lynn and Bogey as they were turning the corner for home. Rosie insisted on walking them to the door and invite herself inside. We had a nice chat with Lynn and Tom and Rosie got her usual treats and attention from Tom. We headed home and R had a good roll on the grass along the way. Kurt, one of our other neighbors had chatted with us on a previous walk and invited us to stop by to see Norma (his wife) sometime, so we went to their door, R whined twice and the door was answered. R had been good at Lynn’s but here she had the zoomies and played rambunctiously with a toy. They got a real kick out of that as they had not seen that side of her. From there, we were almost home when Debby and Dave pull over for a quick chat. Debby opened her door and R was right there to get some loving. As we made our way home, one cyclist passed us for the 3^rd time and I told her we were still trying to get home! She acknowledged that we weren’t making much progress.

One day last week, we were starting our walk when Rosie stopped and looked at the house across the street. She stood for a minute, the front door opened and Deanna and Joe came out saying, “we thought Rosie wanted us to come out!” By this time R is bounding across the street to get her full attention. Needless to say, we have a very tolerant neighborhood to spoil Rosie this way. She does love people and I can’t tell you how much joy that brings me….and them, too. I think they feel good to be greeted with such pure affection.

Fun with Friends: It's been a busy and fun few weeks with friends beginning on July 23. Tippy, Keiran, and I went over to Beaufort to catch a little bit of the Water Festival. Unlike our plans for the concert, there was a light crowd and we got to browse the vendors comfortably and safely. Then we had a leisurely lunch outside at Plums. It was a very pleasant day and Rosie forgave be because Tippy and Keiran came inside to play with her before heading home!

Then on Thursday (7/29), Tippy and I met at Olive and Fig for the F-word. Again, it was pleasant enough to eat outside and we celebrated Tippy's good news, which I'll get to later.  We followed that by going to the local Farmers' Market. I picked up some peaches for my morning smoothie, Heirloom tomatoes (longing for a good sandwich!), and fresh corn! They have all contributed great flavor to my recent meals. It was a relaxing way to spend the day!

On the following Friday, Chris and I went for lunch in Savannah. Lynn and Tom were out of town so in their absence we decided to go for Indian food and, boy, were we pleasantly surprised! It was the best Indian food I have had in a long time (maybe since years ago when in England and Ann, Martin, the Snells, and I went for Indian food!). We shared our selections and just kept swooning and commenting on the flavors. This is a major discovery, and we learned that they have two restaurants with one being near the new Costco!!  But, before coming home we took in an interesting SCAD exhibit. Titled Bejeweled, all pieces were made of "reclaimed" jewelry from flea markets, thrift shops, etc. It really was a delight to browse and especially look at the detail. It was a very satisfying day, and I can't remember the last time I was in Savannah.

I've mentioned Tippy's good news, which followed two weeks of stress and anxiety! She went for her usual checkup at MUSC, feeling fine and dandy all the way. When the x-rays came back. there was an obvious change in her throat. The doctor recommended that she return for a biopsy, which she did at the earliest possible appointment. Even though it was a few days it seemed like an eternity. This was her third scare after two surgeries and it carries added weight and concern, as you might guess. She and Keiran had to be there at 5:30 AM for the biopsy and around 7:30 or 8 AM I received a call that everything looked good once they took a look inside. They did take snippets for the biopsy, but the interior did not look as the x-ray indicated! What a relief! I know how relieved I was and I can't begin to imagine how Tippy felt! That was worth celebrating! AND, the day we met for lunch, she had been to have the blood clots in her lungs checked and they were gone! Dissolved and gone!! Now I feel that we partners-in-crime can get up to no good with impunity! 

Everything else has been pretty typical - 

• My dishwasher broke and it took about two weeks to replace it (via American Home Shield). 
• We have had a few very hot days but by and large, it remains mild....and it's August!. We've had quite a few overcast days (I've almost gotten used to them!) and gotten so much rain that we are almost as green as the UK! 
• Lynn and Tom are back and our Pandemic Pals are getting together tomorrow night for dinner at Chow Daddy's. It'll be good to catch up. We are wondering how much longer we will be able to get together in restaurants with the Delta variant on the rise. I just find it so hard to believe - and sad - that there are so many citizens who do not believe what is happening before their very eyes! I guess if they are unwilling to protect themselves and their children, we can't expect them to be willing to protect the rest of society. I really feel that they have something basic to humanity missing in their makeup. It's beyond my ability to comprehend, and I can't pretend that what I know now about some family and acquaintances doesn't influence my opinion of them. It is very sad and while Biden is a tremendous improvement, we are not out of the woods yet! 

I can't leave you on that note, so I will show you Rosie in action. David called and wanted to come over for some Rosie time and this is usually what happens!

Please tell me I don't really sound like this!!

I hope this finds each of you doing well and staying safe. Take care and love to all.