Friday morning

Good morning. Happy birthday to me. A nice day so far - up early, to the park with Jessie. A good walk. I noticed as we passed the pond the first time that the Canada geese were gone. I thought maybe the adults' new year's wing feathers had finally come in and the juveniles were able to fly, and they were off to more northerly (and less HOT) climes. Did seem to be a little early. However, later as we completed the eastern loop and came back toward the pond, I heard the unmistakable call of Canada geese. Turns out the flock was grazing in the grassy field north of the pond. A lot of bird calls this morning, perhaps because it was a bit less humid and cooler. I did my T'ai Chi form in the rock garden, while Jessie dozed. We also walked the western loop and then came back to the pond to sit on a bench. Quiet (of course, with the hum of automobiles in the background where they speed down the city street that is the north border of the park). Again Jessie snoozed in the grass at my feet (did I get her up too early this morning? or was she just relaxing?) I was sitting quietly on the bench when the muskrat swam by. This time, not just his/her little head above the water, but the whole body visible, just dog paddling along quietly. Jessie didn't notice him/her, which is good. Then across the pond where the gaggle of geese was grazing, a couple of Canada geese appeared to get into a dispute and one fell in the pond with a big splash. A quiet lovely morning in the park.

I saw Dr. R yesterday for my first 3-month checkup. Everything fine. It was an incredibly busy morning at the Cancer Center. Are more people getting cancer? Or more people with cancer choosing this hospital? Or just one particularly busy day? Standing room only in the waiting rooms. (Reminded me of when I went for chemo #3, I think, around Christmas time (actually, I recall - December 23 it was). There literally were people waiting in line for their chemo, but that was because they had double booked so that the hospital staff could have Christmas day or maybe Christmas day and Christmas eve off of work). I asked Nurse E about my blood counts - had forgotten to ask Dr. R -- and she said they were all fine, white cell count slightly low, but normal, and hemoglobin better than hers. Next appointment is with Dr. M on August 31. I have a CT scan scheduled for end of October - just over 1 year after the original surgery - and then an appointment with Dr R to review the results. That will be a little anxiety-provoking.

I am looking forward to my 4-day weekend. I need to make real plans for taking more time off, decide for sure about a class at the boat school in Maine (they are having a special - 30% off - on some seamanship classes, including a class called Craft of Sail for women only. That is another possibility. I hope to decide in the next few days.)

I'm feeling good. Apart from general anxiety about the state of the world, about my cousin C';s recovery, my aunt M's arthritis, my children's and their spouses' livelihoods and general happiness, my grandson's future, the state of health care in the US, poverty, AIDS, racism,.... okay, I'm obsessive. But basically I am happy and wish everyone in the world had the opportunity to feel good, live in peace, health and well being.

Peace.