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