I went to the heart doctor today and met with his physician assistant.
PA's are better to see. They take more time and answer all questions.
She was great.
I was in the exam room with her and Bern and our son, J.
It went well.
She gave me 'water pills' to shrink my ankles and legs.
I start them tomorrow--can't wait. If it gets them down I'll walk a lot better.
She told me that I'd 'pee' a lot.
A doctor wouldn't say 'pee'.
Love those PA's!
My son and his--what shall I call her?--"girl-friend"?--are coming to see us today. He and his wife are separated, their 2 twins are off to college in the fall and the youngest (a junior in high school) is shared by both parents.
Seems to be a friendly end to a marriage.
The reason for his coming is to go with us to my cardiologist tomorrow. J. is very out-spoken and critical. I hope he doesn't go for the doctor's throat....
We've never met her and this is a weird time for first impressions since I'm an elderly, foot swollen man with a cane.
We shall see.
I pray it goes well....
Bern, who is a weather channel junkie, tells me tomorrow will but hot--but with rain!
We really need rain.
Bern mowed the lawn and said that everything was dusty.
When she blew her nose it came out brown!
So, hopefully, tomorrow will bring rain to CT.
At least I'm hoping, if not yet 'praying'....
Praying about weather might not be the right thing to do, considering how many things and people need prayer.
This is sure blowing up!
Trump and dead Epstein have the nation in turmoil.
I have no idea what the truth is.
Truth is not the strong suit of either T or E.
MAGA is shaken to the core.
Trump has no idea how to handle it--nor do any of his staff.
No surprise there!
Sit back and watch it burn....
Enjoy the ride.
So, I didn't go to church--ride or no ride.
I was having bowel issues and my swollen feet made it hard to walk. So I cancelled on Trinity.
The weekend was uneventful. I stayed upstairs, read, watched TV more than I want to.
Enough about me.
TV is bad because so many terrible things are happening around the world: floods and forest fires, cuts to needed medical supplies, ICE out of hand, tariffs to be imposed on our global friends, Ukrain and the mid-east, a Republican Party that has lost it's integrity and a president who has lost his mind.
I need to read more though I read almost two books a day and Bern has become a regular at the library....
Life is spinning out of control.
Alas and alack!
One of the members of Trinity has agreed to pick me up and take me home Sunday.
So I have to write a sermon....
It will be fine. I'm a little better every day and walk inside without a cane.
My ankles and feet are still swollen and show no sign of going down.
But a sermon is no problem. I've read the lessons and have ideas already.
I just wish I was well....
The doctor told me not to drive until next week.
I was planning to drive to Trinity for church Sunday.
Bern can't take me.
Them coming for me and taking me home seems too much to ask.
I'm not sure what will happen.
I offered to give a week's worth of my salary back so they can do Morning Prayer.
I'm not sure what will happen.
I'll wait and see....
(I hate this!)
Assault by unidentified ICE agents is becoming common.
Latinos especially are being arrested even if they are American citizens with no criminal record.
Trump wants to rid the country of brown skinned people.
Who will be next?
Will we stand up to ICE and Trump-adump or not?
We must.
This is lawless behavior by federal officials.
Call your congress member and your friends.
We MUST do something....
Saw the surgeon who did my operation today.
He's a huge guy--6 foot 4 inches and over 250 pounds. Glad I was asleep when he cut me open....
Besides that, lots of good tennis and bad national news.
Bern cried listening about the children lost in the Texas flood.
Talks in Washington don't seem to be going right.
Trump's defense of his 'big beautiful bill' makes me feel ill.
But there is Bern and Brigit to comfort me.
I've got to remember to listen to my body and not my mind....
God help me do that....
Bern loves tennis.
She thinks tennis is the most difficult of all sports.
After watching a week of Wimbilton with her (forgive my spelling) I think she may be right.
She knows something about all the players--men and women--which amazes me.
I don't know nearly enough about baseball to match her tennis knowledge....
So it goes on until the weekend.
More tennis, tennis, tennis....
Went to church!
I did alright with all the standing.
Did not walk down the center aisle--entered and left from the side with the Chalicist.
Did not have a Bible-based sermon, instead shared five secrets God has given to me in the last 3 weeks.
>Listen to your body. Your mind may tell you you can do something--but listen to your body instead and do what it tells you.
>Pray for patience. It's what we need to get where we need to be--patience, patience, patience....
>Take one day at a time. Don't try to jump ahead. Tomorrow will come after today. Let it be that way.
>Stay in the moment. Take what each moment gives you. Don't think about 'before' or 'after. Let the moment be where you dwell.
>Be profoundly thankful for those who have cared for you: surgeons, doctors, nurses, aides--especially aides for their willingness to do what needs to be done. And, of course, those who wish you well and your family that nurses you back to health.
I'm tired, but fulfilled....
Tomorrow I'll see if I can go to Milton to celebrate communion.
I've missed it so.
Bern will take me and G. will bring me home.
Hope it goes well.
I'm walking much more stable with my cane.
Nothing hurts.
We'll see tomorrow....
The 4th of July has never been a big day for me.
People pretending to celebrate, eating hot dogs, saluting the flag--not something I delight in.
But this year I'm dwelling hard on our country and praying for America.
What the President and his cronies are doing threatens so much of what we love and need in this country.
Democrats, Independents and unhappy Republicans must take a stand on this day.
"Let Freedom Ring!" must be our cry.
Too many suffered and died to make this country the greatest in the world to let them down now.
"Let Freedom Ring...."
Well, they passed it.
I guess the President is delighted.
Most all Americans won't be.
Health Care and low income folks are in ruins.
What an awful thing to do to us....
Fight back!
One good thing about my recovery (though it's slower than I wish) is how much reading I'm getting done.
I'm averaging a novel and a half a day!
Lots of "Murder She Wrote" and "Monk" and others as well.
Being rather sedate leaves lots of time for Reading....
That's a good thing indeed.
I slept until 8:30 this morning.
An hour and 15 minutes longer than any night since I've been home.
Felt good to sleep in.
I plan to spend time downstairs until 3 or so.
Moving along--just not as fast as I'd hoped.
Should make church Sunday--Bern driving me up and someone bringing me home.
I hope so....
So the Senate passed that bill the President wanted. Goes to the House, but little doubt they'll pass it.
It will ruin the lives of many Americans and affect us all with debt and hardship.
It's hard to imagine how members of Congress can hurt the people they were elected by.
But it's done.
God help us....
