Interlude

1 May 2014, Minneapolis MN USA

Back in the groove of being home.  Water ex this morning, multiple loads of laundry during the day, serving dinner at People Serving People in late afternoon.  Now I’m taking a short break from going through 10 days worth of mostly junk mail.  Time to watch “Elementary.”

2 May

Panic time!  Slept well last night but awoke at 5:30, realizing that my final payment to Holiday Lettings for the Ayr townhouse rental was to be paid in the first few days of May … and I had not seen an invoice.  Of course I hadn’t.  I closed out Earthlink and moved to my Apple emails but neglected to tell Holiday Lettings.  Quick scramble to find the old emails, inserted UK phone number into Skype, punched a few numbers in response to prompts, and got Chiara who changed my email address and agreed to send an invoice.  Accessed TripAdvisor to see what I could find there but couldn’t find my password; requested change-of-password email.  Off to water ex.  On return, no emails from either.  Another Skype call to UK, not the best connection but finally got through and Fausta said she was sending email link to invoice.  About an hour later, I got that and completed the transaction.  Shortly after that, I got an emall from Chiara who said they couldn’t send an invoice email, but I’d get a reminder email tomorrow and can pay from that.  In the meantime, i’ve gotten a receipt for my final payment and it’s on my credit card.  Go figure!

Interestingly, Andrew did a water ex class totally devoted to relaxation this morning.  Perfect.

3 May and it’s not snowing!  

Last year on this date we had snowfall that actually stuck to the ground.  I was so delighted today to see the sun come out and to walk to and from Target downtown wearing a turtleneck and sweater with my jeans and regular shoes.  

Tonight I’m taking my nephew Christopher and his girlfriend Jen to Mixed Blood Theater to see “Passing Strange,” a play within a rock concert, then a reception for donors afterwards.  Should be a lot of fun.  

Later

“Passing Strange” was great — energetic dancing and music.  I loved it, and Chris and Jen also enjoyed.  Must remember to get them more tickets to Mixed Blood.

4 May

Another sunny day but full of frustrations.  First, the garage door to the building isn’t working.  I had to back up the drive and out into busy Third Avenue South, a dicey task driving front first.  As I backed out, someone slipped into the last parking space in front of the building.  Tried to squeeze into one across the street but my bumper was right on the car behind.  Didn’t feel that I had hit if but didn’t want to leave the car that close.  Six maneuvers later I drove around the blocks until I found a spot next to the park.  Went to see if I had bumped the other car and saw nothing.  Took a phone photo just to be sure no one else did!

Home, lunch, starting to move winter and summer clothes.  

Took a break to watch last week’s CSI on On Demand.  Halfway through I can hear the audio but the video is a warning about prostate screening from the previous commercial.  Tried turning TV cable off and on several times and only got the TV Guide with a black screen where normally there’s a mini version of the currently playing program.  Went online to Comcast online which said connections to me were all working just peachy.  Not!  Could not figure out how to find help there for my problem.  Called and got the automated system which was equally unhelpful until after several rounds I was given a number to push for a real person.  Frustrated as hell, I started by apologizing if I sounded angry, then explained the issue.  After several attempts, she was finally able to reboot the system.  For my inconvenience, she offered free HBO for three months.  After I explained that I’m not going to be here most of that time, she’s giving me a discount on my next invoice.  I thanked her but forgot to ask how much the discount will be.  Gave her a good rating on the follow up survey but left a voice message about my issues.

5 May … and the sun is still shining.

Perhaps spring really has sprung and it won’t snow before I leave on 27 April for Poland.

Walking Lake Harriet early this morning with Linda, we saw egrets, blue herons, loons, ducks, geese … and a red fox carrying breakfast back to its den.  The fox was crossing the yard of a residence across the street from the lake — and moving stealthily and swiftly and too far away to tell what the family would dine on.  

Now I’ve returned from another walk — to the dry cleaner with winter slacks, to the post office to mail Mother’s Day and birthday cards and such, to the drug store for odds and ends, to the Boiler Room for an iced coffee.  Phew.  Time for a break.

Oh, and I had breakfast on my deck this morning.  I am doing a happy dance.

6 May

Talked to Jean in San Francisco.  She’s having a day like mine on Sunday.  Must check on her tomorrow.

Went to the clinic and talked to Lydia, the nurse practitioner that I usually see, about my side pain.  I’m a little paranoid about it because of mom’s kidney tumor.  I told her the pain reminds me of a toothache, not bad just there.  Of course, it was gone today.  But she ordered a bunch of lab tests today and ultrasound on Thursday. Got some results already and things look okay so far.

Off to the airport now to pick up Jan who’s been in Colorado visiting her brother and his family.

7 May

Jean is feeling much better.  She ordered a new television, and her handyman will come to set it up with the cable box etc. when it arrives.  We talked for a while about Peter.  Jean was here, as were my brother and his wife, fifteen years ago when I went through bedtime rituals with Peter for the last time.  Funny, but I say “now I lay me” to myself every night still.

I cleaned the living room — removed all of the dust catchers from the shelves and cleaned them, dusted and oiled wood, Windexed glass, vacuumed, everything short of moving all the furniture out.  I’ll do that when I get new carpeting next year.  In between the start and finish of the cleaning I went to lunch with friend and neighbor MaryAnne, then ran errands on the Mall.  Tonight all I’ve done is eat … nibbling on this and that, from cheese and crackers to single serving Brookstone dark chocolate covered blueberries.  

Fifteen years ago tonight, Peter and I did his bedtime rituals for the last time.  Now off to bed and before I fall asleep, I’ll continue one of those bedtime rituals as I have since then, saying “Now I lay me down to sleep …”

8 May, Peter’s Yahrseit

A day of overcast skies and chilly weather, fitting for mourning, which is what I did while undergoing an ultrasound and having my teeth cleaned.  I automatically followed instructions while remembering my son.  Fifteen years ago today at about 2:20 am his best friend Thom called to tell me Peter had taken his last breath.  I know it’s trite but it does seem just like it was yesterday.

After the dentist today, I drove to our old neighborhood in Crystal, planning to take a photo of the black walnut seedling that Peter and I planted in the mid ‘70s while his dad was doing post grad work at Columbia University in New York City.  It had grown to about 10 feet when last I saw it several years ago.  Now it’s gone … don’t know if the wind blew it over or what, but it definitely isn’t where we planted it.

Peter & I planted a black walnut "stick"
 to the left of the lamp post

From there, to The Modern for lunch at Peter’s favorite restaurant.  The best meat loaf in town served with mashed potatoes (hold the gravy) and cauliflower.  Back home, I tried to nap since I was tired and yawning but it wouldn’t happen.  Jean called and we talked for some time.  Then I picked up Susan for the evening service at Temple Israel, where we’d say Kaddish for Peter and her mother.  We enjoyed a Thai dinner on Eat Street afterwards.

9 May

“It was a dark and stormy night …”  Or so wrote Snoopy.  But it describes last night here. Today it’s gloomy and chilly again.  Nice day to stay indoors and do chores.  Guess I will do that until Marilyn arrives at 5:30 and we go to dinner.  Haven’t seen her in some time, so afterwards, we’ll return here to catch up and knit, which I haven’t done in some time either.

10 May

Lovely day starting with water ex led by Heather at the Y.  Breakfast with my nephew Christopher at our favorite spot, Elsie’s in Northeast.  Shopping with my niece Michelle at her old retail haunts in Roseville.  Dinner with my sister Barbara at my house, her favorite lamb chops rare.  I spent some time working on my book about Peter’s life and death.  Haven’t done that in months.  It felt good to finally add to the story, edit some old copy, think about what to add.  Linda’s going to help me with a final edit.

