Our mail is always annoyingly late, but yesterday it was worth waiting for. We got a wonderful packet from P. and N. which included a Frank Sinatra DVD for Pat, a picture of P. and me, a thank-you note for their visit of last month, and a little St. Patrick's Day card.
The last two were not the usual, store-bought items, welcome though those would be. The note was in the shape of a tee-shirt--beige, with a picture of a cougar on the front, exactly like the tee shirt we gave N. when she was here. And the card opened to show a tiny shamrock behind celluloid, crocheted by N. herself. What talent she has in so many ways and how lucky we are to have her in the family! Happily, they called on Skype last night and I was able to see and talk to them. They were leaving shortly to meet Mike, who's in Tokyo again on business.
In the same mail delivery, I received a manuscript written 28 years ago by my dear cousin, Judy. It's called "The Handicapped At Home, Revised for Medical Personnel" and sets out in detail the regime followed for her care.
Judy was paralyzed at the C-5,6 level in a car accident when she was in her early twenties. She was an only child and lived at home with her parents, my Uncle Frank and his wife, Aunt Claire. Probably due to the exquisite care she received from them, aides, and their legion of friends, Judy lived to be 55, predeceasing both of them.
Judy had a master's degree in medical technology and actually taught the subject at Hahneman Hospital in Philadelphia after the accident. She also wrote a textbook, a copy of which I treasure. I visited her as often as I could and we corresponded via e-mail. I loved her dearly. The manuscript is very professional--clear, succinct, and to the point, but here and there, a little of Judy's humor shines through and that's a joy.
Wider: From Anti-War.Com and TomDispatch, by Frieda Berrigan:
"At the end of February, another huge "stimulus" package was announced but generated almost no comment, controversy, or argument. The defense industry received its own special stimulus package – news of the dollars available for the Pentagon budget in 2010; and at nearly $700 billion (when all the bits and pieces are added in), it's almost as big as the Obama economic package and sure to be a lot less effective."
She goes on in meticulous detail to outline the almost-impossible-to- comprehend size and power of the war machine, as well as the sly propaganda about it. The only gripe I have about Berrigan is that, as all writers seem to do, she falls into the fallacy of referring to the death-dealers as "the defense industry." We must remember to apply the proper nomenclature: "the child-killers and death dealers." Has a ring to it, doesn't it?

Happily, I've climbed out of my slough of despond and feel much better. Virtuous me, I took my walk, but with the boys (Nat, Frank, The Platters), not Susan, following our regular route. Went to Kohl's and tried on a lot of stuff, but didn't buy a thing. Why? Because I don't need anything! It's a remarkable leap for me to realize that and act on it--rather, not act on it and leave the high-priced, mediocre goods on the shelves.
After I left, I got a call on the cell from B.J.'s, telling me my "reading glasses" were ready. These are the glasses the place is giving to placate me because it's now been more than a month since I ordered--and paid for--the regular ones, and they're still not in. Luckily, I was only a half mile away down Route 9 and went back to get them.
Well, I wasn't going to tell B.J. Optical this, but the change is really remarkable. I can actually SEE the computer screen and my book and magazine now, and see them clearly; I hadn't realized how outdated my former prescription is.
To top off my good day, my new office chair arrived, Pat was able to put it together, and I'm using it now.
Maybe the real reason for my good cheer is that on my walk, I saw yellow crocuses blooming. Now I know spring will come.
Wider: There's a remarkable--and chilling--essay at this site that purports the groundwork for fascism in the U.S. has already been laid:
http://www.rutherford.org/articles_db/commentary.asp?record_id=581

Woke up at an unheard-of late hour of 8:15, but I feel good. Slept long and deeply after a great time at the Wellspouse dinner. Threw caution and calorie-counting to the winds and over-indulged even when I got home (peanut butter and crackers and gumdrops), but once in a while, that's okay.
A. and I went to the bank to add her to our safety deposit box. A. had to show her driver's license and funnily, the woman who waited on us remarked on her "sign" and talked about how Sagittarians are a certain type and those born under Pisces another, and so on. When we left, I realized why bankers have screwed up so much: They believe in astrology.

Dr. Hottie came yesterday about 12:30. This was the first time he saw Pat out of bed, as he usually comes in the morning. Wouldn't you know, there's yet another problem: Pat has a small hernia (not in the groin, but the stomach area). However, Doc said it shouldn't be a problem unless Pat suddenly develops a sharp pain there; then I should call 911. What we thought was a growth on his eyelid, though, is gone, so it must have been a piece of fluff or something. Well, you win some and you lose some, I guess.
Shortly before Doc left, we were pleasantly surprised to have Old George stop in. I made him and Pat lunch, then left them to go to B.J.'s. I picked out a frame for the "reading" glasses they're going to give me free of charge. Ran into neighbors, the Ws. Nice people, but crepe-hangers. I don't need to be told--by implication and doleful expressions--how dismal my husband's future is; I already know that. And I sure as hell don't need to be on the receiving end of platitudes extolling my "courage" for taking care of him. Oh, well--they mean well, as the damning saying goes...
Tonight, I meet Vivian and we go to the Wellspouse dinner in Freehold--yay! You can be sure nobody's going to tell me how courageous I am or how God never gives us more than we can handle or how it's darkest before the dawn, or--aagh! Stop me before I spew more!
Wider: Speaking of doctors, Dr. Ron Paul has a thoughtful essay in Anti-War.Com entitled "Imagine An Occupied America." He illustrates what it would be like to have in the U.S.--say, a Chinese or Russian armed force, wrecking our cities and patrolling our streets. Here's a snippet:
"...why do so many Americans feel as if we have a right to a military presence in some 160 countries when we wouldn't stand for even one foreign base on our soil, for any reason? These are not embassies, mind you, these are military installations..."
Dr. Paul imagines that outraged Americans would fight back when they could--and would be called "insurgents" and "terrorists." Sound familiar?

