B.J.'s And Rehearsal

Zipped on up to B.J.'s to get boxes for books I'll donate, of which I have a multitude.  The problem is, I really don't want to give them up.  After all, how can I exist without the bio of Kate Smith and the two about the Rosenberg execution (I met one of the sons), and interesting accounts of people who fall over the edge at the Grand Canyon?  Well, I weeded some out, anyway, and will hunt down more.  Changed the bed, washed several loads, and otherwise occupied myself like a good little housewife.
Rehearsal last night at the New Gretna church.  We did the first act, which Ellen V., as my maid, and I, as the nosy aunt, open. Our dialogue contains a lot of explanatory information that's crucial for the audience to know before the other actors come on stage.  I'm worried about Ellen's performance, as she's far from off book.  When she does remember her lines, they're often jumbled.
Ibsen was a superlative playwright and he didn't put anything superfluous in Hedda, so the play needs to be acted as written.  Also, it's nerve-wracking to have to worry about being fed lines properly.  Think I'll ask Ellen if she wants just the two of us to meet to go over it.
Got some new videos of six-month-old K., one of him playing a piano duet with his Dad. I wasn't crazy about their interpretation of Chopin, but the Bach sounded good (HA!).
Rehearsal tonight at the community center.  

Pleasant Day

It was a gloriously warm and sunny day, but I didn't have a chance to spent much time outside.  Moving right along, I took the yearbooks to my pal, Jim, at Unshredded Nostalgia in Barnegat.  Unfortunately, he told me college yearbooks don't sell, although N.J. high school yearbooks do.  Wouldn't you know, I have only Pat's and mine and wouldn't let them go.  Jim offered me a measly five bucks for the 1923 Howitzer, which I declined in favor of putting it on Craig's List.
However, Craig seems not to care for me, as both my friend and I tried to post my stuff, then contact them, and we get back unrelated e-mail.  Will keep trying.
Went through a lot of boxes containing my mountain of memorabilia, including one containing condolence cards and letters from to my mother when my father was killed in 1950.  Thought I'd try to discard some to consolidate, but naturally, couldn't bear to.
Got up to my friend's a bit after 4:00.  She and her guy had spent the day clearing out the garage, and she and I went to the Goodwill donation center in Allentown to drop off donations.  Their web site and a sign on the door said they were open until 7:00, but they weren't.
We stopped at a dollar store nearby, then back to her place for a tasty dinner of bow tie pasta and turkey meatballs.  I stayed only until about 7:00, then left; got home with no problem.
Rehearsal tonight at the New Gretna church.

Clearing Out And Betty Mae

A busy, productive day, I'm happy to note.  Started in right after breakfast clearing out the walk-in closet--it's unbelievable all I had in there.  By the time I finished, I had covered my bed, the guest room beds, and several other flat surfaces. These were clothes, books, and innumerable other items I had to have or I would have died and now I can't even remember why I bought them.
Incredibly, I came across six yearbooks from Villanova University from the early fifties.  As I recall, I salvaged them from my mother's after she went to St. Mary's; why she had them, I have no idea and why I took them--dunno that, either.  Also found a 1948 Rider yearbook.  I must have bought them at yard sales just because I like all that old stuff.  Out they go.
I interrupted my labors to put the drops in my eyes and was taken aback to find I had no more of one kind.  Called eye doc office, asked if I could get a sample and, after lots of back-and-forth on the phone, was told they had some in Galloway about 20 miles away. Jumped in the car and got them--that teeny vial would have cost me $124 if I hadn't asked for a sample--and got home in time to collect the mail and find the important letter Mike said was coming.  God knows what he's involved in--best not to ask--but I sent it to him global express, which cost $65.95.  No prob: He beefed up my BOA account considerably a few months ago.
Got back in time to greet my friend and we packed up her SUV.  She'll take all my stuff to the Goodwill, which she favors because it hires disabled people. She's my inspiration, as she and mate have a target date for putting their house up for sale and have been engaged in clearing out and cleaning up for months.  I want to be as diligent and must not kid myself that getting one closet in shape is the equivalent of having the house ready to sell.  Happily, my friend issued me an invitation to dinner tonight, which I was happy to accept.  
I was pleased to get e-mail from my old--uh, longtime--friend, Betty Mae W., with whom I've been in touch on Facebook.  I'm happy to be reconnected with her, as I am with Jeanne P.; we graduated from Holy Spirit together a million years ago  Betty lives in California and, as that's where I'm headed eventually, I hope we can get together in person someday.
The delicious icing on the day's cake (well, that's an awkward metaphor) was a Skype call from yummy little K. in Tokyo.  He'll be six months old tomorrow and what a little doll.  I know he recognizes his Nana because--I swear--he smiles so big every time he sees me on the monitor.
Only down side of the day was the sulkiness of my printer, now refusing to do anything for me and displaying some kind of error message.  Damn, I hate these electronic spoiled brats, on which I'm so dependent--oh, but not you, computer baby, not you!

