Coversation After Visiting the Farmers' Market

...and before looking at Sadly, No!

"Did you feed the cat?"
"No! I suppose she told you so?"
"Yes, but I wasn't sure whether to believe it."

[And then later, while looking]

"So, I fed her. I gave her some wet, since even if she got some yesterday, she deserved some compensation for having to wait. Also, her water dish was dry, so I gave her some. But weren't you keeping a jug of water in the shed for watering her? I didn't find that."
"Yes, but lately I've been keeping it in the back hall."
"Oh, I saw that, yes."

//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Value the small things."\\

So Many Ways

There are so many ways for a human brain to go wrong. It's actually kind of remarkable that most of us are more or less fully functional.

My father has suffered a stroke which impairs his memory. Not sure if it's authentic anterograde amnesia, but something close. Also, he tends to lose track of where in his lifetime he is, constantly worrying about high school or graduate school issues, or about finishing his doctoral dissertation.

Constantly worrying -- he seems to have a positive need to worry about something.

One of my children is schizophrenic. He hears voices. He doesn't obey them, but some of the things he does to silence them get him into trouble.

I'm suffering from symptoms of stress, myself. So is my wife. Funniest thing. But I am trying to assess it as just one more psychological issue to address, rather than wallow in it.

Just got to hang in there, keep on trucking, never give up.

I don't see any other option available, anyway.

//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Life Goes On."\\

Someone At The Door

Kathe and I saw someone on our porch the other day. We were pleased, because although the "front porch book sale" has never been a hot performer, it's been extrememly inactive lately.

The person turned out to have lived in Corvallis years ago, to have passed our house often though she'd never met the people who lived there. This is fairly common, actually -- in fact, when Kathe's daughter Becca first invited me over, one of the first things I said was, "Oh, you live here!"

In fact, this person had once spent a rainy homeless night dozing under our cedar tree where it overhung the sidewalk.

She'd gotten into town the night before and been obliged to walk the streets all night.

Naturally, we offered to let her sleep here.

It's good to have someone else in the house, even for a little while. This place is obviously made for more than just two people.


//The Magic Eight-Ball Says, "When opportunity knocks, invite it in."\\

Somewhat Like Old Times

We met someone the other day. She had arrived in town the night before and had no place to stay, so we invited her to sleep in the upstairs room where various kids had lived over the years (although we most often call it "the boys' room").

It felt good to offer space in the house to someone. It's a big house, and clearly its proper nature is to be home to more than just two people.

Blue Shirt

I bought some new shirts so that I would look more respectable while working for the Census.

I especially like the bright blue one.

A brilliant sky blue, like Superman's. And I always need a little Superman in me, and especially just now.

Having an excuse to buy that shirt is worth the hassle I have gone through to get a Census job, and lose it, and wind up with a different one.

The money is nice, too.

//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Enjoy what you find, even if it isn't what you sought."\\

I Liked Doing Census Work

It was interesting, challenging, an opportunity to try new things.

I knew it wouldn't last very long, but I have just learned that in my case, it is already time to end it.

Oh, well.

//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Forward."\\

Dances With Wolves

I took a break from running my Census crew (and I was really, really worn out) to finally* watch Dances With Wolves with Kathe.

Did me a world of good, I'll tell you.

Yes, after a day that really wore me down, I felt a lot better after watching a powerful, beautiful, uplifting film. And eating good food. And rubbing Kathe's feet.

Shortly, when Kathe gets out of the tub, I will go have a soak and go to bed.

Bet that will do me some good, too.

* Yes, "finally", as in, "I never did it before".

//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Love yourself; get outside yourself and take action. Focus on the solution; be at peace."\\