Report of 6 September 2020

 Good evening!

Guess what I did today.  Cleaned monkey p**p.  Not at the zoo, from our balcony.  I am actually full of admiration for Simian; when folks say the wildlife is in our territory, that is so not true - we are in their territory.  Simian has been in our complex and when we were speaking with the children on Friday, we heard a noise in the back area.  It sounded like our washing machine was speaking up, or there were pigeons in the area, or something.  Scott went to see, and there was Simian sitting on the back wall, eating the eggs that I had set out to get to room temperature before frying them.  Apparently, Sim snarled at Scott, who went in and got a stick, which he subsequently rattled at Sim and Sim left.  Sim then came on to our front balcony - we think - at some point this weekend and did the deed.  I think he wanted to make a statement, and he did.  

Nat suggested we leave some spicy chillies/food outside to deter Sim, based on our experience a few years ago.  We were walking in a famous garden in Bangalore, carrying lunch leftovers with us when a monkey came down and nonchalantly grabbed 1 of the 2 bags from Nat.  Nat tugged, the monkey pulled and the monkey won.  The packet contained my lunch leftovers - spicy noodles, which the monkey tasted and absolutely did not care for.  

We are otherwise well.  It was nice to see the children.  They were relaxed and happy.  I read a letter in "The Open Page" of our newspaper today from a reader who stated that the pandemic was helping folks find a work-life balance.  Scott has always been appreciative of our children finding that balance early in their careers.  They don't make pots of $, but they are as happy as clams, and are making a difference in the world.  "What God intended," said my father today.  

The Banyan is great.  I was at Adaikalam last week - barring being on the phone every day - and it was nice.  Our Medical Care Unit (MCU) is clean and airy, and the patients are happy.  One of the patients particularly likes having jewellery - it is costume jewellery and she likes it.  She asks me when I enter if I like all that she has on, and I unfailingly say yes.  She has a necklace and 2 armloads of bangles + anklets, and sometimes earrings.  The health care worker (hcw) says she has so many bangles on that there is no place on her arm for the hcw to place her own hand when escorting the patient to the restroom.  I saw evidence of that a little later when the patient had to go to the restroom - she went fully decked up and the lack of bare arm space was truly funny + lovely.  We are women, wanting a little accessorization and pretty, dangly things.  When the women get lice, I instantly ask for tonsuring and Vandana has demurred, wanting us to preserve the women's identity, which the average Indian woman can get from long hair.  We try, but I am often regretfully merciless.  

Our model is being replicated in Sri Lanka and online teaching of the personnel has begun.  My first class is on 14 September and is on First Aid plus vital signs.  I will likely start preparing tomorrow.  I have a bedraggled notebook somewhere with some of this info, but it is wise to prepare a fresh class.  

Our state's lockdown restrictions have been eased and I expect the case numbers to increase.  Scott and I ran some quick errands yesterday, and had a nice meal at a near-empty restaurant.  Service was excellent and we got some takeaway, too, which is tasty.   

I spoke to my Father today and he was cheerful.  He wanted to know about our jobs, and was very concerned about Scott's pay cut.  I don't imagine a parent ever stops worrying about her/his children.  I assured my Father we were okay, and he was content.  

I have been watching movies on OTT platforms and enjoying them.  Today, both Scott and I watched "C U soon," featuring Naren's friend, Darshana.  It was good.  It was filmed on a mobile phone - in keeping with social distancing and other precautions - and was very well-done.  

It has been a good life.  I am - actually - enjoying all that I am learning of the pandemic, too.  

Unw -

R