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I rose at 6:30 after the sunrise had woken me multiple times. I was not ready to give up the Graduate East Lansing, do Susie’s Concert, and then rush home. But that was what the plan for today was and would be. I rose, identified the suit and related items to wear today, and then cleaned up, dressed, and packed. This was a short trip, so I was not near the bottom of my clean clothing. I assembled everything, put it away, and was ready for the day. I was wearing my black suit which I bought with the blue and grey suits. I bought the black suit thinking of this day in the future and was saddened to finally reach the last of Susie’s Concerts. The black suit’s first use was for the unexpected passing of my good friend Cory and then again for P Giessner. I will have to find a happy occasion to wear it to make it feel less sad when I put it on. I added the gold-colored chain and pocket watch to lighten up the outfit, as it looked too somber for me.

I headed to the Graduate East Lansing lobby and ordered a veggie burrito. Remembering how long the sausage one stayed with me, I switched to a veggie one. I ate that, finished the blog, and even edited some more Howard stories. Finally, it was time to leave the green and white embrace of the hotel (still reminding of a gone-Spartan-mad version of the hotel in John Wick movies, “We hope you enjoyed your stay”) and cover the cost of the valet parking. I used Expedia to produce cheap hotels and flights, and the flight and hotel are paid for by that process. As we have seen, car rental is still a work in progress, and it is unlikely that I will use Expedia again for that.

With the luggage in Leta’s car’s truck delivered in a mass of cars stacked in front of the Graduate East Lansing, I started a search for a few Thank-You cards. Frandor no longer has the Community News or any shops I would usually visit, and none that could supply a few cards. I decided to travel to the Lansing Mall, nearer Grace United Methodist, which is a good place for someone in a three-piece suit to walk in AC. It also includes, in this dying retail property, as most malls are dying, an excellent Barnes and Noble with all the options, including cafe and vinyl records. I soon crossed Lansing without issue as I remembered my aggressive why-are-you-not running that light Midwest driving (I did not risk any lights as Leta would not be happy about that).

The bookstore had cards, and soon, I had what I needed. I then walked to the mall at 10:30 and discovered most things closed and few stores of interest. I was looking for a DVI to USB C Apple converter, but I talked to Barb and was told we did not need one. There were none in this mall. I saw a group of guys in a line at the shoe store. I stopped and asked and learned Jordan (a Nike brand) was having a release of a special shoe today, and this was the line to get them. They thought it cool that I was retired Nike, and I wished them well.

I was a disconcerting fellow in my brown hat and black suit with a goldish chain on my vest. One guy, I think, wanted spiritual counseling and wanted to know if I was a preacher (looking the part with a black suit). I told him I was not and that I was just visiting for my wife’s memorial and just killing some time. He wished me well and soon was walking the mall with a group of slightly sketchy folks. It appeared that they were using the walking as something to do together and as some form of group help.

Time went fast, as it does on days like this, and soon I was at Panera Bread having a Strawberry Poppie Chicken salad with iced tea. Even with the AC, the walk made me a bit warm, but the iced tea worked. Peter Koper called me to say that they were at Grace UMC early. It was time to start. I took Leta’s car, following the Maps app on my iPhone, to the church. John Nilsen had just arrived, and we talked about Morocco and my trip there until the rest of the folks arrived.

Soon, I was in the whirlwind of seeing old friends and directing people here and there. We stalled as one important guest, Harvey, was late coming from Detroit Airport. The pastor soon started us, and the service ran like clockwork, with John’s playing, setting the mood and feeling I often find missing in more scripted services. John’s kind words brought many to tears. The final words, harvested from the usual service in the Methodist Book of Worship, of committing Susie to God are always hard to hear again (tears, even when writing this).

Punch, no-bake cookies, and grilled cheese sandwiches were now available in great Methodist-like quantities (Methodists are not good on doctrine, but we do food well). Susie’s pictures, albums, passports, elementary school report cards, and the like were scattered on tables. My laptop played a loop of Susie’s 1980 long and short programs. I wandered around and shared my time with friends and family. John sold a few items and made more friends and maybe a few fans.

