Days away

Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan 

We were up in Door County last week, and Friday to Sunday I biked home, 190 miles in three days. It was tough, much of it, as I am in no kind of shape. But fun. Sister L was here on the weekend, and I went over to St. John’s on Labor Day for the outdoor picnic with Son E, and Wednesday for Move and Groove. Mom seems more expressionless than ever, and it’s hard to tell what she’s taking in. At the picnic, she said, “I just feel lost,” and at Move and Groove, when it was taking a while to get everybody corralled, she said, “Let’s get going” and hitched forward and tried to start it herself. E has been making  daily visits — even Thursday’s singalong, the whole of it — which is a big help.

I’ve been sick and bedridden for two days, sleeping most of the time. Sore throat, plugged face. I’m staying away from SJ today so I don’t kill anybody. Julie will bring some flowers from the farmer’s market this afternoon. Tomorrow I’ll see about church. Julie’s mom and cousin Paulie are coming for church and brunch, and I’ll just wait and see about that, too.  

I think this month I will be moving to half-time at work. There’s a lot of change and upheaval there — people leaving, new software, new paper configurations, designers in Des Moines — and the extent to which it was fun is much diminished. But, in any case, this is something I’ve been hoping for and it will get me back to doing more of what I like to do.

Still life with food bag and helmet

Nylon coffin