Had an email from Aideen in Arlington.  Mickey received a special award from Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth.  He’d been nominated by his school and taken a test on which he scored in the top 4000 in his age group in the entire country.  Aideen and Mickey were in Baltimore for the award presentation and sent photos.  Way to go, Mick!!!

11 May, Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there

Walked over to the Walker Art Center to see the Edward Hopper show.  Outstanding.  I’ve enjoyed his work for some time, and this solidified that admiration. I was stunned to see the number of drawings he did, sketches of hands or people or building details, before he actually painted.  Drawing/painting is a lot more work than I realized.  The exhibit also included some film shorts in which the paintings come alive in various ways.  The actors in “Conference at Night” portrayed several versions of what the after-hours meeting might have been about.  I watched something similar with “Nighthawks,” and the woman who posed in “Morning Sun” longs to leave the barren room and takes Hopper for walk in the city.  An interesting way to enliven the works.

Edward Hopper

The Sculpture Garden's most famous piece

Today was also a lovely day to walk the mile over and back to the museum, not too hot, not too sunny.  I returned via Loring Park and a stop at my favorite neighborhood restaurant, Loring Kitchen & Bar.  Happy hour wine and small plates for dinner.  Love it.

12 May

Linda, Daisy the dog and I walked the whole lake this morning.  It’s wonderful to walk in daylight, even on a day that isn’t very sunny. The mist over Lake Harriet was incredible though and I took some photos with my phone to try to capture it.

13 May

Another “Culture Day.”  At dinner last night (Loring Kitchen again) my friend Judy reminded me that the Matisse exhibit will close this weekend.  And since I live just a few blocks away, I decided to walk down today.  Judy wanted to see if again, so we arranged to meet.

It was a fascinating show from a private collection donated to the Baltimore Art Museum.  Like the Hopper, it showed many of the sketches Matisse made before he actually painted.  And the exhibit included many of his statues.  I hadn’t realized how much he sculpted.  At lunch afterwards, we ran into Jan.  I arranged a lunch-and-knit afternoon at my place tomorrow; will invite Marilyn too.

This evening Linda and I had Jungle Theater tickets and had decided on Fuji-Ya for dinner before.  Always an evening of good food, good discussion and good theater.  But tonight was extraordinary.  

We both left the theater exclaiming how realistic the performances were by all four key actors (a fifth comes on for a few minutes at the end).  Jungle is a small venue, and we were in the center of the second row so got an up-close-and-personal view of the entire production. And it was totally like the actors weren’t acting, they were just being their characters.  I have never seen such authentic expression, speech, emotion.  And I’ve seen some big names in original casts in New York, London, Chicago, some top rated road shows here and the Twin Cities best actors on stage.  None could compare with tonight’s cast. Must recommend the play, “Detroit,” to my sister and everyone else I see. 

14 May

I’ve had to turn on the furnace and get the flannel nighties out again.  Temps have dropped to the low 40sF and the skies are overcast. Argh!

16 May

Breakfast with friend Ted this morning after water ex.  Always an interesting conversation on a variety of topics from the 9/11 dedication yesterday (he was awed by President Obama’s speech and delivery) to how to encourage more of his (Ted’s) high school classmates to attend their 50th class reunion.

Now I’m taking a break from finally having started the AARP Smart Driver Program for Seniors.  My eyes are sore from too much screen time, so this blog post will be short too.

Later

Lovely dinner with Sabrina, Mark and Christopher in St. Paul.  They have a duck nesting next to their garage in the alley.  She sat patiently while I took a photo.

Mama duck on her nest

19 May

Am I lucky or what?  First, I saw some new goslings as Linda, Daisy and I set out on our early morning walk around Lake Harriet today, and then, when we returned to the parking lot, a red-tailed hawk soared overhead around the rooftops of the pavilion and bandshell.  It even hovered in the wind, looking like he might dive to the lake for breakfast.  But he didn’t.  He just moved and hovered some more.  It was the most awesome sight.  I just wish he’d been closer so I could’ve gotten a photo.  I did get a pretty decent photo of the ground fog laying on top of the lake.

Interesting fog over Lake Harriet

My week for water fowl --
Mother Goose & her goslings at Lake Harriet

Fog over Minneapolis
obscures IDS Tower

And finally … I don’t know if I’ve written about my noisy car.  My sister said it started when the temps were sub zero, and we thought that was the reason.  But even as the temps rose, the noise continued.  To me it sounded like the engine although the RPMs were normal and no idiot lights were red or blinking.  It got noisy as I accelerated, then stayed at that level while I drove.  Everyone who rode with me commented on the noise.  When I had its 22,500 miles “check up,” I asked the mechanic to check the engine.  He said it was fine, that my type of engine gets noisier as it gets older.  Hmm.  The car isn’t even four years old yet and has than 23,000 miles!

Wednesday I’m going up to my friend’s Susan’s cabin which is almost to Duluth.  I didn’t want to worry about the car, so made arrangements to take it to the dealer today.  I insisted Mike, the mechanic, drive with me so he could hear it.  Despite a raging downpour, Mike heard the noise as he shifted gears and declared a bearing or coupling issue, not an engine one.  After checking, he confirmed it was a bearing problem.  And TA DA, it’s covered by a warranty!  Including the rental tank (a Jeep Compass) they gave me because the part won’t be in until tomorrow.

Back to the AARP Smart Driver course … 

21 May, Sawyer, Minnesota

Frustrating condo board meeting last night.  My association fee and that of seven others was not recorded on the April financials, and the manager had not idea why.  I’d already been to my bank who confirmed the check had been cashed. Oh, and the May check had been mailed on 28 April and still not been cashed.  It is sooooo frustrating.

Beautiful but very windy morning but started to get overcast as I left Connie’s with a new hair cut and renewed color.  Didn’t see sunshine again until Pine City, about a third of the way to Susan’s cabin.  I remembered the route with the exception of the final turnoff.  It was further along Hwy 210 that I recalled.  

22 May

Well, this is a first.  Usually when I arrive at Susan’s cabin, I immediately fall asleep for a few hours.  Not sure what it is but I, who has a hard time napping at home, can nod off instantly here.  But yesterday I stayed awake through dinner and conversation, knitting and watching a bit of television … then zonked when my head hit the bed.

We saw a couple of swans flying over the lake behind the cabin.  Such elegance.  Just saw another.

Susan saw a big spider on the kitchen counter as she was fixing breakfast.  It scuttled away but thankfully she found it and has no trouble killing spiders.  Off to run errands and have lunch at Mexico Lindo, a fantastic restaurant in Cloquet.

View from Susan's cabin in paradise

23 May, Minneapolis

Home again after “another fine day in paradise,” as I wrote in Susan’s guest book.  Drive back was smooth and easy, singing along to music on my iPhone.  Had my own close encounter of the spider kind.  About 20 minutes from Susan’s, speed on cruise control, iPhone blaring Bette Midler … and along came a spider.  It started to drop on a thread of web from the visor right in front of me. While I’m not phobic like my dad was, still, I don’t like spiders of any size, shape or variety. And especially not spiders ready to land in my lap on the freeway at 70 mph.  I used a finger above where the spider hug to clear it away toward the passenger seat, then drove to the next exit so I could park and deal with it permanently. Did that.

24 May, Blaine MN -- Happy Birthday, Alijah Peter Hagen

A whole bunch of Hagens, my sister Barbara, Michelle's husband Jon, and April's parents gathered here today to celebrate Alijah's first birthday.  April had also let us know that we would surprise Craig and celebrate 10 years of his sobriety.  We always appreciate a chance to celebrate a happy occasion and these were definitely happy occasions to celebrate.

Alijah eyes his cake before tasting.