I grabbed my luggage, gave Leta her keys, and changed out of the suit into traveling clothing, repacking my suit and luggage. Harvey, Eva, and John all offered a trip to Capital Airport, and Eva drove me.

Linda met me there, and we followed the usual process. Soon, various luggage was checked (I paid the $30 fee last night). Linda said goodbye to her husband Jesse and their daughter Meg. We then proceeded through security with laptops remaining in their bags, but shoes and belts had to be removed. I kept my hat on this time. After some reassembly, Linda and I found our gate, and the one bar and food joint was not open on Saturday afternoon. F**k. Soon, our tiny plane arrived fifteen minutes early and was quickly loaded (about 50% full), and we were soon landing in Chicago. The taxi and waiting took almost more time than the flight!

The plane is so small that you must use the valet check for any bags for carry-on. We did have to wait for those to be retrieved and offered. Linda managed to be in the last bag with me, with only one ahead of her. We then had more than an hour to reach our gate at the same terminal. We did rush and reached the gate as the plane arrived and was deplaning the current inbound batch from Las Vegas. The nearby McDonald’s was flooded, and I saw nobody had food. So I am glad that we broke out my chicken salad lunch snacks. These are little cans of chicken salad already prepared with crackers to smear it on, which I always add to my carry-on.

Soon, Linda, who had a better ticket class than me (I had the cheapest tickets), boarded before me. I was in the last group, and a stewardess impressed me with her 3D problem-solving skills. She sorted the items in the overhead bin (directing me to move this here and that there) to fit my roller bag. Snap, and everything is safe and away. I am not sure we did not violate some rules of time and space. I was thinking it was a Douglas Adams or Doctor Who moment.

The Boeing 737-800 promised to be uncomfortable, and it was. I felt my discomfort was helping Wall Street see American Airlines make another earning number–hate to waste any money on customers, and with my super cheap ticket, I took it in stride (I am certain my cheap flight did not improve AA’s bottom line). I took off my leather shoes and tried to get comfortable. I believe I nodded off a few times as the hours disappeared quickly. I also worked out how to reach the WIFI-based entertainment and tried to watch a movie, but I kept nodding off.

Linda and I were starting to show the travel as we hit the carpet at PDX.

I am out of time for the blog. We made it home and got some chicken from Poppies. Corwin had not completed the tasks I asked him, and Linda set up the inflatable mattress that was last used by Glenda (I think) in the home office and managed to sleep well.

I did my special surgery soap and soon was asleep, too.

Thanks for reading.

The morning started with me waking at 6ish, then rolling over, and then getting up. I wrote for a while, getting most of the blog done. I finished it after cleaning up and getting dressed. Today, my French blue dress shirt and my blue vest. Deborah and I later agreed I should have brought the green one to put over a white shirt in East Lansing!

I also edited “Howard 2016,” my first Howard story. I completed the updates (the previous editing covered most of the issues), and the 4,000-word document was ready. I have two more stories to edit. I may complete Howard in NYC during the pandemic and maybe another story post-pandemic. We will see where this goes, as I want to start up my Sherlock Holmes and Watson stories, and some Dungeons and Dragons adventures need to be polished and published. I also want to set up a Discord server to support the D&D adventures. Busy-busy. So much fun to do!

Returning to the narrative, I had a breakfast burrito, and I did not feel ready to eat more until evening. Sausage sometimes does that to me. I walked the length of the Grand River from the hotel to the end of the shops, about half of Michigan State University’s width. I then walked back, getting myself up to 5,000 steps today, but not near my “what would Dondrea do” step count (starting at 10K) like a few weeks ago in Casablanca. I stopped by the Curious Book Store and purchased a book on sailing ships, Queens Of The Western Ocean, The Story Of American’s Mail And Passenger Sailing Lines, which I had noticed on my previous visit. They ship books, so it is now on its way to me. The book lists sailing ships and the lines to which they belong. I have never seen that before.

