Hey, hello again! Still here at Mom and Dad’s place in the lakefront community. I’m dreading tomorrow something fierce (4th of July) because it’s going to be “hotter than blue blazes” as my mom used to say, and because I am dreading the fireworks’ impact on the dogs!
I’ve been sleeping on the sofa in the living room the last two nights because the people shooting off their pre-4th fireworks can be heard the loudest in that guest bedroom where I had been staying. So Martini and I are sharing a sofa at night. No wonder my back is getting so fucked up! It’s soooorrrreeee!
In addition to the CBD drops and treats, I got Martini a thundershirt to help her with the loud noise stress. You know about these, right? A thundershirt essentially swaddles your pet to add gentle pressure that helps with anxiety. We tried it last night and it seemed to do a little something to help. She stopped shaking and was able to go to sleep, but the noises were actually not that bad at all. The true test will be tonight, and of course, the 4th itself.
We don’t have anything planned for the 4th of July celebrations. We might walk over to the nearby boat launch park in the neighborhood (why am I even saying “walk”…nobody over here can walk anymore - we might go) where they are having a little picnic thing. I guess hot dogs and other festive foods that I won’t eat, but I’d love to see who shows up.
The neighbors here are …different? Or maybe they’re not all that different from other places. On the one hand, I kinda like that they are watching out for each other. But on the other hand, is it weird that the lady who lives across the street behind the house called my parents and left a message saying “there’s a woman sitting on your back porch and walking around your back yard and I’m wondering if I should call the police?”
I was on the back porch AND walking around the back yard, but I was essentially surveying things and checking my messages (and Instagram) on my phone and walking and trying to get my steps! I don’t think it looked like I was casing the place, but maybe to her it did?
I’ve MET this woman before. She should know I’m the daughter. But I guess the last time I met her was in December and I was 25 lbs heavier than I am now? Do I look that different? Maybe I do!
The message was hilarious though. What a Gladys Kravitz!
Speaking of steps, did I tell you I made a friend on my morning dog walks? I take Martini to the city park in the early morning before it gets hot. There are a few people there when I get there. I met a 73-year-old stroke survivor one morning (she had a stroke in March), and we’ve decided to walk together on the mornings that we are there at the same time. Her name is Vicky.
I am so impressed with Vicky! She is determined to get back to full health and you’d NEVER know she had a stroke only a little over three months ago! She’s amazing! No limp, no tics…the only thing I can kinda see is that she lets her right arm drop when she walks instead of moving it normally like you do when you walk.
We’d been exchanging pleasantries when we’d pass each other and she’d pet my dog for a little bit. Every day we’d share a little more information with each other, and then maybe the fourth or fifth time we did that on our walks I told her about an article I’d just read that said that walking is the absolute best exercise you can do for your physical health, but that walking and TALKING with someone else is actually an even better way to prevent dementia and alzheimers.
And you know what? We both decided right then and there that when we see each other we’re gonna walk and talk together!
So that’s what we’ve been doing every day since then. I love it! It’s so cute. We couldn’t be more different, but I think she is such a darling woman and she lives in the independent retirement living complex right down the road and we are now friends. We exchanged phone numbers!
Gotta tell you about work stuff that’s been going on, but I need to close this entry now and finish up my emails for the day and then figure out our dinner for tonight.
Happy July 4th Eve, everyone!
GS
Loading comments...