Enjoying Relief

Above is my friend Allan in costume as Princess Diana’s butler. He was hired to play the role in a movie he says was absolutely “tacky.”  

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It rained most of yesterday so Sheba and I stayed indoors all day. It rained all night too. I could hear hit thundering on the roof. But miraculously, it stopped just before this morning’s dog walk. And it’s so warm! It was 10° at 6:30 am! I mean, really! That’s incredibly warm for January!

Today I’ve been reading New Yorkers and napping. But that’s about it. It’s a dull life I lead. But I’m enjoying relief: I’m relaxed because my generator is working again, because Dr. Majic was so sympathetic to my appeal for help and because my dog walking friends have agreed to care for Sheba when I have to go to Vancouver to see Dr. Shoja. 

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I like this quotation of (the great) Peter Schjedldahl: “I like to say that contemporary art consists of al art works, five thousand years or five minutes old, that physically exist in the present. We look at them with contemporary eyes, the only kinds of eyes that there ever are.”

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I have no guests scheduled to visit, ever. Some prospects exist, but I think I’m going to be alone, except for dog walks, for quite a while. That’s okay.

Progress!

It works! My generator is roaring with energy thanks to advice from Mike at the store where I bought it, and to Chris, who gave me courage and conviction to lie down on the wet ground and make an electronic adaption. I feel so great to have managed to get it going (with help) and that it works.

On the downside, no psychiatric help is available in Nanaimo.

Last year, there were fifteen psychiatrists in Nanaimo. This year there are four. There are 1,004 people on the waiting list to see them. Dr. Majic suggested I return to Dr. Shoja, so that’s what I will do. He also will have the island mental health nurse see me.

It will take time to get an appointment, and shuttling to Vancouver may prove nasty if I want to go for free using the TAP form we can get here. But Dr. Majic said,  “You cannot go on like this.” It made me feel good to hear that; he is a kind man. I really like him.

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What a glorious day yesterday was!

I got home from the dog walk just after ten and started sweeping the courtyard and back deck wearing a t-shirt and no sweater or coat. It was sunny, it was brisk and bright, and it was indescribably wonderful to be doing yard work outdoors in mild, mild weather in January! We are all, however, worried about our plants that are budding like mad already.

I had a great morning, preparing things for dinner and tidying before Chris and Frani arrived. Chris built the theatre I designed and raised the funds to build in North Vancouver in the early 1970s. Through him, met and came to love his wife and two incredible kids. (I know: All kids are incredible, I reckon.)

We are extremely compatible. They are family. We’ve vacationed together many times and so excitement powered me through my morning chores. We had a wonderful visit, meal and evening playing Tile Rummy. And this morning we had some lovely time together before they left.

I had five anxiety attacks while they were here. It is not fair. And it was impossible to speak with Dr. Majic this morning. I’m not in good shape.

But my generator works! And I have my beloved pets.

Happy New Year!

That’s Peter in the photo above. He’s married to my friend Alysson, a fellow adoptee whose birth mother lives on Gabriola. It was taken on his birthday. A friend of his baked the fabulous cake!

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I did a wampum cleaning yesterday. On top of the usual things I do, I cleaned the microwave, guest bathroom, the garbage bins, guest rooms, kitty litter box, vacuum, front walk and … I bathed Sheba.

In the afternoon, I wrote an essay for the psychiatrist I hope to see in Nanaimo; I’ll likely be unable to speak to her (him). I provided succinct background information and explanation of why I was seeking the appointment. I’m set and hopeful.

Once that was finished, I took Sheba for our second walk and then went into the village to do some errands including going to the hardware store to ask about how to proceed with my generator. I’ve new things to try to get it going. 

While I was at the store, I ran into Darryl and Elaine. Regular readers—all three of you—may remember my many references to them in posts when I first moved to Gabriola. Darryl is the fellow I hired to build my fence, renovate my studio, lay the courtyard paving stones and build my cattery and vegetable raised beds.  He and Elaine were extraorinarily helpful and welcoming when I moved here.

Well … Elaine entered a contest to win a cruise for two in France—and won! They will be going up the Garonne River from Bordeaux and they’ll be going early to spend some time on their own in a B&B. I am absolutely thrilled for them!  They’ll be touring vineyards at ports of call and sampling French wines on board in the evenings.

“We’ve never been anywhere,” Elaine said. Nicer people could not win such a trip! They deserve this wonderful break!

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The hateful anti-Jewish graffiti is gone from Camp Miriam and representatives of the Camp have expressed their gratitude for the compensatory messages of love and respect that have come from islanders. Also, tomorrow afternoon islanders have organized a vigil at which MLAs will speak about the values and strength of an inclusive community that islanders have always felt they have had here. 

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What a treat! The day has dawned bright and clear. There is not a cloud in the sky! And today Chris and Frani arrive; how wonderful that they chose two weeks ago to come today!

Yesterday, I could feel my mood elevate when the sun came out. All my thoughts turned optimistic and enthusiastic and today is no different. My spa this morning was truly glorious during the sunrise and in total silence under fading stars.