I walked back to the Graduate East Lansing, washed up a bit, and soon headed out. I drove to Sumit Comics near the capital building and found an item, an adventure with 28 mm scale furniture and maps I had not seen before. It would easily fit in my luggage, so I picked that up, too. The store is a gaming and comic book store in Old Town Lansing, and I always try to stop by. I usually find something I have not seen before.

The Peanut Store is not far from the gaming store. There, I get half a pound of their in-store roasted unsalted peanuts in their shells and some cashews. I then drive to Grace United Methodist across town, not using the highways. I get a peanut for each red light. I get a lot of peanuts. The shells go in the spare bag they give you. I arrive twenty minutes early and have more peanuts.

At 1, Barb (Susie’s sister), Leta (mother), Joyce (aunt), Glenda (aunt), and Gene (uncle) showed up, and we unloaded all of the containers and some crafty items. We met the pastor and folks from Grace United Methodist Church, adjusted to the logistics, and soon were decorating and putting out all the items I sent to Barb and those she found here in Michigan. We set up special items on a small table in front of the altar, including Susie’s skates, hat, and glasses to represent her (her ashes are still in Oregon). We put the rest on tables in Wesley Hall, where cookies, punch, and grilled sandwiches will be served after the concert.

Barb had vases and a tall card holder, and we put pictures in the holder. Barb will put flowers in the vases on Saturday just before the concert. We also scattered many pictures at each table. We put out various unusual items like Susie’s passports, her school report cards, items from her travels, and her favorite shoes.

This took about ninety minutes, and soon, I was taking Leta’s car, which I borrowed for this trip (my rental reservations were lost) back to the Graduate East Lansing. I set the alarm for 5, just in case, read some more, and even fell asleep for a short time. I was refreshed and headed to the Beggar’s Banquet, a block away. They had the table for 12 ready and also had other tables ready if we needed them. We were 14 in the end, and as one area was too crowded for older folks, we used up another table.

Deborah and Eric were friends from high school, and they came early. Linda brought Mom Wild and her family, plus a friend, Jene. Barb and Gordon (Barb’s husband) came. Leta and Joyce sat with us at the main table. Glenda and Gene joined Barb and Gordon at the kids’ table, as we called it. I spent most of my time catching up with my high school friends, but I did wander a few times and talk to folks at the kids’ table and saw Mom Wild a few times, too.

I paid for appetizers from the tables and the first round. Noah, our waiter then, was able to handle orders from folks for mains and more drinks. He was able to split up the bill to many without too much confusion. I got my bill, and it was high, but not Portland high, and I paid (having added a tip as they did not do that automatically) without much concern. Everyone had a great time, and Eric and Deborah stayed with me until 9.

I walked one block to the Graduate East Lansing. I tried to write this blog last night in the lobby (I checked out the bar, but it was loud and packed), but I was too tired, and it was at 11 when I stopped writing, returned to my, and soon was ready for bed.

I have to use a special surgery soap and process for four days before surgery to reduce the chance of infection. I brought two pairs of PJs so that I can wear clean clothing each night. I often pack my luggage the night before checking out, but I was tired. I have also been running Quicken and following my accounts and monies, as it is my habit and my protection. All is good and ready should there be a longer recovery in the hospital after Monday’s surgery.

I read more Lovecraft and soon was asleep, having weird dreams not connected to time and space. I woke on Saturday morning to my alarm at 6:30 and started writing this then.

Thanks for reading.

Thursday was without sleep on Wednesday night as I traveled the whole night. The flights were short (for me), and the turbulence was harsh on the longer flights. The second flight was only an hour on a tiny plane, and it was filled with VFW people coming to Lansing, Michigan, for a sort of convention (it seemed to be a mix of biz meetings and a chance to meet). The AC on the plane was not ready for a full plane.

