Helios! Where Are You?

This morning, I could tell Helios had hitched up his team to the chariot...

Grey interrupted.

Then, his golden chariot slipped behind the grey.

About a week ago, after many grey days, Jeanenne walked into the kitchen, parted the curtains, and exclaimed, "Look, a grey day!" Today is another one. We plotted days ahead of a predicted break in cloud cover to go to Longwood Gardens and carried out the plan...

I didn't even attempt to record the sumptuousness of the never-ending varieties cultivated for this annual show set in acres of glass housing. I marvel at the coming together of plant and humanity to happen over these few weeks. And, the legacies of great industrialists--in this case Pierre duPont. Our latter-day squabbles over jobs, industry, wealth seem in some odd way, antiquated. Robber barons, exploitation, poverty off-set, sometimes, by legacies of philanthropy. We are such an odd species.

For obvious reasons--who wants a cold or flu along with healing from lung surgery--I am staying away from winter crowds and that is why an uncrowded Longwood Gardens visit seemed a good bet for an outing with Jeanenne before she soon must return to her own life. She will have been with me for almost a month and all of it has been the greatest help, love, and support that I could imagine. Hand in hand with that are the contacts and well-wished messages that continue to pour into my life. I am reminded of the many, many appointments that Pennsylvania friends and family have taken me to and are continuing to cover until I am free and clear of this lung thing and/or the ticker doctor says I can climb aboard my pony again.

Longwood has much, much more than orchids...

There is an arid lands room.

Inside, Springtime has already come.

The summer outdoor landscape will be a whole other part to experience another time, later on.

We don't want to forget that Pineapple is Keoni's favourite fruit...

Let's get this out of the way first: I'm OK. Surgery went very well. Heart and blood anomalies aside it was over and out by Friday. A disappointing day Thursday when a late decision made another day of testing lengthen my stay until Friday late afternoon. But here I am home with Jeanenne's fine ministrations of plenty of TLC and our decision to stay away from crowds a few more days. A head or chest cold right now would be worse than waking up from anesthesia.

We are comfortable.

Keoni chose this photo for a "commercial use" I think he said...

Keoni.

Weekend preceding the operation we were able to celebrate Jeanenne's birthday here at home. John, Wendy and Aidan came. Marge was in town for a brief stay for her work so it worked out so nicely. I was happy we could sit down together for a meal, cake and ice cream.

Nice seeing Jeanenne through the household passageways.

After we ate Keoni skyped with us and played his wonderful renditions of Happy Birthday. Wish he'd been here still before his vacation was over. Aidan played some of his cello pieces that sound good without piano accompaniment. Then, he coached us to play...

First, the birthday girl.

Then Wendy.

Then John

Marge taking in the results.

Ah yes, then came the hospital.

Thank you, Valerie and Tim.

Thank you, Jim, Nancy, and Laura.

Since the right rib cage is still healing its wounds I am happily doing without a bra which, no doubt, would have fit right in with older feminists present across the Women's March. Wow! Who knew. And the protests were peaceful!

Listen up world! Today women of the USA and the planet showed everyone what MLK, Ghandi, Mandela, and Bishop Tutu were talking about. You rock, Marchers! Hallelujah!

Heard from St. Louis sister Susie, and cousin Kathy Puhr.

St. Louis.

Yes, Kathy!

This has to be awfully quick because I've expended lots of energy the past three days but, at last, not one single medical thing for three whole days going on; or, maybe I should say running in the background while my sister Jeanenne and I took in some tourist type activities.

We went over Pennsylvania's interesting back roads to New Hope, PA...

...and froze ourselves walking around to closed shops on Monday. We were fortunate to find a lovely restaurant "The Landing" open and complete with a fire going in the fireplace and in a Franklin stove, a view of the Delaware River floating ice by at a pretty high speed, and delicious food. What a change from the week before when every medical test imaginable was going on at breakneck speed. And, how wonderful to have Jeanenne here with me driving my pony Subaru relieving Wendy, Keoni, John and many friends from that duty for awhile.

Keoni shared his panorama shot from New York where he was visiting friends...

