Part of me feels like I'm in 2020. Bob has finished his round of chemo, and tomorrow he will get his bone marrow transplant. The floor makes a big deal out of this. They come in with balloons and cake, sing happy birthday (because they say this is your new birthday) and gifts - a hat (courtesy of local crocheters) Mardi Gras beads, a small soft blanket suitable for wrapping chilly shoulders. Bob is his smiling affable self - until he opens a small box with a medi alert bracelet. I saw his face change as he realized that even if everything went well (as at the time we thought it would, no reason not to), things would still never be quite the same.
But it's 2026. Bug is spending his time sprawled out comfortably on the bed. His old personality is back. I can unclench a little. For the two months that he hunkered under the bed, looking unhappy, I was feeling that guilt that I had decided to make him lose his leg and live like this because I wasn't strong enough to let him go. But it's OK now. The amazing thing in this picture is Hamish in the back. The two of them have never gotten along - but there they are, sleeping together. I guess a warm bed on a chilly day has a mellowing influence.
Today was a day that just kept on going. I started with my usual morning at the museum, but when I got to the kitchen Suzie wanted to talk to me about an inspection the museum is having next week. She hadn't let the bobcats out yet, so we did that while we chatted. I very rarely go into the bobcat habitat - and the cats were very interested in this stranger's legs and boots.
On the second Tuesday of the month some women who used to work at the museum (and some who still do) have lunch at the cafe there, so I joined the and actually had a social lunch!
Afterwards I had to stop at the Dollar General for cat food and batteries. Bob's former work partner Bill was there - after we chatted for a bit, he asked if another former co-worker (Richard) had found me - he had called Bill a couple of months ago to see if he had my number. He gave me Richard's number and I texted him. Turns out that he was just wondering how I was doing, and maybe we could have lunch and catch up. Hopefully lunch will fit into his schedule, but it was really nice to have someone think of me. (Note: this will not be "a date." He's married, and in the "I'm old enough to be his mother" category. Just a nice guy)
Being as the weather can be so variable this time of year, I decided to have a fire and clean off some of the yard when I got home. As long as I was going to be outside, I let the chickens out to free range a bit (I frequently do this in the afternoons). I had gotten to the point that I was going to quit adding stuff and letting it burn down - my favorite part because that's when I can sit by the fire and read. So I'm reading and enjoying the fire, and suddenly hear a major chicken ruckus. I look over, and for a moment it looks like two of my chickens are in a big fight- but it was one of my chicken and a big hawk. Fortunately it flew off when I screamed and starting running. I was able to grab the chicken - I couldn't find any wounds on her, so hopefully all he got was a bunch of feathers. The remaining five chickens had run off and gone into hiding so it took nearly an hour to find them all and get them back in the scratch yard.
I guess I won't be letting them free range for awhile, now that the hawk knows that there are tasty treats walking around.
After that big scare, I put the fire out (it was dark by then), fed the cats, and then soaked in a hot bath to relax.
Quite the day.
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