Goal Accomplished

 Well, I am well and truly settled in.  My stuff arrived from Vancouver as advertised on June 6, and here we are, a month later, and all is unpacked and stowed away.  Of course, I have way too much stuff (yes, John, I will admit it), and will go through every closet and drawer and get rid of enough so that what I have is accessible.  But I am here, and it still feels right.

For those of you concerned about the heat, a report.  Yes, it is hot.  Like everywhere else, it is probably hotter than normal this year too - we have already had a number of 116 degree days (that`s around 44 degrees I think).  I know it is a trope to say, yes, but it is a dry heat, but it`s true.  I swear, 80 degrees in Houston feels hotter than this.  I go for my walk at about 5 A.M., and it is still a quite pleasant 70 degrees about that time, and stays reasonable until 10 or 11.   I go for a brief walk around the neighborhood about 8:30 P.M.. when it is again quite balmy.  Lots of people like the pool at night, although I myself haven`t tried it.  And during the day, air conditioning everywhere makes activities like the weight training class at the gym, the Zumba class at the community center, bridge and dining, all quite pleasant. 

With everything opening up again, friendships are increasing exponentially - I think we are all so grateful to be seeing - and hugging - people that people are connecting possibly more than they normally would.  Admittedly, there are fewer people here than there will be when the season starts in October, but the good news is that I have the time and opportunity to solidify my newly found friendships.

Reading goes on too, of course.  Helga, a neighbor, lent me Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernardine Evaristo, which won the Booker Prize in 2019.  Not the type of book I normally read - about black-lesbian-other women (and not the type of book I would have expected Helga to read either - you can learn a lot about your friends by sharing books....), but if the criteria for a good book is that it takes you somewhere you wouldn`t otherwise go, well, it was a good book.  

Likewise A Hundred Suns, by Karin Tanabe.  This is a book about Vietnam, a place that I know very little about.  However, I have a trip to Vietnam scheduled for late October, and nothing beats fiction for getting to know the heart of a place (this one is about the French involvement, not ours, so a bit easier to read, I imagine).  Anyway, I can recommend it.

Next up was Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro, who wrote Remains of the Day.  Again, an unusual book for me - I am not usually fond of books about dystopias, but he is a wonderful writer, and I will read anything he writes (I think I already told you about Klara and the Sun, a book he wrote about robots designed as artificial friends, which, believe it or not, I couldn`t put down, or, more accurately, stop listening to) 

Some time ago, I read Olive Again, a book about a cantankerous old lady named Olive, by Elizabeth Strout.  I finally picked up the first Olive book, Olive Kitteridge, which shows how she got to be a cantankerous old lady.  It reminds me of nothing so much as Winesburg, Ohio, the classic about a small town, with descriptions of the people of the town and how they interact.Again. two thumbs up.

Little Fires Everywhere is a novel by Celeste Eng, which I enjoyed.  And for the middle aged white male contribution, I read two thrillers by an old favourite, Robert Crais, Free Fall and The Watchman.  If you like thrillers, add Robert Crais to your repertoire.  (I don`t generally speaking read thrillers, but I make an exception for him.)

 Other books I`ve listened to since we last spoke: The Punishment She Deserves, a mystery by Elizabeth George; and The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova, who wrote the very popular The Historian a number of years ago.  This one is difficult to listen to - the destruction of a country, Romania,through war and revolution - but a good book nonetheless.

What else can I tell you?  Nothing right now - it is time for my evening walk.  So, another boring post, sans pictures.  However, my camera is charging as we speak, and I promise there will be pictures of my newly installed library and my environs next time....

Everything is proceeding apace.....

Exciting news - my stuff is arriving from Canada on June 6.  That is sooner than I expected, and cheaper than I expected to (thank you, John)  In anticipation, I have had some work done to expand the capacity of my closets, and ordered bookshelves for the arriving library.  So, everything is falling into place, and the goal is that by July 18, my 75th birthday, I will be unpacked and settled in. The clothes should just be a matter of hanging up in the newly expanded closets, and I already have volunteers - my reading friends, of course - to help me sort and shelve books.  Then, the pictures, and, voila, ready for my new life.