Day After Left Eye

After a slightly rocky start, the day turned out pretty nice.  I was upset over the library display window, which I hadn't gotten back to since Saturday.  It looked pretty tacky and I wanted to try to improve it.  Selected a few items I thought might help and picked Aline up at 11:00.  I improved the display to an extent, but it still doesn't look terrific.  I may tweak it a bit more, if I can think of a better presentation.
Stopped at the post office, then went to Wal-Mart where I got vacuum cleaner bags and direction lights for the car; must now get them installed.  Went across to B.J.'s and returned the web cam Mike had bought me, as it doesn't go on the t.v., after all.
By that time, it was almost 2:00, so we went to the doctor's office. I was taken in a few minutes and the eyes look good.  I again expressed by amazement to the doctor that the lens implant had actually cured my myopia of so many years.  I also asked what in the world had made her go into ophthalmology (who would choose to stick things into peoples' eyes, for heaven's sake?) and she said both her parents were opticians. Also, she herself has "plus ten" myopia which, she assured me, is even worse than mine--then mine was, that is.  When I asked why she didn't get the lasik surgery, she laughed and said, "I'm chicken."  I suggested she knew too much and she agreed.
By the time we got to Olive Garden for late lunch, it was 3:00, but no matter.  I had gotten all my errands done with my friend for company and I felt the good soup and salad were richly deserved.

Miracle

I've worn progressively thicker glasses since I was six years old.  By the time I was grown, I was so myopic that without them, I couldn't clearly see anything more than a few inches away. I wore contacts when I was younger, but after a time, they didn't seem worth the hassle.  As I got older, I also developed near-sightedness.  It seems unfair that the two don't balance each other out, but they don't.  I started wearing tri-focals and also had "up close" glasses, as well as prescription sun glasses.  Of course, I was constantly whipping them on and off and trying to keep track of all three.
I've always been terrified of going blind.  The fear may have grown partly because when I was a kid, my mother suggested I learn braille.  She meant well, I know, and it was just a casual comment, but I was impressionable and subject to a vivid, not to say wildly active, imagination.  I half-believed she had received word I would eventually go blind.  Nobody else in my birth family had myopia, and my twin sister didn't wear glasses, so I was the different one.
In middle age, I developed cataracts, adding to my poor eyesight.  My children kept urging--"nagging" might be the more appropriate word--me to get them removed. Oh, no, no; what if the scalpel slipped or the doctor was drunk?  But after years of resistance, I finally consented.  A few weeks ago, I had surgery on my right eye and yesterday, on the left.  How did it turn out?
Like a friggin' miracle.  I can see without glasses to drive, look at people, and walk around.  I'm simply stunned at being able to go about my everyday life without something on the bridge of my nose.  I was told I must wear sunglasses on sunny days--but I can buy myself a glamorous pair that don't have to be prescription!  I also need glasses for close work, but get this: The ones I'm wearing now are perfectly fine and they cost eight dollars.  Why, I could buy a dozen pair and have them all over the house!
Anyway, I'm still getting used to this incredible freedom and will be eternally grateful to my children, medical science, and Nicole M. Pritz, M.D.




