Report of 29 June 2020

Good evening!

Bright sunlight and pretty colors outside.  We are sitting under the fan.  There is no airconditioning in our house for a variety of reasons, chief among them the fact that we will stick inside the lone room that is airconditioned and miss out on life. 

We are well and hope the same with you.  Scott and I battled one-day viruses yesterday and are grateful they were one-day deals.  It is fine for physicians to go through such ailments, I tell you, because then we know first hand of what the patients speak when they say, "I caught a little cold, but I was so wiped out."  As we age, we are coming up with all sorts of bodily fun and games: I am balding in front above my forehead and my ankles swell, Scott says he is no longer as flexible as he used to be.  Then I look at my shock of grey hair and the people Ma'am-ing me, and I know I am aging.  I rather like getting to this age - no rein on the old mouth.

The Banyan is nice.  We are in lockdown no. 5 in Chennai and this one is strict, with stern monitoring of travels.  I had my doctor's ID and got to work last week; Scott had said he would have been surprised if I had made it all the way to Adaikalam, about 60 kms away.  It was nice to go: the roads were quiet, the Banyan merry and I finished work quickly.  Before work started, one of the cooks made me a couple of thin and crisp dosais (rice crepes) and plated them beautifully, insisting that they were thin and I ought to eat 2.  I was touched by the attention.  There were some staff to be attended to, also, and that was done.  In the midst of work, several people came bawling - some have had psychiatric medicines adjusted and apparently, symptoms got precipitated; some others had job situations to narrate.  I am not a psychiatrist and yelled for help; thankfully, it came quickly.  I am probably in for more when I go tomorrow. 

We spoke to the children last week and that was nice.  Both looked happy and relaxed.  Naren has finished his school year at a middle school and apparently was inundated with gifts on the last day, when he made a personal appearance to wish "his kids" farewell.  Nat looked good - hair was combed differently and the clothes were stylish.  I have asked that Nat not comb her hair back from the forehead as a couple of people - dermatologist, hair stylist - have said that could contribute to the baldness. 

I spoke to my father yesterday and that was the merry fest it always is.  He had listened to our Prime Minister's address and spoke of it; we do not have a TV, thus I appreciated my father's assessment of the speech.  We also got a few chuckles in about other matters and that was nice.  Last week was my mother-in-law's birthday and there was a Zoom call with the family to chat; that was also nice. 

We hope all of you are well.

Unw -

R  

Report of 21 June 2020

Happy Father's Day!

Hope all of you have a good day today.

We are well.  The Banyan is, of course, wonderful.  I went to work last Tuesday and the young man checking everyone's temperature, pulse, oxygen saturation, etc., before we are allowed to enter asked me if I had not brought any gifts - the previous week, I had taken some sweets.  I had not, and blamed it on my lack of salary.  Everyone understands that funda.  We now have a "male ward," where men can be housed - this is revolutionary, because for over 20+ years, we housed only women; this young man - doubling up for proctoring duty at the gate - works in the male ward.  I did not know his name and asked; he mentioned it and then said, "Everyone at the Banyan knows my name."  It is nice - and sometimes not - to have such robust self-esteem.

There were some COVID positive cases at one of the hospitals that we take our patients to and one of our colleagues had gone to said hospital.  She then developed a sore throat and my pulse started to race.  We isolated her and got her tested at our expense; thankfully, the result was negative.  All of us are breathing again. 

It is an unnerving time, innit - on the one hand, SARS-CoV2 is just a virus.  On the other hand, it can be fatal.  Better that all of us err on the side of caution with this deadly germ. 

The children and I did a "Continue this story" gift for Scott for Father's Day.  I started it, speaking of his younger days and took it up to our wedding, then Naren spoke of their teen and young adult years under their father's influence, then Nat spoke of adulthood and now.  The brief intra-group communication prior to the final product was hilarious and I enjoyed it.  Scott got the final product today and liked it; the children have written well and lovingly (not gushingly, and that's okay).  Being a coffee drinker, Scott likes his morning cup and had not tried cold coffee despite my extolling its virtues (I do not drink coffee, but have had this version); last night, through massive subterfuge, I made some coffee and put it in the fridge.  Thankfully, Scott was working behind closed doors, otherwise the smell of coffee - at night, from a non-coffee drinker - can cause serious suspicion.  Scott had the cold coffee this morning when we were chatting with our children, then had pasta for lunch (not common for us), and said he had a good Father's Day.  The cold coffee appears to have suited Scott's palate.   