Wider: I'm adding a separate entry after reading Chris Floyd's "Empire Burlesque." I've been puzzling for some time as to how we actually got into the war mess, foreign policy mess, and general messed-up state we're now in and, seemingly, can't get out of--all without the permission or compliance of the electorate. This explanation by Chris, of the "unholy alliances" prevailing in the world, pulled the scales off my eyes. It's brief and crystal clear and here's a taste:
"The high-living plutocrats and playboys of the Saudi ruling clan long ago made a deal with the obscurantist Wahhabi clerics of Arabia. The plutocratic playboys would get the religious cred needed to "justify" their repressive, corrupt rule, while the Wahhabis would see their narrow-minded zealotry protected and promoted by state -- and, in the last few decades, transformed into a global movement by the endless supply of petrodollars pouring into Saudi coffers from the West. As the Western-backed dictatorships and kleptocracies of Muslim lands increasingly failed to provide a decent life and basic freedoms for their peoples, the flood of Saudi oil money stepped in to fill the social and educational breach with Wahhabi schools, Wahhabi mosques, and Wahhabi doctrines. It is all very reminiscent of the deal struck between the old-line plutocrats of the Republican Party and the extremist Christian nationalists in the United States. The plutocrats get "God's" blessing -- and "God's" political shock troops and fundraising prowess - for their rapacious economic and militarist agenda, while the Christian nationalists get a slice of earthly power to help push and promote their own narrow-minded zealotry."
But it's essential to read in its entirety at:
http://www.chris-floyd.com/

Heavens! I didn't wake up until ten of 7, lazy slug-a-bed that I am, and had to rush to meet Susan for our walk. Now I'm back and I hope, will adjust to DST before the clocks turn back in the fall.
Pleasant day yesterday. Weather was overcast, but fabulously warm. After settling Pat, went to B.J.'s about 3:00. Got a few things and angrily confronted the optician about my missing glasses. It seems there was an error in the right lens and they had to be done over. Now it's been one day short of a month since I ordered them, and I'm finding it more and more difficult to see up close. What's infuriating is that they insist you pay up in full, up front. No wonder the damn economy is going down the tubes. If this is typical of B.J.'s, they have a lousy customer service attitude. I must say, however, that the woman I dealt with, Cheryl, was as apologetic, courteous, and sympathetic as she could be. It's the nameless, faceless powers-that-be who sit in their fancy boardrooms at their vast mahogany table and decide to screw the peons who pay their salaries.
(How do you really feel about B.J.'s, Rosemary?)
Anyhoo, aside from that, a nice enough day. Got new pictures of the adorable little girls in Singapore and a web call from my adorable little girl in California.
Wider: Alan Bock, at Anti-War.Com, writes about the touted "withdrawal" of American troops from Iraq, yet the vast numbers that will stay for the sake of "stability":
"It's incredibly patronizing and arrogant for U.S. officials to have the attitude that the guys who came in and wrecked the joint – the U.S. – and enhanced the regional power and potential dangerousness of the most militantly anti-American regime in the neighborhood – Iran – are the only thing that prevents a descent into chaos."
Yeah, so what else is new?

Yesterday was a roller-coaster day: Good, then bad, then worse, then better, finally a smooth ride.
It was another lovely warm day, with blue skies and the sun shining brightly. Went for our walk, then zipped up to Manahawkin for WW, and thought I'd start getting the garage cleaned up after breakfast.
But when Pat got up, we discovered he has some kind of growth on his eyelid. That may necessitate another visit to the dermatologist, then a plastic surgeon, then...well, who knows?
In addition, I had a terrific problem getting the dressing on his toe off. The stretch bandage was stuck to the gauze underneath, and that was stuck to the toenail the podiatrist had cut in half. It took scissors, a razor, soaking in salt water, and about 30 minutes to get it off. I then followed directions in wrapping it, soaking, then applying peroxide, and anti-biotic cream, with a band-aid. In the meantime, we were snarling at each other and I was about to call divorce lawyer. It was just a low ebb for both of us, I guess.
Later, things improved when A. and M. came, M. to add memory to my computer and A., as ever, to listen and suggest things that help. It's such a relief just to talk frankly with someone I love and whom I know loves me. Say what you will, there's nobody--no friend, no colleague, no confidante, as good to talk to when you're distressed, then a trusted member of your family.
Anyway, the dressing will be easy to apply now, today should be a relaxed day, and I've bounced back.