family camp

3 very different people. Small space. Lots of rain. So many growth opportunities.

Last Saturday was a good day for us to practice being grown-ups. The day was cold and rainy. It was my birthday, which only served to give us all expectations that something better was supposed to be happening but wasn't.
I distracted myself for a large part of the day making a huge, HUGE pot of Moroccan chicken which we had for supper. We watched some of the sweet sixteen games and we bumped into one another a lot.

The weather improved some on Sunday, plus we had 2 great visitors. Frank and his aging dog, Sandy, came to hang out while an "Open House" was being held at Kay and Frank's beautiful home in the redwoods. Nice salmon dinner. Getting used to one another in this space. Reading is good.

Monday was another cold, wet day. By now, Miriam and I are regularly taking walks outside in the rain. I am getting better at working on my alignment while walking slowly and mindfully. Definitely not my natural state, but good. I took Miriam downtown and let her go to any store she wanted and look at anything she wanted for as long as she wanted. Breathe.
The entire time she has been in town, she has been trying to find a restaurant she went to in the 80's and really loved. Today we found it! It has changed hands and names but the space was there and she was very happy to see it.

Our nadir was definitely Tuesday, when Miriam felt really crummy. After dragging her out of bed we went to lunch at a great neighborhood place with my landlady, Virginia. She ate about 2 bites.
Last week we had made an appointment to have her blood work checked today, which worked out well. I had summarized her long medical history on 1 page for the poor family doctor who was supposed to figure her out in 7 minutes and get to the next patient. He was actually very lovely and did a great job given the circumstances.
Since we were in the neighborhood, we went up to the University and I showed her my new work place. Of course, she perked up and charmed all my co-workers. We negotiated what she might be willing to eat, and stopped downtown to buy a smoothie, ice cream and some chocolate before heading back home. Oh, and got a couple more books for her to read.

Hump day! I know I am not supposed to notice since I am not working, but I did. Frank and Kay had us out for a beautiful lunch and then showed us the new home they have purchased. Rich and I got a load of manure from Frank's chickens to help get our garden-to-be started. Miriam and I had a nice sunset walk to the beach along a street with gorgeous Victorian homes before the fog rolled in. And we got her return ticket purchased for next week. A good day. Hopefully more good days to come, hope she keeps feeling well.