Rusty's Armory

Abide With Me

Posted on August 25, 2023 Updated on August 25, 2023

Writing is easy.  You just stare at a blank page until blood drops appear on your forehead.

~Gene Fowler (no relation)

Good morning!

I woke up at dawn today to find that Snookums was already awake. My niece had warned me that she was feeling unstable and forgetful, so I took her blood pressure and gave her her insulin shot. We had coffeecake and coffee, and then I checked our mail.

I tried to play some online games, but the connections were bad. I would do almost anything to avoid writing, but I know I need to do it.

On Monday morning, we’re taking Snookums in for a follow-up cognitive test. I’m hoping that she’s holding her own, but I’m afraid that her condition may have deteriorated. The appointment is early in the morning, because the clinician doesn’t make afternoon appointments.

The heat wave continues, and now we’re in a severe drought and high fire danger. I was hoping for a wet year, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Our air conditioner is broken, and I thought that by now it would be cooler and I could put off fixing it for another year. That was a bad decision, but we’re stuck with it.

I proudly missed the Republican debates. I’m not ready for the political silly season, and I won’t be paying attention to politics until the conventions. Even then, I’ll be watching closely for any evidence of system gaming. That will have more impact on whether I vote or stay home than anything the candidates say. But I can’t stay away from the political dialogue altogether. It seems to creep in at every turn.

I’m feeling marginally stronger, and some of my plans to get my life on track are showing small but measurable gains. However, the front yard needs to be cleared of brush and cleaned up. A half-repaired mower sits in the driveway, and a disassembled planter is choked with weeds. The front porch is a wreck, and I’m humiliated every time a visitor sees it. The place I took so much pride in is an embarrassment. My own studio is neglected, and my morning roost is a cluttered mess.

I don’t think things are going to improve. Time is marching on, and the time to do has come and gone. Now we just abide.