Back on the weekend, Jeanenne and I made a destination walk to the Dunkin' Donut where Jeanenne and I enjoyed our chocolate decafs and successfully resisted doughnuts beckoning from the shelves.

Jeanenne.

Tuesday, we took in Mercer Museum over in Doylestown...

Jeanenne took me for a haircut the night before.

Wednesday, we got on the train to Center City and had lunch in Reading Terminal Market...

...before heading to Independence Mall for a look around. It was, by that time, warm weather with a touch of sunshine now and then. Free senior fare made the bus rides on Market Street a foot-saving event so we lasted through the Liberty Bell site and went on to take in Independence Hall complex...

...we lasted through Betsy Ross' house. Now there was a strong, upstanding business woman who outlasted three husbands and brought up around five kids. I wonder if she thought much about "having it all".

Walking past the Liberty Bell to the bus that would take us nearer Betsy Ross house, a sudden swoosh barely above Jeanenne's head turned out to be a hawk diving to its lunch, a hapless pigeon. Jeanenne just as swiftly videoed the moment right after the attack...

Thank you, for sharing that moment of urban wildlife, Jeanenne.

To put a softer, kinder animal image before you, over in the southwest, Valerie shared photos of their little seven-week-old yellow lab, Izzy...

And their two-year-old kitty Nigel...

So, today, after the Cardiology appointment and a couple more phone calls, it looks like all clearances are go for my surgery next Tuesday, 17th. Now to continue the huffing and puffing into the spirometer, the continued rassle with a CPAP machine that was designed during someone's nightmare, walking, laundering, and there's more but I can't think of it right now.

On the cardiology issue, there have been no events monitored or tested for to date that explain the episodes in the fall, so stay out from behind the wheel for the next six months and the implant may tell the story better. Call him if another episode happens. The cardiologist is really thorough in delving into the aspects and extraordinarily able to clearly express what can be discerned so far. I am in good hands.

It is time to close for now. Jeanenne and I are going to binge-watch some more of This is Us. 

I will leave you with the beautiful flowers that surprised me. They were sent by Gloria in Tucson. Thank you, Gloria.

2017 and No Snow for Christmas!

Hi Y'All. I understand we here in in this corner of Pennsylvania say "youse".

I apologize for such a long delay. Yes, lots of pre-operative jumping through loops. And, the surgery date was pushed along to January 17th. I'll spare you the details and myself, too, since I've been on that detail far too much and want to just enjoy thinking about how y'all spent your holidays and share a little bit of mine. I sure had a wonderful set of Christmas and New Years weekends. Simple and deeply satisfying.

Music was the thread that always runs through getting together with the grandsons. Christmas Eve they accompanied at the church evening service.

Keoni, at the wheel of my pony, did all the driving for the holidays for me and will do some more tomorrow. Then Wendy will take over for the rest of the week while he goes to NYC. I spent both weekends at the farm with them.

Well here's the tree...

Christmas morning.

Keoni wondered why Aidan got 20 one dollar bills from the bank, until...

...Keoni opened his present from Aidan on Christmas morning.

The boys made their own Christmas card...




One of the Christmas songs that gave Keoni an earworm pestered him until he did this...






Over in Utah Elijah and Kinston were enjoying their Christmas morning, too...

And there was snow in Tucson...

Gloria and Joseph.

But no snow in PA. Cristmas Day and New Years Day were both warm and sunny. So good for walks at the farm.

Aidan.

Well some of the days were'nt sunny...

But this one was! The wide hips in the middle are mine.

The park in Quakertown where I walk sometimes.

The barista lady in the Dunkin' Donuts that I walk to fixes me decaf with hot chocolate and cream and finesses donut holes for me that I shouldn't be eating.

One morning the boys and I breakfasted on papaya and fresh scones I made.

New Year's Day Keoni played with Peter and Seth for the church service.

Well, you get the picture. It was quiet and wonderful. We took in The Buena Vista Social Club DVD and the next day went to see La La Land and enjoyed it immensely. More ear worms. The boys picked it out on the piano as soon as we got home. My recording is a fail so we will just imagine that one. The music was like being in a spa transporting me out of details and we didn't think about politics for days.

My go to quiet chair is beckoning.

Goodnight, Y'all.