May 31, 2021. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Quiet House.

At 10:30, the first 2 young people left for home. They organixed their belongings and left quickly, one back to Austin and the other for a flight to Denver where he works as an satelight engineer. By noon they were all gone except Sarah and Liz who were driving to Houston, each in their own vehicle. Sarah starts her internship at the law firm tomorrow while Liz returns to her job working in he softwear business. They left just after 1:00. Samantha went to work this afternoon so for our late lunch we were down to a small group of Allison and boyfriend Simon, Abigail, David, Suzanne and me. The house was quiet. But not as quiet as it is now. We ate our dinner at 2:00 so they would not be in the midst of Memorial Day traffic. After doing the last time organizing, they all left at 3:30 and I was by myself. The house felt as if was a ghost house. Now I am used to the quiet. And tonight I watched hockey. David gave me a sesson with thir fancy TV so I was able to minulate the remote and find the games. Much to my surprise, Toronto lost the game and lost the series. Everyone said they were the better team but Montreal won the series. Now this week I will be by myself where I will again get used to living in a quiet house. Friday they will return because on Saturday Suzanne and David will host a graduation party for Abigail. Once again I will enjoy seeing new people. I am looking forward.

May 30, 2021. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Boat.

This afternoon the young people rented a wake boat, complete with driver. David's boat was out of commission so they pooled their resources and hired the wake boat. And they had a wonderful time. Everyone got to try the wake boarding, some better than others. These wake boats are big, holding 16 people. The boat was certainly new to me. The young people organized their lunch and beverages quickly after a leisurely breakfast. Sarah and Jenny went to sign the paperwork along with Suzanne. Every person was required to sign a waiver which was done on line. All very high tech. While the rest of the folks were waiting to be picked up in the boat at the boat ramp just down the street, they played a card game. These young folks play games at the drop of a hat. They left for the ramp at 12:30 and returned home after 6:00, tired and happy. Late in the afternoon the heavens opened and it poured rain, but for only 30 minutes. The boat driver kept them out an extra 30 minutes because of the rain. These young adults are used to be incharge and are not afraid to make a plan. Showering for 11 takes time as we have only 3 showers at the lake house. We dined on the deck late because the evening had cooled and the two inside tables were in the midst of board games. David had smoked chickens and lamb chops while Suzanne prepared baked vegetables plus french fries so once again we enjoyed our delicious dinner for 14, organized by Suzanne. The young folks always clean up the kitchen. From dinner until now, they have been playing different games. Right now they are playing I have never heard of, but they are having lots of fun. Tomorrow they all return to their own worlds some to begin graduate school and others to return to work. I have been impressed with these young folks. Hard working, energetic and kind to each other. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of their Covid Reunion.

May 29, 2021. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Lake House.

We all are enjoying the lake house, all 14 of us. The beauty of the lake house is that a house accomodates lots of activities all at the same time. Very soon after David, Suzanne and I arrived the preparations for dinner were underway, all being done by the girls. The did the whole dinner themselves, including the clean up. Immediately after dinner they started to play card games, all together. I left for bed while they were still playing and having a wonderful time. I got to know these wonderful young people from the other side of the room. It was like watching a movie. As they talked and had fun, I could not be a part of the game but I could get to know all the people. It was such fun. So by this morning I knew them all. These young adults have all graduated from college so are either working or at graduate school. As you would expect from Sarah's friends, they are all energetic and competent as well as inteesting. After a leisurely breakfast they young people all headed to the water, where they spent the whole afternoon, floating in the water and having a good time. Unfortunately, the boat overheated when Sarah was bringing it back to the house so they were not able to boat today. This evening we gathered on the deck and we talked which was when I got to know them. These 6 girls spent the Spring semester at the lake and they appreciated being here. So this Covid reunion is a special event. They have gathered from New Jersey, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Austin. The U. of Texas girls were already here for the week of Spring Break, Then the break was extended and finally school was all taught on line so they decided to stay, joined with Abigail. And they al agreed that they had a blast. Now we are having a good time too. Right now, a group is talking on the deck while another group is playing a game in the living room They are playing Scatatories and having a noisy time. I am enjoying these young people. They are all hard working intelligent folks. I t is a pleasure being a part of their group.

May 28, 2021. San Antonio, Texas. Memorial Weekend.

Bit by bit we are gathering at the Lake. After Covid hit in March of 2020, the Universities quickly told the students to vacate the dorms and go home to continue their eduction on line. Sarah and four of her friends went to Canyon Lake to our beach house where they stayed. Abigail joined them so the 6 girls worked hard with their work but also had a blast. Every afternoon when work was finished they headed out on the boat which they kept in our little cove. Water skiing and tubing was the order of every day. After consulting with David and Suzanne, Sarah invited the girls for a weekend Covid reunion, so we will be a full house. Sarah was the first to head to the lake last evening to make things ready. This morning Abigail, Samantha and Allison along with the dogs loaded up Samantha's truck with groceries and coolers and left fo the lake. Later this afternoon, I will join David and Suzanne and drive in Suzannes car along with lots more groceries. During the afternoon, the reunion girls with 2 boyfriends in tow will get themselves to the lake. One of the parents of one of the girls is bringing dinner tonight. We will be a total of 14 for the whole weekend with a few others present for a day at a time. So we will have a happy time. My role is to sit back and watch the action and listen to their conversations. I will enjoy every minute. Then I will remain at the lake when everyone returns home. Sarah starts her paid internship Tuesday at a law firm in Houston so I will not see her again this summer. But we are gathering at the lake house this weekend. And we will have a good time.

