No, I'm not talking about life, I'm talking about a book. Just finished a book called The Lonely Hearts Hotel, by Heather O'Neill, a Canadian writer, apparently well known, but new to me. A wonderful writer - she brought flapper, boot-legging, depression-era Montreal to life. But I liked her heroes - two orphans - and wanted them to come to a different end. I have heard many interviews with authors (mostly on CBC), and they all say that the characters develop a life of their own. But I wish.........
Otherwise, life is just going on. Books aside, I am still melancholy over Artie's death. I think I made the right decision not to go to the funeral - too much going on, no quality time with Ruth (his wife) or David (his son) or cousin Ellen (if she even made it to the funeral from Scranton). But I feel rather cowardly nonetheless (it certainly wasn't the money...). And fearful, too, that I may have missed my only chance to see Ruth. So often, with long marriages such as this one, the remaining spouse dies shortly after the first one goes.
On the other hand, the women in the family have all outlasted the men by many years.....
Also, one time friend Michael, as I might have mentioned, is in palliative care dying of pancreatic cancer. Michael and I have been estranged for years, and it would be hypocritical to see him now. (I might forgive him his transgressions against me, but he was awful to David - David was not a stupid man, but Michael used his brilliance like a rapier - and I will not forgive Michael for that....)
Anyway, lots of social stuff, as always happens just before I head south for the winter..
....bridge, of course. Alex and I are still playing two times a week most weeks,but I have found another partner for my third outing. Diana is a bit nervous- she gets anxious over her playing - but is lively and cheerful, and, most important, forgiving of her partner's foibles. I swear, finding a suitable bridge partner is almost as hard as finding a life partner....(whenever I tease Alex that he is going to trade me in for a younger model, he keeps on saying, no, it is so hard to train a new partner...) Anyway, Diana and I have played several times in recent weeks, with a modicum of success. Both of us think it is worth working on the partnership. Another bonus; she is a symphony fan, and an opera fan, and, miracle of miracles, even a Wagner fan (Alex, god bless him, doesn't have a cultural bone in his body....). And you can't have too many friends - especially when they keep dying off on me....
Thursday was friend Robin's birthday, and I got to wish her a happy birthday in person at the bridge club.....
.....there she is with her partner Craig, still drop-dead gorgeous as she was in law school 45 years ago....
....while I had the camera out, I took a picture of two of my favourites, Mike and Rich, waiting for their table and planning strategy ....
Friday, met friend Eric for coffee. Between travels and politics and the state of the universe, we never seem to run out of things to talk about,,.
Still walking a few hours a day....
Otherwise, life is just going on. Books aside, I am still melancholy over Artie's death. I think I made the right decision not to go to the funeral - too much going on, no quality time with Ruth (his wife) or David (his son) or cousin Ellen (if she even made it to the funeral from Scranton). But I feel rather cowardly nonetheless (it certainly wasn't the money...). And fearful, too, that I may have missed my only chance to see Ruth. So often, with long marriages such as this one, the remaining spouse dies shortly after the first one goes.
On the other hand, the women in the family have all outlasted the men by many years.....
Also, one time friend Michael, as I might have mentioned, is in palliative care dying of pancreatic cancer. Michael and I have been estranged for years, and it would be hypocritical to see him now. (I might forgive him his transgressions against me, but he was awful to David - David was not a stupid man, but Michael used his brilliance like a rapier - and I will not forgive Michael for that....)
Anyway, lots of social stuff, as always happens just before I head south for the winter..
....bridge, of course. Alex and I are still playing two times a week most weeks,but I have found another partner for my third outing. Diana is a bit nervous- she gets anxious over her playing - but is lively and cheerful, and, most important, forgiving of her partner's foibles. I swear, finding a suitable bridge partner is almost as hard as finding a life partner....(whenever I tease Alex that he is going to trade me in for a younger model, he keeps on saying, no, it is so hard to train a new partner...) Anyway, Diana and I have played several times in recent weeks, with a modicum of success. Both of us think it is worth working on the partnership. Another bonus; she is a symphony fan, and an opera fan, and, miracle of miracles, even a Wagner fan (Alex, god bless him, doesn't have a cultural bone in his body....). And you can't have too many friends - especially when they keep dying off on me....
Thursday was friend Robin's birthday, and I got to wish her a happy birthday in person at the bridge club.....
.....there she is with her partner Craig, still drop-dead gorgeous as she was in law school 45 years ago....
....while I had the camera out, I took a picture of two of my favourites, Mike and Rich, waiting for their table and planning strategy ....
Friday, met friend Eric for coffee. Between travels and politics and the state of the universe, we never seem to run out of things to talk about,,.
Still walking a few hours a day....
..and, seeing as it's a lovely fall day and I have nothing else to do (house cleaned - albeit by someone else - bills paid...), I'll be heading out for another, perhaps longer, walk today...
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