I arrived intact, and all my luggage and carry-on were also intact, but my car reservation was lost. According to Hertz, they had no reservation, and my reservation started yesterday (!) and was thus lost. They had no cars. Enterprise, the next desk, also had no cars. Leta called me and offered me her car, as Gene, Joyce, and Glenda had a car, and thus, her car was spare. I was going to just use Uber to my hotel (which still had my reservations, but I agreed, and soon, within twenty minutes, Leta and her family came and gave me her car.

They had to go to a meeting with the clergy at Susie’s Concert and then left. I had to adjust my seat as I hit my head on the roof. I also used my iPhone maps to get me to the hotel, and one intersection I thought was a four-way stop was not. I managed to scare some folks, but no paint was lost. I drove slowly in a new (or forgotten) city and soon arrived safely as a Graduate of East Lansing. I used their valet at $35 a day, which was about the same cost as parking in New Orleans, I observed. My room was available, and they let me have it early.

Safe and soon snug, I found my over-the-top decorated pro-MSU team room. I soon was unpacked, washed, and dressed in clean clothing. I love this chain after staying at one in NYC and visiting Cat with her mother, Michelle S. I suspect I will stay at one more soon. While not cheap, everything works, and they are comfortable.

I hit the streets to move some as my step count was low again. The cold and travel in planes reduced me to tiny numbers. Yesterday was my guess (the number was not recorded!), with the extra walks still not breaking 5,000, and I can feel it–I am sluggish. I found the Curious Book Store, as usual, and purchased an H.P. Lovecraft book, The Dream-quest of Unknown Kadath, which I had not seen before. It is a yellowing paperback from 1971, with its back not broken, and it appears unread. I walked next to the Michigan State University (which is across the street) bookstore and looked at the current textbooks for computers and mathematics. I was tempted by a book on combinatorics but remembered the book on codes I got on my last visit was still mostly unread. I resisted that and a book on game design, both computer and physical board games,  in the art section. That one looked interesting, but I resisted it, too.

I walked the long way back to my hotel, enjoying moving and the hot sun. My coughing was back from the lack of sleep, exposure to too much poor AC air, and pollen in Michigan (which I remember was none too kind to me). I returned to Graduate East Lansing, thinking of the movie hotel in John Wick movies. The staff used less formal greetings, which disappointed me. “Mr. Wild, enjoy your stay at the Graduate Hotel,” was not heard.

I crashed for a few hours after reading more of my new book. I dreamed strange dreams, and with the jet lag and changes in time (minus three hours), I felt untethered to the local time and space. I arrange to meet Leta (Susie’s mother), Gene (Uncle), Glenda (Aunt), and Joyce (Aunt) for tacos in East Lansing at one of the older places. The food was not as good as I remembered, but was as good as most places. I had the mole chicken enchiladas buried in shredded lettuce (for reasons hard to understand), and it was fine but could have been great.

The chips were baked until hard. Strange. Linda (my sister) and her husband, Jesse, showed up later. A rain storm doused the area, and a band, silent in the taco joint, played outside under a pavilion. Electric guitars and rain usually mix poorly, if not risking shocks. Between storms, Leta and her family headed out, and I stayed with Linda and Jesse for a bit. I was fading fast. Soon, I walked back to my hotel feeling I should have done laps around the blocks, but with the rain, it was best to rest.

Dondrea sent me a capital-letter text telling me to get some rest. Mariah was also sending notes. Yes, it’s time to slow down. I read Lovecraft until I could not read the words (I have trouble with small text now). I showered and then applied my surgery special wash, following instructions. I brought two pairs of pajamas so I could follow directions to wear clean clothing each night. I had to actually acquire three sets to cover this.

I managed to sleep and only wake once, around 1ish (not the usual 4), to prove hydration. Sunrise wakes me.

Thanks for reading.