My Guys -- Craig and Alijah

25 May, Minneapolis

Today’s Strib newspaper had a article on the top 100 companies by revenue that are headquartered in Minnesota.  I looked for the current incarnation of my former employer … and could not find it.  Now I know the company’s revenue would put it in the top ranks … which means it’s no long HQ’d in St. Paul.  Just as we all imagined … moved HQ to Hartford.  I’m even happier that I don’t own any more of its stock.

26 May

Big news for me in today’s NYTimes was the announcement of the death of General Wojciech Jaruzelski, the last Communist leader of Poland and the man who ordered tanks against Solidarność in 1981.  Mostly I remember him at the annual Fourth of July party at the US Ambassador’s residence in Warsaw.  From behind his incredibly dark glasses and in uniform, an imposing Jaruzelski held court on the stairs leading to the garden.  

Now to complete my day’s chores — packing, changing the bed, taking out trash, laundry — before dinner at Marilyn’s and, I hope, a good night’s sleep.  For some reason I could not get to sleep last night, finally dropping off around 3 am … and wide awake before 6:30.  Glad I got up and went to water ex as Linda wasn’t able to walk the lake today.  Good work out with a new instructor; must look to see when he teaches as this is a “holiday” class, not a regular thing.

27 May, MSP Airport

Travel time is always hectic and when you need to be at the airport three hours early for an overseas flight, you have lots of time to kill.  I used that time to finish the AARP Safe Driving Course.  Hurray.  Certificate should be in the mail when I return.

Last night Marilyn made a delicious meal befitting the primary countries we’re all traveling to — she to Germany, Jan to France and I to Scotland.  Our placemats were the country flags.  Brie and crackers with sparkling wine to start, salmon (Alaskan in lieu of Scottish), German red cabbage slaw, wild rice casserole, and a French dessert, peach Melba.  With our decaf after dinner, we had awesome homemade biscotti that Jan brought.  Recipes will be shared.  Then we gabbed and knitted for an hour.  Lovely way to spend the evening.

Today I went to water ex as I always prefer to get some exercise in before any long flight.  Finished packing, ran dishwasher, did last load of laundry, took out the last of the trash, set thermostat and hot water heater … breakfast and coffee with my crossword, of course.  Then it was time to go out and wait for Thom to arrive.  He called to check directions before leaving home and pulled in less than five minutes after I went to wait for him.  I had decided it would be nicer to sit in the fresh air than indoors.  

One more hour to boarding …

30 May, Sandomierz, Poland

I’ve been fed eight times today … I must be in Poland!  

It’s a good thing my resolve not to overeat is holding reasonably tight or I’d look like Porky Pig by now.  Monika, the new restaurant manager at Hotel Basztowy, has decreased portions but still, a lot more meat than I usually eat …  and delicious too.  

Coordination at the airport on Wednesday went well.  Both Steve’s and my flights were only a few minutes late, but our driver was waiting for us.  We caught up with news as we drove through the rain.  Hala had us stay at another hotel the first night as Basztowy was full.  We had dinner at her house and sampled Michał’s latest production of liquers/liquors.

We spent much of today visiting clients receiving help through the Swiss program that the Center manages.  Much of the work is developing agro-tourism in the “mountains.”  I used quotes as the Świętokrzyszki mountains are more like high hills than mountains.  But they provide lots of good opportunities for R&R, including some newer ski areas.  The work done by the on-farm bed-and-breakfast houses was impressive — modern facilities, nice renovations and decorating, an eye for what guests will do besides relax.  We also visited the porcelain factory at Ćmielów, which I found especially interesting since I’d visited the new porcelain museum in Limoges, France, a couple of years ago.  

31 May

Guess whom I had breakfast with?  Leszek!  Ok, that doesn’t mean anything to most of you, but Leszek was our secretary when I worked with the Center in ’94.  Hala insisted that our new secretary be able to do English translations, so selected him over a young woman who was trained as a secretary-administrator.  I loved him dearly, but Leszek was not secretary material.  Leszek was a graduate of the teacher’s college with an English major and had no job experience.  Organization was not his strong suit.  Eventually he got a job with an IT company in Warsaw, switched to a telecom that’s now part of Verizon, married, had three kids, and added wine maker to his resume.  Last time I saw him his older daughter was still in arms … she starts gymnasium (middle school) next year.  Leszek’s in Sandomierz for the annual meeting of Polish winemakers being held at the castle this weekend. 

Yesterday was a long day.  We had lunch at about 4 pm when we returned from our visits — then listened to presentations by 11 staff members, updating various projects.  They had patiently waited for us and were actually pretty good at sticking to the five-minute limit they were given, but it was 7:30 when all 27 of us went to dinner.  Then the Board, senior management team and three senior staff field staff went up to the top floor lounge where three field staff made presentations … and more food and beverages were laid.  We had asked for presentations by top field staff to help us get to know them better since succession planning is an issue.  We finally finished at 11 pm.  I’d been up since 3:30 am so had no problem falling asleep.  

Tomorrow it’s off to Scotland.  Hooray!

The Promise of Possibilities

Please be sure to change my email address to suzihagen@me.com.  My Earthlink address is no more!

2 April 2014, Arlington VA USA

At last the weather is getting better after that awful weekend of rain-mini-hail-snow.  Walking to the bus stop with my eight-year-old charge, Mickey, has been so pleasant — no umbrella to blow inside out in the wind, no curbside puddles for cars to splash onto us, just a lovely walk on a spring morning.  Tuesday morning’s yoga class felt good but left me more tired than usual.  I actually dozed off while reading after lunch.  So after dinner, I suggested a walk.  Mickey scootered while I walked for almost an hour — over and around the park, through the FDIC Building plaza and the Virginia Square area, then to a yoghurt shop and home.  It was fun to see a park full of people — baseball game on the diamond, kids practicing soccer passes and catching ground balls, lots of tennis players of all ages.  

I was stunned to get two emails today with bad news.  A high school friend is having surgery for breast cancer tomorrow.  And the husband of a friend in Warsaw died following heart surgery. 

Skipped Pilates to prepare for Aideen’s return — cleaning, laundering bed linens etc.  So I walked down to Clarendon and back (about 20 minutes each way) to have lunch with my friends Inga and Adam.  Adam lives near there, and is an art restorer and an antique car “nut” (a collector and restorer).  He’s been helping Inga with car sales/purchases and is always fun to talk with.  We had a delightful lunch.

After dinner, Mickey and I walked to the library so he could look for some books, only to discover we needed a PIN number for Aideen’s library card.  A friendly librarian did something to override the system and allow Mickey to check out two of his favorite “Big Nate” books. (He’s already finished the book I bought him at the International Spy Museum, and by bedtime had made quite a dent in one Big Nate.)  Afterward the library, we walked to the park, again full of people enjoying being outdoors.  Mickey played with a five-year-old whom we met on the  jungle gym.  Mickey was really good at moving hand-over-hand from one swinging bar to the next.  The other boy wanted to play tag, which they did with Mickey alwayshaving to be “it.”  And Mickey handled that really well.  On the walk home we talked about how the younger child didn’t quite get the concept of tag, and Mickey allowed as how he probably hadn’t at that age either.

