I got an extra night with Caroline and Lucy due to the inclement weather on 7/16. I have a new appreciation for rain since coming to Greensboro. It rained a good inch almost every day since my arrival last Wednesday. The other night it poured while we were having dinner in the dining room, and I looked out the window through the curtain of rain and saw Caroline’s empty trash bin scurrying down the curb in a torrential river.
At first, I thought wasn’t that cool, but as the bin slipped out of view, I realize that it was going to be up to me to go and get it. I stood up and went and put on my sneakers. I asked Caroline for a more adequate rain coverage than my white Columbia windbreaker, and in her Lands End knee-length raincoat I went outside with the hood up to bring the can back. This is what ensued.
I confess there was another bin floating down on the other side of the street that I didn’t retrieve at that moment. It got stopped by a parked car and was retrieved by the more prudent neighbor after the rain had stopped.
While I was visiting we found many ways to amuse ourselves in our housebound status. We discovered a diverting British procedural called Professor T on PBS which seems like a remake of Monk, with a particularly sensitive criminology professor who consults with the local constabulary to assist in solving crimes. We also found a Netflix show called Discovery of Witches (DOW) starring Matthew Goode. But I came equipped with goodies, too, and Caroline and I did facial masks while we watched DOW the other night. She wouldn’t allow me to share her picture but I apparently have no pride. Yes, I can see it’s too low but I subsequently adjusted it. Scary, eh?
I returned a book at the library which was in a beautiful park about two and a half miles from Caroline’s home. I took my last walk on Wednesday, discovering a glade of trees that I walked through before realizing it was a muddy mosquito morass and so flailed my arms for the entire quarter mile, at one point almost landing on my butt in the red mud. In my white pants. I managed to get through the glade with no bites and getting a great upper body workout. When I passed the park, I could see that the rain had taken out a little bridge in the park.
My trip had been planned within an inch of my life, as I was slated to see my knee surgeon for a followup appointment on Thursday, July 17th at 10:45 a.m., with my flights from Greensboro getting me home Wednesday night at 10:00p.m. Suffice it to say that the rain both in Greensboro and in Chicago, my connecting city caused me to have to postpone the flight until Thursday, and push off my appointment. I flew instead through Dulles, which was actually quite easy. I treated myself and flew first class with a combo of miles and money, and I am spoiled for life. Got the Flyaway bus at LAX to my new Van Nuys location, and my big brother picked me up. It was great to be home, but I do miss Caroline and Lucy. And weather in general.
I immediately started mailing out the books on Thursday after arriving home, using the labels I’d printed out before I left and getting quite the assembly line going in my den. It was really fun signing them. I took all 49 of them to the post office, where I cycled through the line about four times. Connie, the postal worker, was very patient with me and kind to the others waiting in line. (Which I reported on the survey she made me fill out after processing thirty of the books.) The hardest part about the process was the lack of parking at that post office, which is in a trailer behind what will soon become a Gelsons plus apartments in Toluca Lake.
Saturday morning, I took an 8:00 a.m. spin class at Cycle Bar, and did a little Positive Intelligence exercise before leaving the house.
“You will do whatever the f%$k he tells you to do and you won’t give up!”
And do you know, it actually worked. Had my best session yet since the surgery. I felt totally endorphinated (yes, new word) for the rest of the day, including cooking for a small dinner party I had. I didn’t get tired of standing in the kitchen while I made salad after salad after salad. Here’s what the table looked like before dinner and I’m still kicking myself for not getting a picture of our dinner guests during dinner. I am usually much more on top of things. Oh well. I have a strong picture in my mind. The salads are all from the New York Times cooking app. I made the corn salad without the salmon. I even prepared meat for my guests. I’m branching out. Tandoori chicken went along for the carnivores. I was quite happy with just the salads.
We finished off with some strawberry shortcakes with just a dab of whipped cream and decaf coffee. The conversation was wonderful, long time collaborators with many war stories to share. Lots of laughs and love. I’m still enjoying showing off my new home and it’s so much better for entertaining. Looking back on the past six months, I’m a little dizzied by all the changes in my life. February – move to new home and knee replacement, summer release of the book and fulfillment of the Joint Replacement Protocol. I may be busier retired than I was at work.
BOOK AVAILABILITY:
Archway Publishing – Link Here.
Amazon – Link Here.
Barnes & Noble – LinkHere.
Contact: Please direct any questions or requests for complimentary review copies to Elsbeth M. Collins at ecollins9@me.com.
Complimentary Book stubs are available for reviewers and can be redeemed at this Link Here. Please request from the author at the email above.
lifeinthethe8tre 