Dates With Friends

By the time we were ready to walk with our friends, the sky had brightened, and everything started to dry out. The early part of the morning, however, was very, very wet. We had a lot of welcome rain overnight. 

We walked the Ricki Ave. trail because it is the one that stays dry, and when we got home, I was keen to do some baking, but I know I’d eat too much of the meringues that I wanted to make, so I put that off and did some yard work. I weed-whacked the weed field around the fruit trees in the far back corner of the yard, the front yard, and the edges of the driveway. I look forward to doing more and some raking today, and each ensuing day, until all the surfaces are clipped.

I’m having no problem functioning as the gardener. Pete is always willing to help with anything challenging, as is Dave. Once all the clipping is done, I’ve a lot of fertilizing to do. I work slowly and I take breaks. It’s such a change. It was one year ago, on May 29^th, that I suddenly had great trouble breathing. I’m thrilled to be able to garden, even at a slow pace. I greatly value from it. It pulls me outdoors and I love being in the sunshine while Sheba, often with Sosa from next door, being constructively active.

And my reward is how beautiful it is right now. I used to draw a lot. I loved drawing in pencil crayon. I fell in love with coloured pencils in elementary school. I’d carry several of them around with me. Friends, of course, were always very complimentary, out of conviction or good manners. But I would only see the things that I thought were wrong.

I never wanted to show my work. I did not want to be the centre of attention of a lot of people. That scared me deeply. But when I started writing advice columns for professional visual artists and teaching professional practice at Emily Carr, I felt I needed to put myself through the experience. So, I had a show.

It took me ages to make all the work. I did a dozen 18” X 24” pencil crayon drawings. It was torture. It took two years to do them all. And on each one, there were at least three little squares (10 mms) that I left blank. You could see the paper surface. And all through the process of submitting for the show, having people come to see my work, then hanging the show, and then showing it for a few weeks, no one asked me about the squares. I don’t think people see them, and that shocks me. I wonder about the viewers and customers, I wonder what they are seeing.

•

I’ve been proactive. On Friday, I am going to have lunch at the Firetruck food truck in the picnic park at Silva Bay. Jay, Françcois, Eoin and I are going to have lunch there, and Sheba is coming. I proposed our lunch. And for dinner, I’m eating with Kris, Steve, and Nancy at Woodfire. I proposed that too.

I’m grateful that they are happy to join in. I don’t do it often; I think that’s why I have the success rate I do. I just don’t feel up to entertaining. By the time the guests come, I’m already exhausted from all the preparations. And that brings my symptoms on. Going out is an ideal way to visit my friends.

Having a barbeque is also a good fit with my anxiety. I’m more relaxed outside and people can cook whatever they want to bring. I supply the drinks and condiments. And the garden, of course. Friday is going to be a jolt, but I’m looking forward to seeing my friends. And who doesn’t like eating out?

Tomorrow is my last day on prednisone again. My breathing will slowly start to get worse again. That was the pattern the first week after I stopped last time. It makes me wonder how long the approval process is for the biomed.

Grayson has gone kayaking for a week. He left this morning. I enjoy being outdoors tidying up, but not so much when he is here. So, I have the week to myself to work on the garden. It thrills me to have the garden. I must remember as I tire of watering over the Summer, that being pulled outdoors to do mild work truly is a blessing. Just as having Sheba requires me to have two forest walks a day, or one and then games at Rollo Park.

•

Today, the sunshine is back! And next week is going to be sunny and hot. I must go to the dentist this morning, and I must do some shopping, but what I want to do most, is rake and weedwhack the weed fields in the backyard. There are so many little easy things that I can do, it’s all too exciting.