Report of 21 Mar 2021

Good evening!

My favorite husband has sprouted a goatie, I like the look, he is sitting across from me at our dining table as I write this.  The sun is shining, all the ice in the pond nearby has melted and the ducks are not as swimmy as they were when the pond was iced over almost completely.

We are well.  We celebrated Naren's 30th birthday with him, and had NY pizza and salad.  Earlier in the day, Scott and I had had bagels and cream cheese, NY style - the cream cheese was layered thicker than the bagels were and it made for a very filling meal.  So I kept my dinner salad for later, the men ate and we talked; Naren stopped by our room for a little while and then we walked him to the train station.  

We drove back from NYC on Tuesday.  Scott had to teach a class online and sat at the breakfast area of the hotel.  I packed up the room and loaded the car as best as I could.  We hit the road soon after his class was over.  I did not find driving in NYC horrible as I braced for the double parking and the statutory "No turn on Red" that applies all over the city.  We got home about 11 hours later and were grateful for daylight savings time.  

We did 3 loads of laundry after we got back.  Momentous, because we have never been gone that long.  I also had an appointment with the Clinical Exercise Physiology program at Ball State University, where I got tested and had an exercise program prescribed.  Starting it has been exciting - the whole goal is 1 leg muscle.  My BP and HR are fine, and I am getting stronger for having exercised, but that leg muscle - that is an elusive one.  A fine physical therapist in town also advised me on several issues pertaining to foot pain and the leg muscle, and I am in good hands.

As I walked out of our apartment one evening, a young man nearby said, "Excuse me."  I turned around and he asked if he could give me some food as he did not want to throw it while moving out of his apartment.  I am not at all a fan of throwing food, either, so I accepted the eggs and vegetables and fruit.  We lugged a portion of the goodies to Nat's farm yesterday.  Many of the young people there are excellent cooks, and will use the food. 

We had a good visit at Nat's farm, including walking their very fun dog, Bear.  The day was beautiful and it was nice to walk in all that open space.  The young people are great to interact with, and it is a grand time listening to them.  We then drove to Carmel and visited our friend, Colleen.  She and family used to host us every year when we came to Indiana, and are family.  It was a very nice visit - lots of laughter and chatter, pizza and chocolate.  

Both Scott and I spoke to our respective parents today, the Sunday tradition.  That was the fun event it always is - I could hear Scott laughing, and my Dad and I chuckled at various things during our chat, also.  My Dad's caregiver is a respectful person, and my Dad likes him, which is very good.   

Today was spent getting ready for the work week.  Packing lunches, boiling eggs (courtesy our departing neighbor) for the week's breakfast and charging up my work tablet.  Scott and I took a long walk in the sunshine, and enjoyed it.    

We hope you have a very nice week.

Unw -

R 

Report of 14 Mar 2021

 And the sun is shining brightly at 5.30 PM, one of the perks of this daylight savings time business.

We are well and in NYC.  Naren turns 30 tomorrow.  Nat joined us for a few days and then took her things out of storage in Pennsylvania, and headed back to Indiana yesterday.  It is not easy for all of us to be in the same place and we made the most of it.  Naren had to work; the rest of us partook of NYC's abundant variety of cuisine, strolled in Prospect Park and merrily broke the "No sweets" rule.  We had dinner with Naren's NYC family - 2 students and their parents.  That was nice.  We got to see my cousins, Prita and Guna, and Guna's Dad, Jebamoni Uncle.  That is unfailingly a treat as their hearts are warm and the welcome genuine.

Work has been good, and the number of COVID cases has been decreasing - perhaps post-vaccine effect.  We have lots of other cases, as any hospital would.  A young patient I helped take care of, Mr. X, was sleeping shirtless; I told him I had to examine him and moved the blanket down, and lo and behold, a giant swastika tattoo.  It was unnerving, as I have come to understand the depths of hate such a symbol involves.  When I was younger, I encountered "Aryan nation" and similar tattoos on patients, and could roll with it.  Age brings with it a certain kind of nervousness and a kind of confusion - like wth is this?  On day 3, I told the patient his tattoo was concerning and he said, "Yeah, it was stupid, I was 17 years old."  Other such patients have told me the tattoo was obtained in prison, etc.  The nurse manager on the floor where Mr. X was admitted is a very efficient Black lady, and she mentioned that she had had no trouble at all from X.  Thank goodness.  If there was to be a choice of rattling the nurse manager or unnerving me, I would volunteer.  

We got word of losing a young Banyan colleague to suicide and that was devastating.  She was an efficient worker and left behind an 8-year-old daughter.  This child was extremely comfortable among our mentally ill patient populace and has often regaled them at gatherings.  I hope that she retains this joy somehow.  The death of her mother is a loss for the Banyan family, and for this child; we are, indeed, 1 unit.  

I spoke to my Dad earlier last week and that was nice.  Both the children video-called him while we were on the road yesterday and he was happy to see them.  Scott then held the phone to me; apparently, I wove when talking to him, and I have since decided to revert to not talking on the phone when I drive.  

Nat was comfortable using the women's restroom on our travels.  We visited the farm that she and 3 friends live on, and that was lovely.  The 3 roommates are welcoming, of above-average intelligence and bloody good fun.  We had lunch with them, got a tour of the farm and brought Nat back to spend the night with us.  We headed out the next day for NYC.   

We hope you have fine family times, or fine any times!

Unw -

R