 

This morning was chaotic, with more chaos for lunch and then in the early evening. I rose later, around 7, and started working on getting an upgrade to first class for my Chicago flight. For about the cost of picking a seat and having a checked bag, I could do first class. So I paid it and then tried to figure out how to get my bag counted. I gave up (you do it at the airport). The phone then rang, and I remembered I had an 8-ish phone interview for the hospital where I was having my surgery. The RN reviewed my history and meds and updated Providence My Chart to match the Legacy and OHSU versions. Ugh. I was unimpressed as I had waited three months for this process. These questions could have been asked months ago and not at the last minute.

I learned that they needed to validate my blood type (which has not changed recently), check my A1C, and check if I had an infection in my nose. I was flying tonight to Michigan, and they were able to find a 5PM (17:00) appointment for me. So, I had to drive and get this done this late afternoon. This took an hour plus for the call with the RN, and it left me a bit disconcerted. I let the RN know I thought this was more comedy than medical, as they had three months to plan this. They seemed to be doing everything at the last minute. This is f**king brain surgery–they need to step up their game. I called the doctor’s office and let them know I was losing faith; they said it was a process. I was unhappy. There was nothing to do but rush and get it done.

I made a half-sandwich and then got a note that Scott W was looking for me. Puke, I had lunch plans, and the sudden medical items had me forget. I dressed (I managed to finish the blog and all the calls, but not to get dressed), shaved fast, and was only twenty minutes late. I had soup as I had already had half a sandwich at the house—my usual beef, cheese, and coleslaw. Scott and I talked, no longer about work, as we both were now retired from Nike–both of us getting the package. We talked about trying to spend the next six months trying to get refocused.

I received my official severance package letter, which I electronically signed and returned to Nike, Inc. This includes 48 weeks of pay and Cobra coverage. I was hoping to get this done before leaving. Excellent. I printed out a copy, and the payout will be on 28 June 2024, which is my last paycheck from the shoe company. Yes, I get paid for May and June, too.

I finished packing and took a load of Susie’s items and clothing to Goodwill. It makes me sad to do this, but it is time to let some things go. The house is slowly emptying of many of the items from our years together.

Finally, it was near time to leave for the tests. I took Air Volvo across Beaverton and into the edges of Portland. I parked and then found the pre-surgery test folks, and they soon had me out. No time at all, and they were happy I was early and had the work done before my actual appointment time.

I forgot my hat and a couple of other items. It was a lovely day, so I used Air Volvo on the backroads and headed back to The Volvo Cave. While the traffic was heavy, it moved, and soon, I had my hat and other things and headed to the church. More driving.

I planned on playing a game of Concordia with Z for our usual Wednesday gaming, but a second game (often including Andrew) was unlikely and did not happen. Z played a hard game and soon had me on the run. I managed to recover and bought lots of cards after losing the Farmer and Weaver cards to her. I finished my trading houses just a turn before her and thus ended the game and got 7 points for that. As I won by only 15, this was a close game and had Z pulled a few more cards, I would have lost. Z is a tough opponent in this game–we both love it!

After that, we packed the game, and I said my goodbyes. I then reached PDX without issue, checked a bag (now able to add it), and printed the label. Security was the same, and I managed not to be exposed without my belt.

I had only light food. I stopped at Henry’s Tavern in the C gates and had a BLTA and a nice large beer. It is now hard to write as I am falling asleep. Perfect. I have to run and will finish this in Michigan or Chicago. Thanks for reading so far.

The plane showed up, and we boarded about on time. This is the usual uncomfortable 737 cattle car MAX for inside USA flights, but I have a comfortable seat in first class. That means drinks—just Ginger Ale for me. Overnight, for four hours, I do not get food.

I could not get comfortable, and then we had a bouncy ride for the last hour. Compared to the flights I have been doing, it was easy and short. The gate broke after we landed, and we waited ten minutes for someone to make the gate work.

After that, it was a trial run on our short connection on Saturday. Both flights are in Terminal 3, and I was able to reach G17 (the f**king last gate and take escalators down to make it even further) in fifteen minutes. I switched out the red carry-on to a wheeled Nike bag for this trip.