3 April

Aideen returned today, happy to be home and healthy.  After the last trip we spent the afternoon in the ER as she got tests and prescriptions, later learning for sure that she had giardia. This time it’s only her allergies acting up.  She’ll pick Mickey up at school shortly, then we’ll have dinner at Rus Uz, a Russian Uzbek restaurant that’s a block away and they’ll take me to Bethesda.  Inga and her friend Mary are taking their daughters Franciszka and Abby to New York City for the weekend to celebrate 16th birthdays; they’ll stay in our Peace Corps friend Kim’s apartment.  Kim will come to Bethesda 

4 April, Bethesda MD

Who’d a thunk it?  Those commercials that extol how absorbent their paper towels are are right.  At Inga’s I make coffee using a small Melitta, which takes a cone-shaped filter.  When I couldn’t find one, I used an old standby from my overseas days, a paper towel scrunched into the Melitta.  Into the makeshift filter went the coffee grounds (some great Ethiopian that Aideen had brought me previously).  Over the coffee went the boiling water.  Out came … nothing.  Coffee should have dripped through the paper towel into the mug, something I’d witnessed many times in the past.  Instead the Melitta held a pool of coffee slurry.  I’m off to take Franciszka to school — she’ll drive there and I’ll drive back via the supermarket!

7 April, Minneapolis MN

Home again.  Doing some final sorting of Scotland.  Sally, from the Acapulco trip days, is definitely joining me the second week.  She’ll finalize air reservations from her place in Greece this week.  Looks like a full house for the whole month.  I’ve started to make notes that I’ll email to everyone in May.

8 April

Had a long email from my friend Bob who’s been working in Afghanistan for the last year-plus.  I was curious for a “local” view of the elections.  He feels that the elections succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations, that Afghanis are so tired of the corruption and failed leadership of the current regime and the senseless brutality of the Taliban that they came out to register and to vote in large numbers despite several serious incidents.  He said not only was turnout higher than in the previous election but many more women voted.  One of his Afghan colleagues commented that “the majority has awakened,” and that would certainly be a good sign that we haven’t wasted lives, money and time there.

Voting in Afghanistan

9 April

Just got off the phone with Peace Corps friend Sabrina. She, husband Mark and my adopted grandson Christopher were joining me in Scotland the last week of June.  But that date conflicts with the self-catering cottage they’ve rented; it has to be a Saturday-Saturday stay.  They won’t join me but hopefully will come to Ayr for the few days before that.  Big disappointment but nice to have inspired someone to see the land of half my heritage.

Lots of emergency activity in the neighborhood today.  While running errands, I was passed by a fire engine on 15th Street, a police car on Nicollet and another police car on 1st Avenue — all within 15 minutes.  Didn’t see any smoke nor injured bodies so don’t know what was going on.

My Godson's son
Alijah gets ready for Easter

11 April

So I went to the Thursday water ex class and caught a cold.  Usually I don’t do this class as the instructor is very uncreative and low energy.  But since I’m only here for two weeks, I want to get in as much exercise as I can.  Afterward class, four of us went to coffee, and one woman got coffee refills for herself and me.  She was just recovering from a very nasty cold and I think I got it.  Or maybe it was just bad luck and germs from opening a door.  Anyway, I skipped by favorite class (Andrew’s shallow water class) today and probably will skip tomorrow.  I can hardly breathe but am taking some Sudafed, which I hate but I have to be healthy by next Friday when I leave for Boston etc.  Giving myself some down time, liquids only today, to get healthy!

Aideen has confirmed dates when she and Mickey will come to Minnesota this summer, and I’ve confirmed dates with Janet and Ed to use their cabin part of that time.  Will be fun to have them here.  Hoping that my nephews and their kids can join us.

12 April

I have been trying to figure a good time to call my friend in Poland.  Her husband died unexpectedly last month, and I want to talk to her, to see how she’s doing and what I can do to help.  Although our Polish friends will do what they can to help, she is alone and unlikely to reach out too often.  Thankfully she called me today.  She is devastated, as I expected, and I feel so helpless being here.  This death is just one more reminder of my mortality, something I think about sometimes.  I have more years behind me than ahead of me.  So I have to make the most of every minute.

This afternoon my sister and I went shopping to find carpeting for her condo.  She needs to redecorate and carpeting is the place to start.  We found several that she likes, took samples home and arranged for Home Depot to send a measuring service next week.  Hopefully she can arrange installation in June when I’m gone.  That way she and Stu (her cat) can stay at my place.  Next, a painter.

All this Heartbleed virus stuff is driving this Luddite crazy.  Change password, wait to change passwords.  Argh!  My sister the techie finally found a website with info on which sites are at risk, which has helped.  But I spent a frustrating evening yesterday changing some key user names and passwords.

13 April

A day out with Marilou is always fun.  Since I arrived to pick her up early, I played fetch with her Sammy who has more energy than any 10 dogs.  Then we scoped out the valance for her sunroom before leaving.  We’d tried to use our Groupon to Eat Street Social for lunch one weekday a while back only to find it closed, so we reserved for Sunday brunch today, to be followed by a movie.  After looking at the menu, we weren’t sure we’d spend all of our Groupon value … $60 … then proceeded to overspend it.  Good food though.  Afterwards we drove out to the cheapo Hopkins Cinema and saw “Gravity.”  We’re both a bit acrophobic — thank God we didn’t see it in 3D.  But the graphics were excellent, and although it’s a thin storyline, the acting was wonderful.  I especially like the image at the end when Sandra Bullock finally gets to earth — her rise from the lake to finally standing and walking was so evocative of that picture of humankind’s transition over the millenia.

14 April, Passover begins this evening

I remember well the seders we had at our church, instigated by my Sunday school class.  We did several activities with youth from a nearby synagogue and decided that since the Last Supper was really a seder, we should experience that.  Not sure if the church continued after we graduated from high school.

It was cold and windy when I walked Lake Harriet this morning with my friend Linda, but thankfully we both still had winter gear handy.  It’s been weeks since my last Monday morning walk with Linda, and I haven’t exercised since Thursday, deciding to stay out of the water until I get this cold under control.  Today I can finally breathe again.  Now to decide if I’m going to water ex tomorrow.  That can wait until I get up tomorrow and see how I feel.

I contacted a bunch of high school friends about having dinner when I’m in PA for the wedding.  Had only heard from Bucky and Suzie until today.  Pinky called and several of the Elizabeth gang are interested in joining us.  I promised to follow up with others and we’ll coordinate on Thursday.

This morning I left a voice mail message for my late son Peter’s friend Ole about painting Barbara’s condo. He called this evening to say he’s stopped painting and taken a job with the local distributor of Bobcats, the little tractors.  He’d been doing some part time work for them on the side while continuing to paint, then was given the chance for a steady income with benefits, a definite plus for a family man.  While I’m disappointed that he can’t do the job for us, I am happy for his change.  He’s married with two small children now, and his wife Lauren works for an advertising agency and travels for work sometimes.  Having more certain hours and income will make their lives easier.  

Next month is Peter’s 15th yahrseit, and I’m thinking of doing something in addition to saying kaddish at Temple Israel with Susan.  Susan’s mother’s yahrseit is the same day as Peter’s, and on the first anniversary of his death, she invited me to join her in the Jewish tradition.  I do that whenever I’m in Minneapolis.

16 April

Today’s Minnesota Twins baseball game was called on account of bad weather — snow.  ‘Nuff said.

17 April

Up since 5:30 getting ready to travel:  Stripped off the bed linens.  Did the pile of ironing, mostly flat pieces which I hate to iron (boring).  Quick trip to CVS to get some homemade “Kinder Egg” ingredients (Jonah and Spike in Boston love Kinder Eggs), to the post office to mail a cap that I knitted cap for my friend Marcia’s new granddaughter and to Whole Foods to grab some take out for lunch and sample their fantastic guacamole.  Have completed four loads of laundry, two more to go.  Still need to put clean sheets on the bed, but I’m taking a break.

FYI — KinderEggs are a German children’s treat — a chocolate-covered plastic egg with a prize inside.  Jonah and Spike discovered them while living in London, and you cannot buy them in the US because food products cannot contain nonfood items.  However, I supply them with KinderEggs when I’m in Poland.