May 27, 2021. San Antonio, Texas. Moose and Lincoln.

I have been here in the home of David and Suzanne for ten days, living with Moose and Lincoln, the family dogs. Because men were working in the backyard, the dogs must stay inside most of the time so I have been really living right beside them. They are big dogs, Weimereiners, and sweet. Also living in the house are the four girls so all day, as the girls pass through the room where I am reading I get to talk with them, one by one. It has been delightful. Moose is my favorite dog. Even as a puppy, he would come and place his head on your knee and wait to be petted. He has never poked me with his paws demanding attention. He just keeps his head on your leg looking hopeful. He still does the same thing. But now he is old and so spends much of the day asleep in his bed. But he still comes to be loved. He is a very smart dog but at this point, not very energetic. At this point in his life, he is not a bit interested in fetching. When Davis is working with Lincoln, which he does every day, Moose just stands beside David to be petted. Lincoln is a working dog. He will retrieve until David finally quits. He is a wonderful hunting dog and very energetic. The girls have been taking the dogs for a walk every day which is good. David says that if Lincoln does not get a good long walk every day the dog becomes impossible to live with. He loves to be with the people so when he is ready to rest in th day, he comes to lie down right by my feet, as close as possible. If you let him, he would sit on your lap. Moose sleeps in his bed but Lincoln wants to stay as close to you as possible. It is endearing. I have enjoyed living with these two well behaved dogs, Moose and Lincoln. The girls take the dogs outside the front when the dogs need to do their business and when the men are working in the back yard. I just call for one of the girls because I am afraid the dogs will not follow my instructions. But I let the dogs out the back when the men are gone. They are used to being inside so when they come to the door,I let them in. And I love on them.

May 26, 2021. San Antonio, Texas. Aurora, the Housekeeper.

Aurora has worker for David and Suzanne for over ten years. I have always been impressed with her diligence. Her task is crucial to the family and she knows how important she is with them all. Today she told me that she works for six different people, two on one day and the ohers a full day each. So she works full time. And she likes her job. Today when I complimented her on her good work, she told me that she loves her job. She loved to help people she told me, and the people she works for appreciate her work. And work hard she does. Years ago she worked all one day cleaning the house, as well as starting the laundry. Then she came back a the end of another day to finish the laundry. Now that the girls are all at school, she gets her tasks done in one day. Today she will come back later in the week to finish up the laundry and to clean Abby's Place. Aurora is energetic and competent. I always enjoy people accomplish their task with enthusiasm and joy even though the task may be dull. David and Suzanne treat her as an important person in their life and a valued employee. When she was ill with covid they paid her sick leave. And she gets paid two vacation days a year along with her social security. For several months David and Suzanne lived in The Tiny House but they paid her the same amount as when she was cleaning the big house. She cried when Suzanne told her what they were doing. Aurora told Suzanne that they were the only person who paid her sick leave and for that she was grateful. She and her husband work very hard and have one son at University in San Antonio. Aurora knows that she could get other jobs but she actually enjoys cleaning people's houses. And she appreciated being treated as an employee. Many years ago, an old German gentleman told me the any task he does brings dignity to his work because he brings his own dignity to the task. When I met him he was old and working cleaning a real estate office from 5 to 8 every morning. He speaks several languages and worked as a translater for the government. When he retired he took this cleaning job and he likes it. "I bring my dignity to the task," he said. I always think of that old man when I see Aurora work. She brings joy and enthusiasm to her task. The house is left spotless. The whole family appreciates her work.

May 25, 2021. San Antonio, Texas. The Backyard.

Right now the whole backyard looks like a war zone. Every part of the back yard has been torn up. David and Suzanne are ready to have the mud gone. The dogs too. Tomorrow there will be a big concrete pour. The retaining wall and paths will be installed. Next week the patios and remaining paths will receive the concrete pour. Of course, this all is dependant on the rain. Mostly San Antonio is dry. But this year it has rained day after day. The men can not work when it rains and the concrete can not b poured during a rain. So the project has dragged on...and on...and on. The plan looks wonderful. There will be paths all around the yard with an outside kitchen complete with water and electricity. A pergola will be build on the area of the outside kitchen. The contractor assured David today that once the concrete is poured and the pergola built, the bringing the top soil and the plantings will go quickly. They hope so because they have always enjoyed their back yard. Unfortunately, rain is forecasted for tomorrow so the pouring of the concrete may be delayed. Everything with this project has been delayed due to the rain. When it is finished, the backyard will be beautiful and as they expect to live here in this lovely house for many years, a few extra months will not matter. Suzanne and David are ready for it to be done. I feel sure that all will not be completed by the time I leave on June 30. Progress has been made since my arrival last Wednesday and by the time I leave I hope to be able to walk the paths. Right now walking around is impossible for me but I am hoping to explore after the concrete has been poured. I do love projects so am happy to see it before everything is pretty and plantings in place. But I will also enjoy the finished product. I have faith!!

