April 30, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. The Sailing Expedition.

Alice Anne bought a small sailing boat in Galveston, Texas in 1965. Alice Anne was a good friend. She asked me if Ken had sailed, and I said yes, so she asked Ken to help her get the boat to the marina and then take the boat out for a sail, which they did. The plan was for Eleanor Porter and I to bring a picnic dinner for the four of us to enjoy after the sailers arrived in shore. Eleanor and I searched for the boat and finally spotted them. While we watched as they wended their way to shore Ken and Alice Anne tipped the boat over at least ten times. Finally they made it to shore and we ate dinner. Ken and Alice Anne laughed about their day and suggested that they must have tipped the boat a hundred times. Finally, Alice Anne said to me, "Why did you tell me that Ken had sailed. He knew no more about sailing than I did, which was nothing." I reminded her that she had asked me if Ken had sailed and I said yes, which was true. But he had only gone sailing once which I had omitted to say. But all was well and they had a memorale day. Ken and Alice Anne never went sailing together again but we three stayed good friends through all the years. But AA still will tell the story of the sailing expedition in Galveston Bay with Ken, where she fully expected that Ken would teach her how to sail her little boat. And we laugh.

April 29, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. The Mississippi Accent.

Yesterday when eating breakfast at The Waffle House, I had another reminder that I was not born and raised in Missippi. Kashina and I were sitting in a booth on the right side of the restaurant. My back was to the restaurant and the open area where the cooks and waitresses were doing their job. I could not tell how many working people were behind the counter but I knew there were several. And they were having fun, joking with each other and making complaints about their work, but all in a good natured manner of speaking. My problem was that I could not understand a word of what they were saying to each other. I also could not tell if the people were white or black. I only know that even though I was trying hard to understand, I had no clue what they were saying. I could only tell their tone. When we were walking to the car, I could see that there were all races working behind the counter. And there were several people working. That Waffle House was a busy place. In the car I asked Kashina if she cound understand what they were saying to each other. Of course, she said yes. She did tell me that were just having fun, complaining about each others work. She said that the cooks were trying to tell the waitresses to speak slowly. And the waitrsses were complaining that the cooks were deaf. Kashina said that nothing much was said but they were all having fun. "They were just messing with other." said Kashina. But I could not understand a word. But I did catch the tone. I suspect that if any of those working people were speaking directly to me I would be able to understand what they were saying. In Newfoundland, where the accent is strong and unusual, we also could not understand what was being said when the Newfoundlenders spoke to each other. But when they spoke to us we had no problem. And here I was,in Mississippi discovering the same thing. I began to wonder if those working people in Canton, Mississippi were speaking another language. But no. Kashina said that they were speaking English, Mississippi style.

April 28, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. A Drive to the Country.

My car needed a good drive to keep my battery charged up. The man at the Subaru told me so. This morning was our day. My plan was to drive back roads to Canton, then eat breakfast in some nice restaurant. But Kashina is not pleased just wandering. She is happy to drive but she wants to know where we are going and on what highways. Yesterday evening I perused the map and seleted a routs that pleased me. We were to drive north on Highway 51, the old highway, find a place for breakfast, then wander home on back roads. The day was lovely and we left at 8:30. The drive north was pleasant. Not much traffic. 51 takes you right into Canton center square. The court house is charming, right in the middle and has been used in many movies. A couple of years ago we walked the town square and found two good restaurants, one where we ate lunch, which was excellent. We did note that day that 8 buildings were empty, which was not a good sign. Today, when we drove the square, both restaurants were closed and at least half of the buildings were shuttered close. Downtown Canton is dying. In order to find breakfast, Kashine drove towards the interstate and sure enough, we found a Waffle House, where we enjoyed breakfast. I had not eated breakfast at a restaurant for ages so I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I felt like a 6 year old kid. I ate hash browns, sausage and a waffle. And of course, coffee. By then, as we were close to the 55 interstate, Kashina asked if we could take that route home. No wandering for her. Our day was delightful, even though we did not wander.

April 27, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Cigar and Scotch.

This evening, friend John came to sit on the deck and drink a glass of Scotch and smoke a cigar in honor of Andrew. Yesterday was Andrew's birthday but John was unable to come but today was the day. John called late in the afternoon to see if he could come right away. He was taking his son Payton to a martial arts class so the timing would be perfect. And the day was beautiful. John brought his own Scotch and cigar. We sat outside on the deck in the comfortable chairs. First we took the cushions from the outside locker, the first time of the season. My deck is lovely, overlooking the water and a place where Ken and I sat most afternoons. But sitting outside in a lovely place makes me feel lonely so I only sit outside with a friend. Today John was that friend and we had a good time. We talked about real estate and family. And we talked about the pleasures of being with Andrew. John was a good friend of Andrew and John misses him still. Kate is John's older sister who is married and lives in Nashville. But John told me that they are moving from Nashville and will move to the little town close to the family farm in Lousiana, just north of Baton Rouge. We talked about the life style change. Kate and her husband have bought a 1910 house which is in much need of restoration. Right now the contractors are doing their inspections and pricing but it seems as if they will proceed with the purchase. The goal of moving is to be closer to family. John's family has lived in the same area since the 18th Century so there are family members everywhere. I wish them well. I enjoyed the visit with John. He is one fine fellow.

