I am at Wild Wood with a small dark beer, Barrel of the Beast, by Oregon City Brewing Company. I am writing at 8:30; the sun is still up, and the longest day of the year, June 21st, is still approaching. The days are still getting longer. It was a hot, dry day with dark blue, showing no air pollution, smoke, or humidity to color the sky anything more than dark blue. The winds from the north are hot and dry, and Susie loved it when I exclaimed, “This is nice,” when I took her out at 4PM.
I made dinner of two potatoes (slightly small, so I made two) by microwaving them. I heated a can of chili on the stove. I added sour cream, green olives, and some sweat pepper to the potatoes, buried them in chili, and then sprinkled more cheese on–I am an American, after all. After eating and watching the YouTube channel, Nerd of the Rings telling the story of the Lonely Mountain in a new video, I read my book. I finished the laundry and experienced my colon deciding to empty itself (no accidents). I decided to either nap or head to Wild Wood and write–I am here.
I returned to the Volvo Cave after finishing my last work meeting in Susie’s room at the hummingbird house at 5PM and enjoyed some traffic but witnessed no extra-legal driving. On reaching the Volvo Cave, I found the front door open; the wind must have blown open a not completely closed front door. I also found a package notice and will have to find time to pick it up.
I then decided to make dinner and went through the frig momentarily and discovered a few items that needed to be removed. One giant container of yogurt 1/2 eaten during the pandemic (yikes).
Moving to 1PM, I arrived at 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. The traffic was light, and I arrived without incident. Susie was napping in her recliner in the shared living room, I woke her and shared the flowers I had cut for her, and Jennifer moved her to her bed. I set up in her room with my work and Apple computer. Susie continued napping while I was working online. Susie had some tummy issues and was in some pain, and Jennifer turned Susie on her side and used pillows to wedge her into position. Susie is not strong enough, I believe, to move herself to her side or to stay there. Susie felt better by the later afternoon.
I forgot to call Leta, Susie’s mother; I was distracted by Susie’s pain and getting her help, but Leta did contact us. We talked for a short bit as Susie was uncomfortable at that time. Leta was happy to connect.
At 4PM, at the end of my shift and thirty minutes before the end-shift status meeting at the shoe company, Susie was ready to head to Metzger Park. Jennifer moved Susie to the wheelchair, and we popped outside. As I said, it was an excellent warm day with a warm wind. The park was busy with school out for an hour or so. Folks were out with their young kids, the basketball courts were alive, but tennis was empty, and I used that, avoiding the crushed stone in the parking lot, to get Susie to the paved trails.
I took Susie all through the park and then pushed her on the streets, and we visited the magnolia tree, which has not quite bloomed (likely the longest day’s passing will change that). Susie was pointing out the blooms and enjoying the bright colors of summer in the Greater Portland Area. Roses and flowers everywhere. Susie was quite animated today.
I brought Susie back to the hummingbird house at 4:30, and we did my last Nike meeting together. I then set up the crash pad, put up the gate, and kissed Susie goodbye.
The morning started with me sleeping until 7ish and getting started with the same breakfast for a few days, a slice of French soft-styled bread with cream cheese, liberal coffee, and a banana. I then did hours of status meetings and reading updates by email, Slack channel updates, and news reports. Lunch was Quiche Lorraine from Whole Foods; I took a piece to Susie for Tuesday’s breakfast–Susie was thrilled; she loves quiche. Finally, I watered the roses and cut flowers for Susie. Mostly Wedgwood roses that are so heavy they are falling to the ground!
The Wedgwood climber from David Austin looks great.
This rose came with the house. The rumor is that it came from the mother’s house of the previous owner and thus is very old. It is a tea rose, not a hybrid tea, attesting to its age.
The Cardinal Richelieu is at the end of its blooming. The purple is still stunning for this old, nearly unique rose.
This is one of the cheap orphaned roses (lost its tag at the nursery so it was cheap). It is quite lovely.
Thank you for reading.
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