May 24, 2021. San Antonio, Texas. Covid and Canada.

Sunday was a lazy day. David and I watched part of the golf tournament with thousands of fans in attendance and held in South Carolina on the shore. Phil won which was fun to watch. Next we watched a bit of a hockey game held in Washington, DC between the Caps and the Bruins. Again, the fans were noisy and enthusiastic. Then we watched some basketball, this game held in New York City with perhaps the arena over half full. So three sporting events in three different locations that seemed more normal with thousands of fans enjoying the games. Then we turned on a hockey game between Winnipeg and Edmonton with not a fan in sight. Suzanne wanted to know why the Canadian fans could not attend the game. I had no answer. All I know is that Canada is not a third world country and yet they are far behind the curve with Covid. It is discouraging for the Canadians who are used to haveing an efficient system. San Antonio has only 13% of the population not yet fully vaccinated. Biden has given billions of vials of the vaccine to other countries, including China, yet Canada is till short because, according to my friend Mary, the Prime Minister never asked. I hope the Canadian authorities get their act together soon. Canadians deserve better.

May 23, 2021. San Antonio, Texas. A Rainy Saturday.

Rain in Texas usually comes all at once. One short period of a deluge and next the air is clear. But yesterday it rained all day. The rain started in the middle of the night and kept raining. First thing in the morning David took the dogs for a long run. When he left it was spitting rain but when he returned almost two hours later he was drenched. But the dogs were happy. The day was perfect for staying home. Abigail and Sarah had gone to Austin to celebrate graduations parties for friends and Samantha and Alison wee out with friends. Suzanne had errands to run. David and I made the sensible decision to watch the PGA golf tournament. Their couch i perfect for watching TV when you lie on the couch with pillows behind your head so I assumed the position and watched golf with David. Some time during the afternoon I took a nap but I never got off the couch. Phil Michelson was ahead which was surprising as he is 50. As we were only 3 for dinner, we watched hockey while eating the salmon David smoked in the yard...in the rain.. It was still raining. A rainy day is perfect for watching golf. I enjoyed every minute from my comfortable couch.

May 22, 2021. San Antonio, Texas. The New House.

Last evening around 5:30, Suzanne received a call from Bonnie asking if David and Suzanne had any plans fo the evening. Bonnie just came in from her beautiful garden loaded down with fresh vegetables. She suggested they pool their resources and have dinner together. Wade and Bonnie are good friends and I was delighted to get to se them. So over they came. The new house worked perfectly with company and family. Allison was not feeling well and was resting in bed while Abigail and Sarah had gone to Austin for the weekend so we had Samantha, David & Suzanne, Bonnie & Wade and me for dinner. The kitchen has a wide island with 5 stools. The space beterrn the island and the fridge and stove is wide so 2 people can work with their backs to each other. The kitchen is open to the TV room. I sat in the TV room on the couch while Bonnie, Suzanne and Samantha worked preparing the dinner. Wade and David sat at each end on the bar stools and could talk to the ladies and to me. The space is perfect when peparing food as well as entertaining. I was pleased to see the kitchen in operation. We ate dinner in the dining room. We ate the fresh vegetables straight from Bonnies garden. She sauteed the vegetables and were delicious. She also made a salad from her garden. And we ate a baked potato and sausages. Spur of the moment dinners are often the best. After dinner we watched hockey and ate ice cream. I enjoyed the company and I enjoyed the food. Lucky me.

May 21, 2021. San Antonio, Texas. The Birthday.

Yesterday was the actual day of Abigail's birthday. She turned 22. The whole day was one celebration after another and she had a wonderful day. Her day began at 10:30 when Samantha, Allison and Sarah woke her up bringing balloons, breakfast tacos and coffee that they have gone out to buy. I was not at her place but the event was a hit and they all had a lot of fun together. All four girls were at separate universities this past year so being together was a special time. Next up they took the dogs for a long walk except for Sarah who had work to do from school. Emily, Abigail's friend from high school, came to celebrate with Abigail. The four girls went to Whataburger and brought the food to eat at home. Next they went to have manicures while Abigail also had a pedicure. Suzannes's parents arrived for the birthday dinner. Abigail requested Japanese food so Suzanne came home with two large platters of Japanese food. We sat at the dining table and devoured the delicious food. Abigail was pleased. Next we sang Happy Birthday to Abigail as her cake was brought to the table. And after our cake, Abigail opened her gifts. We sat together in the TV room and talked and when the older folks retired, the girls talked sitting on the balcony of Sarah's room. Emily stayed the night at Aby's place while the aduls slept as the girls talked. It was a fitting birthday for Abigail and she was delighted with her special day. And so was I.

