It turned c-c-COLD after the rain fell

Along the waterfront selfie

I asked Steve if we would take a picture of us while we walked along Squalicum Harbor on Saturday morning. Our first walk since he returned from Hawaii to visit his mother for Christmas. His daughter Sara was also there, so they had a very nice time in warm tropical climes. Then they had to return to a very frigid, albeit sunny, Washington State.

We walked somewhere around five miles, my first good workout in at least a week, maybe more. It feels good to sit here in my favorite chair, having had such a good time in the cold, but feeling bad that I had forgotten my sunglasses and couldn't find my hat with a visor. Those were all serious drawbacks as I dealt with the incredible sunshine and frosty weather. It sure felt like winter, and I was glad that the rain has left us for awhile, but there could have been an in-between period. But no. In that picture taken in yesterday's weather, it isn't possible for you to see the wind, too, which obviously makes it seem colder. It was barely at the freezing mark, and the strong winds made it feel even colder. Brrr!

We have been relatively warm, considering that it is now winter. Our air temperature a couple of days ago was at least twenty degrees warmer than today's. We have turned a corner and will probably even get some snow here eventually. I was so glad we didn't have freezing sidewalks and roads in our neighborhood. I am still recovering from that icy fall last February. I sincerely hope I don't make that mistake again. I found my strap-on spikes and will not fail to use them if I decide to go out when it's slippery. The weather is always a good way to begin a post that I need to write, without any idea what to write about. It's my self-induced "job" to get something up here, even when nothing immediatcly comes to mind. I could remember previous moments when I was in this same mindset, or I could reminisce about days gone by. Or... I am in a quandary of my own making. Let's start with the good news.

SG has successfully been added to those available to use the Para-Transit bus. His situation has changed, now that he can arrange for the bus system to pick him up at home and take him to his doctor appointments. He starts the new treatment for his blood disorder on January 7th, with a monthly injection instead of daily pills. I read all about it and think it will probably be less difficult to deal with, but who knows with these strong and fairly new drugs? At least our insurance plan covers it.

His broken arm is not hurting him all the time, and he even did his own laundry yesterday, by making the basket into two loads and carefully navigating the stairs to the laundry room. He now has the ability to get to the orthopedic surgeon's office to get his elbow fixed. He's very resourceful and careful not to take another fall.

I am beginning to think that those eye injections helped slow down the progression of the geographic atrophy, since the last few months without them doesn't seem to have made a difference in my ability to see with my left eye's central vision. I thought by now I'd be unable to see well enough to write these posts, but I am still the same, or about the same, as when I stopped taking them. I simply couldn't afford the cost, not to mention the discomfort of getting them. So that's another bit of good news.

I'll talk to my sister Norma Jean on FaceTime on Wednesday and will find out how she's been since losing her fifteen-year-old dog last month. These furry companions just don't live long enough to keep from having to cope with such a loss every decade or so. On aggregate, though, our situation is on the upswing, both physically and mentally. At least we all still have our ability to think and use our brains. There are many people in their eighties who don't have that ability any longer. I might be reaching here to find things to be happy about, but hey, you do what you can to keep going when life gets hard, right?

I am also glad that we are almost through the holiday season. When you don't have family around, you rely on friends to make things interesting. My time with John, my time with Steve and other dear friends makes my world much brighter than it would otherwise be. And having my guy getting stronger every day, well, it makes every moment feel like a blessing. Today John will take me to our usual Sunday breakfast (I'm looking forward to it) and then come home to a warm, safe place during the cold and wind. I am content and filled with gladness that I am still here, still writing, still enjoying life. I hope you will be in the same situation, dear friends. Be well until we meet again next week.