April 26, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Bossie Flossie.

Florence was the leader of our timbrel brigade. She taught us to beat our tambourines in a uniform pattern so we called her Bossie Flossie. Everytime the Songster brigade gave a concert, the timbrel group were on the program. We were all young ladies mostly in our teens. And Flossie taught us and put us through our paces although she was just one year older than my sister Carol. Now when I phone her and call her Bossie Flossie, she knows immediately who it is on the phone because many of the folks in the group have died. This week I talked on the phone with Flossie, the first time since December that we have chatted. So we had lots and lots of catching up. We talked for ages. And I enjoyed every minute. We went through the list of everyone we knew as kids and we tried to figure out what had happened to them. Between the both of us I think we managed to figure out what happened to everyone. Last week Florence moved into a retirement/extended care facility. Her sister Joyce and her husband Bill, both my friends too, have also moved into the same building. They both have their own condo, then take their main meal in the dining room. Florence and I discussed how much our families help us, now that we are old. She is three years older than me and when she moved, her daughter and her husand came to help organize her belongings. And they drove from Vancouver to help. Her son has lived with her in her condo for the past three years and has been a huge help with her daily life. So we both agreed that we were fortunate with our families. There is nothing that pleases me more than talking on the phone with my friend of 68 years. Bossie Flossie comes right from my past. We both laughted.

April 25, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Traveling to Canada.

Right now, travelling to Canada for an American citizen is impossible. The border is closed. A Canadian citizen is allowed to come home to Canada, so fortunately I retained my Canadian Citizenship and carry a Canadian passport. Last summer I had no problem getting to Nova Scotia for the summer. The only rule was for me to isolate myself at home for 14 days, which I did. My helper Anna was allowed to work for me but needed to stay in an adjacent room. So all was well. This summer, the Canadian government has changed the rules. When you fly into Canada to one of the 4 cities approved to receive international flights, all passengers must stay at an approved hotel for three days, isolated in your room. In order to book a room for the three days, the passenger must pay for the three days, which include meals delivered to the room, so it is not inexpensive. Upon arrival, each passenger must take a covid test. Once the test is negative, the passenger is free to leave for their final destination. But the three days at the hotel must be prepaid with no refund. And I must isolate for the remaining of the 14 days when I get home at Western Head. The airlines are still busily changing flights too. My flights from San Antonio have all had to be changed but I was told not to book new flights now because the government is changing the rules regularly. But soon I must get started on my flight to Nova Scotia. I must fly to Charlotte. Then on to Toronto where I must stay 3 nights. I then fly onto Nova Scotia four days later. If my test results come back negative after only 1 day, I am free to try to get an earlier flight. But I still get no money back from the hotel. Getting to Canada these days is not easy. As an asside, Canadian citizens are able to drive into Canada without the three days at the hotel. People are flying from Florida to Buffalo and hiring a service to drive them across the border, for a cost of $250., which is much less than the dollars charged by the airport hotels. Then family members pick the travellers up to take them home. This is truly a crazy world.

April 24, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Busy Friday.

Yesterday I had a wonderful day. And I did not plan it at all. My pleaures just landed on my lap. Late on Thursday evening, I received a text from my friend Eleanor asking if she could come for coffee and bring lemon scones. And she wanted to come at 8:30. Of course I was delighted with the prospect of talking with her and I said yes. So at 8:30, Eleanor arrived with lemon curd and scones. We sat in the living room eating and talking. Eleanor is a fine painter but she has not been painting. I have been urging her to get back to her eisel with no results. We delved into the question of why. It is none of my business to delve into the motivation to paint or not paint but I am interested with the creative process so we talked. And we enjoyed our time together. She left at 10:00 to go to the grocery store, then meet her appointment at noon. Earlier on the day on Thursday I received a text from friend Greta Barbour to ask if she could bring lunch at 12:00, which she did. In addition, husband John came too which was an added pleasure. We all enjoy Greek food so she she brought a variety of appetizers which we enjoyed sitting in the living room. She brought the food from the same restaurant close to their home that Ken and I had used years ago when we took dinner to them from the same restaurant. The food was just as good as years ago. And we talked. And we talked. John was a good friend of Andrew so one day very soon John said he is coming to smoke a cigar on our dock in tribute to Andrew as April 26 will be Andrew's birthday. They left at 2:00, John to meet for business and Greta Barbour to return to their 3 children who were home alone. My day was unusual and delightful. My bowl was overflowing with joy and good conversation along with good food. And Eleanor left me scones which I ate for breakfast. Pretty nice.

April 23, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Vegetables.