Also did my online check-in with Delta … and a Skype call with Steve, who’s also on the Center Board.  I had sent him a draft of my notes/presentation on recommended changes to how the Center’s president is evaluated.  I got samples from HR friends here as well as copies of how the glass company evaluates our board chairman and comments from another board member.  Steve added some good comments.  I’ll finish this when I get back in May.

This afternoon Jan’s coming over to knit and keep me company while I finish my pre-departure chores.  I always do better if someone is around.  Then off to friends Janet and Ed’s tonight so I can be at the airport by 5 am.  Argh!

Yesterday Janet and Sally (of Acapulco fame) and I braved the snowfall and went to Milda’s for lunch.  Milda’s is an institution on the North Side that’s reopened after a fire required relocation.  It’s the epitome of a neighborhood cafe, big servings of delicious comfort food.  Janet and Sally indulged in the homemade beef pasties with gravy; they were “ginormous” the kids say and declared well worth the fatty calories.  Later in the afternoon, I was back out in the thick of it when I drove to my hair appointment at Connie’s.  In the hour or so I was there, heavy wet snowfall covered the car.  We went to dinner at Crossroads Deli, a favorite spot not too far from Connie’s.  More snow to scrape when we finished.  The super slushy highway home was made more dangerous by fast-moving SUVs spraying a high wake onto my little Focus and the need to navigate potholes.  I was so glad to get home safely.  Thankfully it’s in the mid 30s today and snow is melting now.  

18 April, the original Patriot’s Day marking Paul Revere’s ride, Newtonville MA

I never like travel days because I don’t sleep well.  It’s why I prefer early flights to the 3:10 pm to Amsterdam.  Today I was wide awake at midnight, never did fall back to sleep and turned off the 4 am alarm at 3:30.  I was at Janet and Ed’s because, as I wrote last month, they are lots closer to the airport and offer “limo service.”  Their son Thom provided that today.  Since TSA is now recommending two-plus hours in advance of domestic flights, I was at MSP before 5 am for my 7 am flight to Boston.  No long lines this time so I had lots of time to call Expedia about changing my Boston-to-Pittsburgh flight.  That’s what had me awake … my two-leg trip only had a 33 minute window to change planes in LaGuardia.  While it cost me a change fee and a few more bucks for a slightly more costly nonstop ticket, it was worth the price.  Made the change.  Now I’ll leave at the same time but fly nonstop.

My friend Karen, wife of Larry from Peace Corps and mother of Jonah and Spike, picked me up at the airport.  We ran a few errands and picked the boys up at baseball practice before going to the house.  Time to settle in and start catching up, then a short nap before dinner.  Now to bed.

BTW, Paul Revere said, “The Redcoats are coming,” not “The British are coming.”  After all, he was a Brit.

PS  to Class of ’63 readers — Anyone remember our 8th grade history class with Miss Scary when a male classmate who trotted around the room reciting “Paul Revere’s Ride”?  Who was that?  (Non classmates, that was really the teacher’s name. Imagine the fun we had.)

19 April

A day of sports.  Both Spike (8) and Jonah (12) had soccer games.  They are easy to spot on the field and enthusiastic participants. Jonah is taller than his teammates and has a head of curly hair that I wish I had. 

Spike has a lot of longish hair, having decided to follow the Jewish law forbidding hair cuts for 49 days, the time after the Jews’ exodus from Egypt. Spike is less thrilled with not being allowed to eat leavened bread products during Passover. 

I talked and texted with my nieces Michelle and Dyana about plans … Michelle and I are in Boston this weekend to support Dyana’s first Boston Marathon.  Dyana’s laying low while Michelle and her husband Jon play tourist.  Jon has to return to MN tomorrow, so the Michels and I will meet M&D in the afternoon at some point and have a late lunch-early dinner.   Not only is this marathon-and-holiday weekend, but both the Bruins (hockey) and Red Sox (baseball) are playing.  We hoping to catch a dinner table in between the games.

20 April, Easter Sunday

I had made Jonah and Spike “KinderEggs” from big yellow plastic Easter eggs and brought them for Easter.  I made the first eggs easy to find, then sent them on a hunt for the second ones, ala my mom’s Easter basket and egg hunts.  They loved the eggs, but I didn’t know that Spike is allergic to tree nuts and doesn’t care for peanut butter (Reese’s were in the eggs). He traded with Jonah for M&Ms, and I promised to replace his candies with one of his choice when we found a CVS today. 

The weather is perfect for being outdoors.  Karen ordered sandwiches from a hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop in downtown Boston, then we walked to the Public Garden (next to Boston Common) and sat in the sunshine to eat.  My Cubano with turkey and chicken was out of this world.  We had Patches, their dog, with us, and he attracted a lot of attention.  

Jonah, Karen, Spike, Larry & Patches in Public Garden

Michelle and Dyana walked over from their hotel, then we wandered to and through the marathon expo before driving to the North End/Little Italy for dinner.  Boy, did we just make it in time.  Jonah, Michelle, Dyana and I jumped out of the car to find a table.  M&D tried the restaurant where they had eaten the night before.  Italian and excellent … but no room before 8, they called to us from across the street.  Jonah needed a bathroom (truth be told, so did I), so we went into another to use the bathroom and seek a table.  A jovial maitre d’ said yes to both requests … but wouldn’t seat us until we all arrived.  So many more people arrived before Larry, Karen and Spike that I was getting worried.  But they’d finally found a parking space among the narrow, cramped streets and set up the car so Patches would be okay until we’d finished.  We sat, we ate, we enjoyed.  Must write a glowing review of Ricardo’s.

Oh, so we’re walking down the street and Dyana goes into a CVS for a bottle of water.  I join her, trying to remember what it is I needed to buy here besides water.  Then Spike joined me and reminded me … his KinderEgg candy.  I’m so glad he was comfortable doing that; I would hate to have forgotten and disappointed him.  He spent some time deciding and finally settled on mint M&Ms. Interesting choice for a kid.  I grabbed a couple of Brookstones, dark chocolate covered blueberry and pomegranate, to help keep my hands out of the Ms.

21 April, Patriot’s Day holiday and Boston Marathon Day

Dyana finished the marathon in 4:17 and was looking good when we saw her at about mile 18 in Newton.  She stopped for a few minutes of photos, a squirt of water from the boys and short chat, then off she went.  

Dyana and I at the 18 miles mark

I took a bus as far into the city as I could get, but not before tripping on a curb and falling (without serious injury).  Without Larry’s yelling “Suzi. Bus,” I might’ve missed it; I was sending Michelle a text and not looking.  The bus stopped way short of the center due to the race, so I walked forever down Commonwealth.  I finally gave up trying to find Michelle despite her directions.  Finally caught up her and Dyana under the “Paul Revere” statue (it is actually George Washington, but I knew where they intended us to meet).  The 40-minute wait at Cheers was worthwhile for a delicious and perfectly cooked real hamburger, my first in ages.  I ate all the fries and a few of Michelle’s onion rings.  

Michelle and Dyana

Took the T back to the suburbs and Larry met me.  We finished the day watching two favorite teams win, the Penguins and the Blackhawks.  Oh, and USAir upgraded me.  What a great day!

22 April, Boston Logan Airport

Passing the time in a comfortable rocking chair looking out at a beautiful sunny day and airplanes moving to and fro.  Off to Pittsburgh shortly.

23 April, West Mifflin (southeast of Pittsburgh), PA

Staying at the same hotel where I stayed for the 50th reunion last year.

