And the Rains Came

Sundays I get Dad up, dressed, fed and then we go to church. This time he got up at 7:40 after having been awake until 2:30 or so. He was finished buckling his shoes when I went to get him up at 8:30. We were early for church. At least five people came up to me to tell me how they want to bring us meals. It seems to be an easy thing for people to do. They all seem to be aware that you have seen the cancer nutritionist and the ones who sign up will be willing to stick to your dietary guidelines. The advantage to getting to church early is that Dad gets to hear the organ prelude, which he loves. We all seem to like church the way it was when it became meaningful to us. It didn't become meaningful to me until I was almost fifty, so I like the rock band and the praise songs. This kind of music bothers Dad no end. He tries to keep his mouth shut about it but thinks it's okay to start running it down once we're in the car. I had to tell him to stop. I didn't want to hear it anymore. Next week I'll tell him I know he has a standing objection to the music and see if he can let go of it.

You were okay to go for a bike ride when I got home. You were watching the football games. Nonong showed up early so we took off. You wanted to buy tarps before it started to rain, I wanted to ride bikes first. I guess my 'no' was so strong you decided not to argue with me. We rode, got tarps, went to the grocery, and got the tarps over the things we needed covered just as the first drops of rain started to fall. Now we have to hunker down for seven to ten days of storms before we stand a chance of getting another bike ride. We need the rain but I don't need to be stuck in the classroom with this particular group for a whole week. These are supposed to be especially wicked and tenacious storms, ones that regenerate themselves off the coast, almost a pineapple express. This should be an interesting week, and definitely a test of roofs all over the state.

My phone rang with a couple of very long calls in the evening, during which you went to bed. I had made special lemon bars and ate them instead of dinner. Next time I make them I will really whip the eggs, the top had more of a 'fruit leather' consistency. And they were a strange color, almost light green. Beth is going to send me a better recipe. I went to bed at 7:15 and was asleep by 7:45. I didn't wake until my cousin called from Ohio at 7:52 this morning.

Suzin and I went for breakfast. You were up most of the wee hours of the morning. You went back to sleep and haven't woken up yet, and it's almost noon now. The chemo is only causing fatigue----and occasional diarrhea. I spoke with a nurse at church, and in our discussion she said your body might be accommodating for the chemo now. It knows what's coming, the chemo isn't a surprise to it like it was the last time, and your body has found some way to adapt to the foreign substances that being introduced, thus diminishing the side effects, and making you feel healthier. We are trying to be flexible and take each healthy moment and enjoy while it's there for us. Our bike rides this weekend have worked out well for us. You ride your electric bike alongside me while I ride my Schwinn Broadway. That way, you can keep up with me, pedal when you feel like it, and then use the motor when you're tired or to give you a power boost. I think we've found our 'new normal' for bike riding.