Let me hasten to say THANK YOU for you opinions about what my friend should do about her parents. Your input was very useful. Paula, with whom I remain in daily contact, appreciated "our" idea not to deal with a move for them this visit. They've discussed it for several years, always with a lot of opposition and conflict. In her (still) fragile state, Paula cannot handle that extra stress. She has one of those domineering, loud Fathers whose mere presence is difficult for her. Her Mother is an optimist and recovering well in a rehab center. Her folks, fortunately, have the means to install a stairway seat (What are they called? The motorized seats used to ride up and down?) and whatever other changes are necessary to their home.

Paula has progressed only inches but I felt reassured when she called today to say she was calling her physician. Apparently her doctor has wanted to put her on anti-depressants for awhile. Paula has multiple non-productive behaviors including a sort obsessive/compulsive repetition of the final moments and end of her kitty's life. Her thinking is like a record whose needle is stuck, repeating that traumatic scene endlessly. Although she knows to shout "Stop it!" to herself, there it is again. She still wants only to be with Lucy and is still angry at her husband. I feel sure her very compassionate doctor will listen carefully and determine what she needs. Paula has had these tendencies for the thirty years I've known her. I only hope medication will help balance her and give her (and her husband) release from her agony.

Being with former neighbor Louise's family was every bit as wonderful as I knew it would be. Her kids each offered eulogies which helped all of us know more about Louse and her past. She would have been proud of them. Three good human beings she raised. They reminded us that Louise had lost her own Father (gored by a bull) when she was ten years old. She was only 36 when her husband died. Then her daughter's husband died young (cancer). Ann, her daughter, spoke about her Mother as a liberated woman, a woman before her time. Not that Louise made their lives blissful.  She could be difficult and demanding.  Is that what makes a good Mom? 

To the very end of her life, they said, she continued reading and daily watched "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune", doing well with the answers. We should be so lucky at 91!

At last Tom and I finally got to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. We both thoroughly enjoyed it (ignoring the Hollywood ending).
Wonderful evolution of the characters adjusting (or not) to India and their new situations. Who could not be swelled with Life by the youthful enthusiasm and final triumph of the young owner and his dream. The British actors are top favorites of ours.

Sunday I immersed myself in clothes shopping for upcoming trips, an unsettling experience at this weight, and had no difficulty promptly starting my long-delayed diet afterward!

On Monday Willow and I returned to the river and tomorrow I take her home then return to leave from here on Saturday for the get-together with my college friends in the Wisconsin Dells.

In Cedar Falls it was a quiet, comfortable weekend, ideal for sitting on the porch with the cats. Monday they began tearing up our street to fix a sewer pipe damaged by a tree root. First this man operated the enormous concrete cutting machine.

This mammoth Caterpillar then scooped everything out. "If you experience sewage backing up in your basement, let us know." warned the city. Tom can't get over how deep they've dug.

Raccoons continue as the evening entertainment at the river. Here are the three babies, with the top one blocking the others.

Then came the surprise. Look what appeared!!

Number Four!

Play fighting ensued.

Ever curious, Mom had to come over to check out the cardboard box when I placed it near the door.

When Ms. Punctual did that Willow ran over to "attack" her at the window! Didn't bother her much.

One last baby face.

I am grateful for:
The wisdom of my OD friends
Your generosity of spirit
Your compassion

We're all in this LIFE together and we CAN help each other.

Thank You again.