I have a new system to eat vegetables. A few weeks ago, just before Easter, I was looking through a catalogue that sells food products. I was actually trying to find something to send to my two families. I ended up not sending them anything but I did spot something that would be good for me. I saw several pages of veretables, cooked and seasoned. The containers arrived frozen so all I need to do was to put the packages of vegetables in the freezer and then follow the directions on the boxes. I went a little nuts. My bill was almost $600. But now I have enough vegetables to eat for the next several months. I take two packages out at a time and cook them both. Kashina cooked mashed potatoes and root vegetables on Thursday. For the next few days, I eat from the two packages plus I was still eating leftover meat from the barbecue. Then for my next meal I eat a big salad. So I am eating more vegetables which pleases me. Fortunately, the vegetables taste good, The root vegetables are nicely seasoned and the garlic mashed potatoes are delicious. And last week I ate risotto with zuccini which was also tasty. Cooking vegetables for one is tedious. Now my proble has been solved. When I run out of the vegetables from the fridge which I heat in the microwave, I just will take two more from the freezer. Kashine will read the directions and cook them in the oven. Then I eat from the package for many days. The real question I ask myself is why it took so long to find these packages of vegetables. But no matter, I now can eat my alloted amount of vegetables every day. Gill will be pleased.

April 22, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. A Change of Plans.

I was all set. My reservation to get me to San Antonio on May 18 as in place. Kashina had already planned to stay overnight on the 17th so she could take me early to the airport. Everything was in place. Then I received a phone call this afternoon from son David with a proposal. He will be driving home with Abigail from University on May 17. She is at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. And she will be bringing all her belongings because she will graduate this year. David suggested that they stay overnight with me in Madison and then I drive with them to San Antonio. All of a sudden, my brain was racing and I thanked him for the offer and told him that I would get back to him. I spent an hour or so mulling over the issues involved. I already have paid for my ticket so will I get any funds back. And we will be driving in Abigail's truck so I was concerned if the back seat would be comfortable. I felt sure they would put me in the front seat which means either David or Abigail would perhaps be unfomfortable. And I did not really know if they would be going out of the way to pick me up. Those were the issues. I did not want to be a nuisance. When I spoke to David this evening, he assured me that they could come via Jackson or furthur south but the distance was the same so they were not going out of their way to pick me up. David said that Abigail sleeps in the back seat, stretched out across the whole seat so she will be fine. And he said that he would be comfortable enough in the back seat when Abigail would be driving. And we both decided that even if I do not get any funds back, what does it matter. We would have a good time on the drive. Spending an evening and a whole day with my son and one granddaughter will be a real treat. And I appreciate David thinking of me. In addition, David suggested we have dinner on the 17th with Christina and the girls, which is an added bonus. So I switched horses in midstreat. I will drive to San Antonio on May 18 with Abigail and David. We will have fun, I feel sure.

April 21, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Date Night.

Lots of things change when you get old. For instance, once upon a time I often went out in the evening. I went out to dinner or to the movies. I went to book club and to concerts and plays. But now that I am old I seldom go out in the evening, so when I did go out to dinner last evening it felt as if was date night in Madison. In preparation I showered and put on fancy clothes. And I waited at the front door for my dates. Carrie and Brooks are good friends who do many favors for me. I take Carrie out for lunch every so weeks but I seldom get to talk to Brooks. I had read two of his books when I was in Mexico and I wanted to talk to him about one of the books. So I invited them out for dinner last evening. Carrie does not eat much meat so I gave them two options for dinner: The Half Shell or Elys, which is a steak house. She seleted Elys because she said she thought it a better restaurant. This pleased me because I have only dined there once. It does not open on Sunday for brunch and they are not open for lunch so I am out of luck. The only time I ate there before was when I took the Morris family for dinner before they left for Atlanta. I enjoyed my dinner but I have no idea what I ate. I only recall that I was surprised that Andrew, their skinny son did not order a big steak. I have been waiting to return. Last evening was that night. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Carrie and Brooks picked me up and insisted I sit in the front seat. Our dinner conver sation was interesting. And the food was delicious. Brooks ate steak. Carrie stuffed shrimp and I ate delicious scallops. My final crown will be put in next week and I did not wish to stress the temporary crown by chewing on a steak. They both brought me right to my door which a real date would do. I loved my date night. Absolutely nothing not to like. I might even do it again.

April 20, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. The Wild Atlantic.

Last evening, the National Geographic channel showed The Wild Atlantic. People who say that television has no good shows have not seen The Wild Atlantic. It was wonderful. I always check that channel to see what is on even though I may not intending to watch TV. Last evening I watched an hour of Antiques Roadshow. Just before I was about to turn on the set, I took at look at the National Geographic channel. They were showing a fishing boat being tossed around during a storn in the north Atlantic so I watched a bit. And I got hooked. The first hour was the north Atlantic, something I know quite a lot about. It was fascinating. And then they moved to the south Atlantic, which was even more interesting because I know almost nothing about that part of the oceam. So I watched the whole second hour. There is a high mountain range all down the center of the Atlantic between Africa and South America. For the third hour they turned to the Caribbean which is also part of the Atlantic Ocean. But I turned it off. I will wait until they show it again. Enough television is enough. But I certainly enjoyed The Wild Atlantic. And I learned a lot too. I always like it when I am entertained at the same time as I learn something new. Now I must see the shows again. Nifty to stumble on these wonderful films. And all from my own little Tv room. I am indeed fortunate.

