June 18, Wednesday in Juneau in Still Listening to Spirit

While I was trying to nap the night away, I pondered what could be done to make Si more a part of things or what to do exactly about the whole dynamic. I wondered if I could get her to play tourist for a day. Probably her only visit to Juneau. At 70, not likely I would say. How to get her to spend the money? How to make it inexpensive?

Wednesday we had an appointment at Valley Medical Clinic at 10am. Si phoned around 8am to tell me that she had decided to play tourist for the day. She and I talked about the places to go and the best way to get there without spending a lot of money.

I met her in the lobby where I was looking at some of the rack cards there. one was very helpful, bus transportation from the valley where we were to some of the attractions downtown and further, how to get around town via public bus. Very helpful. And very reasonable in price.

Si was cheerful, eager, and excited to be beginning this adventure. I left her to talk to the desk people about how to begin, what they thought she should see and so forth.

Bill and I were relieved and excited for her. She loves an adventure, exploring and meeting strangers along the way.

We courtesy vanned to the VMC, me all the time wondering why in the world we were going there other than the hospital discharge papers had the appointment all set up. Were we just blindly following what we shouldn't? We were in the exam room waiting on the doctor after having answered assistant's questions, having blood taken, etc. when I remembered!

Lynn had told me that she wanted to hook us up as patients of a doctor there in Juneau. The emergency room would no longer be a resource should we need meds or further medical treatment/information. Glad to know and be able to explain to Bill what we were doing there also.

Bill was still being surly, impatient and nasty to me. I am glad the medical staff got note of the vitriol. I know he wasn't feeling good, but he was gaining some strength and really looked better than when we started this trip. Likely with the diagnosis of lung cancer off the list and TB being curable had something to do with this.

We got back around 1pm and rested and napped. Si sent texts, saying where she ewas, what she ate, etc. She got back around 5pm, glowing, chattering with excitement and exhilarated.

Bill told me while we were relaxing that he wanted Si and me to go to the Mexican restaurant in the Travelodge, Mi Casa. I love, love their food, it is reasonable, and every time when I can I get a meal from there. He did not want to go, he does not like their food, plus he knew he would do better not to get out and use energy.

Si was delighted, went to her room to call her daughter and freshen up and we met in the lobby. Courtesy van was unavailable because it was busy with airport and ferry runs, so we called a taxi. The fare was under $5 because it is so close. had we the energy, we might have walked.

We had a great meal, great service, great talk. Especially about her recently deceased husband, her grandchildren, daughter, etc. I tried to stay quiet and listen. Contributing only when I felt like it, mostly listening. This is when she explained to me now the brothers just couldn't cope, and all the other negative stuff about Bill.

I ordered a hamburger and fries from Mi Casa to go and it was a great hit when I got it back to Bill. Still hot, tasty with charcoal grilled flavor and fries just perfect. He was pleased even though he could only eat about half of it before he was full.

He had had a shower and was still in it when we came back from the restaurant. Something I really didn't want him to do without me there, but didn't mention because it might remind him he wanted a shower. He was in there, heard me come in and shouted "I feel like a new man! WOW, I feel great!"

We decided to get a ferry home. When Si returned, I went to the lobby to get on the lobby computer and make reservations. I had written ferry names and departure times when I was still home beginning two days after we got here. So I knew what I wanted, just needed to make reservation.

Computer wouldn't get on line, very confusing as it is brand new I was told. Nicole at the desk came and tried and tried in between helping others. I was at first frustrated and then just resigned. Finally, Nicole said she would make reservation on the hotel's computer, did that, printed out the confirmation. She also verified we had paid 1 day too much and refunded that to the credit card.

Going home, going home. A 7 1/2 hour ferry ride ahead, but we were going home.

Si visited a wee bit more and then went to bed. She had a plane to catch in the morning and we had a ferry to catch.

Si went up the Mt. Roberts Tram, she visited the Red Dog Saloon, She visited the Alaskan Bar, all downtown near the ships. She got to see a lot of Juneau no one else usually sees when visiting by riding the city bus. She went to the Mendenhall Glacier, walked the 2 miles clear around the lake, read each exhibit and had lots of information and photos to take back to the grand-boys.

Ah, going home. I left a wake-up call with the hotel, set the alarm clock in the room, and set an alarm on my phone. No way was I missing the 8am departure of the Malaspina back to Skagway!

Blessed be!