      

Eye And Carpets

When we got home yesterday, I napped for a time while my friend, the dynamo, did various.  After I got up, she went to Acme, coming back with salmon, lettuce, tomato and a large carpet cleaner.  It proved not to be effective, though, and she used the cleaner I already had on the living room and study, which look a lot better than they did.
I bestirred myself enough to sweep up the ice melter I had frantically spread on the front walk in order to get into Barb's car on Tuesday.  Made a salad and puttered around with a few other things.
Jeanne P. called and I enjoyed talking to her; as I did Aline.  I'll pick her up for an excursion today; of course, I have to go back to the eye doctor, too.  Tonya e-mailed that we have to get the NJPerry Award applications in soon, so we'll drop the info off at her place today, I guess.
Friend cooked up delicious salmon and we had that with salad for dinner.  We then tried to put my dolls on Craig's List, but were unable.  She does it all the time and I know was directing me correctly, but for some reason, I never got the confirming e-mail, although we did it properly twice.  She also showed me how to get games on my Tablet, and I've been having a lot of fun with that.
My friend, who's in that special category of "I don't know what I'd do without her" left at 8:00, taking my grateful thanks and love with her. But no fear, I have plenty left for her sibs and to a lesser extent, a few others.
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Flower Show And Eye

Yesterday: Philadelphia Flower Show with Barb H., her sister, Pat, and Susan.  Got to Bob's about 8:00 and left on buses a half hour later, arriving some time after 9:00.  It didn't open until 10:00, so we went across the street to Reading Terminal Market for crepe breakfasts.
Show was very impressive, as ever.  This year the theme was "Articulture" with lots of tie-ins to art and flowers.  Beautiful displays, scads of people, and roughly six hours of walking non-stop.  We had lunch at the market, too, looked around there and got on the bus to arrive back at Bob's Garden Center at 5:00.
Happily, the streets and our driveways were clear--it was worth my life to get in Barb's car when we stated off--and I had time to freshen up, return a few calls, and get read for rehearsal at the H.'s in the woods.
Brittany, their daughter, who plays Hedda was there, Jim and Mary being still in California.  She had put wood in the wood-burning stoves, but unfortunately, smoke had somehow escaped and practically filled the room where we rehearse.  In addition, it was so damn cold--surely 60, if not less--that we all kept our coats on.
We had been called for act 3 and 4, but act 3 took so long, it was 9:30 before it was over.  I'm in act 4 and we stayed to run over that, but I had no hesitation in reminding Tara (assistant director, but in truth, director) I had to leave to get my other eye done at 6:30 am the next morning.  We ran over it quickly,but I still didn't get home until well after I'm usually asleep; stayed up for popcorn and iced tea, and didn't get to bed until after 11:00.
However, my friend got here, I was up and dressed in time, I got the eye done, and now I'm back.  There's still a long regime of eye drops and, of course, the eye isn't fully operational yet, but I think it's going to to great.

Snow And Justice

And the snow came down and down...
Not sure how much we actually got, but I'd say more than four inches.  It was windy, too, so there were lots of drifts.   Susan and I walked anyway, as it was crunchy, not slippery, but our umbrellas kept blowing inside out and the snow was the icy, stinging type, so we cut it short.
Other than that, I was in all day, a rarity for me.  Talked to Betty five or six times, plus Jeanne P., plus the eye doctor's office, plus brother Frank, plus Frank Next Door, plus Susan, Barbara, and my friend up north.  Frank N.D. said Desi's plane from Florida had been cancelled, so he won't be in until today.
Rehearsal was cancelled for last night.  We'll have it tonight at the Community Center if Frank can get the key; otherwise out in the woods at the H.'s.
The high point of the day was a Skype visit with adorable K., now high-steppin'--in a manner of speaking--all around his baby mat.  Maybe it's more accurate to call it "high rumpin'," as he kind of maneuvers himself around with a combination of rolling legs and throwing arms.  He's so bright, curious, and active, he seems to his Nana just the quintessential almost-six-month-old.  
JUSTICE: Just as I was going to bed last night, I heard scraping sounds and discovered that two men were clearing Frank's front walk and porch; they then moved on to mine.
They were from the service, Meticulous, of course, but this was after nine at night, for heaven's sake, and it was so damn cold.  You can talk all you want about inequities and how so few have so much and others so little and about following Jesus and helping the poor, but to be confronted with it--!  How is it that I was snug and warm in my attractive, much-too-big-for-one-person, home with my possessions (and so many of them!  Things I don't even need!) around me, about to climb into a comfortable bed and looking forward to the Philadelphia Flower Show today--and these other people were shoveling my walk in the dark and the cold?
I'm not religious, but I'm human and I know it can't be right.  It can't.