April 19, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. The Racoon.

The racoon in my attic has gone. I now have no sounds eminating from the area above my chair in he living room, the one where I eat breakfast and read. Catching the rscal was not easy but Billy, the owner of the company perserved and finally caught it. Billy had set two traps in the attic plus one on the lower deck. But the racoon was too clever to go into the trap in the attic but eventually went into the trap outside where Billy caught it. Since the racoon was caught in the trap, I have heard no loud sounds from the attic. Peace at last. Billy also installed a camera in the attic, which allerted his phone if the carera flashed. But since the racoon was trapped, the camera has not gone on, except once when Billy triggered the camera when installing more bait. Just to be sure, we have kept the traps in the attic for another week plus the camera. Tomorrow, Billy will come to remove the traps and the camera. I have also asked him to give me a comprehensive contract. I thought I had a contract with the company but it turned out that I only paid for the termite coverage. They treat for bugs every quarter which I pay for via the credit card. And I was paying every time I heard strange sounds in my attic. The technitian would come and set traps for the rodents which I paid. When the noises did not go away and I called, the same young man would come and do the same thing. Which I once again paid even though it had not worked. Finally, I asked for a meeting with the owner and he found the racoon. Tomorrow, I hope he will give me a proposal to cover all critters in my house so I can pay one fee and everything will be covered. He is coming tomorrow morning. Getting rid of the racoon was not easy. Every day Billy came to my house. His fee will be high. But in the future I want the payment to be made prior to troubles in my attic. Soon I can see if what I want is affordable. Strange sounds in the attic do not please me.

April 18, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Lunch.

My favorot meal to eat at a restaurant is lunch. I like everything about it. I like the price of lunches. And I like the size of the portions. And I like the length of time it takes to have lunch. So very often I take a friend out to lunch. My main social life is going out for lunch with a friend. On Wednesday, I went out for lunch with Donna and Sandy. Sandy was my neighbor but last year she moved to a new house in Madison just five minutes drive. Sandy and Archie spend 6 months in Highlands, a place in South Carolina so we did not overlap much. But I always enjoyed her company and we always got together when we were both in our homes. But Archie died just before I came home. Donna, my neighbor across the street, said that we should take Sandy for lunch after things settled down for Sandy. Wednesday was the day. Donna drove and we picked up Sandy to go to a new restaurant in Madison, called The Half Shell. I have been in touch several times with Sandy since my return and she seemed to be doing well. When we saw her I was pleased. She was always busy with bridge and her family and she has continued that pattern. She and Archie had planned to take a cruise on the Snake river in May and her daughter will go with her. And she will drive by herself to their summer place, stopping several times with friends on the way. We three decided at lunch that we would go out for lunch once a month whenever both Sandy and I are in town. We have already made our next date for April 30, just a week before Sandy leaves for the cruise. I was delighted to see Sandy doing well. And she was pleased to see us too. Going out for lunch is a great pleasure especially with two good friends.

April 17, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. The Weather.

My sister in law, Wilma, posted a picture on Facebook showing her deck and picnic table covered with snow. It looked to be 6 inches of snow. And snow fell in Hawaii today which is certainly unusual. I read only the headline so did not know which island but it was probably the big island, Hawaii. Sitting on your balcony in Hawaii wearing shorts and sandals might give you a surprise when the snow falls. My friend Mary in Liverpool told me today on the phone that the forecast tomorrow for Nova Scotia was snow. Crazy weather. The heat has come on in my house. Tonight the forecast in Madison will be in the 40s. Spring here had arrived and the temperatures have been in the 70s but not today. We had a high of 65. And next week we will continue to have cooler than normal temperatures. Mississippi people enjoy these cool days and nights because they know that the hot weather will arrive soon. But it does make me wonder what happened to global warming. Fortunately, I had not yet switched over to air conditioning. so my home is warm and cosy. But I am back to using a wrap over my legs when I watch TV. I had actually put the blanket away but last evening I was forced to retrieve it from the closet. My legs were cold and I felt as if I had chill blains, whatever they are. Soon I will return that fleece to the closet. The temperatures will go up eventually.

April 16, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Noise.

I do not like loud noise. Once upon a time, Ken and I left a Redskins football game at half time because the stadium was too noisy. On Wisconsin Avenue just abve Bradley Boulevard there was a wonderful restaurant. The food was wonderful and the place was small and cosy and quiet. We loved it. In order to allow for more tables, the ownere reconfigured the space. Unfortunately, they also allowed the space to be noisy. The quiet elegance disappeared and in its place the restaurant was sleek and bright and noisy. The place continued to be crowded but not with us. Evidently, most people do not mind noise in a restaurant. In fact, customers probably prefer the noise. Last Sunday we ate brunch at Fine & Dandy, a place we have dined many times. We always order a milkshake for an appitizer, a pattern set by Ken. Usually when we arrive for 11:15 the place is mainly empty. But this Sunday the place was packed both inside and out. And inside it was noisy. The restaurant had made changes. They started a brunch menu that opens at 10:00. The brunch includes Bloddy Mary or Simosas. And you can order more than one drink. So by the time we arrived, the decibel level was high. You could not even think let alone speak. My hearing is excellent but in order to hear Christina I was forced to lean way into the table. The noise was remarkably loud. As we were walking to the cars, we all decided that the next time we come, we will request a table outside, where the seats are comfortable and the airwaves are silent. I do not enjoy dining in a noise restaurant. I guess I am getting old!!

