The Southwest Airlines plane I flew in had newly designed chair backs. The top pocket only fits the Southwest literature, so customers keep all their stuff in the net basket below. Less chance to forget something on the plane; good design.
The flight wasn't that difficult because I took one of the opioid painkillers before getting on the plane. Going through security is pretty easy for me lately because I seem to get "pre-check" all the time since I started flying so much. One of these times I won't get it and I'll probably feel quite huffy! Soon my pain was gone and I dozed on the plane.
Taking BART was fun because it was the day of the Oakland city parade for the Golden State Warriors. Lots of excitement and people wearing Golden State Warriors gear.
Once in Berkeley, the painkiller had worn off and it seemed more difficult than usual to do the things I had to do to ensure that I would be able to make my "mushy" food meals all weekend. I bought a Cuisinart food-processor at the former Berkeley Hardware, go get potatoes, onions and vegetables at the former Andronico's, and lug everything to the bus stop. Of course I missed the bus that does the Campus Dr. Loop.
Display at Safeway, the former Andronico's:
I was quite impressed with Ariam, the aide who was at Campus Dr. when I arrived. She is a Eritrean Christian who has been in the US for five years and was married this year. A cheerful, pretty, "zaftig" girl with a lovely smile and long wavy brown hair. Her husband moved here four years ago, but she said he has less of an accent than she does, because he grew up in Saudi Arabia speaking English with the kids of other foreign workers, and had to speak English early on because that was the language they all used to talk to each other.because that was the language they all used to talk to each other. He is studying Computer Tech, and has already started a "starting up" (I think she means "start-up") company which uses a computer program to reserve places in different San Francisco parking lots owned by his boss. Very enterprising.
I was so tired, but I could not get much of a nap. By the time I cooked my cheesy mashed potato soup and washed the dishes associated with cooking and blending it, there were only fifteen minutes left before Ariam had to leave. I felt that I had to wash the dishes right away or else Ariam would have washed them, and that wouldn't seem right. As soon as Karina got there at nine, I went up to sleep.
I have mentioned the coming hospital bed to Karina, Vivian, and Ariam, and they have all reacted with such pleasure and relief.
Karina's new husband has gone back to Greece to wait until his papers are straightened out. He is with the police, there. He wants them to have a child but she worries about having a child at her age. She says that she didn't want to go ahead and get pregnant until they have actually lived together, "because maybe when we live together I find out we don't get along." Meanwhile she's working a full-time day job at a facility on top of the night job with us, because her boss would not let her go on vacation (from the facility) unless she promised to sub for another employee when she came back.
It was good to have Vivian on Friday, as we know her well and I could take several naps during the day. The pain in my face just seemed to make me so tired.
I am sorry, Mom, that you did not like the way I washed your hair, by leaning you back in the wheelchair. I didn't expect that you would find it unpleasant, as I was holding your head securely as I poured water over it, which went into a basin on a high stool under your head.
I discussed the subject with "Abby" later, she suggested that if you don't like leaning back in that wheelchair, you could have been clenching your muscles tight, which could have made your muscles hurt.
However, your hair looked so much better clean! Vivian said she hadn't even known that it was so white and pretty. And the shampoo was over very quickly.
Before and after the shampoo:
It was such a hot day that you even asked to have your sweater taken off, and said you did not mind the fan being on overhead!
It was really nice to see you reading again, Mom! You looked at the papers almost all day. You would read a headline aloud, and we would discuss the subject.
I was able to do do one of the transfers myself from the bed to the wheelchair. I had told Vivian I would try, and asked if could she listen in case I had to call for help. But you stood yourself up, and did the little steps to where you could be lowered onto the wheelchair. It felt really good to see you do that, Mom.
During the weekend we were able to read a few more chapters of the Yellow Dog book, one of the dog books which Helen sent.
A beautiful poster of a heron arrived, Audubon I think. Madelyn and you picked out some posters for her bedroom, Mom. There may be a painting from Sarah for that bedroom, so Sandy is waiting to see about that before he decides where the posters will go.
On Saturday, it was great seeing Dannette again. She and you had picked out a new outfit for you to wear to Mariah's wedding picnic on July 8th, Mom. After discussion with Sandy, I went ahead and ordered the outfit. We also picked out a straw-type hat which has a narrow back so it can be worn while sitting in a chair.
Sandy arrived home mid-afternoon. He definitely seemed refreshed by his two-day outing. He did some shopping down on the peninsula, and found a new route up to Inverness which he really likes, many ocean views. GPS sent him on this new route just because he chose a different cafe to have lunch in.
Because it was so warm outside, we went down to see Sandy's "little free library". I asked then if you wanted to go for a walk as well, Mom, and the answer was a quick and definite, "No."
Before she left, Dannette asked if either of us had experience making gluten-free pie crust because she wanted to try making a chicken pot pie, for you, Mom. We didn't, but after she left Sandy and I gave it a try, using the pulse setting on his Cuisinart food processor. I made a beef pot pie; I didn't think it was the greatest and you only had a few bites of it, Mom. Sandy liked it enough (he tasted a small piece on the edge) that he plans to use it to try some fruit pies for the tea.
The night-time caregiver was Diana, and I warmed to her immediately. She in her early 70's, and is originally from Crowley (sp?) Louisiana, not far from New Orleans. When talking with her you feel like you are sitting on the porch at Jim Mercer's house. I thought she had a nice manner with you, Mom.
The reason that "Abby" was not there is that Saturday night was "Destiny Night". Many Muslims go to the mosque that night and pray for hours and hours, some all night. Prayers on that night are supposed to be more likely to be fulfilled.
I asked her if her name was short for Abigail, and I learned something interesting. Her actual name is "Abiodun" which is a Yoruba name used by both Muslims and Christians of that tribe, and it is used for both boys and girls. In the Yoruba language, "Abi" means "born" and "odun" means festival. Christians of that tribe might be named "Abiodun" if they are born at Christmas, whereas Abby was born during Ramadan. She says many at school assume her name is Abigail and it doesn't bother her. (Nothing ever seems to bother "Abby"; she's blessed with one of the happiest personalities I've ever come into contact with.)
Vivian is also from Nigeria, but her tribe is Edo (sp?).
Sunday was still very hot, and I worked up a sweat while packing. But the pain had definitely grown weaker than it had been on my arrival. What a relief! The trip home was pretty easy.
Love to all,
Lennie
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