Some write to remember; some write to forget:

 When I first met Dave, back in 1966, he was a seasoned driver. He'd grown up in Kingston and went to graduate school there, and he and his family frequently drove to and within New York City. He'd driven across the country, twice back and forth to California, to Canada, and even to Mexico. His jobs mostly included driving, to various cities and locations. But the first time his destination was from his home in Albany to Valley Falls, he got lost. When he finally arrived, he said he thought he was driving to East Jesus.  

Blankets and Bars

 I used to think I had too many grab bars in the bathroom, but no longer think so.  It is true that, starting with none at all, and unfortunately adding 7, the number is now 4, all of which are put to use. 

I used to think I had too many fleece throws and blankets, but not any more. We started out with only one, the Beiderlack "Deer Blanket" which we all used to compete for, until the kids  each got one of their own.  But now I have many more, and pile them on almost every night. 

The Beat Goes On---Cardiology-wise

 Now there are protests against both hospitals, I guess. I didn't realize cardiologists could be held hostage. The chant could be, "Non-compete--You Should Retreat!"  But with law firms available for both sides, wouldn't  you think all parties should know what they're getting into. 

Dream

 I am in a large building that  is filled with books. I think of it as a library, but it is a bookstore. I see  someone I know and ask how long do they think it would take to read every one of those books. Then I decide that it would take a lifetime just to take each book from the shelf and  put it back. I wonder whose job it would be to do that.

As I walk by, I see a magazine on the edge of a table. I pick it up. The title is *(intriguing, but now it escapes me), but then I look again and the title reads Better Homes and Gardens, so I return it to where it was . 

  There is a film strip or stream of buildings and towns playing against one of the walls. Looking at it, I ask if that is my old house I recognize  and Dave answers yes it is. I look closer, catch a glimpse, but the film strip is moving too fast, showing other cities, Watervliet and such.

I  meet with Travis, who I am to help with his school work. He is holding  an assignment sheet and a  dictionary in his hands. He has been  a very good student academically, but seems reluctant to work on this assignment. I help him define  several of the assigned words, using the dictioary as a prompt, as the assignment required. But for some reason, he is perplexed by one of the words; that word is "redo" and I search the dictionary and it is not to be found, so I tell him that re means again and just say  it means to do again. Admittedly poorly defined, but he wants to be done with it for the day. He packs the assignment away, with 2 words left, says he'll finish later. 

I go outside and talk with his sister Tiffanie and a very wiry young girl who aspires to be  a professional athlete. She wants me to compete with her in a show of strength, but I good-naturedly decline. She is content to just show her strength. 

 We look over at the winding path to the building and Dave is climbing the slope along with a young boy, engaging with him in light conversation as they climb the approach. They are passed by a handsome young runner, who zooms by.

* The main reason for writing this blog entry is that all night long I was haunted by the title of the magazine I'd picked up in the bookstore, and as I began to write, the title wafted away, presumably lost forever.

  

Confirmation 1924

 HermanThomas Schroder, Jr.   February 24, 1924  Confirmation

Grocery Store "Amnesia"

 I won't use the other a-word, too predictable. 

  I don't keep a grocery list. Now I just replace the regular items as needed. But about 3 weeks ago, I noticed one item was almost depleted, so I added it to my mental shopping list. But when I got back from grocery shopping, I realized I had forgotten to buy it, so I wrote it on a slip of paper near my phone.  A few days later, I noticed another item was also running low, not a regular purchase, so I wrote  that on the piece of paper with the first item, noting that both items started with the letter c. When I arrived home after the next shopping trip, I realized I had bought the second item, but again had forgotten the first. 

  I was at the store yesterday and knew I had to get that forgotten item, the one beginning with the letter c which was on the slip of paper on the counter, and it was not the Clorox. I could not remember what that item was. It started with c, was not routinely used, and I could recall that it was packaged in a box, in multiple servings but I could not remember what It was. I walked down each aisle in the store, thinking I could spot it, but that was fruitless. The first thing I did when I got home was to look at that piece of paper with the several-times-unpurchased item. A rectangular package, seasonable usage, multiple sections:  Of course, it was c****. How could I have not been able to recall that!

The Cardio Offense (or maybe Defense)

Ellis Hospital just announced that 22 cardiologists are leaving St. Peter's to join Ellis Hospital practice. Rather heartbreaking, when you think about it.