Today 18May2023

It was a good day. I was busy all day. My Physical Therapy (PT) appointment was with Connor at noon, and I agreed with Conor to graduate. I got to bang a gong, and everyone cheered. The shoe company also gave me some support (details cannot be shared), which was great too. Susie was feeling better today, and it was just 80F (26.7C), so our spin through Metzger Park was not exhausting.

Starting from the beginning, I slept part of the night but did get up twice to prove hydration. My alarm woke me from a dream (now forgotten) at 6AM, and then I decided, no, on exercises as I have PT today and slept until a new alarm fired off at 6:30. I managed to rise, remember how to make liberal coffee in my French Press, and made toast to go with it. I then took a pitcher of water to the 2″ redwood tree, watered it, and then watered the stressed roses in the backyard. They are looking better. I also watered the yet-to-be-planted gift rose bush from Dondrea and Z (a gift for my birthday slightly delayed). Corwin is planting the rose for me on Saturday.

As is my usual plan for the morning, I caught up on email, work, and mine, that came in over the night. Then, I reviewed Slack channel updates and news to prepare me to start my day. First, I cleaned up and dressed. Next, Air Volvo discovered a few school buses on my way to work but delivered me before 8AM for my first status meetings.

The project I am part of is installing our software, and I included in my status meetings today the hour meeting on how we will install it. An hour presentation after the status meetings (I did alert my colleagues to some issues assigned to them–some in error) covered that, and we discovered that 7/24 coverage is less required than the previous practice–excellent!

Soon I was leaving for my PT appointment, where we reviewed my progress from being unable to stand safely to now recommendations to start walking and getting outside more. Conor, my PT expert, strongly recommends I put some stretches and exercises on the back burner and instead get out and walk and enjoy the summer. Conor was happy to hear I was already starting this by pushing Susie’s wheelchair for at least a half-hour daily. Suitable for both of us!

Leo, the assistant I first used, covered a few more updates to ensure I was doing some exercises the best way I could and then held the gong for me to hit. It was loud, and folks cheered, as I said.

Afterward, I headed to Bethany Pub and had a quick bowl of cowboy chili and Diet Coke. I read my email and news on my iPhone when I am having lunch, and the bartender knows my order and just asks me about my usual. Good to be known. Then I boarded Air Volvo and traveled without incident or much traffic (a surprise for Thursday) to Susie’s place at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116.

I had called ahead, and Susie was ready in her wheelchair and excited to see me after I deplaned from Air Volvo. So we headed out, and Susie was happy to see all the folks and dogs in the park. We called Leta, Susie’s mother, and they chatted for a while as we sat by a picnic table in the shade. After they rang off, we took a long spin around the park. I saw flashes of the wings of a large butterfly, and Susie and I tried to find it. Next time. Susie was amused to be chasing butterflies in a wheelchair!

Susie was not melted this time, and I kissed her goodbye, and she was planning to sit in the shared space in the living room. I left as Jennifer was moving her to place Susie in her recliner. I promised to return and hang out on Friday afternoon. I work from Susie’s room some days.

I returned to work and was amazed that The City of Beaverton found some more holes to install on my way back–construction caused traffic delayed me ten minutes. Returning, work was a few more updates to design documents, and then I joined an emergency call. The primary system, not mine, had crashed, and I listened to the technical team diagnose the issue and helped here and there.

Soon it was 4:45, and I headed out. But, first, I shook some hands as we were installing this weekend.

I then drove home, rested for a bit, contacted Dondrea (we are planning to attend Midsummer’s Night’s Dream in Portland, and we are still working on the details), and then headed to BJ’s Brewhouse. There I had a steak to celebrate the good day.

I also received some flowers from my sister as a long distant hug. I will share the hug with Susie on Friday.

Thank you for reading!