Another great day.  Bucky and I did a Tour of the Township with a stop at Tillie’s in Versailles for lunch, fish sandwiches of course.  We had tried Country Club Tavern in lower Greenock, but it doesn’t open until 4 pm. Bucky’s a friend from Everglade Drive; he joined our class midway through 5th grade.  Like me, he couldn’t wait to abandon the old hometown for elsewhere.  His career in sales has taken him to many places, including Buffalo NY and Marietta Ohio.  I had forgotten that he had two paper routes — he could remember so many of the old residents of the various homes we passed.  We were both saddened to see all of the fences in our old backyards (no more sledding there) and found all of the home additions interesting.

Dinner at Atria’s with Pinky, Eileen, Noreen, Janie, Barb, Suzie, Lance and Bucky.  More catching up and talk of future plans.  Eileen and Noreen may join me in Scotland the same week as Jane, another high school friend.  And agreement that we want to do something collectively for our 70th birthdays next year.

Suzie and Suzi, grade school "twins"

28 April, Robinson Township PA 

What a great weekend.  The wedding on Saturday was heavenly … gloomy morning turned gorgeously sunny just as Alexis and Marcus left the gazebo to ‘walk down the aisle.’  Short but very personal ceremony; the officiant was a friend of theirs and this was his first wedding.  Way too much delicious food — ‘continental breakfast’ before the ceremony, huge buffet brunch after.  I’m sure I gained five pounds on Saturday.  Bob gave a heartfelt toast that drew tears.  Dancing to a variety of old music genres.  We helped clear things at the end of the afternoon and did so efficiently that the caterer wanted to hire us.

Alexis and Bob

Marcus and Alexis

Before that, lots of fun and great food.  OD’d on tacos and mac & cheese at Smoke, a hole-in-the-wall place in old Homestead that Alexis and Marcus had previously found and Bob now adores.  This was his second visit this trip.  OD’d on pizza another night, the first pizza I’ve eaten in months.  I took his Reno grandsons to the Strip District and Carnegie Museum of Natural History on a rainy afternoon.  I got a few tee-shirts and some Polish candy in the Strip but the boys didn’t get anything.  They thought they’d find non-Pittsburgh teams represented.  Not!  Lunch at The Porch in Oakland was surprisingly good for ‘order at the bar and have delivered at the table’ service — a salad with perfectly cooked salmon for me, burger for Tyler and strip steak for Jacob.  Someone said it’s owned by the same folks who own my old high school hangout, Eat ’n’ Park.  Hmmm.  

Jacob and Tyler at lunch

Most everyone left on Sunday.  I drove the long way to Ligonier for a brief respite in Linn Run State Park and a big homemade ice cream cone in town.  Then back at the Central cafe next to the hotel, dinner and wine with high school friend Janet.

Now it’s off to Boston again.

Later … at the new new Pittsburgh International Airport (not to be confused with the old new airport or the old airport)

After flying into Pittsburgh first class, I’m flying out in steerage, not only paying for my one checked suitcase but relegated to the last group to board.  Ah, the fickleness of airlines.

30 April, Boston Logan Airport

I’m pooped but in all the best possible of ways.  The reunion with two of my three freshman year roommates, Karyn and Karen, was amazing.  Haven’t seen either of them since graduation in 1967 although Karyn and I have been in touch off and on over the years.  Karen seems to be doing pretty well, despite several serious health issues.  She’s always had an optimistic outlook, and that has to be helping.  The retirement community where she lives is beautiful and populated by a warm and friendly staff and residents.  Food was wonderful (unfortunately for my waistline).  I had seafood both nights, cooked as perfectly as you’d expected at a Cape Cod restaurant.  We yakked and yakked and amazed each other with the minutiae we recalled of life back in Willard Hall. We looked at photos of who we used to be and laughed a lot.  I googled our friend Melissa, found her in New Jersey, and we surprised her with a call.  Karyn and I both said we’d be back … and I know we will.  How do we let people who meant so much to us get away for so long?  No more.  

Karyn, Karen and I

Later, Minneapolis MN

Raining.  Delta didn’t lose my suitcase.  My wonderful sister picked me up and is happy:  The Pittsburgh Penguins won the first round in the hockey playoffs.  Despite the last minutedness of the their wins, Barbara did not have a heart attack or stroke.  Tomery got her birth certificate and now, we hope, can renew her passport and be off to Mexico next Monday.  Ah, procrastination is in the genes of we Kanyr women.

Home at last.  My laundry basket overfloweth.  So in addition to that, back to water ex and detox tomorrow.  Maybe by the weekend, I won’t feel so bloatedly fat.  

March comes in like a lion …

1 March 2014, Minneapolis MN USA

I am sooooo ready for winter to be over. My niece Michelle and I decided to drive to a newish restaurant in suburban Edina for dinner tonight.  No parking spots in their too-small, very snowy lot but a big ramp a few blocks away.  We trudged over icy sidewalks and frozen snow mounds to learn there would be an hour long wait (they don’t take reservations). So we trekked back over the icy sidewalks and frozen snow mounds against the sub-zero wind chill to a different restaurant.  We had a bit of a wait there but got a corner table and enjoyed the rest of the evening … until it was back out into the arctic to walk to the car.  

2 March

Water in the Y pool continues to be colder than usual. 80F, they say. Sounds hot but really isn’t.  But it sure makes one work harder at water ex.  The heater has not worked properly since Friday.  I hope they get it repaired soon.

Parking at the Y

My nephew Christopher and his girlfriend Jen, and my late son Peter’s best friend Thom came to dinner.  Mom’s roast pork and sauerkraut with her traditional additions — homemade apple sauce, peas and lots of mashed potatoes.  From scratch curr’n’ cake (raisin squares) for dessert.   My sister arrived for dessert.  Chris made a lovely fire in my fireplace, and it was fun to have Thom with us; it’s been a while.  When they left, I cleaned up, then watched the balance of the Oscars.  I was ecstatic to see my choice for best picture win, “12 Years a Slave.”  And I thought Ellen Degeneres did a fabulous job as emcee.  Loved the selfie with the stars that took down Twitter … and the pizza order (was that ad libbed?).  Hope they have her again next year.

3 March

Tonight, during the two hours my friend Judy and I were at the Dakota Jazz Club on Nicollet Mall, it snowed.  Not a lot but still …. Judy lives closer to downtown than I.  Since it’s way too cold to walk from my place or stand around waiting for the ever-20-minutes bus, I drove to her building and parked there.  Then we could trek through her building and its neighbor to the mall and walk two blocks to the Dakota.  We heard the Manhattan Transfer.  The show was wonderful — they sang some old familiars as well as others, and their harmony is as spot on as ever.  The club was full for the 7 pm show.  Lots of clapping and knowing laughter as they harmonized on familiar songs.

My college friend Marcia is a grandmother!
I love this photo best of those she emailed.

4 March

One thing makes winter, especially this particularly cold, snowy one endurable — even in this awful weather, most Minnesotans remain nice.  My street is a snow emergency route that many use to get to the freeways east and north and city and school buses take to one-way 26th Street westward, as I do.  Both sides are lined with high blackened snow banks and bumper-to-bumper parked cars, a few with broken side-view mirrors because the roadway has shrunken significantly.  We basically have one extra-wide lane, not two normal ones.  You get the picture.  Yet inevitably cars will take turns pulling over so others can drive safely down the narrowed street.  Minnesota Nice.

6 March

For those of you who think I lead such an exciting life, here’s how I’ve spent this morning.  

