Sadness

Doing the right thing with “items of no significance” from my late aunt’s estate has been a major focus this week.  First, there was washing whatever needed washing.  Next came the listing of items going to nonprofits: pen refills, 20; swim goggles nose-piece replacement kit, 1; shoehorns, 4; and so on.  Then came the delivering. … Continue reading Sadness

Raucous Ruckus

     There are three birdbaths in the back yard, and we hadn’t seen much action at any of them this summer.  That changed Tuesday afternoon, when the big one with the Water Wiggler suddenly became the place to be.  It was robin versus starling out there.  Also, starling versus starling and, apparently, starling versus birdbath. … Continue reading Raucous Ruckus

Death of a Grande Dame

My aunt died this week.  She and her three sons and two daughters-in-law had gathered for birthday-eve dinner at the yacht club.  They’d been having a lovely time until it became clear Aunt Norah was becoming unwell.  There followed the Heimlich manoeuver, CPR, paramedics, ambulance, ER, ICU, the EEG that offered no hope at all,… Continue reading Death of a Grande Dame

Jack and the Art Fair

     Our nephew, Jack, and his husband, B.J., spent some time with us last week.  They came for the art fair.      Each July, barring a pre-vaccination pandemic, about 400,000 people come to Ann Arbor for the art fair.  As the population of the town itself is under 120,000 souls, this represents a major infusion… Continue reading Jack and the Art Fair

Normal People, Weird Food

Janice and I were celebrating the freedom of having been vaccinated by going somewhere together in the same car.  Our destination was the Container Store, which both of us thought would be fascinating, and it was.  Even more fascinating was something Janice said when looking at a small, two-section food container.  “I’d put carrots in… Continue reading Normal People, Weird Food