April 15, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. My New Phone.

Today Kashina and I went to the AT&T store to buy a new phone. My family assured me I neded one. I own a Smart phone 6, which is clearly old as the ones they sell now are the iPhone 12. But i demurred because when I asked, the only thing that seemed valuable was the longer life of the battery. The new phones have more gargets but I do not use those features. But I was convinced by Molly that I really needed a new phone. So in I marched into the phone store to buy a new phone. The young man who helped me looked to be 16. He asked me what I did on the phone. And he asked me how often I run out of battery. And he asked me when I charge the phone. Then he told me that he did not think I needed a new phone. In fact, he said that many people who buy a new phone because they are fed up with the life of the battery come back into the store for more lessons. The new phones have a new system which he said is not easy. So he urged me to keep my phone until I need more battery storage. At the moment, my system for charging works well. I have a charger by the chair in the TV room and another beside me on the couch where I read e mails. I charge the phone at both places and I never run out of battery. That young man saved me lots of money so I bought a charger and cord for the car. Kashina kept telling me that I could buy the car charger cheaper on line or at the gas stations. But that young man helped me a lot so I felt obliged to buy something from him. He was the most unusual salesman and he did me a big favor. And he was very pleasant and did not tell me that I was too old to learn the new phones. He merely told me that I did not need a new phone. "Your old phone works perfectly well for what you are using it for," he said. I agreed and thanked him and kept my money in my pocket.

April 14, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Vaccine.

Yesterday morning I received my second Covid shot. From the time Kashina and I left the car, the system was smooth and we were back in the car in 6 minutes which seemed unbelievable. But it is true. We walked into the pharmacy, which is at the front of the store. We registered at the counter and gave them my card given to me after I got the first shot. They needed nothing furthur from me. I walked 5 steps expecting to sit and wait but as we appoached the office they called my name. I went into the office, received the shot and left, after they gave me back my card saying that I have been fully vacinated. Six minutes later we were back in the car. We were both amazed. I have no idea who set up their system but it has been a good one. Over 50% of the Mississippi population has received their two shots which is impressive. When the vaccine first was available, people had difficulty making an appointment so they booked a time slots in smaller towns. More outlets were added so life got easier. I received my shots at Krogers, a large grocery store while Kashina had hers at the Rankin County Fairground, where you did not get out of your car. Mississippi has vacinated a higher percentage of Aftican Americans than any other state, on a per capata basis. Pretty good. And unusual to see Mississippi at the top of anything. I have been told that people experience difficulty with the second shot. Fatigue has been common and flu symptoms. To avoid troubles, I started taking Tylenol before I got the shot and I have continues to take it every four hours. I wanted to stay ahead of the troubles. So far I have been fine. I suspect I would have had a headache with out the Tylenol. It is another side effect and I feel I might have a headache. But I am walking and talking. So now I am done with the vaccine. Hurrah.

April 13, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. My Subaru.

Sunday morning, Kashina and I got in the car to meet the family for brunch. But the car would not start. When I was away for the winter in Mexico and the temperatures plunged, my car would not start. Christina had the car towed to the Subaru dealer where they replaced the battery. The car is a 2017 model and the battery was original so they replaced the battery and all was well. But now the car would not start, which was irritating. We drove to the brunch in Kashina's car. Monday morning I had the car towed to the dealer. Subaru has an emergency service. When we bought the car, the salesman suggested that we no longer needed to keep our membership in AAA but we ignoed the advice. I did contact the emergency service but it was complicated getting through so I called AAA. They were at my door in 10 minutes. The service man was pleasant but he did not do what I wanted which was for them to put in a new battery. They checked out the battery and it was fine. They charged the battery and this morning we picked up the car. We had Chris, my very own Lyft driver drive us to the Subaru service counter. And we drove it home. Brian, the pleasant man had no idea why the battery failed but he suspects the car is not driven enough. Kashina and I must take some trips into the country. I am not confident. My experience with cars is that when a battery fails, you need to replace the battery. Kashina disagrees as does Brian from Subaru. Time will tell. I did tell Brian that I will be very upset if next Sunday the car will not start. But for the moment, the car is in the driveway ready to take me and Kashina to the At&T store on Thursday, where I intend to buy a new phone. Whoopee!!

April 12, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Wholetones.

