During this past year my daily routines have settled into a comfortable pace that suits me. I’m becoming accustomed to apartment living in Houston. My computer and telephone keep me in touch with the latest activities of the young as well as the older family members. MimiCat and I share the apartment, but she lets me believe I’m the boss. She has had her ‘fix it’ surgery and has matured into a dainty lady, albeit a mischievous one at times.
I recently had to take all her toys and boxes away so we could accommodate my sister, E, when she came from Baton Rouge to visit for a week. E. has to use oxygen around the clock and the 50 foot oxygen tube and her walker was hazard enough without catnip mice and pretend cave boxes being in the way.
My son helped me choose furniture and decorations that would make Esther’s room as attractive and comfortable as possible because I
hoped to entice her back for a longer visit. I may have succeeded. She plans to visit again the last of April. We devoted one day to shopping. C., E.’s daughter, was kind enough to be our chauffeur. We browsed a needlepoint shop and fabric store to our hearts content. Besides the purchases from the needlepoint shop, we bought Muumuu patterns and appropriate fabrics for our sewing projects that never seem to end. The three of us had a late, leisurely lunch at a Chinese café and the Fortune cookie comments made us laugh as they seemed to hint the truth about each of us.Perhaps the following bits of news might be of interest to those of the family who have settled far and wide.
Aunt El. has been moved from southern California to a facility in Idaho. The move allows her to have more frequent family visits. She is in fairly good health and we chat often on the phone. She will be 93 on May 11th. She is the last member of Mom’s family that has known me all my life. There is something special about having a relative who has known you from the day of your birth to the present. It’s a delight to reminisce with her and she often clarifies bits of our family history.
A. phones frequently from California. Researching the source of his name shows it to be a form of ‘John’. He recently had heart by pass surgery and is recuperating nicely.
I often have long phone conversations with Mesa Tessa in Arizona. Yesterday she told me she had planted another tree, one that will produce several types of pears. Her orchard is comprised of various types of fruit; all dwarf trees, some beginning to bloom.
G., in Iowa, a veteran of WWII, tells me of his visits to the VA hospital. He and I discuss the national economy and political affairs and bemoan fact that the country is going to Hell in a hand basket.
E. in Louisiana chats of beading, quilting, recipes, books, and her medical appointments. She and I have a running dialog about her position as campaign manager if I run for president. If laughter is the best medicine, we won’t have to refill our prescriptions for quite a while!
D. H. emails wonderfully interesting and thought provoking photo articles and videos which I pass on to D. A..
M. in Mt. View, tells me about treasures found at thrift shops and the latest gig of D.’s band.
And so it goes. My routines rarely vary, but I add projects and squeeze them in between projects underway. The latest addition is gardening. The Strawberry plants in hanging baskets that I ordered have arrived. I hope they will produce berries like the catalog pictures. I also plan to have several containers growing tomato plants. As hope springs eternal, I hope to pick fresh tomatoes during the growing season!