• Up before seven, made and drank one cup lemon water, walked to front entry to get paper, read it, worked two crossword puzzles.  No water ex today.
• Checked email, more changes among those joining me in Scotland.  This is becoming real work to organize!
• Ate breakfast of muesli, fruit, rice drink, two cups of coffee.  
• Finalized what I can re 2013 taxes for accountant.  Called brother Dan with question; he’s out walking.
• Showered and dressed.  
• Checked all knobs on doors and closets and tightened as needed (I think the cold winter dried them out more than usual, many were quite loose).  
• Re-ignited pilot light on my hot water heater (an unseen gremlin blows it out every week or so; never know how long it’ll stay on and repair fellows cannot find anything wrong; what can be replaced has been, so I check before every shower).

Now to fix lunch, then walk downtown to meet friend Susan and have for pedicures. Best part of the day.

7 March

Today it is freezing.  No, I don’t mean I’m especially cold.  In fact, I feel warmer than I have in a long time.  The thermometer has actually risen to 32F (0C), the temp at which water freezes.  But it feels like a heat wave after all those sub-zero days.  And we have more “warm” days to come.  Perhaps spring is really on the way.

9 March

Relaxing after having company for dinner — Peace Corps friends Sabrina and Mark and son Christopher from St. Paul plus Mike, Elke and  son AJ from the apartment below.  It was wonderful fun watching the boys, AJ is two and Christopher 7, get to know each other and find things they both enjoyed.  A warm, wonderful family Sunday dinner.  Must do more of these when I’m in town.

10 March

It’s so nice today that after my friend and neighbor MaryAnne and I walked to/from a leisurely late lunch at one of our favorite nearby spots, I sat outdoors, on my deck, for an hour.  What a treat to enjoy the fresh air.  I could hear birds chirping, see the melting snow dripping, hear cars splashing through puddles.  I could pretend that spring was springing.

11 March

Temperatures … and my emotions … are on a roller coaster.  Late yesterday morning I learned that Karen, my closest friend from college, had died the night before.  She’d been diagnosed and treated for a rare bile duct cancer last year, I’d visited her in September, and we’ve had sporadic calls and emails since then.  I’d been reminding myself to call her for several weeks.  Karen loved the Olympics so I postponed calling during those weeks; she’d be busy watching.  And more recently every time I thought to call was in late evening when she might already be asleep. My night-owl college roommate had become an early-to-bed person, tired from the aftermath of the treatment.  This morning I’d vowed that I would call her today … then her childhood friend Carol called me first.  And I called our closest college friends Marcia and Barbara.  Unfortunately neither will be able to attend the funeral, which will probably be next week.  Marcia became a grandmother for the first time earlier this month — her daughter Suzie had a beautiful baby girl.  Barbara and her husband are taking their family to Jamaica for their wedding anniversary.  I will be there for all of us.

I met Karen during my sophomore year, her junior year, at Northwestern.  Don’t remember seeing her during rush week but got to know her after I pledged Kappa Delta.  Other than both being journalism majors, we didn’t outwardly have a lot in common, but we clicked and I was happy that she picked me to be her pledge daughter.  I still have the stuffed Piglet she gave me that day.  From thence, she became “Mother Dear” and I, “My Child”  and Marcia, “Auntie.”  Karen and Marcia had been freshman year roomies and were as close as any related sisters.  Barbara became Marsh’s pledge daughter.  I met Barbara before rush because she lived across the hall from me and the Karen I’m visiting on Cape Cod next month,.  (Yes, I know a lot of women named Karen … and Janet and Barbara and variations on Mary and Susan … it’s a generational thing.)   None of us was really into the whole sorority thing, but in those days at NU with no student union, campus life centered on the Greeks.  We all joined the one house that let us be ourselves — yet with its Old South roots was the least like us.  Karen did love rush week  though, and she gave it her all and, infected by her enthusiasm, we followed suit. And we worked to bring KD into the 20th Century.

My pledge paddle from Karen;
landscape was painted by Marcia

After college, we all went different ways but kept in touch.  A fading photo of Karen, Marsh and me when we attended Barbara’s wedding is hanging on my “family photo wall.”   When my late son Peter was born, she made him a personalized album of “The Day You Were Born,” full of clippings and her handwritten commentary signed by “your other grandma.”  Sometimes I’d drive over to Ohio to visit Karen when I went back to Pittsburgh.  I took Peter along on one trip.  Only child and childless Karen had prepared a picnic and location perfect for a young kid.  We talked and listened to an outdoor concert while Peter thoroughly enjoyed the park and food.  He instantly loved her.  His cremains now reside in a Doric urn provided by Karen.  

After a stint as an in-house editor for BF Goodrich, Karen joined the concrete burial vault manufacturing company her dad had started, and as her parents died, took over running the company and staying active in trade organizations.  A funeral director I knew when I was a newspaper reporter told me he’d met my mother at a trade show.  Took me a minute to realize he’d met Karen, not my biological mother.  My ex Bob was fascinated by Karen’s multi-paged Christmas letters, a detailed recitation of what was going on in her world, so different from ours.  When I joined Peace Corps, my dreary days were brightened by Karen’s long letters.  Bemused and befuddled by my request for twist ties (most Americans had way too many while Poland lacked any way to secure plastic bags), nevertheless she sent me a lifetime supply.

When Stephanie, another sorority sister-friend who’d moved to Karen’s town, was diagnosed with lung cancer, Karen who hated hospitals became her and her family’s solid support.  She kept in touch with those kids even after their mom died.  Unfortunately she didn’t give up smoking.  So when she, Marsh and I met in Evanston for a mini reunion one homecoming weekend a few years ago, she got a single smoking room, and Marsh and I shared a smoke-free one.  Marcia had quit long before.  

Except for not smoking and being thinner, Karen was pretty much the same Karen when I saw her last fall.  She had a delightful couple of days planned for us, and I left with a faint hope that she’d beat the cancer and a strong fear she wouldn’t.

13 March

I’ve been on line and on the phone arranging to attend Karen’s funeral on Tuesday morning.  It’ll be a one night trip to Akron-Canton Airport via Atlanta, two long flights each day.  Karen’s friend Carol and her husband will pick me up, and we’ll all stay at the same hotel I stayed in in September.  

15 March

Yesterday’s visit with my friend Lois in Northfield was a good tonic for dealing with my grief.  She was in good health and good spirits.  We went out to lunch at the Ole Cafe, a favorite spot not far from where she lives, then ran errands at Target.  All the way there and back, I sang along with the oldies and cried, also a good tonic.  Today I dosed myself with a funny movie:  I went to the gorgeously renovated Uptown Theater and sat in a big, comfy leather seat and watched “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” a film that’s gotten well deserved positive reviews.

Made arrangements yesterday to stay at friends Janet and Ed’s house Sunday night.  They live much closer to the airport, meaning I could sleep a bit longer and drive less distance at that ungodly hour.  (I have to be at the airport by 4:30 am.) Today Janet emailed that she wants to pick me up on the way back from their cabin and take me to the airport and to have their son Thom pick me up on Tuesday night.  I agreed.  Sometimes it’s good to let others take care of me.

16 March

Stand-up comic David Brenner’s obit was in today’s papers.  I met him when he stayed at the Bloomington Marriott Inn, then a Minda PR (and my) client.  He was very gracious and let me get a photo of the two of us which is somewherein storagein my college trunk.

I spent a frustrating hour-plus on line, on hold and on the phone with Delta trying to book a ticket for my niece.  I wish they’d get their web site working properly.  I have had problems every single time I”ve booked ticket lately … and that has been quite a few tickets.

19 March

Snow again.  But then it’s Minnesota high school tournament time when it always snows.

