There's going to be more neglect too. I really feel guilty for letting some of my memories just disappear because I don't take time to write them down, but there's a lot going on now, and I just don't feel like taking the time to write. I'll try to do the minimum though at the end of this week.
Lots of events happening:
1. Last day of school is Friday, I think. So much for my leisurely mornings! Emily and I still have to get together to make a calendar for the girls' activities. I'll do as much as I can, but I sure don't have as much energy as I did two years ago when I babysat all summer. I've gotten pretty spoiled, in other words. I like to do what I want to do when I want to do it. Luckily, spending time with the girls is one of the things I love. They are so used to spending time with just each other and learning to get along that they're easy to keep. I think they now prefer each other's company to mine, but they hardly ever turn down a trip to "Mimi's House." Katherine never!
I'm not sure what their activities will be. I know gymnastics continues for both and track for Graysen. Maybe soccer and basketball. We'll see what the library offers and check out plenty of books for sure. There are several neighborhood girls we can get together with now and lots of parks nearby. There are also lots of arts and crafts we haven't tried as well as a new Swirl yogurt place down the street.
2. Relaxing of masking and social distancing is coming but is not quite here yet. I noticed in the grocery store yesterday a lot of people without masks, but the majority are still wearing them. I'm so thankful that we were spared any illness that I don't mind wearing them a while longer just because the vaccines aren't 100%, and the ones not wearing masks are probably the ones not vaccinated.
It's quite special that we live in the state where the first case of Covid was found, and now Seattle (which we share a county with) is the first major city to reach 70% vaccinated. That doesn't mean everything is opening up though. I think another few weeks, and we'll be seeing more.
I'm not a person who actually minds this though. Noreen and I had a perfectly nice evening lately with masks worn only for the few seconds when we were being seated at an outdoor table. Otherwise, we walked to Mezzaluna Kitchen, and ate outside with only a few more families in our umbrella-shaded area. We shared a delicious pizza, thanks to Noreen's adventuresome choice: PUTTANESCA 16" $26.00 12" $20.00 8" $13.00 spicy marinara, artichoke hearts, red onions, kalamata and green olives, garlic, fresh basil, mozzarella cheese blend, feta and capers. So good. A little spicy at first but perfect once we got used to it. I'd like to try it again.
We did walk to the Dollar Tree, which has been around for 6 months or so, and we've never been there. We did wear masks, but since we were the only people there, it probably wouldn't have mattered. We ended up chatting with the manager and worker(s). This store was not a very popular choice to put in one half of the old IGA store (most everyone wanted a Trader Joe's) and I'm afraid it might not last long. We enjoyed it though, just wandering around and seeing all the crafty things and wrapping paper and stuff.
We told each other we would get ourselves out more often, but then the rain and cold came, and it's just now warming up enough to sit outside comfortably. The pool opened June 1st. It's heated, so we've been hearing a good bit of playing over there.
3. My last day of PT is tomorrow. I have mixed feelings about it. On my first visit on Christmas Eve and all the way through March, I just hated getting out and going, either being driven by someone or driving myself. It was always cold and/or rainy, it always hurt at some point, and I was many times just discouraged that I would ever get better. The positives now outweigh the negatives. I've grown so fond of Laura, and we do have a good time. She doesn't hurt me so much any more and always apologizes. I'm hearing more "Good job" than "Let's work on..." comments. It's a happy place with lots of laughter and people working hard, and sometimes I actually get a bonus visit from my daughter.
I'm getting better at driving too, I think, getting used to a different car and maneuvering that interstate where everyone drives 80 MPH. Almost everyone. I'm okay doing it now, but I don't see any sense in it. I leave in plenty of time to get there on time driving 70 or below and feel better about it. So it's not much of a problem to get out for a 40-minute appointment once a week, but I'm so thankful for being able to keep up the exercises at home. It's now all up to me how much strength I'll be able to get and maintain in that right arm. I also see Dr. Marshall, and he's already said I'm ready to be released from him. He did a wonderful job on this totally messed-up arm and can't promise anything but thinks I'll be okay. He did leave me with a beautiful scar, everyone says. I don't really have a comparison, so I'll take the compliment.
4. And the biggie: Moving to a new apartment is happening! Finally. I have 27 more days of these concrete stairs to torment me. I haven't officially visited the new place long enough to measure and think about it, but my newest best friend Tom was showing Ryan the garage this weekend and somehow all the ladies just had to take a peek. We love it. The old tenants have gone, and now Tom's work begins. There will be new paint, carpet, flooring, appliances - you name it - and most importantly an ice maker. I've lived here 5-1/2 years without an icemaker and didn't know I could have requested one. Now Tom teases me every time he sees me about it. He told Ryan and Emily that if I got new carpet I couldn't have the icemaker. He knows what's going to get a rise out of me.
The positives are no stairs, of course, and a front porch instead of a balcony. The porch is quite a bit bigger, and I can have spill-over of my plants where now I have to go up instead of out. Negative outside things: Almost no sunshine on that side, but I'll enjoy a cool summer. There are 3 scraggly boxwoods that I've already gotten permission to get rid of and plant rhododendrons or maybe just hostas. I'll be facing a sidewalk, so no more sitting outside in my pjs, but it will be nice to see people walking by.
Instead of a sliding glass door taking up one wall and 4 long windows, I'll have my windows up high and just an entry door. Not as much light but much more wall space, so it seems bigger. Since we have winter for 6 months anyway, it will be cozier. All the furniture I want to keep will fit the space.
Best of all, I will be able to come into my garage and go straight through the laundry room into the apartment. If we plan right, I might even get to park inside.
Ryan and Emily came over Saturday and carried around 25 packed boxes down to the garage to make moving day easier. I wish I could say that's a big portion, but unfortunately it's not. What is all this stuff? I can't believe I use it all. This is in addition to the 20 or so plastic bins stored in the garage already. I guess I'm going to have to beg for some more boxes. Emily got on a step stool and took down all the things too high for me to reach, and the girls have promised to crawl into my lower cabinets and retrieve stuff out of those corners. I told them I would pay them a dollar apiece, and they're pretty excited!
Just a few pictures to brighten up this dull entry.
Enjoying a surprise bag Aunt CeCe left for them.
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