Story 25Dec2022: Christmas 2022

It was a quiet Christmas, and I started very slowly. I spent much of the morning writing a blog; I did some paperwork, finally showered, dressed, and headed to hummingbird house. Breakfast was an NYC bagel (one of the bagels sent from NYC from the Smiths), a banana, and liberal coffee. I later had ham for a snack for an early lunch.

I was running later than planned, and Susie’s sister called her while I was on my way as folks had other plans and needed to connect soon. So I was soon there, and we connected to Barb, Susie’s sister, to do a FaceTime call while Barb was rushing to get on her way for the next Christmas party. Susie was in her wheelchair; Anassa was on today and got Susie in her chair–Anassa makes those transfers look easy.

We opened Susie’s presents, including a lighted skater with her name on it from Joan Goldhammer, a painting of an owl, and glass owls to put on Susie’s window both from Barb and family, and I got Susie four miniature bottles of Wild Turkey.

Susie and I then watched more episodes of the Disney+ show Willow, and this show was scarier and more complex than the previous ones. An improvement over the last, with all the relationship stuff put aside for danger and scary stuff. Special effects were over the top, with scenes from the movie reworked into ghostly projects. Spooky and fun.

Susie was getting uncomfortable and sleepy. Jenifer had taken over for Anassa, who went home early for Christmas with her family and took over. I kissed Susie goodbye and returned to the Volvo Cave. There was little traffic, and the ice and snow were mostly a memory after a night of warm rains.

I quickly made a pumpkin set of pies. I had the requirements to make two pies, and so I did. I had called Rev. Anne Weld-Martin and would carry over my leftovers from Friday (I made an early Christmas dinner that could have fed six and packed in a way in the frig) and have Christmas dinner with Anne. Her husband, Dr.Rev. Wayne Weld-Martin, was in the hospital and could use a break and dinner.

The pies were done and still warm when I packed one away. Next, I baked smallish potatoes as they don’t microwave well. I put them, just washed, in the oven with the pies. When cooked about an hour later, I retrieved them, put them in tin foil, added some butter, and put them back in the oven. I was trying to recreate Dad’s way of cooking. They were good. I used my insulated Zabar bag from NYC.

I did some electronics as I was trying to remember how to light up strips of lights with Express Python for AdaFruit in NYC. I managed to get a test to work.

I packed up everything and headed to Anne’s house, a few minutes away. We unpacked it and warmed up some in Anne’s microwave. We then enjoyed a fine repast for Christmas. Anne supplied a great salad and the plates we used, Anne’s mother’s mother’s china, to remember the past.

After dinner and dessert of my still-warm pie, I taught Anne the game Skull, a simple bluffing game that I will recommend. I learned the game from Will, who said always to keep the small box in the car as it is fun and easy to understand. It plays better with more than two people, but I thought she would like it, and she did.

Anne was headed back to the hospital, room 663 at St. V, to see Wayne. So I packed up and headed home. I quickly put everything away in the excellent glass containers that Glenda and Gene got me. Glenda should be smiling somewhere.

I did more electronic work, got out the new hardware I purchased from AdaFruit, and got the strips of lights to work. I am using my micro-clips and jumper wires to make this all work until I decide to solder it into something more permanent.

Aside: I discovered that my Apple M1 Laptop has a problem in the Finder and cannot copy files to the boot to update the software on some of the hardware. Apparently, it is a known issue in Apples and Raspberry Pis. You must copy at the command line and skip all the lovely screens. Ventura (13.0.1) has the same problem for mac OS.

Time just slipped away, and soon it was late, and I went to bed.

Thanks for reading. And, while Advent is done, here is a song that fits the current conditions: Olaf’s Summer.

Feel free to call, send cards, or even visit. Susie resides at:

Allegiance Senior Care

Adult Foster Care Home

9925 SW 82nd. Ave.

Portland, Oregon 97223

The house phone number: (503) 246-4116