Long Time, No Write

Hmm…. I haven’t blogged in a few days. I’ll try to reconstruct from memory what I’ve done.

Thursday I had Ember. She was more in balance with her life than not. It’s easier for both of us when she’s agreeable. We took a field trip to the grocery store. Em is so funny about sitting in the grocery cart. She insists on being buckled in, and woe is me if the buckle is broken. I needed a few things for Friday’s dinner with Jeannie and Jim, and enjoy talking to Ember about what I’m buying. She recognizes a lot of veggies and fruits and asked to taste each one. Ha!

Since she was so agreeable, we went to the Stride Rite store where I bought her a pair of sneakers. I made the exercise easier – for Ember hates to have her feet measured and be touched by a stranger -- by telling her there was a surprise for her in “this store.” The surprise was a box of animal crackers, which I knew would keep her mind occupied enough to ease her distress. She still wasn’t happy with the procedure, but getting into the small box of cookies was more important than protesting.

Friday was a busy day. I cleaned and prepared for dinner. I hate to cook, but I like to organize and had everything ready by 4ish, when Jeannie and Jim got here. Dinner was very good and we had a good time.

Saturday, I met Barbara in Saugerties. She had picture of her Florida vacation; lovely pictures of Florida’s gulf coast. As always, we talked and talked and swore we wouldn’t wait so long to meet again.

And today is Sunday. I drove to Schenectady to pick up Cara for lunch and shopping. I haven’t seen her since just before Christmas. It’s not like I haven’t tried, though, but she sometimes doesn’t return my calls and around her birthday, she had to cancel at the last minute. We had a good time. She threw herself at me and cried saying how much she misses me. Cara isn’t someone who cries easily so I was very touched. I feel so privileged to have been her Big Sister since December 2001. She was almost 9 years old and now is over 16. I have high hopes that she will avoid the pitfalls that run in her family. So far, so good.

Gas prices – On Saturday in town: Sunoco was $4.099; Cumberland was $4.079; Stewart’s was $4.099. Sunday, on the way out of town to see Cara, Sunoco was $4.119

Exercise – I’ve been doing about 3 miles a day worth of steps. Some of it is actual walking for the sake of the exercise. Some of it are steps taken during the course of living my day.

Today’s weather – Today is just wonderful!!! It is a perfect day. Temp is 74 degrees. It’s been sunny and warm since waking. A great Sunday for Memorial Day weekend.


Life changes – Cara was a tiny almost-9-year-old when she and I were matched by Big Brothers Big Sisters in December 2001. She was shy and quiet but very composed. She had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 18 months prior , and a disease like that seems to make children grow up quickly. She is now over 16 years old and still as sweet as she was when I met her. I am so lucky to have been her Big Sister over the past 7-1/2 years, and I expect to be in her life in some manner for as long as I live.