May 20, 2021. San Antonio, Texas. The Bungalow

In the listing it was called The Guest House. But when I was here last September and looked at the Guest House I suggested that when David and Suzanne were going to be living there during the renovation process they could no longer call it The Guest House. So we renamed it The Tiny House. And so it remained. When Abigail first saw the new house, she claimed the Guest House as her bedroom. Everyone was happy. Sarah was in the third floor bedroom along with a bathroom they newly installed while the twins had a bedroom and a bath each on the second floor. All was well. The backyard is still under construction which means a difficult walk from the house so I was installed in Allisons room while she is sleeping in David's office on the third floor. I was happy. During our drive, Abigail several times referred to the bungalow as the place she waould be living.. I did not saw a word but the Tiny House is definately not a bungalow. After dinner while sitting in the TV talking I asked Abigail why she was calling The Tiny House the bungalow, because I said, it is not a bungalow. Abigail responded by telling me that The Tiny House was not actually tiny, which would be true. So she refused to use the term The Tiny House for her room. She preferred living in The Bungalow. We had a lively discussion. Allison read out from the dictionary the defination of a bungalow, which starts out with a front porch. Ultimately I convinced Abigail that her room was definately not a bungalow. It has no porch and it does have a garage. She finally agreed not to call it a bungalow. After much discussion, we decided to name it Abby's Room. Now we will see if it sticks.

May 19, 2021. San Antonio, Texas. We Did It.

Our drive from Madison to San Antonio was splendid. David drove most of the way except for one 2 hour period when Abigail drove. David was intending to drive south to highway 10 then go west into San Antonio but fortunately he checked the weather report before we left home. !3 inches of rain fell yesterday and Highway 10 was flooded and more heavy rain and storms were forecast along the coast. So we came west out of Jackson and had fine weather all the way. Abigail slept in the back seat for a good part of the trip. And we brought our breakfast and lunch into the car so we made good time. We left at 7:00 and arrived just past 5:30. And we had a good time. This is a journey I have made many times so I enjoyed every minute. All the girls are here and are happy to be together. Our dinner was joyful. Because none of the girls were home for Mother's Day, after dinner while we were still sitting at the dining table, they gave Suzanne her gifts, sone of which they made themselves. One gift was a book made of pictures of the girls over the years which included other family members. It was sweet. In addition, they gave her a tiny music box, which played the song that Suzanne always sang when the girls were ill. It was sweet and funny all at the same time. Somehow or another I thought that the coming weekend was Memorial weekend but I was wrong so I will stay in San Antonio all next week. Then we will go to the lake where I will stay. So all next week I will enjoy their lovely new home. I am delighted to be in San Antonio with all four girls along with Suzanne and David. So far I am having a wonderful time and I am so pleased to be here. And I feel fortunate too.

May 18, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Driving to Texas.

I have not taken a car trip for several years. But tomorrow I am looking forward to driving with David and Abigail to San Antonio. They are making good progress from Greenville, S.C. and now are just passing Birmingham so they expect to be here by 3:30. Christina, Kate and Molly will bring dinner from Amerigo so we will get to have a visit, a good dinner, then off to bed early so we will get an early start. Our plan is to have a cup of coffee, then drive for a couple of hours before we stop for breakfast. Unfortunately, Mary Frances is working at the coffee shop so can not join us. Ken and I have taken many many car trips. All our life we have been going or coming, driving the whole of North America. We have made the trip from Texas to Mississippi many times but we always stayed overnight, stopping for dinner and a night in a nice hotel. The journey from the farm to Texas or Mississippi we took multiple times. And we enjoyed every trip. Then we got weary of the journey and started flying which was when we bought the Escape, where we drove frome one place to the other. But now I fly everywhere. My only car excursions are with friend David who takes me out for a Sunday afternoon drive in Nova Scotia. But tomorrow I will enjoy my drive with David and Abigail. I am all set with my bag and back pact ready to load on the truck. Tomorrow evening I will be writing my wee web log from San Antonio, God willing and if the creek does not rise!!

May 17, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Pelican Cove.

Pelican Cove is a casual restaurant overlooking the reservoir. Boat owners can alo fill up with gas and when the weather is good, the boat slips are full of people having lunch or dinner. Over the years, Ken and I had had lunch there many times. But I had not been there this season so Donna and I went there for lunch to celebrate our last lunch before I depart. The food has always been good but they have made improvements to the place. The deck has been screened. Today the weather was perfect temperature for outdoor dining so Donna and I sat on the deck at the edge of the railing and enjoyed watching the ducks and geese and listened to the rain when it came. In addition they added clear plastic along with the screen. We had a perfect situation. We could see the water and listen to the rain but we had no bugs and no dripping rain. Until recently in order to stay bug free and dry you were forced to dine inside. I ate a shrimp wrap which was delicious. And Donna ate a shrimp basket which she enjoyed. The lst time I was there I ate red bens and rice along with sausage but it was nowhere to be found on the menu. I was happy with my shrimp wrap. It was full of shrimp along with tomatoes and lettuce with a tasty sauce putting it all together. Pelican Cove is the closest restaurant to our home and I was delighted to know that they are doing well and even making improvements. I was pleased to have lunch there today. One other note was perhaps a sign of the times. The waitress had her young daughter helping. She seemed to be about 7 and was charming and pleasant. Donna and I noted that she had specific tasks. She always brought menus when you sat down. And she always brought the bill at the end. Restaurant owners are having great difficulty hiring wait staff so now that school is out, the mothers may begin to bring their daughters to work. I wonder.

May 16, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. My Delightful Dinners.

