I am doing well. I am feeling better than I have in months, breathing well and back up to walking 3 miles a day (working towards 5).
We have had a spell of summerlike weather, so walking has been quite pleasant.
What else? I am feeling blessed with my friends. The silver lining of COVID is that people in general are reaching out more. But being in the hospital with a life threatening event has made me realize more than ever how lucky I am. Friends checked up on me daily, and followed by providing magazines, books, and tasty, home-cooked treats. Those of you who know me know that I am a glass half full, not a glass half empty king of person. At this point, I have to say, my glass is full.
How did I get to be a glass half full kind of person? Well, my stepmother was the opposite. I used to say that if the world were perfect, she would be wondering how long it was going to last. Admittedly she had a hard life. Her fiance was imprisoned and killed by the Nazis. She lost her job as a radio concert pianist because she was Jewish. She crossed the Alps into Italy in the dead of winter, the only one of her group to survive.
But the point is, she did survive. She ended up in America, and married my father. Admittedly, he was no prize, but she survived that too. And yet she was terminally unhappy. I actually think that it is genetic, and I inherited my (mostly) good nature from my father. But one can work at it, and I have vowed to try to keep sunny. It is pretty selfish, really; I am just happier that way....
What else am I up to? Reading, of course. The Economist (thanks to friend John who trots over with his copy every week) and The New Yorker (thanks to Jack who comes over periodically with dinner, magazines and books), and, of course, books. I have taken to listening to audiobooks from the library as well, most recently The Magician's Assistant, by Ann Patchett. She is a favourite of mine, reliably entertaining.
The nice thing about (free) downloads from the library, is that you can return them after a few pages without guilt. I actually returned three this week: Strip Jack by Ian Rankin (a favourite mystery writer, but didn't like the reading of this one, or the hyper format); The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel (lots of hype by reviewers, but didn't catch me at all); and The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter (liked her last one, but this one didn't catch me). I am listening with pleasure at the moment to My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. Ferrante was interviewed recently by Sheila Rodgers on Writers and Company on CBC, and I was interested enough to take note. When I saw it on the (virtual) library shelf, I grabbed it. I will now try to find her others.
In terms of actual books, I am working my way through the second volume of Isaac Asimov's autobiography (thank you, Tom).
Still playing lots of bridge (on line), with enough success to keep me playing (intermitten reinforcement being the draw that it is...)
There is now work to be had, and I am taking all that I can, with the hope that someday soon there will be somewhere I can spend all this money...
What else? I have done my will and medical power of attorney (near-death experiences will do that to you...), and feel incredibly good about it. There are many reasons for that, of course, but the salient one is that friend Hank died three years ago without a will, and so his fervent wish to endow a scholarship in his name at University of Arizona, his alma mater, could not be fulfilled. I have now taken it on myself to do it for him (in addition to a number of other bequests), and it feels good to have all of that signed, sealed and delivered.
Not to worry, though, I have no intention of kicking the bucket any time soon. However, as recent events illustrate, you never know.
One final shout out before I go. Thank you, Wally, for reaching out to me. I am so happy to know that you are alive and well, and are starting out on a new adventure.
More anon.
