Sometimes driving requires so much attention that you miss what is going on around you.
Flower Stall
Having flowers around stimulates the creative cords in my brain. How restful and mindful. No time to consider what wasn’t or could have been. Negativity interruptus.
Optimistic
While I cannot say I am healed from a temporary body failure, I can say I could do it again and would. Staying alive. Staying alive. No first aid reports here. Let’s just say it ain’t over.
Almost Salad
When the hot, humid, uncertain weather forces indoor activities, cook, watch a movi, and make a still life of the ingredients first. Broccoli Rabe has a personality of its own. So do garlic, onions, fresh corn and a legacy tomato.
Neurosurgery Counter Service
So, as we age, so does our back, maybe faster than our brains. Pain, pain, pain from every step. Stairs always a challenge. Getting up. Sitting down. X-rays. Rolling over in bed. Putting on pants. Wiping my ass.
CAT Scans. MRIs (a real joy for those of us with claustrophobia). How about an epidural? And there is always a surgical option. Want some pills. No, I drink for pain relief.
Every step of the way, Sharon sat next to me. It was as if she was the patient, asking questions, feeling the pain, sharing my emotions. Even though she has her own problems, nothing would make her happier than knowing I wasn’t as disabled as I am.
Dr. Brett Schlifka informed her, as if she was the patient. And, she did her own independent research. Great teammate.Great doctor. Smart. Caring. Talented. Likes his patients.
I learned what I could learn, rejecting the shots and surgery, accepting the suggestion to do physical therapy. Rejecting the opioids; living with the pain. So far, so good. Call me back, Brett said the other day. “Call when you need me.”
A back is a back. I have spinal stenosis. Have to be careful. Don’t fall. Maintain my posture. Respect my limitations. The only good thing about living in FL is the pool. And my life, not worth living without Sharon.
Caravaggisti Duckman
Mystery woman is a mystery to the photographer. “Carravaggistis in literature use psychological fiction (also psychological realism); theirs is a narrative genre that emphasizes interior characterization and motivation to explore the spiritual, emotional, and mental lives of the characters….” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggisti
Bruce Harden died. Had I ever met him, I would have asked me to teach me how to see. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/arts/brice-marden-dead.html.
Guard Frog
Beware of the Frog
Howard Kane Walks
A profile in courage and a will to live and enjoy whatever he has ahead. My old friend Howard Kane suffers all illness with dignity and class. He will be mortal as long as possible; then he will be a blessed memory. Right now, he be on his feet, wondering what to do next. Were I the judge, I would grant him all the time he can use. I say travel on and report back.
Moss Dog
I don’t own a dog and never will. Too much responsibility. I know it can be helpful in lowering stress, but it’s too much responsibility. So, I pet my neighbor’s dog and sometimes dogs I see hanging out, especially if they look friendly.
Bromeliad Imperialis, Dead
Lost a favored plant yesterday, a Bromeliad Imperialis. Very sad. It graced our simple, humble garden, providing class and style. No post mortem, yet, could have been water or insects. Doesn’t matter why; just too bad we lost it.
So, these bromeliads just sit where we place them. They are from the air plant family, too big for household entertainment. Some of their beauty lies hidden within, protected by layers of leaves. The flower once. In the end, bromeliads sometimes kill themselves trying to multiply, leaving a legacy, but no history. They are indigenous to Florida, withstanding the changes in weather and temperature, while lending exotic flavors to outdoor spaces.
Our gardner, Richard King who designed our simple plot with Sharon, lost one too, recently. We both will be finding replacements.
