Despite my classical life setback, I am feeling good because my increased medication for hypothyroidism is doing me a lot of good.

Ed and I picked up my friend, Asako, and her son, Francesco, at the airport Monday night. He’s had internal bleeding and came off the airplane totally blind but after a day here, the condition is abating and he was able to see the water. I am thrilled for him. He is a terrific guy, good natured, and intelligent. He operates his iPhone without error, something I can’t do at all, sighted or not. He navigates around his high school without help. He was determined to function without a guide so made every effort to learn the layout.

Asako brought me a couple of DVDs – Metropolitan opera performances in which she is an extra. She appears in several operas a year. She also works as a dresser for American Ballet Theater, helping the dancers with their costumes and making repairs since, she said, ABT’s wardrobe is old and needs a lot of work. She also brought, bless her heart, a pound of corned beef from Zabar's on upper Broadway. Oh I love her.

Asako filled me in on old friends and I got the E mail address for Josu, a marvelous pianist who used to play for our ballet class. He lives in Madrid now and plays for a Spanish company. He is tall, craggy faced, very mysterioso. Before he was married, he was quite the blade. When new young and attractive dancers would join our class, he would go into his “brooding Basque” persona and oh so casually launch into the Rachmaninoff 2nd piano concerto, fiery, passionate and oh so complex. I had trouble keeping a straight face. She also brought me some of his CDs. Maybe I can get him and his wife to come visit too.

This Thursday, I must leave them for a day to go to Tampa for pre-op tests. (My date with the surgeon is now May 2.) A friend, Valerie, will pick them up in the morning and take them to the Tropic Star, a small cruise ship that will leave from Jug Creek and sail to Cabbage Key where they will have lunch. I am so happy Francesco has gained enough sight to maybe see a dolphin (they follow the boat).

On Wednesday, Sue-tailor-lady’s son and daughter will come after school. They are eager to meet Francesco. They’ll hang by the pool. Sue will come when she closes the shop at 4, and I will make dinner. Yes, I can do that. The menu will be baked, boneless chicken breasts, broccoli, potatoes and a Greek salad. Dessert will be Klondike ice cream sandwiches. I, however, will have a Fignewton.

It’s all working out.

xx, Teal