Day 17.

Day Eleven.

Today was pretty good. Mia slept over. She played with the trains in the morning. We went to Granny's to make pizzelles and ring cookies.

Day Ten.

Today I fixed the dishwasher and went shopping with Mom at Kohls and raked the leaves. Talked to Silvia. Peter is not doing well. Very depressed. He cannot take the chemo currently because of his kidneys. We are about to go to Granny's. I have a good feeling. Mom is fixing up some wreaths. We are bringing one to Granny's for her door. Also some wine. Got a Christmas card from Ray Ray today. Z called and wanted a ride from Ridgewood to NY. It is funny how we don't really "choose" our friends. Relationships just happen with certain people, and if they happen long enough and intensely enough, we call those people friends. But did I "choose" them? As if from a line-up?

 

Day Nine.

Yesterday I went to Philly with Mom to meet the fire inspector. Then went to post office to mail eBay things, thrift store with Mom to shop, etc., dinner at Granny's, watched Bishop's Wife at night, then to Steve's at night to make Hot Buttered Rum and watch The Happening. Today I took Granny to the hand doctor in the morning, then Mom to her treatment, then we all went Christmas shopping, etc.

Day Seven.

Today I built a gingerbread house with Luke at his school.

Day Six, December 17, 2013.

Today I went with Peter again to Penn. They just took a blood test and told him he has to see the kidney doctor again tomorrow morning at 9am. No treatment. Then I ate at Pasta Pomodoro with Mom and went to mindfulness afterward. Mindfulness was wonderful. At night I watched Home Alone II.

Day 5 - December 16, 2013.

Well. Today is day 5 of 31 days. This morning I watched some of the Typical Day video. Cleaned up around the house, listed some things on eBay, watched the guys build the porch. Talked to Silvia, went for a run. She bought the plane ticket. Sitting at Granny's now. We have eaten here every night since I arrived home. Mom seems to be in pretty good spirits. Peter has mental problems. He has not been going to work, and when he does, it is only for a couple hours. I think I have to go with him again tomorrow to chemo. His toilet has been clogged for the past few days, but today he bought enzymes to try to de-clog it. The train has stopped working. I need to fix that. Also I made yogurt yesterday and ate some this morning. It was not as bad as I imagined. But I haven't yet made any Christmas goods. I would like to make pizzelles and also custard. I would also like to Watch The Bishop's Wife, as per R's advice. It is interesting that this Christmas is different from recents ones in that there is more attention paid to each day, each moment, each meal shared together--distinctly more savoring. Below please find pictures and also a video called Steve Gets a Present.

 

Day Three, Dec. 14, 2013. (Saturday)

Today I woke up earlier than Mom and turned on the coffee and read Charles Bowden in bed. It snowed later in the day, a dusting, and I drove Mom to work and then to Granny's for lunch. Then I went back to the shop, got a haircut, and picked up Mom. We came back home and I went for a run and she a walk but on the way home we both walked together. I fell asleep on the couch. Went to Granny's for dinner. Peter stayed home and ate Manna food. He bought cheesecake from McMillian's, which we brought to Granny's. He ate an eclair for lunch. He is sitting across from me now watching an old time movie. The nuts came in the mail. It is still early in the break, still the sense of great things to come. Things beginning. Only Day #3. There is the sense that this could be the last break, the last time for this kind of feeling. The sense that next year could be radically different. My mother's brown bathrobe. Asking about presents. Peter drinking only bottled water and not going to work.

Day Two.

Well. Not the best day of my life. Sat with Peter all day in the cancer ward. He was pretty dehydrated. Came home and ate dinner at Granny's. Conked out fast asleep just after dinner. Haven't taken a shower in three days. Not sure why.

Day #1 - Dec. 12, 2013

Arrived last night via Spirit Airlines. Peter and Mom picked me up at Terminal A at 8:15. Peter was not feeling well but still made the trip--nauseous from the chemo. This morning I fixed the freezer, did my grading, went through the mail, talked to Mom about miscellaneous stuff, told her about problem students, etc. Mom and Granny are going to some Christmas lunch at the senior center. Peter is upstairs lying down. It is not even 11am yet. Thinking about all I would like to do this break:

1. baking (pizzelles, mostaccioli, pies, custard, etc.)
2. listen to It's a Dean Martin Christmas, featuring Dean Martin
3. Brucemas with beer flights at Steve's and Diehard II -- maybe go to Bethlehem
4. make some hot buttered rum
5. set up the train tracks
6. go to the mall to see Christmas decorations
7. watch Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase, It's a Wonderful Life, Bishop's Wife, Christmas Story, Srooged, etc.
8. look at the decorations in Collingswood