So far, no regrets.  It just feels right.  I don't believe in regrets anyway - I have had a few in my life, but not many - and my nature is such that I am not tormented by them.

Part of the reason for moving down here is my much more fulsome social life down here, a lot of which is opening up now.  Opera in the movies will be back soon, restaurant dining is back in swing (3 dinners with 3 different sets of friends this week alone), and, wonder of wonder miracle of miracles, a Memorial Day party next weekend.  I will try to get the camera in gear to memorialize the post-COVID start up of my social life.

And in the midst of all this, quite a bit of reading as well... really, some reading and some listening, as mostly I listen to books when I am doing my 5 mile a day walk (that's give of take 12,000 steps, but who's counting except my tyrannical phone).  Reading includes mostly mysteries.  I was introduced to Susan Hill (The Various Haunts of Men) by friend Nan, and since some of my old favorite authors are dying off, new additions are always welcome; this one was a good read.  Another author new to me (but around for a while) is Stuart Woods.  The one I read (again courtesy of Nan) was called Double Jeopardy.  A complete piece of fluff, but not objectionable; I would read another if it came my way (although I wouldn't seek it out, and I certainly wouldn't spend money for it).  Next up was The Wedding Guest by Joseph Kellerman.  As mystery fans know, Kellerman has been around for a while as well, but I have someone managed to avoid reading him till now.  A good read, though, and I will certainly read more - and there are many!

In cleaning out my current bookshelves, in anticipation of the new arrivals, discovered Ruth Rendell's No Man's Nightengale.  I have read any number of her books, but not this one.  It may be her last, as she died not too many years after this one was published.  Inspector Wexford, her sleuth, solves this one from retirement.  Not her best outing, but good nonetheless.  

In a more serious vein ( I would go so far as to say depressing) was Atul Gawande's Being Mortal, which explores the relationship between modern medicine and aging.  He is a doctor, and his thesis, with which I heartily agree, is just because medicine can do something doesn't mean it should, and that we should all take control of our medical fate.  And god bless hospice.....

The final contribution in the "physical books" department is The Mapmaker's Wife, by Robert Whitaker.  It is a true story of French scientists in the Amazon in the 17th century. or, as the subtitle has it "A True Tale of Love, Murder and Survival in the Amazon".  As most of you know, science doesn't interest me much - I skipped over the heavier bits - but it was interesting to me because it was in Equador and the Amazon, which I have visited - and was amazingly well written for the type of book it is.  

And now the listening bits....I am currently listening to Surrender, New York, by Caleb Carr.  I previously listened to Angel of Darkness, by the same author, and I do love his writing....Elizabeth George is an old favourite, and I just listed to The Punishment She Deserves. I think I have now "read" all of hers.  Sigh.

Well, I will keep you posted...

  

Bid Changes

 So once again, it has been a month since I spoke to you, but for a change there is an excuse.  Big changes are happening.

I have decided to stay down in the Desert.  When we last spoke, I said that without work to draw me, I was feeling precious little pull to go back to Vancouver.  And, of course, Canada has made it very difficult for citizens to come home, requiring 3 COVID tests, a mandatory stay at a government-chosen hotel at a cost to me of $2000.00 plus, followed by a 14 day quarantine.  All of this in spite of the fact that I have had both shots of the vaccine.  

Meanwhile, a friend's son and his bride would like to house-sit  my apartment, my friend Paul has made my kitchen goods disappear, friend John and his moving and storage company have packed my books and clothes and whisked them into storage, my car in Vancouver has found a new home, and bob's your uncle, I can stay in the Desert.

Yes, the summers here are hot.  But that is why god created air conditioners, I am assuming.  And several other friends are spending their first summer here (one having moved from Michigan, the other from Brooklyn), and we are looking at sharing a house in Idyllwilde for a few months this summer.  It is an hour's drive from Palm Spring, but is in the surrounding mountain, and is about 30-35 degrees cooler than it is in Palm Springs in the summer.  We drove to Idyllwile today, and it is really a sweet town, with lots of restaurants, book stores and other little shops.  So we will see.