An exhausting two days going to Karen’s funeral.  Stayed at Janet & Ed’s Sunday night.  Ed made a delicious pasta with pesto and onion-mushroom-sausage sauce and a caesar salad.  My tummy was wonderfully full when I hit the bed at 9 pm.  Up at 3 am Monday and off to the airport at 4.  Maybe could’ve waited another 15 minutes or so, but wasn’t taking any chances that 10 charters to warmer climates would be queuing with me at security.  Actually I was so early that most of the security entries weren’t open yet.  Two long flights - MSP to Atlanta, Atlanta to Akron-Canton Airport.  Karen’s childhood friend Carol was waiting for me as I exited.  She, her husband Jon and I went to Bender’s, one of Karen’s favorite Canton restaurants, to meet Athene, Karen’s friend from her days at B.F. Goodrich.  We all know each other but have never met.  It felt good to have faces to attach to names and others to grieve with.

Carol and Jon were staying at the same hotel in Massillon as I, so we returned there for a rest and to change before doing to the visitation in the evening.  Meeting more people that I know so well from Karen but have never met —her cousin Bob and his wife Modean, their four now-adult kids, Monica, Michelle, Tom and Tim and their families; high school friends like Sally and Kathy; the men from the plant; and especially Jennifer, the daughter of our late friend Stephanie.  Carol, Jon and I had a late dinner at Kosmo’s, across from the hotel and another favorite of Karen.  Carol and I split fish tacos so we could each have blackberry cobbler — huge ala mode servings worth the calories.

The funeral service was full of family, friends and colleagues and beautifully done.  I had been debating whether to speak and finally did.  Just a few minutes about the woman who called me “My Child” and in return became “Mother dear.”  After the cemetery, the church cooks had a comfort-food meal hot and ready — roast pork, scalloped potatoes, green beans, apple sauce and cake.  After that, I borrowed folks for photos to share with Marcia and Barbara.  Carol and Jon dropped me at the airport on their way back to Dayton.  And I made my way back through Atlanta to Minneapolis.  Despite the colder temp and snow, I waited outside to breathe fresh air at last.  

Putting faces to names:  Sally, Athene,
Carol and me

I was fried by the time Thom picked me up at the airport just before midnight last night, but it was all worthwhile.  I could not be anywhere else but with others who loved Karen.

Of course, just when I thought nothing could get worse, I opened a summons that arrived in the mail from Hennepin County District Court while I was gone.  I’ve been assigned jury duty beginning 21 April — Boston Marathon day!  This morning I completed the paperwork on line, requested a postponement and hit “save.”  As it did that, I noticed I’d put a mid June date, not mid July.  Argh!  I’ll be in Scotland in mid June.  Quick call to the court, a few “press 1 for …,” very short wait, then a real person, a helpful friendly one who adjusted the date for me.  I’ll get a confirmation in two weeks that I’m to report at the end of July.  Now to prep for tomorrow’s flight to DC …

20 March

I have found spring!  It’s alive and well and coming to life in the Washington, DC, area.  Landed at National before noon today to sunny skies, warmish breezes and only a hint that snow had ever fallen here.  It was a treat to stand outside and wait for Inga.  We had lunch with our friend Adam, ran errands (including picking up my 2012 tax return CD, then I waited for Aideen to pick me up at Inga’s house.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if my two weeks here continued this weather trend?  

21 March

Still nice weather.  Aideen and I walked Mickey to the bus stop today before I took her to the airport.  A vertible UN of parents and children gathers on a street corner about three blocks away.  It’s fun to see the various ages and backgrounds of kids interacting so well.  Mickey’s friend Sasha, who’s in fifth grade, always yells out when the bus is visible down the street.  

23 March

A bit overcast today but still … Yesterday I rounded up Regina’s two boys, Liam and Roan, and Mickey and took them to the newest Muppets movie at a nearby mall.  We stopped to get Mickey’s hair cut and for a yoghurt on the walk back, then drove to Regina’s in Alexandria.  On the way Roan and Mickey were debating characters in Greek mythology.  I think it started as a video game discussion.  Wonders never cease …

Regina and I had a lovely time catching up.  She has a full-time temporary job during someone’s maternity leave and good leads on something to follow that.  Hurray.  And she now has a cute Havanese puppy named Lola (“Her name was Lola.  She was a showgirl …”).  Lola’s mostly black with white paws, baby soft curly fur and lots of energy.  The boys alternately ran around the back yard playing with her and chasing each other and played on the computer.  I was pleased that Mickey spent more time in the yard than with the computer.  He fell asleep quickly last night.

We spent this afternoon at the Playseum in Bethesda.  I’d driven by this place scores of times and always been curious, thinking I’d take Inga’s younger daughter, Antonia.  So this morning I went on line and found two Playseums, the Bethesda one and one near Stacey and Michael in DC.  Unfortunately Stacey and her daughters were busy, so we went to Bethesda.  It was an ugly overcast day, a good one for something indoors but active.  The Upstairs at the Playseum is for eight year olds and up and is full of games and activities, from making your own lip gloss to pillow fighting, from board games to pool, foosball and ping pong.  Lots of kids, including at least one birthday group.  Being without built-in playmates (other than yours truly), it took Mickey a while to get into the swing of things.  I played a few games with him but mostly tried to encourage him to ask others to join him, which eventually he did.  And he took part in an eating “dare” in the kitchen.  The hostess offered three dares — gross, sticky and brain freeze.  Winner of each got a free scoop of candy from the bowls in the lobby.  Mickey didn’t take part in the gross (a hunk of dill pickle in a couple of ounces of Coke), but he took on sticky (very old tough caramel and a large soft marshmallow, to be chewed and swallowed completely) and brain freeze (scoop of vanilla ice cream with a dab of chocolate sauce and whipped cream, all to be eaten with hands behind the back).  While he didn’t win, he did seem to have a good time.

Mickey eats his sundae hands-free

Tonight I was watching an episode of HBO’s True Detective when the Woody Harrelson character said to the Matthew McConaghey one that he was using too many “$10 words.” When I was in high school, those multi-syllable words were called “50 cent words” … ah, inflation is everwhere.

28 March

A quiet week.  I did get to one Mixed-level Pilates and one Senior Yoga class so I’m feeling virtuous.  I also have been more careful with what I eat … sort of.  Finished the Dark Chocolate Covered Blueberries — they are no longer a temptation.  I still have a few more small packets of the pomegranate ones for Mickey’s snacks but not more for me.  

28 March in Minneapolis

29 March

60 F but overcast and raining.  Good day to see “Mr. Peabody & Sherman” in 3D.  Mickey’s friend Sasha went along.  Now they’re playing video games here for a while.

Scotland is filling up!  For a while I thought I might spend half the month alone, but Dianna from my Macedonia days, Jan from my South Sudan days, Jane from way back to junior high and the cousins are firming plans, and Bob from Macedonia et al. has reservations and will to stop en route home from Afghanistan. We’ll meet in Amsterdam and fly over together.  Sabrina, Mark and son Christopher from St. Paul and Dorota, Jacek and son Franiu from Warsaw have confirmed their reservations too.  I am getting psyched again.

30 March

The March lion is roaring to the end in the DC area today.  It was raining buckets all morning, then as Mickey and I went to a late lunch, tiny, tiny hail pelted us.  An hour so so later when we left the diner, it was snowing.  Now it’s bedtime and raining again.  All the while the wind has been howling.  We went to the International Spy Museum today and had to walk several blocks from garage to museum (our wet, windy walk would’ve been shorter if we’d taken the Metro).  Our huge umbrella was turned inside out half a dozen times.  I finally gave up.

Mickey sending secret message
at Spy Museum

31 March

Halfway decent weather at last.  Went to yoga today and I can feel it.  Mickey went home from school with his friend Sasha, who lives nearby.  I had dinner with an old friend from my Africa days who lives near here (another Susan).  She was jet lagged but we had enough time to get up to date before her eyes got too sleepy.