Every night this week I have been eating delicious dinners. Most people would object to eating these dinners because evevy day the food was the same. But I enjoyed them all. Ken enjoyed leftover food but never the same day in a row. I on the other hand have no problem eating the same meal day after day. Odd but true. The controls for my ovens are high so I can not tell the tempratures on the ovens. I do not wish to stand on a stool so every so often I ask Kashina to take two vegetable and one type of meat from the freezer. She has no problem getting up and down on the stool so on Tuesday she cooked two types of vegetables plus three small racks of ribs, left over from our barbecue at Easter. She selected a box of carrotts and creamed spinich. It turned out to be a good combination. When heating the food, the house smelled so good that I ate my dinner at noon, just as they do in Nova Scotia. I ate three barbecued ribs plus carrotts and creamed spinich. It tasted delicious. For the rest of the week I ate the same meal partly because I wanted the cooked food finished before I left for Texas next Wednesday and partly because it was easy. Lethergy has it's own reward. All week I enjoyed the same meal. Now all I have left is a small amount of carrotts. Tomorrow I am going out for lunch with my neighbor Donna and Tuesday evening Christina will bring dinner from Amerigo to have dinner with David and Abigail. I am set. I will not need to cook until I leave for the summer. Hurrah.

May 15, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Hockey Playoffs.

The playoffs have begun. This is the most exciting time of the hockey season. No slacking. Maximum effort. And just sometimes, unknown players become stars. Anything can happen during the playoffs. This evening Washington played Boston in the first game. Chara who played for years for Boston is now playing for Washington so that was interesting. When I watch him play I wonder why on earth Boston allowed him to leave. The game was tough with lots of solid hits and at the end of three periods the score was 2 to 2, thus overtime. They played the regular overtime system and not the 5 minute overtime with 3 players before moving to the shootout. Toniht they played 5 on 5 for the full 20 minute period. Washington won the game. Hurrah. 16 teams qualified to get into the playoffs. Due to Covid, the teams were playing in different divisions than normal. So each division will playoff, with their winner playing another division winner. During the season there were no games between the divisions so you did not know how good a team really was because they only played the other teams in their own division. This makes it more difficult for someone such as me to say who might win the cup. Most commentators pick Las Vegas to get into the finsl. They also said that Boston would beat Washington during their series and now Boston is down a game. Toronto and Edmonton are both excellent teams with players who have great skills. But I await their games against Tampa Bay or Florida to find out how good Toronto and Edmonton really are. We are going to find out. My Nashville team is not playing too well recently even though they got into the playoffs, so I expect they might lose in the first round. I am not a betting person but it is my guess that Las Vegas will get into the finals and will play either Tampa Bay or Florida for the Stanley Cup. I for one will enjoy the whole process. Hockey playoffs are fun.

May 14, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Briar Island.

Briar Island is the last island along the Digby Split in Nova Scotia. It is the place you take a whale whatching excursion. Ken and I along with Mary and Clif drove down one day and enjoyed our visit although we all commented that there did not seem to be much there. But it was a funky little town where you go for a whale watching trip. One night at dinner, we realized with our friend Alice Anne that she was running out of days. In order to visit Briar Island and see the whales we needed to go the next day and stay overnight in order to take the early trip to see the whales. I called to make a reservation but they had only one room. But they had two big beds so Alice Anne , Ken and I drove the next morning to Briar Islans where we would all stay in one room. In order to get to Briar Island you take 2 ferries, which you must wait. I have always enjoyed the drive but Dave and Irene thought the drive boring. We checked into the motel and went to pay for our whale watching trip at 7:00 the next morning but they would not allow us to pay our money and get our tickets. In the morning, we must call to see if the trip had been cancelled due to bad weather. We ate dinner and went to bed, hoping the weather would be good. But first thing the next morning we called, only to be told that due to rough seas and limited visibility the trip was cancelled. But we three had a good time. We drive all over the remote parts of the island to see birds which we all enjoyed. Then we headed home because Alice Anne was returning to Texas the next day. When Ken was reading about Briar Island, they said to spend several days at the Island. Ken commented that there was not enough to do at Briar Island to last tree days. But after our whale watching trip was cancelled, Ken understood because you needed to spend several days at Briar Island in order to find one good day to get out to see the whales. Even though we missed out on our whale watching, we three still enjoyed our two days. But we have not been back since.

May 13, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Pam S.

I met Pam at a dinner party the first year we started to spend time in Mississippi in 2009. Three facts about Pam became apparent to me. She was extremely thin. Her speach was difficult to understand. At the dinner table she did not eat or drink. I knew she was the mother of Jim, who was married to Eleanor, and Cheryl, married to Sabastian. She and her husband attended all our parties and dinners. And she was always enthusiastic and gracious. And they left early. When we moved into this house, I started inviting her for coffee, except she did not drink coffee. But we talked and we both enjoyed our visits. So since the Spring of 2015, we have become good friends. She is the most religious person I have ever known and she takes her situation with no complaints. In fact she thinks that difficulties in life are as much a part of a Christian life as the joys. She has cancer of the tongue. The disease keeps coming back so for many years and multiple surgeries and radiations she is left unable to swallow or to speak easily. Her situation is much worse than mine. Just last December she had a port installed so she can get caloriesx through the tube. She is pleased with that and she says she feels much better. Her spirit and spunk are remarkable. She is fun and funny. And she does something else unusual. Every day she prays for everyone on her prayer list, which includes friends and everyone of her friends children and grandchildren. So every day, she prays by name for me and everyone in my family that she knows. Each grandchildren is prayed for by name. And she prays for my family she met when Ken died. I bet you that Dave & Irene, Wendy & Alana and Norm do not know that a kindly lady in Mississippi was praying for them. Quite remarkable. I am not particularly religious but I am a good friend of Pam and I appreciate all her prayers for my family. And she is an excellent example of how to deal with adversity. Hats off to my friend Pam.

