there is no such thing as a normal day

Really, when was the last time that I had one? A day without any pivots or abrupt turns? 

As I get nearer to the move, I think less about it. Why? Well, because one way or another, I will get myself where I have to be this Wednesday. There's no turning back (nor do I want to turn back). Will I be ready? Oh, well, is anybody ever really fully ready for anything?

It's a little warmer today, but still below freezing. Henry is in a good mood and you know what they say -- if your pup is happy, you're happy! (That is what they say, right?) 

I have a mini breakfast while he waits for me.

I should have nothing at all because I am going out for breakfast with my two friends, but this would greatly disturb my dog, I'm sure of it. And, too, an early coffee and some morning fruit are essentials that I do not easily give up.

I drop Henry off at doggie day care, still in the swanky new loaner car (which he loves, I can tell!), and then I head downtown to the home of one of the two women with whom I do regular breakfasts.

As always, the food is special and especially good. We eat as if we haven't eaten for days!

 

 

 

 

 

Our hostess has knitted little red caps for us. Decorative items, greatly appreciated. It happens to match the theme and colors of my shirt. 

I learn so much from these two friends! They are just a bit older than me and they lead downtown lives, filling their schedules with events and classes that I did not even know existed. I'm fascinated by them! Body alignments! Kado -- or Zen and the art of flower arranging. (Did you know that arranging just three flowers can take hours?) Arthritis treatments. Pros and cons of burial and cremation! I've not given much thought to any of this. They are like a catalogue of possibilities!

I leave around noon, driving now to give up my loaner car and take back my dirty old Blue Moon. And I get a message telling me that Goose has an eye infection and needs to go home ASAP. Well, both parents are teaching so I offer to do the pick ups. Four pickups today! First, Sparrow.

Then Goose.

Then Snowdrop.

Then Henry. 

In the evening, I turn on the pre-show for the Winter Olympics. 

(Henry gets comfortable...)

 

Some of the competition is underway even before the official start of the Games. I like it all. And just so you know, Wisconsin sent more than a dozen competitors, including much of the women's hokey team and the leading speed skater Jordan Stolz, who started skating in his back yard at the age of five. A real cute video is floating out there where he is first learning to skate on a frozen pond. I suppose his childhood fits the image you might have of a Wisconsinite: likes pizza, loves to fish and hunt moose with his family (on vacation in Alaska -- we do not have moose in Wisconsin). And the hockey team? Four of them are currently students at the University of Wisconsin and two are alumnae, including Hilary Knight who is considered the best hockey player of them all. 

I'm not tribal in my watching of the Games. Meaning I dont watch holding my breath and hoping for big wins for just Americans. Yes, Ilia Malinin, the top male figure skater is American. Yes, Lindsey Vonn, the world's best downhill racer, also American, takes my breath away with her age defying speed. We have the leading dancing pair and we have the figure skating Alysa Liu who is also expected to medal (did you know her birth was the result of a donor egg implantation in a surrogate mother? ... medical technology is so amazing!). Yes, of course, I'm delighted to see Wisconsin so beautifully represented, and I'm in awe of the American winter athletes. I watch the Olympics for them, but also for all winners from all countries. I love to see people succeed at what they set out to do. I can almost feel their joy. I appreciate their dedication.

Did I pack at all today? I did not. Am I worried? As I said at the outset -- I'm not thinking about it that much. I'll process later. Maybe in the middle of the night, or maybe (best of all!) not at all!

with so much love...