Meanwhile,  back in Palm Springs, almost everyone (and certainly every one I know) has been vaccinated - twice - and pretty nearly everything is open here in Palm Springs, with limitations - masking, hand washing, and distancing, so life is wonderful.  I have had several Scrabble "dates" with friend Michael, several dinners out - a new (to me) Vietnamese restaurant - called 533 - with friends John and Tom, a new (to me) Mexican restaurant - Las Casuelas -  with friend Sue, and dinner with a group - yes, you read that right - a group - of friends at the venerable Thunderbird Club.  Oh my god, how much fun was that.  

I know I am leaving my friends up North in the lurch, but I am hopeful that next year the borders will be open, and I will certainly be receiving guests.  

I know some of you are worried about the state of my health - having read my last post, I am not surprised.  I will no doubt not live forever  - nor do I want to - but I am feeling much better, and among my other accomplishments this last month, I have organized my pills on this side of the border, and generally, my ongoing health care is in place.  So, worry not, my friends.

Wish me well, folks, and I will keep you posted...

Good News and Bad News

 The good news is that this is still my happy place.  

The bad news is that I don't feel so well.  I don't know what it is.  My ability to breathe seems to have gone down hill.  I have trouble sleeping (well, I always have trouble sleeping), because I don't seem to be breathing well.  And I am still walking 5 miles a day, but it is harder.  And I am tired.

I know, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't seem like much, but everything seems to be piling on.    In Vancouver, I had a leak from the apartment, then an unusable oven and a part not available for three months, then a washing machine not working and noone available to make repairs.  Then there was the blood clot (taking me closer to death than I want to come), and the broken arm, and now (after 4 hours in urgent care), heart failure and kidney issues, and retention of water.

I know, I know, first world problems, and apparently I will live to annoy everyone for a while longer, but I don't like any of this a bit, not one little bit.

More good news.  Peter arrived yesterday from San Francisco for his annual visit.  He usually comes at Christmas time, but everything was delayed due to COVID.  Both of us are fully vaccinated, and continue to mask and distance, but he is such good company, and I really don't want to be alone right now.  So, yeah Peter.  We ate at Yanni's last night, my local Greek dive, and have reservations for the Art Museum tomorrow (it just opened yesterday, post COVID), other restaurant options, and probably a road trip to Big Bear, to see if it might be an option to spend the heat of the summer there.  

And a final piece of good news - the air condition repair people just left,  I am a bit poorer, but lots cooler!

Too more books to recommend, Citizens of London by Lynn Olson, about the Americans who stood with Britain "in its darkest, finest hour", recommended to me by friend Sue and a wonderful read; and State of Wonder by Ann Patchet, a modern day Heart of Darkness. Two thumbs up for both.

See, I feel better already just talking to you.....  Don't despair, the old cheery Nora will be back anon....

This is my happy place.....

 I am back walking outdoors.   I know, it doesn't sound like much, but after my fall, I was afraid to walk outdoors in Vancouver for a long time, and when it did stop raining long enough for it even to be possible to walk outdoors, I wouldn't do it without a walking stick, for fear of falling again.  It feels good to be striding outdoors again.  I go the first thing in the A.M., when it is still quite cool.  It feels so good, and I have been averaging  5 miles a day.

I walk every street in my complex, so the pictures are all close to home....

At that time of day, there are very few people out - a few dog walkers, of course -  but even outdoors, everyone is wearing masks and distancing.  This in the land of the free and the home of the brave.  And it certainly was not my experience in Canada...

Because everyone - certainly everyone in my social circle - has been vaccinated, and because it is gloriously warm and being outdoors is so pleasant, the opportunities for social interaction are multiplied.

Neighbor Michael and I went to dinner to celebrate his birthday on March 5.  This is Miro's, previously talked about in these pages, an Eastern European restaurant which is a favourite.  As you can see, they have done a great job with outdoor seating, and the food and service are still marvelous...

...this bunny is one of hundreds to be seen on my walks....

Friend Norma came to visit Palm Springs, and invited me to a lovely dinner at LaVallerois, an old favourite here, but new to me.  It is located down town, near the art museum (which is opening next week!!!), and the lovely old trees were planted by the original owner 40 odd years ago.  The service, food and conversation were all charming; it felt as though I were back in the land of the living.