Sitting beside my bed on the side table sits a round blue box two inches high and four inches in diameter which is totally useless. I paid $99. for this little box. The box is pretty with bottons on the top which you push to turn on and off. Unfortunately, instead of putting me to sleep, it keeps me awake. The information about Wholetones came to me on my iPad. The description of the little box sounded promising. It is supposed to get you relaxed and allow you to sleep all night. So I ordered it but it took many weeks before it arrived so I thought it might be a scam. But just last week it arrived so Kashina set it up and taught me how to use it. The first night I used it I got the worst sleep I have ever had. But I tried again the second night to no awail. The music is soothing and I kept the volume low but once again, I did not sleep...until I turned it off. Kashina laughed when I told her how it was working. She said that she knew it was not going to work and she was right. I have wasted $99. I have figured out why too. I listen to music. I do not keep music playing all the time. So when the little box is turned on and I jump into bed to go to sleep, I listen to figure out what tune is being played. And I try to recall all the words of the songe. Yes the music is soothing and beautiful, but the task is to put me sleep and it fails. I just stay awake. I knew it was too good to be true butI fell for their propaganda. Ken would have known better than waste the $99. But not me. I think it is funny.

April 11, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Curling.

Both Doreen and I enjoy watching Curling on TV. It is the only sport that she watches. When Don watches hockey, she reads. When we went to watch the Super Bowl at the bat of an Italian restaurant, she read a book. But curling she loves. Ken curled once in Parry Sound while I never played. But when we were in Nova Scotia one March many years ago we watched the Brier on TV. It was the Championship of men's curling for Canada. We had no clue about the game but we figured it out. And we got hooked on curling. But at that time, no curling was shown on Tv in the US until one year when the American women started winning at the Olympics. So we got to watched curling at the Olympics. At the 2018 Olympics, much to the surprise of the elete curlers, the American team won the gold. Now every so often, curling can be seen on TV, which pleases me. Last evening, I had a great time. The world championship of curling was held last week in Calgary, Alberta and the quarter finals were to be played during the day. But last evening, on the Olympic channel, they showed the gold medal game between Sweden, the favorite and the US. I had seen parts of the match but not the whole game because I was in Mexico so I was delighted to be able to watch the match. I especially enjoyed watching because I knew what was going to happen. Then I just needed to see how the win unfolded. No anxiety. Just the question of what was done. In the 8th end, the US team scored 5 points and the Swedish team never recovered. Today on another channel, the semifinals in Calgary were televised but I did not watch. Both Canada and the US did not get to the semi finals. But the same American team who won the Olympic gold qualified for the 2022 winter Olympics. Curling is like every other sport, in that the more you know, the more interest you find in the game. These world class curlers are skilled and I love watching them. I even enjoy it when they blunder. I enjoy watching curling but i like it better when my teams win.

April 10, 2021, Madison, Mississippi. My Easier Life.

The company Lyft made my life easier. Alana set up my phone after Ken died so I could push a few buttons and a Lyft driver picked me up to take me to my destination. I paid them plus the tip on my phone so I did not need to worry about cash. Then along came Forrest, my very own Lyft driver. Our system made my life even easier because I would contact him by phone the day before and he would appear at the proper time. Then I activated the request from Lyft which he would accept because he was already in my driveway. But he took a job so I was back to contacting Lyft whevever I had a need for a driver. That meant that I must give them the gate code plus directions in the subdivision as the GPS gives incorrect directions. So I missed Forrest. But no longer. Chris does the job for me. Chris drove for me twice before I found Forrest. I recalled our conversations and he remembered the house. I told him why I had not used anyone for over a year because of Forrest. He offered to replace Forrest. He drives full time for Lyft. He likes to be busy and he likes to plan his days so at the beginning of the week I give him a list of when I need a Lyft. He had medical issues so could not work but he did not wish to go on disability so he drives for Lyft. He is a pleasant fellow so I am delighted with his help. Now once again I have my very own Lyft driver. My life has once again become easier.

April 9, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. The Storm.

I had never heard such a racket. Now the house is quiet and I can hear only rain but for the last couple of hours all I could hear was the storm. The thunder was loud and very close. The lightning and the thunder came almost at the same time. And it was so loud I jumped. Then came the hail. It pounded on the windows and the skylights and seemed to go on for ages. No telling what happened to the car. I was wishing I could have put the car into the garage. The storm was so loud I could not hear the Tv so I turned up the volume high. I was watching a movie about Oliver Sachs on PBS, a series called American Masters. I had read some of Oliver's books years ago but knew little about his life, which I found fascinating. He was the first neurologist who used L Dopa for Parkinson's patients. He wrote The Awakenings, which was turned into a movie. I kept hoping that the electricity would not fail ecause I wanted to watch to the end. I kept a flashlight in my pocket just in case. But we did not get dark. Now I am enjoying the quiet of the rain, which I normally think is noisy. Mississippi storms are intense but this last one seemed the loudest. I of course was sitting in the TV room surrounded by windows which is probably not the smartest place to be with lightning flashing all around me. I survived and now the sorm has moved on. But it was quite an experience.

April 8, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Friend Bo.

