11/18 The best laid plans

Well, we had a nice routine going. That was until the Mamá had a stomach virus all weekend. Then Randy got sick and spent Monday afternoon and evening in bed. Then Bob came home sick Monday, tried to work Tuesday and came home at 10:00 a.m.. Then Marianne got a stomach virus and threw up at the Penguins game Tuesday night. Randy bounced back the fastest, taking a bike ride on Tuesday after school, albeit a short one. Mama is still on slightly shaky ground, her insides gurgling a lot. Bob went back to school on Wednesday, but spent the evening under an afghan with hot tea. Marianne will finally go back to work today. And I've been knocking on every piece of wood I can find, along with taking echinacea with orange juice several time a day.

I am beginning to wonder if my skipping a flu shot this year was a foolish move. I reasoned that since I wouldn't be exposed to all the little "angels" and their germs, I should be okay. So far, so good. Lunch with Patti yesterday at Kaya was wonderful, one of those things I enjoy about being retired. She has a one-year lead on me, so I look to her for wisdom about what's to come. She agreed that for a long time there is almost a euphoria about being able to get up each day and make one's own plans. It's not as if I don't have to consider anybody else, or even as if I have no obligations. It's just different, especially with the things we were required to do for the last few years.

I had lunch with Jay on Monday, partly to get some information about the Standardized Patient portrayals from an insider. He agreed that even teaching on the university level was very different when he retired from what it had been when he started. I related the story to him about the man in the class I taught after Dr. Burrett died. He hounded me about his grade, and eventually I began to feel that for a temporary part-time gig, I was putting way more thought and getting way more stress than it was worth. But on the college level, students tend to think if they've paid their money they're entitled to a grade.

It was good to talk with Jay, because we do actually have other things to talk about than the SP program or even theatre. He does some respectable cycling, and we compared notes on bike trails. He has also done the trail near Franklin, though he said he stopped at the tunnel because he didn't have a light. He is possibly interested in trying the trail in Maine that was written up in the most recent Rails to Trails magazine. How ironic that one of the few people who does decent distances and rides fairly frequently is even older than we are.

The routine continues to settle in, despite the contagion around me. I have kept faithfully to the yoga schedule, incorporating a new video which includes vinyasas, which are good on the days I don't run or cycle.. I feel better physically than I have in a while, something I attribute directly to the yoga. I have continued with projects around the house, and hope to be able to keep a handle on things during the holidays.

In the meantime, the elderly continue to crumble. Irene is still in rehab, and Bob talked with her yesterday while I took my mother's dinner to her. (We don't want her exposed to Bob and his respiratory illness). He said she seems quite disheartened. It's ironic, since she has had her share of adversity. It's just that before now, her challenges have been emotional. Her first husband died suddenly, her son did the same a few years ago, and then Dad battled Alzheimers. During that time, she had some minor things go wrong with her, and her hip replacement, but was always strong and able to hold her own. I'm going to recommend the Benedum Geriatric Center to her daughter, in case they need to get her psychological help.

Our local mayor's wife died this week after a years-long battle with cancer. I never met her, but she was liked by one and all. Everyone I talked to said was a truly nice person she was. It makes me wonder what people will say about me!

Still on my to-do list: tea with David Lewis, calling the Watershield people, calling the exterminator back, taking more time to write. Randy is at Mary's parents' house until after Thanksgiving. That week, all hell will break loose with the knee surgery and my first SP case portrayal. Wheee!!

11/9 The value of routine and variety

So, here's what I've come to realize in the last few weeks. As much of a lover of routine as I am, I also need some flexibility. The last few days have finally settled into what is a heavenly way to live. With a little less yard work to do, and with cutting back PT to two days a week instead of three, my daily routine has become quite pleasant. I seem to have passed that exhaustion that I think comes with the change of seasons and I've been getting out of bed before 6:30. That gives me back the few hours I was losing to sleep for a couple of weeks. I've managed to finish the mulch, get a good handle on a housecleaning routine, exercise the way I've always wanted to and have time for some relaxation and fun. Couldn't be better.

We had a scare with Bob John's mother last week; they told him to call his brother up from Florida because they did not expect her to last the week. She rallied over the weekend, Gary returned to Florida, and she seems to be doing better all the way around. On the other hand, we found out that Irene had two toes amputated, which turned out to be better than the alternative "leg above the knee" option the doctor here was planning. Her family took her to Cleveland Clinic for a second opinion and they did a bypass in the leg to improve circulation. She is currently in rehab until she gets a handle on the walking thing again.

Had an epiphany. I am a lover of routine, so I have to be careful not to regiment myself too much. I have achieved an almost-perfect balance of routine and variety, so that my life at the moment seems perfect. I don't mean without problems perfect. Just that it's a comfortable pace, I am getting things done, I am able to relax some, I am not bored. I have enough exercise options that I can shake things up and stay in the best shape of my life. Life is good.

I have two case portrayals on my schedule for December, so I'll be getting my feet wet in the SP program. They seem to have the confidence I can handle these without an observation, so I'm going to give it my best shot. This morning I read a CNN article about people who have had memory impairment illnesses in their families and what they do to stave off the same in themselves. Ironically, ballroom dancing was considered the most perfect way to do that. It combines exercise, socializing and having to learn something, the three key items to staying healthy and avoiding memory impairment. Bob John would die!!!!

11/4 Onward

It's been quite a week on the geriatric scene. My mother completed all her appointments leading up to the orthopedic man yesterday. He took one look at the x-ray of her left knee and literally apologized for not realizing how bad it must have been last year when she saw him. She has replacement surgery scheduled for Nov. 30. Recovery will mostly take place here, and he is happy about that since it apparently significantly reduces the possibility of infection.

She also got her Q-Tenza treatment on Wednesday. Hopefully soon, she will have no pain to complain about; then what shall we do?

I was just offered a case portrayal on Dec. 1. I hate to decline, since this really is a vote of confidence on the team's part, but I worry that I will be exhausted because of mom's surgery the day before. On the other hand, she will be safely in the hospital, so that would free me up.