I attended a workshop on stress yesterday and it was quite nice.  Useful.   

I am off to talk to my father now.  Have a very good day/evening, all!

Unw -

R

Report of 15 June 2020

Good evening!

It is hot - the heat radiates, conducts, convects.  But we have cold mangoes in the fridge.  Cold.  Mangoes. 

We are well now.  I was sick last week and found the sofa an excellent place to be.  I got up one morning and my usual workout did not call me with the same urgency that it normally does.  So I lay back down, then got up and got my workout clothes, lay back down, got up and so on about 5 times.  Finally, I used my remaining healthy molecules to take a shower and plop on the sofa from where I read, did my Continuing Medical Education, etc.

The Banyan is wonderful.  India continues to have a spike in cases and Chennai is badly affected, so we are increasing precautions at the B.  I was there last week and saw many patients.  Some staff also needed attention.  Our patient, who fell and hit her head, now has increased attention on herself and someone is always at bedside or with their eye on her - as is appropriate.  One of our other patients, who is mentally challenged and mostly non-verbal, was lying on her bed after a meal.  I looked at her and thought to myself that she might have been considered a burden on her family, but at the B, she is looked after well and loved and respected.  That - truly - is the joy of the Banyan. 

We spoke to the children and they are well.  Naren has a play reading this week - not common to find work at this time.  Nat has moved and is staying with a college friend.  When we spoke, it was morning U.S. time and both children were on their mattresses; it was cute and reminiscent of old times when we saw them in the mornings, in their beds, wanting to sleep more or simply stay in bed.

Thanks to all who wrote and shared heartwarming thoughts on Nat's transition.  We are very happy and privileged to be involved in the process, and proud of our strong and brave children. 

I spoke to my father yesterday and he is well, thank goodness.  He was roped in for a meeting of the board of trustees of my alma mater, Lady Doak College, and I requested that he take appropriate precautions.  I did not need to tell him; he planned to mask, glove, keep his distance and not shake anyone's hands.  In fact, the Indian greeting - the folded hands Namaste - has become quite the salute du jour. 

We saw a movie today called "What will people say" - about a Pakistani-Norwegian teenager's culture clash.  It was alarming.  Very well-done and lauded at film festivals, etc., but alarming and depressing, nonetheless. 

Stay well and safe!

Unw -

R

Report of 7 June 2020

Good evening!

Sometimes, a conversation with one's father - replete with chuckles and happiness over his lunch menu: biryani, chicken and fish fry - can make one's evening. 

We are well and hope the same with all of you, truly.  COVID cases are increasing here, and the powers are re-evaluating the relaxation of the lockdown.  With a mortality of 3%, we do stand to lose a lot of people if the virus continues to affect. 

The Banyan is wonderful.  I was there last week and saw many patients.  I got word today that one of our patients fell in the restroom and was not located until the next person went to the restroom.  That was alarming, and has not happened before.  Some of our patients are wobbly at baseline and have to be hawkishly watched, which usually happens; I am unsure what happened today and the team will investigate tomorrow.  Such investigations are best done in person - I got a "The door was locked and she went to the restroom," which made little sense.  There was not likely negligence at fault, as the B's staff are diligent and good; probably the staff got occupied with an issue and the patient neglected to tell someone that she was going to the restroom.  We'll find out. 

The B's patients are slight and brittle-boned; even a fall from a short height or a stub of the toe can cause a fracture.  Many are on psychiatric medications, which can affect the gait.  I have asked for an xray for tomorrow, and hope it does not show a fracture. 

Scott and I ran some errands yesterday.  I had sworn off restaurant food, quite liking the simple joys of cooking.  Well, after my birthday meal and like Sylvester kissing Tweety and getting a craving for bird again, I had to have Writer's Cafe food again.  So off we went, getting takeaway and buying some mangoes.  We had cold mango after lunch today; cold mango is unfailingly a dream.  We then saw an excellent Australian movie called "Ali's wedding." 

We spoke to both children today.  Nat was wearing a nice skirt and looked comfy lounging around.  Her t-shirt said, "Thou shalt not try me.  Mood 24:7."  Naren was sitting on his balcony and I guess it is hot enough in Brooklyn to do that.  I think both children were a tad tired - it was late evening for them - and we wound up the conversation after some chit chat.  It is challenging to find a mutually convenient time; the mornings start at different times for them and the evenings find them tired.  But we will find a time: communication - intra-family - is key. 

I hope all of you stay well and safe.

Unw -

R