On Monday I had lunch with Bo. This was his treat and he selected Anjou, a lovely French restaurant across from the Renaissance, a shopping center. Bo is a nice fellow. He is married to my doctor, the geriatric specialist and was a fishing buddy of Andrew. Since Andrew died, Bo has kept in touch with me regularly. Every few months he texts me just to see if I am fine. And a couple of times a year we have lunch. Then he drives me home. Since I met him last, he has moved to a different law firm, which turns to be close to Anjou. We could see his office from the restaurant. And their daughter is now at college. So we had a lot to talk about. People in Mississippi are kind to me. Bo always asks when he can do to help me. But of course, I have everything I need. But I know if I need someone he would help. Our lunch was delicious. Bo ordered crepes filled with goat cheese and crab meat while I ordered mussels, which were delicious. It was when I was eating the mussels when my filling fell out. Bo and I had a grand time. He and Kathy are pondering a purchase of country property so we talked about the value of a retreat where you can hike for an hour on your own property. Now I look forward to having lunch with him again. Next time I will invite him and select the restaurant. I have already decided to eat at Sombro...but that will have to wait until I return in October.

April 7, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Dentists.

Dentristy has made much progress over the past 50 years. But no one ever wants to go to the dentists office. But we all do. For several years Ken and I have had our dental work done in Mexico. Their dentists are well trained and they cost half of American prices. So now I had no dentist in Mississippi. But I do now. Last December when I was busily eating nuts, my lower molar became sensitive so I stopped eating nuts and I began chewing on the other side of my mouth. The pain went away so I ignored it. As I am on Ibrance, I did not get my teeth cleaned in Mexico because I did not wish to be around more people. I had no more troubles with the tooth...until Monday when I was at lunch with friend Bo, when a filling came out along with a chunk of the crown. I knew to fix the tooth would not be easy. When I came home for lunch, I texted Donna, my neighbor for the name of her dentist. Fortunately, they had a cancellation the next day so yesterday I met with Dr. Burns, the dentist. The staff seemed pleasant and efficient. My appointment was for 1:30 and my name was called back to see the dentist at precisely the ccorrect time. I was pleased. After xrays and consultation with the dentist, we had a plan. First I would have a root canal the next day at another office. Dr. Burns does do root canals but not in big teeth with two roots. My appointment for the root canal was for 3:00, an appointment they made for me. Now I am home and all is well. The procedure is uncomfortable but not painful. It was all very high tech. Now I must not use the tooth for two days and take 4 Iboprofens every 6 hours for two days. The dentist gave me a prescription for stronger medication for pain but I will not fill it. Next I see Dr. Burns next Wednesday at 8:00 to put in another crown. So just like that, I have my own dentist who I like plus a dentist who does surgery. I am all set. The whole root canal did not even hurt. Dentistry has made progress. And the dentist who did the root canal was a young lady. Whoopee.

April 6, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. The Clean Air Act.

The passing of The Clean Air Act in 1970 was an important event for Ken. Ken lived as an infant and young child in Creighton Mine, a small community that was a smelter. The chimneys had no srubbers so Ken was left with bad lungs. Dirty air was difficult for Ken so getting the air clean helped. The US has been spectcularly successful. From 1970 to 2020, there has been a 77% decrease in the pacticulate matter in the air. So life got easier for Ken as the air got cleaner and cleaner. Scientists have suggested that The Clean Air Act has been the most impressive legislation of the 20th Century. The National Geographic published an article in this month's magazine. That is where I learned all the information. Evidently, air pollution impacts lots of things in your body. We knew that Ken had a much weaker immune system than mine. And the artlcle states that people who live with pollution die earlier. Ken was always keen to have the air cleaned up even more. But he always thought that living to 82 was in part due to cleaner air. We also worked hard to live where the air was as clean as possible., such as by the shore. It is a good reminder that sometimes the government does good work and that was The Clean Air Act, passed in 1970 when Nixon was the president. And the legislation was passed by both parties. Ken was always grateful for The Clean Air Act.

April 5, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Spring Time.

There is nothing better than Spring Time in the DC area. First come the daffodils which seem to be everywhere. Next comes the forsythia and the Bradford pear blossoms. . Then the azaleas followed by the dogwoods and the Asian Magnolias. And finallt you see the cherry blossoms. My friend walks down Falls Bridge Road in Potomac but she must watch out for all the traffic because people have come to see the magnificent cherry blossoms on both sides of the road. We lived adjacent to Kenwood, a subdivision loaded with cherry trees. There is so much traffic coming to see the blossoms that they must post traffic police and keep the cars travelling in only one direction. From our 4th floor condo we overlooked the blossoms. It was quite a sight. And of course, the Jefferson monument tidal basin is ringed with the trees. That is a sight to behold. The trees were given to the US by the Japanese at the beginning of the 20th Century. During the 2nd World War, some folks in the government wanted to cut down the trees because we were at war with Japan. Wiser heads prevailed so now everyone gets to enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossoms. The Cherry Blossom Festival is held every year in the Spring. Ken and I always laughed because the festival was often not at the same time as the blossoms had come into bloom. But every year they are beautifu both in DC and Maryland. Spring in Mississippi is lovely but it pales when compared to the Washington area. I miss Spring Time in Washington even when I am enjoying the blossoms in Mississippi. Spring in the DC area is a marvel of nature.