May 12, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. My Journey.

Finally, the puzzle pieces are in place. My trip to Texas and then on to Nova Scotia was put in place several months ago but things changed. David suggested I drive with him and Abigail to San Antonio so my flight needed to be cancelled. The airline changed flight times which meant I was unable to make the connections. And the Canadian governmant still requires returning passengers to isolate at the airport for three days in order to obtain another covid test. I waited until now to await the change of rules but to no avail. Today finally, all is well. Much to my surprise, American Airlines is giving me a credit for my flight to San Antonio, something in the past was never done. Now I fly to Dallas on June 30 and lay over for 2 hours, then fly to Toronto. For 3 nights, I will stay at the ALT hotel at the airport where I must be isolating in my room. Meals will be delived to my room, left outside my door. Of course, picking up a heavy tray from the floor will be difficult if not impossible for me. The rules are crazy. I am not allowed to walk on the hall outside my door but after calling the front desk I am allowed to walk outside. Interesting. My last leg will be on July 4 when I fly to Halifax where Mr. Jim will drive me home to Western Head. I am set with all pieces in place, at least for the moment. David and Abigal will arrive from Greenville, N.S. to stay the night, driving in Abigail's truck pulling a small trailer. The next day we three will drive to San Antonio where I will get to see the furnished new home. I am looking forward to seeing my Texas family. Now I am ready.

May 11, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Dinner at my Neighbor.

Just after I finished my orange drink, I was thinking and walking in my house. All day today we had on and off rain so I did my walking inside. I was thinking about what I should eat for dinner. Nothing seemed appealing while I walked so when I finished walking, I made a batch of popcorn. Just after it finished in the microwave, the beep on my phone reminded me that I had a text. My sweet neighbor Donna invited me to come and eat a spaghetti dinner with them in their home. Problem solved. My popcorn would wait. Their son Hughes was home from college which pleased me. He is a nice young man so I was happy to get to talk with him. We sat at their kitchen island for dinner. They seated me at the end of the island with the others on the side so I was able to see all three while we dined. Their daughter Anne Avery was out for the evening having dinner at the home of her boyfriend, a new experience for Donna and Greg. This boyfriend is the first for their daughter. Evidently Hughes dated during high school and they never thought a thing about it. But as they said, a girl is different. So everyone, imcluding Hughes was a bit anxious. Such fun. They brought me home directly after dinner as Greg gets up early every morning so he needed to go to bed. But I enjoyed my visit in their lovely home. Several times in the past, Donna has brought dinner over to me but this time she invited me to join them in their kitchen. And she told me that in the future she will do it again. I told her that I would accept.

May 10, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. My Pet Scan.

This morning at 7:30 Kashina drove me to check in for my latest Pet scan. I have had so many of these scans that the technitians know me by name. And they know that I am either just going away of has just arrive home to Mississippi. They laugh. And they wish they could live my life but without the cancer in their bones. I know the drill but I do not really enjoy having a scan. I put up with them because they tell alot of what is happening inside of me without intrusive procedures. Today Dr. Sheehan was pleased. My scan was unchanged from the last one in late March. For an Oncologist, this is good. Nothing has grown to new parts of my body and the cancer that is still present on ribs in my back have not getten bigger. The plan is to continue taking Ibrance until I return. Then have another scan on October 4. On the phone last week I mentioned to my friend Butch that when I turn 90, I just might refuse to have another scan. He demurred and suggested that when I get to be 100 would the time to stop having any more scans. Todays report is definately not bad although I was hoping to stop Ibrance and see a clear scan. But Dr. Sheehan reports the scan a success. I might as well agree with her.

May 9, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Mother's Day.

We never go to a restaurant on Mother's Day. The places are too crowded because everyone takes their Mothers out for a meal. Today starting at Brunch, the restaurants were jammed. Kashina and her fsmily waited two and a half hours to be seated this afternoon. Chris my Lyft driver took her Mother out for dinner yesterday just to avoid the crowds. He reported today that the parking lots at all the restaurants he passed were full of cars so he was feeling pleased that he splurged on his mother yesterday. We planned ahead. Christina purchased chicken salad and bagels from the bagel store. We sat in our quiet spot on the back porch at Linda's home overlooking the back yard and pool. Linda is Christina's mother so it was perfect that all three girls and both mothers had lunch together. We also ate potato chips, which I never buy but always enjoy. Lovely little petite fours were served for dessert but I declined. I am not eating sugar. Our lunch was delicious and delightful. We were feeling pleased with ourselves with our decision. I feel grateful that I have two daughter in laws who are wonderful mothers for my 7 granddaughters. And of course, I have always been grateful for my own mother and grandmother who set an example of hard work and joyous living for me. Mothers's Day is a good time to say the gratitude out loud. In Mississippi, we celebrated Mother's Day in style with no crowds and no fuss or muss, all thanks to Christina. Hats off to her.