I am at Chili’s Too near gate G9, which opened at 5:30, and happy to have a customer. My waiter loves my laptop cover (it looks like a book) and decided she would get one for Christmas.

I had spicy breakfast tacos with bacon and potatoes. Excellent. Flight boards in three hours.

This morning, I am writing about Tuesday morning; it has been a cluster-filled morning. The RN from the hospital discovered that I needed more medical tests, and I had to make that work before getting on a plane. This is to make the requirements for surgery at the hospital. Not expected. But, at the last minute, American Airlines (AA) offered a $125 upgrade to first class on my red-eye to Chicago tonight, which would cover the same cost for checking a bag and seat (yes, you often have to buy a seat or get something interestingly assigned). So, yes, I paid the same price for a First Class seat this morning.

The distractions did not stop, and even a flicker (a local bird) appeared in my backyard, showing off; it was not a good day for writing today. It was just an experiential morning!

I slept with some interruptions and started again at 7ish to write the blog. I had pain in my legs and had to get some Tylenol to sleep as the pain was enough to stop me from sleeping. So no sunrise for me as I slept the early morning away. For breakfast, I made steel-cut oats, a banana, and Columbia coffee.

Corwin was trying to wash a pillow-like thing, which stopped because of an imbalance in The Machine. I restarted it, and it went for as long as thirty minutes before stopping because of an unbalanced load. I put The Machine on Dry, which lasted longer, but the pillow-like thing was not dry after two hours and three restarts. I put it outside to dry.

I then collected all my laundry, including my swimming suit, which I found (and more clothing from Susie to give away) in a drawer. I decided to stay inside and do more housework. I took the old computer desk and tried to clean it and move it to the soon ad hoc office for Linda, but it came apart when I pushed it. The sudden explosive, unplanned disassembly missed smashing the sliding glass door. I got to experience the sudden loss of resistance; Physics still works, and I flew over the wreck and crashed into the hunter’s cabinet as an alternative to reaching the deck through the sliding glass door! The door was closed, of course. Shocked as I got to experience all of this in slow motion in my mind, I then cleared the mess, stacked the pieces outside, and later recommended Corwin take the desk remains to his next beach burn. F**k, I nearly avoided brain surgery by bleeding out on my deck.

Lunch was reheated Chinese-style food from a previous delivery. I ate that in Susie’s usual seat. I then removed all the board games (all recent Kickstarters) and put them in the garage. I then went through the last bits that have been sitting there since Susie left for a physical therapy appointment (she never returned from that–that was the day we were walked to the ER for stroke). Her purse, glasses, and other items. All gone now. One more change. I managed to cry only a little.

Aside: I was unsure I could live here in The Volvo Cave with so many memories of Susie and our life together. So far, I can, but I often think I should sell it and get an apartment with access to a pool and exercise stuff. However, I think that I would be more lonely in an apartment and feel more like I was rootless in a hotel (renting the house and living elsewhere would cause negative tax consequences later, except if I held the rental for my estate). If I do go that way, I would likely become a gypsy and rent furnished apartments across the world and just travel forever.

Things got to be too much, and I said, f**k and got in Air Volvo and ran away. I found myself delivered to Salt and Straw ice cream, folks could not get in a line properly, but soon the folks who must have order sorted it out. I was willing to go with Chaos or Law at that time as I still suffered from churning emotions. But once the ice cream was acquired, I was calm enough to return to The Volvo Cave.

I started packing, doing more laundry, and doing the dishes. I rested a bit, as I had been going nonstop all morning. This was followed by meeting Dondrea and Z at Swagats at Orenco Station for dinner. We ordered two full plates with two mains. The lamb was spicy, and the chicken was flavorful. We chatted about upcoming events and had a great dinner. It was one quiet and easy dinner before the travel, tears, and medical stuff started. Thanks, Dondrea and Z!

I returned home, packed some more, and finally went to bed, dragging and tired.

Thanks for reading.