April 4, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Food for celebrations.

Most holidays come with traditional food so you do not need to become inventive. As a hostess you just cook the normal food. Of course we always eat turkey for Thanksgiving. And for Easter we typically eat ham or lamb. Canadians typically serve turkey for Christmas too while Americans eat roast beef. But Christina and I broke all the rules. Today for our Easter feast we ate barecued ribs along with beans and creamed corn. Usually we eat out for our Sunday brunch but we decided that the restaurants would be full and neither of us really wanted to prepare a fancy meal so we settled on barbecue. I ordered all the food all cooked so all we needed to do was heat everything up in the oven. Christina did all the work after she arrived while I set the table and got ready. The food was delicious and we are congratulating ourselves with our choice. Last Thanksgiving was also non traditional. We ate steak. It will be a keeper. We will do it again. And for Christmas we ate Chinese food which we have been eating since Andrew died. After Andrew died, Ken and I did not want to have to deal with an empty chair at the table so along with Christina we decided to be Jewish and eat Chine food at the restaurant. It too was a hit and we have been eating Chine food for Christmas every year. This year due to covid Christina brought the food and we ate at my house. So we are set. Steak for Thanksgiving Day, Chinese food for Christmas dinner and barbecue ribs for Easter. We have thrown tradition out the window.

April 3, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Rainbows.

Rainbows always seem a bit like magic to me. All of a sudden, a rainbow appears, just the same as a rabbit popping out of a hat. We see rainbows often in Nova Scotia out over the water. Sometimes we see both ends, the full half circle. Once I saw a picture of a whole circle from space which really did seem to be like magic. The people who live in the green house around the bay from us in Nova Scotia, tell us about the afternoon a rainbow they could see from their house that ended right at our guest house. According to them, it was a spectacular and unusual picture. They oftem mention the picture but so far I have yet to see it myself. But a pot of gold right at the end of the rainbow over your own house is a pleasant thought. My front door in Madison has a glass door and side lights which are made of bevelled glass and lead. Many afernoons, when the sun is bright and at the correct angle, little bits of rainbows appear in my entrance on the floor. It is a spectacular sight. Of course, the rainbows do not last long. And they do not appear every day. But when they appear, I like it and wish they would last longer. Any bit of the colors of the rainblw brings pleasure, especially when they appear on the floor of my house. Now I am waiting for the pot of gold.

April 2, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Creativity.

I marvel when I watch creative people at work. I know they work hard to learn their artistic expertise but where does it all get started. Obviously, a part of the brain controlling creativity is active in their bain from an early age. For me, the creative part of my brain does not work. I have some talent, but creativity is not my skill. The other evening, I watched a program about Twyla Thorp. I have known her name all my life but until I saw the TV show, I did not know the extent of her accomplishments. She started movingand dancing at an early age. And she has never stopped. At this time, she is old but she still dances and she produces productions of dance. It is amazing reading the lists of the number of dance productions she was responsible for. She looks old up close but from a distance she moves as if she was 30 years old. They showed a short clip of her work out routine, which she performs morning and night. "Every dancer must do this 2 or 3 tims every day" she said. It looked hard. But the real question was how she got the movement thing started. The whole thing is a mystery to me. My friend Eleanor was speaking to me one day about an empty canvas. She is an artist and mentioned that she was excited to be putting brush to canvas the next day. She was delighted to be doing it. I mentioned that for me it would be terrifying. Actually I would never start. Creativity is a wonderful gift but often creative people struggle with their lives. But I cheer them on and want them to continue the path they have set. I love the finished product.

April 1, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Social Life.

For several years, my social life has been limited. When I am taking Ibrance, I can not safely be around large groups of people due to my low white cells. And when Ken contracted Parkinson's Disease, he was unable to drive at night so our social life was with each other, or with small groups of peole we knew well. But now I am alone, I took the advice of friend Alice Anne. She told me that as now I was on my own, if anything was going to happen to me, it must start with you. "Nothing will happen automatically to you," she said. So I have taken her advice. I organize my social life. Today I had lunch with Carrie, my friend from down the street. We ate at a seafood restaurant. She picked me up and brought me home. And we had a good time. So my luncheon dates are a major part of my social life. Tomorrow MiHyang is coming for coffee. So that is the second part of my social life, inviting friends for coffee. Last week I had lunch with MiHyang, Donna and her daughter. Again I enjoyed our lunch. Our conversations are always interesting. Kashina comes three mornings a week so I have her company while she helps me at home. And we do errands together and she takes me to doctor appointments. The cleaning lady comes every Monday morning so I get to visit with her a bit. And of course, Billy the exterminator has been coming every day to corral the racoon. I talked to my friend Buth this week. He asked me what I was doing this week. When I told him everything I was doing this week his comment was that he was jealous of the amount of social life I have each week. And of course, I enjoy brunch with the family every Sunday morning, always at a wonderful restaurant. So my social life is not extensive but I do work hark to keep my life interesting. And the best part is that I do have fun!!