So, I've been walking, socializing with my neighbors and friends, and reinstated another daily Desert ritual....

.....squeezing a glass of grapefruit juice or orange juice, from fruit just picked from the trees, every day....  it is a little piece of heaven.

I am still playing bridge, on line, of course, but because I am playing with people from the club here in the Desert, it feels downright cozy. And this week, three more social events, dinners with friend Sue, with John and Ron, and an encore dinner with Michael.  Still no gym (it is actually open, but I am not feeling quite comfortable going there, in spite of being totally vaccinated), or library, or classes, or zumba, but it is a start.

Without work to draw me back, I am feeling precious little pull to go back to Vancouver.....

I am reading as well.  I've reread any number of P.D.James mysteries, and am in the midst of rereading all the Sherlock Holmes stories.  And I am hooked up to getting audio books from the Palm Springs Library, most recently: Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything by Kristin Bair (a very strange but strangely enjoyable novel);  The Girl of His Dreams, by Donna Leon (part of a mystery series which takes place in Venice and which I quite like); and Hot to Trot, by M.C.Beaton (a piece of fluff which was surprisingly enjoyable to listen to).  Best of all was Conduct Unbecoming by Randy Shilts, about gays and lesbians in the US military.  If the name sounds familiar, he also wrote And The Band Played On, the definitive book on the start of the AIDS crisis in San Francisco.  Shilts died of AIDS in 1993, and I was amazingly affected to learn that.  He was such a talent....

In short, I am very content, and am looking forward to open borders and friendly visits.

 

Back in the Desert

I am extremely happy. 

Part of the malaise of COVID is the inactivity, and the fear that one will never be able to do things again.  I guess I needed to show myself that I could be my usual decisive self.  And I did.  First of all, I actually retired.  It finally seemed like the right thing to do.  I will be 75 years old this year, and will shortly have been at the organization for 25 years.  It seemed like the numbers were aligning in my favour.  Then, there were considerable changes in law and policy, and in COVID world, without meetings and available colleagues, it was too much like work to try to assimilate them, particularly since the amount of work I have been getting makes it hardly seem worth the effort.  So, I retired as of February 1.  The boss rewarded me with the nicest going away letter I have seen in my 25 years, so even without an official sendoff, I felt valued - more than I have in a long time, actually...

And then I decided to go down to the Desert, in a better-late-than-never bid for some warmth and sunshine, and, more importantly, to get the COVID vaccine.  It is readily available to anyone my age, whereas the lack of vaccine in Canada would mean I likely wouldn't get vaccinated until July, at the earliest.  The trip from Vancouver to Palm Springs is one that I have done many, many times before; nonetheless, it took some doing to overcome the above-mentioned malaise and put all the moving parts together.  

I am here to tell you that it can be done.  I got the plane reservation.  I got everyone organized to take care of outstanding matters in Vancouver.  I got John on board to drive me to the airport in Vancouver, and my Palm Springs John to pick me up at the other end.  I got the required COVID test scheduled within 48 hours of departure.  And the trip was smooth sailing (so to speak) all the way.  Nonetheless, by the time I got to Palm Springs, I was exhausted; I could barely speak.  Overstimulation, maybe - I saw more people on the one day of travel than I have in 11 months!!!

I can't tell you how happy I am to be here.  I got the first vaccine within 4 days of my arrival, and have a scheduled date for the second.  The sun is shining and it is warm.  The pools in my complex are open.  And because everyone I know has had one or both shots, there is more comfort seeing one another - on patios, because it is warm enough to sit on them, and with masks and distancing, but still.....

As you can see, I am back walking, but instead of walking the hallways of my building, I am in the great outdoors.

More pictures and raves later.  But just in case, in the rush to get away I forgot to call and say I was leaving, I wanted to let you all know that I am alive and very, very well.

OMG

I can't believe I let the day go by, not only without ceremony, but without even noticing.  David died 15 years ago yesterday, February 6, 2006.  Those of you who know me know that every year on that date, and on his birthday, December 9, I have dinner with my husband.  Every year, it is the same dinner, prime rib and bourbon, David's two favourite food groups.

Maybe it is the lack of calendars in my life in these days of COVID.  But the day went by.  I am mortified