May 8, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Abigail Ruth Dickie.

This evening, Abigail graduated from Furman University, which is just outside Greenville, South Carolina.. I am so proud of her. The graduation was held on the football field with the chairs for the students well set apart. The weather was perfect so the event proceeded as planned. I even heard her name called out by the Dean and watched her walk across the stage. Modern communication is wonderful. Now she is set for her next adventure. David and Suzanne along with Allison and Samantha attended the event. Sarah has exams next week so was not able to be present. She along with me watched on the video. And we cheered. Abigail deserves extran cheers. She is dislexic so reading for her is difficult and slow. But working so hard for success will stand her in good stead throughout her life. She has always had great spunk and energy. At no time did she complain or feel sorry for herself. She just worked hard. And now she has graduated from Furman University, a very good small school. David and Suzanne are especially pleased for Abigail to have received her degree, which is in Psychology and Business. Now she is taking a gap year and will work and ski in Colorado, beginning June 16. I wish her well. She is a charming, energetic young lady and I love her dearly. I wish my parents would see their greatgranchildren's success. This evening would give them great joy. I feel fortunate to have Abigail Ruth Dickie in my life as my granddaughter.

May 7, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. New Phone.

I changed my mind. Christina reminded me that I would soon be travelling and my old phone would not last all day without plugging it in, which was true. And since the young man told me I did not need a new phone because I had no trouble with the battery I bagan noticing that I was plugging my phone in twice every day. And then the power went out and without my neighbors battery pack I would have been out of power in my phone so I decided to buy a new phone. And I did. Chris my Lyft driver took me to a small AT&T store adjacent to the Krogers where I had my vaccine shots, the same place where the kind young man told me I did not need a phone. I was well looked after, with a young lady and the same young man attending to my every needs. And I bought a new phone, an iphone 12. The young lady recommended a phone with a home button, which is just like my old one. It still has all the bells and whistles plus the longer battery life but it is easier to use. I understand it is a bit more expensive but evidently older people like me prefer the olf look. While I waited they transferred my data and upgraded the phone. I tradedn in my old phone and they wiped off everything in my old one. While I was there I bought a new case for my phone because a corner of the old one had broken. And I bought a power pack so I will be prepared for the next event with no power. It is set ready to take with me to Nova Scotia. My grandchildren will be proud of me because I have gotten modern!!

May 6, 2021. Maddison, Mississippi. The Grand Canyon.

Ken and I have visited the Grand Canyon several times. The first was almost Ken's last. We were working at a camp outside Tucson, Arizona the summer of 1962. In between campers, we travelled Arizona, camping as we went, driving in our VW bug with no airconditioning. Our first excursion was to the Grand Canyon which we found truly grand. At one of the veiwing spots we both stepped over the fence meant to keep tourists from falling over. And we walked toward the edge. Just to the right was a huge rock with a path around the rock, which gave a better view of the canyon, several thousand feet below. The path was quite wide so Ken suggested we go around the rock but I said no. I have never had good balance but Ken was confident of his ability. So off he went on the path around the path overlooking the Grand Canyon. He took a long time to return and it did cross my mind that I might be required to drive back to Ontario by myself. Eventually he reappeared and we got back into the car to continue our excursion. But he was quiet. That night at dinner he told me the story. The path was 5 feet wide at the beginning but the path got narrow and Ken was thinking that the path might end so he turned around to return. And one foot slipped and he found himself on his stomach on the path but with both legs hanging over the canyon. All his muscles froze and it took ages to convince his legs to move. Eventually he got his legs back on the small path where he crawled to where the path was wider so he could stand up. He came very close to seeing the Grand Canyon only once. All his life he recalled the felling of terror with no ability to move. It was the only time in his life that he had that experience. And he never forgot it. Since then, we stayed on the tourist side of every barrier. Every summer in Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia someone drowns because they stepped over the fence telling tourists not to go beyond the barrier. Then a big wave comes and washed them into the water from which they can not get out. But they did just what we did and steped over to get a better look. Ken just got lucky.

May 5, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Electricity.

People lived well before the invention of electricity. I remind myself of that fact everytime I am forced to live without electricity. But of course, foks in the 19th century had lots of devices to keep the family functioning such as water pumps and oil lamps. We just get irritated that the power is off. And we want it to be turned back on. When Kashina came this morning she asked if we had a generator. "I am surprised that Dr.Ken did not have one," she said. I told her that we had talked about buying one but never did get around to actually getting one. Most of the time we do not run out of power so we decided to save our money. Kashina was unable to complete her tasks today. She could not launder and remake the bed. And she was unable to put out the trash because she was unable to open the garage doors. She was more irritated than me. My neighbor came over this afternoon and we chatted for a few minutes about our irrational behavior. Last evening she wondered if, because the whole family was home and together, perhaps they might watch a movie together. But with no electricity, watching a movie was not an option. And I have noted myself switching on the switch when I enter the bathroom, even though I am holding onto a flashlight. But there is one major difference being out of power here in Mississippi. The taps still run and the toilets flush. In Nova Scotia, because we all use wells, when the power goes out we lose water including flushings. Life is easier in Mississippi at least in the cities. I was happy to rejoin the 21st century when I came home after lunch to find the electricity was up and running. We certainly depend on electricity.

