Collecting Pictures

Lately, my elderly has been sleeping when I stop to visit. Today, one of her caretakers invited me in because she wanted to chat with me about what might come next.

Suddenly, we heard her name.

"There she goes!" the caretaker said and headed down the hall.

In a minute, she came back in and said, "Chocolate ice cream! Go on in."

So I did.

"Whatcha got?" my friend asked.

I showed her irises, a wildflower close-up, Gracie, and another friend's cute dog.

Taking a long time to study each picture, she finished her ice cream and ordered more.

Then she asked, "Are you still walking the dog?" as she always does.

And after I answered, she asked, "How's J?" as she always does.

And after I answered, she asked, "What does she do?" as she always does.

And after I answered, she asked, "Does she still have a loom?" as she always does

And after I answered, she asked, "Why did she move here?" as she always does.

And after I answered, the caretaker returned with more ice cream.

Seeing my camera, my friend said, "Go on wherever you're going!"

"I'll see you some more," I said, but as I stepped out of her bedroom, she called "Robley!"

I turned back and in. "Yes?"

And suddenly she was laughing and stared out at the window and then at me and said, "I forget!"

Tomorrow I am going to show her more irises and this, and we'll have the same conversation all over again.

Long Shadows

my cats
curled in beds
purr when 
I look
at them

Gracie
a friend's dog
squeals when
on seeing me
before our 
daily walk

I hope
she sleeps
now with
her human
home today
from hospital

elsewhere
people & pets
suffer, wait

and

we are
the lucky ones

Gracie

J has a new foster, but I think that Gracie may become her very own dog.

I hope so because she's sweet and photogenic.

See what I mean?

Certain Knowledge

I always heard that tulips bloom once, then you have to dig them up, and protect them all winter before sticking the bulbs back in the ground, so they'll bloom again.

No one pulled up J's bulbs, and look what happened anyway.

Over there, on the left, my cat Grady (Gray Drawers) lies and next to her or under her or near her is Buddy, J's beloved dog. J and F buried Grady for me because I couldn't, and they sang songs, and treated her like "fambly," just like they've treated me.

So when I went up to see F today and saw those tulips, I thought, Nothing ever ends: not Buddy, not Grady, not tulips, not even J, who planted them all.

Walking with Friends

J and B joined me for a walk at Lake Dimmick, where one had been and the other not. He carried a strainer and on occasion scooped the pond or lake bottom for Odonate larvae and other signs of life.

Even though we walked from about 11:30 to 1:15, the temp was still cool and the wind strong. As a result, only the brave were visible: a couple of Swamp Spreadwings, a couple of Calico Pennants, one male and one female Citrine Forktail, several Autumn Meadowhawks (included a mated pair ovipositing), and a number of Common Green Darners.

I didn't get to see the Clamp-tipped Emerald, which I longed to show off, but just as I despaired, four darners appeared (three males, one female), and one hung from sumac, providing just the right seasonally striking contrast.

I had forgotten how enjoyable it is to be in good company!

Day 37: Another Day That Changed My Life

At their rehearsal dinner, my nephew said, "I love J because she makes me a better person."  

J knows how to fix anything, find the bargain, sew a costume, mother her girls, and make a small family large with love.

J's garden gives me

as much pleasure as little Ebee takes from a walk around the lake.