Summer Mish Mash in New Immigrant

Thank you for your concern and advice about Jack. Tom has been home nearly a week. Jack's violent delusions suddenly vanished, replaced by milder, less intrusive ones. So it goes with Lewy Body Dementia. He has been able to walk and use the bathroom and is eating better.

The arrival of his daughters from Colorado cheered him. They have been helping in significant ways from taking him outside for walks, for car rides, preparing healthier soft foods and locating a soon-to-open facility. He is signed up to enter there as soon as it opens. Son Dave continues to stay away, which is lamentable. Deep wounds remain.

When Jen and Liz walked in both hugged Tom and said they loved him. That was the first time in twelve years he's been greeted that way by Liz. Both of us are thrilled. Despite the rift Liz and I have, it is cause for jubilation that she is accepting Tom. Formerly he was forbidden to be in her presence too.

Liz has hired Violet to work with her Grandfather five half days a week to help Penny (Tom's sister). They have asked Tom to come over the twelve days when the kids go to Italy and will pay his motel. I may go some of the time to cook some better meals and sleep with Tom. Would also like to visit Dave and reassure him we still love him. I can also pet Clementine, their donkey, which is worth the trip for me!

That sounds selfish. I sometimes wonder about myself. On the radio someone mentioned topless clubs and said once you go a couple times it's no big deal. That doesn't surprise me but a naughty voice inside me wondered if I, a truly "topless" woman, would be welcome. Ha!

Which brings me to a silly-sounding matter. Since I didn't have reconstructive surgery, I wear a "prosthetic" bra when I go someplace that matters. I can't wear it at home, as you recall, cause one cat scratch and the silicone will leak. I also don't enjoy wearing it, especially in the summer, because it makes me hot. Okay, do you see where I'm heading? Mostly I wear nothing. When I don't, I mainly wear loose cotton blouses. My question, and I know you'll answer honestly, is whether you think that's appropriate, acceptable or upsetting. Thanks in advance.

On Facebook there is a video showing a turtle playing with a ball, pushing it around. The good sized turtle, about six inches in length, is then joined by a small dog who also plays with the ball. Actually, they play together! The turtle chases after the ball and dog making you think they've got the rabbit/turtle mower speeds all wrong.

Did you know a turtle would do that? I had no idea. But when I showed Tom it came back to him that a former student had a turtle who played with toys, too! So, if you have stories about playful terrapins, please do share!

My soul was refueled when we returned to The River last week. No surprise that I could barely leave! Within minutes of putting out the grape jelly a male oriole visited. Whee. My good friends are still around!

Unfortunately, there were mice. I saw two on the run and emptied two dead ones out of a trap. Really need to take Zipper up there! We had no cats along!

Mary is doing very well, looks healthy and was full of laughter, as usual. This is the first time I've seen her since Leo's funeral, a l-o-n-g time ago, and she is adjusting well. We talked about him and his funeral and cats and laughed over crazy times she's had. Despite my long absences Mary welcomes me warmly which assuages my guilt (a little).

My life does seem upended, living here in the city for so long. The rewards are many - being with Tom first off. He keeps me laughing. Rebuilding my relationship with the "upstairs" cats - Daisy, Kabuki and Zipper - is heartwarming and gives me great pleasure. Tom handed me their brush the first day and that was my start. Now I feed them, too. No miracles with Daisy and Kabuki who are, after all, feral cats, ones who missed that five week old interaction with humans. Still, they love brushing and petting and I love that they are noticeably less wary of me.

Endless tasks need doing and some are getting done. Today I trimmed our hedges. We will return to the river but the weatherperson's humidity chart has been at "oppressive" so we'll wait until it's more tolerable. BTW, do your weathermen have those charts? My "oppressive" is when my glasses steam over when leaving an AC environment and they haven't done that. Not that we haven't closed up the house and resorted to some AC and fans.

My city life is enriched by the presence of wrens, chipmunks, squirrels, goldfinches, house finches and even one woodchuck. We found the noisy, troublesome crow dead by our house. Tom retrieved its skull.

I am happy to learn that turtles PLAY!!

I'm grateful for all of You!

Carpe Diem! Tick Tock Tick!