Where did January go?

At least there's one thing we can all agree on – it's cold out there.  Did someone mention climate change?  Ooops, I guess we can't agree on it.

Still, it is brrr cold out there.  I walked out of a class yesterday and could barely make it to the parking lot, in the face of a squall of white-out.  And I was the youngest one in the class.  How was everyone else going to get to their cars?  You know you're in trouble when your plow guy gets stuck in your driveway (see photo.)

It's the last day of January, and it's been a lost month, especially for Mary.  Excruciating pain can do that for you.  She had one good week, recovering from the flu, before an inexplicable back pain surfaced, and got worse and worse.  And unimaginably even worse.  She lay on her back for the better part of two weeks, until she couldn't even do that.  Medicines, doctors' appointments, ambulance, MRI, blood test, opioids, and finally surgery.  And then she was smiling.

Thanks to everyone for calls, texts and well wishes.  She has a good support group here of swimmers and high school reconnections who came through. 

Family matters.  And it matters when there are medical people in the family.  Heather, John and Marilyn's daughter works in ER at Albany Medical, and she was instrumental in getting Mary an appointment and an early surgery date.  Thank you, Heather.

In the long hours of sitting around, my thoughts wandered to brother Andrew who has gone through this four times; to prehistoric people who must have just sat down with this kind of pain while the clan moved on; to people who live with chronic pain and become addicted to these meds; to caregivers who do this for years, and I was only on call for two weeks. 

We had meant to stay close to home for a month, but this was not how we planned to do it.  We started off cancelling short trips to Boston and to Ottawa, and then cancelled Mary's participation in our Gabon project this year (luckily we got travel insurance).  We are still determined to head to DC for a week of caregiving in February.

We were able to catch up on family matters as well.  Andrew and Lur braved the cold to go to a taping of Wait Wait Don't tell Me in Chicago.  They remain busy taking care of Lur's parents and watching Bill and Jen's children every now and then.  David and Paula are busy with their church activities, Paula working on church missions and David on a housing project for senior.  They see Everett and Donald quite a bit, and, oh yea, did you hear the cheering for Oliver and his acceptance at the University of Rochester!  Also, we also heard from Sean who, with Erin, is in the midst of honeymoon plans for South Africa.  I understand he is working on an arson case right now.  And where would I be were it not for Johanna's Twitter feed, which keeps me up to date on all things politics?  

Football is on everyone's mind, and I have to say I've been shocked at some of the family comments about the Patriots.  Can't we all just get along and root for the Patriots?  (I'm kidding.)  I got a book on the NFL for Christmas, and it ain't pretty.

Speaking of not pretty, how can I not mention the shutdown.  Margaret had to work and not get paid; Joe had to stay home and not get paid.  Not sure what happened to Jeffrey. 

Forgot to send out birthday wishes to Margaret and Jeffrey, last time around.  Hope you were glowing and laughing on your special days!

So, the weather is supposed to break, by April I hear.  The days are getting longer but not long enough.

Stay warm, and love from up here. 

 

News from Dundee

How do you describe -5 degrees? Bitter, awful, wicked? No, just ours. And I know through recent communications, my brothers are not sympathetic, because they have it worse. And it is supposed to get worse. No outdoor grilling for now.

We have had the pleasure to see a few concerts, one old band, Marshall Tucker, and one recent, the very talented guitarist Jesse Cook. It is fun to go to concerts where the audience is our age. Everyone knows where the bathrooms are.

Last night we had the fun pleasure to see a taping of Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me for NPR. What a hoot (courtesy of Claire from Christmas)! Great to see Chicago legend Bill Kurtis, and the cast was very funny. Before the show, got to visit Daniel's new digs in downtown Chicago. Quite the set up, with a salon and custom clothier in same location. Above my pay grade. All conveniently located to the show and parking, but each block was windy and cold. 

Talked with Claire this week, who is hunkered down in Michigan. So far no big snows, but Lake Michigan never disappoints. Hoping to see a concert or two in March, weather permitting. 

Came home from Chicago with a cold. No Nyquil, dammit! Every year I try to remember Jeffrey's little Nyquil jingle and can't remember. Something about falling face first on the floor. Jeffrey, if you are listening, release those emails!

It is too bad the refs decided the super bowl teams (is that a dig?). But it is great that it gives some Dickson households the opportunity to get together. The Packer and Giants fans will just have to find a good movie.

Lur is plugging along at the hospital, where the winter season gets busier. We are looking forward to spending more time in the city, as we won a public radio contest that gives us tickets to all kinds of stuff, like the symphony, aquarium, cruises and fireworks. 

"Andrew ended up with the lion's share". Yes I did. We have the pleasure of having Mom's hand knit hats and mittens, which are super for days like today. Are you jealous yet? BAM!

Hope you are having winter fun! We are trying to send this stuff your way. Sorry 

On the 12th day of Christmas

We watched football. But also on the 3rd, 5th and 8th days of Christmas. And maybe even a few more days as well. I think a new song is in order.

How was your Christmas? Ours was best epitomized by the photo below. In the spirit of giving, we gave each other colds and fevers. No one exempted. We went out and bought CVS stock. Mary has a home remedy of garlic and ginger cut up and washed down with juice. That really seemed to work as well as all those medicines in the basket where the cookies used to sit.

Still, we were undeterred in enjoying each other's company and the spirit of the season. Joe and Leonor arrived first, with Thomas, by plane. Annie had flown east for work and came home next, while Margaret arrived after a few days in NYC with Andrew. Our highlights included Thomas' first sled, Christmas Eve mass, Christmas jigsaw puzzle, getting the oven fixed in time for Christmas, Christmas lights at Naumkeg (historic home), hiking and slipping on the ice, hot chocolate and duck rice and prime rib and chili and much much more. Tim joined us for Christmas Eve dinner and brunch the next day.

We saw on Facebook a little bit about some other Christmases around the family. Looks strikingly similar in terms of joy and color and family time.

Illness delayed a visit by our Maine friends a week, thankfully, as Mary spent most of a few days there in bed. We had to miss our usual New Years party but heard that everyone was home by 9:30 anyway - ours wasn't the only household with illness. Ironically, we did stay up til midnight binge-watching the show "Bodyguard". Recommended. Our Maine friends came this weekend and left just a short while ago, and it was more fun not being sick.

Did you make a New Years resolution? Ours had nothing to do with eating or dieting. So far so good, but I've only been tested once so far. What is it? Helping out at the free meal at church once a week. But I have a few others as well, that I haven't kept yet.

Can't avoid a political comment. With two children as federal employees, this shutdown is hitting home. Joe has been furloughed, and Margaret has had to keep working. Neither of them are getting paid. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm sure I could not have afforded a missed paycheck when I was working. And all over a wall that has nothing to do with migrants and everything to do with distraction. Don't get me going. You already did.

But today was Epiphany, the festival of light and hope. Let's hope this passes quickly.

Love from up here and happy new year.