May 5, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Short but Powerful.

May is not supposed to be a storm month but we have just had back to back storms. When I was reading e mails yesterday sitting on the couch away from the windows I heard a huge crash so I looked outside. The sky was pitch black. And the rain was a torrent. The wind was loud and the thunder and lightning was coming right together so I knew it was close. But I still did not move to find my safe place in the basement. I am not yet a true Mississippian. All my friends were in their safe place. My across the street neighbor came over to tell me that a tree branch had fallen on my garage. At this moment, Chantes and his crew are busily cutting up and cleaning up the mess. The power came on today at noon. A power pole on Post Road snapped in two taking all wires down with it so we lost power immediately although I was not aware of it until later. I was fortunate. The big limb that came down only left a smaller branch on the garage so the only damage was a few roofing tiles that need to be replaced. Chantes will look ater that. I called him yesterday evening and he was here this morning. My neighbor Donna left me a power pack for my phone so I was in good shape. With two good flashlights I was able to prepare and eat a salad for dinner. And I read all evening with the trusty flashlights. The outside temperature was in the low 60s so the house was comfortable. Now all is well in Roses Bluff Subdivision. This storm only lasted 20 minutes but it was powerful. There are trees down everywhere in town. Strong and powerful is not a good combination. Once again, I just got lucky.

May 3, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Thermostats.

I never touched the thermostats in our houses. Ken was more sensitive to heat and cold so I early learned to leave thermostats to Ken. If I felt that the house was chilly, I put on a shirt or sweater. If I was too hot I wore shorts. And Ken was always opening and closing windows, trying to get fresh air into the house. Ken was always skinny so he got cold easily. In recent years, before Ken showered he turned up the thermostat in the bathroom and bedroom so the room would be warm. So since 1958, I have left thermostats to Ken. I never touched them. But now I am required to change the thermostats all by myself. And I do not like it. If fact, I only change the thermostats when absolutely necessary. Just last week I switched the three thermostate to air conditioning. Christina switcher hers over a month ago and had thrned it off several times. And even though we have had a few chilly days, I will not swith back to heat. I have no idea why I have this attitude to thermostats. But somehow or another I must be intiminated. I do know that my systems in the house will be on air conditioning until I return in October even if the weather seems chilly. Wierd but true.

May 2, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. Tornados.

In Mississippi, people take storms seriously. They especially take a tornado warning seriously as I discovered tonight. I was eating dinner watching TV when an alert came on the screen, alerting me of a tonado watch. I pushed the button on my remote to remove the alarm without checking to see if it pertained to Madison County, which is where I live. That was not smart. Almost immediately, I received a text from Donna, who lives across the street, telling me that we are under a tornado watch, so we are supposed to seek shelter in a safe place. As I was sitting in the TV room surrounded by big windows I was definately not in my safe place. Every house is supposed to have a safe place to go to in a bad storm. Christina and I discussed recently what to do in my house and she told me to go downstairs in the closet. And to stay away from the windows. What I did was switch the channel to a local station, where they were taking over regular programming and were showing the path of the storm. I could hear no wind or rain so I know no storm was directly overhead. I did not retreat to the lower level but I did watch the progress of the storm on the TV right until the weather service removed Madison County from the danger zone. In addition to the alert on the TV and my neighbor texting, the sirens started wailing which means seek shelter. They are loud and even if you do not recognize the instructions, you would certainly know that something was amiss. In Galverton when a storm heads into the Gulf, everyone tracks the storm all the time. The same is true in Mississippi. Everyone in Mississippi tracks the path of a storm until the all clear sign is posted and the siren stops wailing. Storms are treated very seriously in Mississippi. This time we got lucky. The storm veered north and east of us. Whew.

May 1, 2021. Madison, Mississippi. The May Queen.

My sister Carol had her birthday on the first of May. Today I celebrate her birth. Besides my brother Dave, who always comments to me on the phone about Carol's birthday, I wonder how many other people celebrate her birthday. Carol was a good sister and I still miss her. My sister was born in 1935, before anyone knew about milk allergies for babies. I had been told that my Mother was never able to nurse the babies so Carol was fed formula which she rejected so she was always hungry. And she cried a lot as a baby. It must have been difficult for both parents. When I was born two and a half years later and I did not cry a lot, everyone was delighted and surprised. My brother Dave, who was three and a half years older than Carol, did not cry either as a baby, but no one seemed to connect the formula with the crying. When Carol was able to eat pablum, she stopped crying. All her life she was not able to digest milk. My Mother told me this story about Carol. My brother Dave was playing with his toy train which he pushed around on a wooden track. Carol was a toddler and kept removing the engine from the train. After this happened several times, Dave, who was about 5, got upset and finally said to Carol, "Gosh Carol. I wish I had never asked God to bring you to us". Carol was a whiz with a needle. She could sew early in her life. And she never stopped. All my life at home she looked after my hair and made me clothes. And we hung around with the same friends at church. So we were good buddies as kids. She died too young at 77. I wish she was here to celebrate her 86th birthday. I have been fortunate all my life with my family. My brother and I have always been good friends. I hear of other families who have unpleasantness with their family members, but not us. We get along. And today I feel grateful that I knew my sister Carol for 77 years. And I wish she was here today.