Wednesday, April 15, 2026

This being social

I woke thinking of all the social interactions I have ahead of me today, starting with my second to last session with my lovely PT person, as I have apparently met the markers, turns out I am a tad too determined to do what is asked of me and I powered through. After that I am to meet up with my neighbor Jane to walk in the gardens, just a pleasant stroll with my friend to enjoy the cotton candy blossoms arriving on our trees. Then my childhood friend Alison, who lived with us for a few years when we were growing up, and with whom I now sing in choir (except I'm not there this term because of my recent surgery), is stopping by after rehersal to give me my birth certificate, which my brother asked her to bring to me from Jamaica when she was there recently, for Easter. If you followed that sentence, good for you. I'm too lazy to go back and fix it. After Alison and I visit, I'm supposed to sit on a bench at sunset with my other friend Lisa, who's recovering from dental surgery, and who I haven't seen since before my surgery, though she left flowers at my door twice during my recovery, bless her. And finally at 7:30 tonight I'm due to attend the monthly meeting of our co-op's Tenant Committee, of which I am a member along with several of my fellow co-operators. In between I will get in a bit of work, maybe. I have already been up early, editing, and the weather is gorgeous out, so the days of taking my laptop downstairs and working in the courtyard under trees and sky are finally here. Yesterday I sat at an outdoor table and formatted blind endnotes for the manuscript I finished last fall, which is at the publisher, working it's way through the many-months-long book-birthing process. 

Anyway, I woke up thinking of all the social engagements that would be a part of this day and I thought that maybe I would put on make up, make an effort to help out my haircut, but by the time I was showered and dressed, that idea had run its course and I had settled for clean and neat. Earrings and a necklace will have to serve as proof that I tried. My hair is growing in a bit, though, and the color, which had seemed way too dark when I left the salon, now seems okay. It may not actually be a bad cut, it may just need a few weeks to come together. Maybe. Here I am in my daughter's back yard last Friday. My cousins from Orlando spent last week with us, and my girl and her husband had us all over for a cook-out to celebrate three recent family birthdays, except it was a little too soon for cook-out season, definitely still too cold, so we all huddled inside coats and sweaters and soon escaped inside. But just being together for a few hours in this mad surreal world, was soul restoring. 



13 comments:

  1. Just reading about all those interactions tired me out! I'm glad your hair is coming together. Gotta love a cookout, even if chilly. We haven't had one here in awhile. Maybe soon.

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  2. It certainly is a mad, surreal world...but to sit in the sun with the ones you love...sometimes there's nothing better. Happy to hear about your progress.

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  3. What a whirlwind! Glad you're healing so well and your hair is growing out okay. It's always amazes me how important hair is to how we feel. I can't count in my life the times I left the hairdresser in tears because the result was so far from my hopes.

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  4. That is way too many social interactions for one day for me but you go girl! Glad to hear your healing is, well, healing.

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  5. Glad you are making great progress with your healing. Sounds like you have lots of friends to catch up with so that should be a wonderful day. Take care of yourself! :)

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  6. Anyone who does all the things you list above is certainly not lazy ever ever. You look so beautiful in that photo and I love your hair xo Rebecca

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  7. If I had that many social engagements planned I would be writing a post about my complete and utter nervous breakdown. And of course that would be my nineteenth nervous breakdown. Or one million, nineteenth.
    But you can do it! I am amazed at your strength and ability to get through it all and with such grace.
    My hair's starting to grow back too and tomorrow I go see our hair cuttin' lady. I doubt much will change.
    I love the fact that you can be outside. And what a wonderful view you have there.

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  8. This is wonderful to read, embracing your life!

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  9. Well, you ARE busy! It's great that you could get together with your son and the others, even if the temperatures weren't as warm as one would hope!

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  10. Ideal to have loved ones close by and to have friends who leave flowers at your door1 You are living a delight- Because you are one! You attract sweet gentle beauty, you are spring time, I reckon!

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  11. Busy times. You were off the radar for awhile with your knee, or was it hip, so it's good to be back in the real world I'm sure. Love the photo of you with your family. You look very happy.

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  12. Beautiful family photo! Love.

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  13. A beautiful photo. I am so happy that you are back sharing your writings with us. I have really missed your posts, and your beautiful flow of writing. Thank you for sharing with us again.

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