Halloween has come and gone and for the first time in years, I did not participate. Ed took me to an appointment with my internist’s nurse practitioner yesterday morning. She is very good. She took blood and a urine sample, and I got yet another chest x-ray because, she said, the tests in the hospital were done before my flu-like won’t-go-away symptoms started, which was after I got home. I will know soon if there is an infection that can be treated.

We stopped at Bob Evans and I got us two hamburgers and we ate those at home, and I spent most of the rest of the day lying down. I think I did play the piano (that is therapeutic).

Around 7 p.m., I stepped outside to see what was doing. Absolutely no children came to knock for candy. Our neighbors, who usually decorate in a big way, didn't do much this year. They sat, uncostumed, in their driveway with some candy and next door, Gary and his son, Brad, did the same, and there were no kids. There is a curve in the road a few houses down and most of the action takes place down there. Very few lights point the way to our area and it doesn’t look inviting. Last year, our neighbors spread the word and we got more action. I was thinking it’s just as well I didn’t dress up – felt lousy anyway – it would have been for nothing. In years past, I’d bike down to the big road, white cape flying in the wind, and was always well received. It’s a great costume. But no energy for that this year. Also, the people who drive to our little enclave with their kids because it is so protected, then mindlessly chat away with other adults, and totally ignore their toddlers who wander into the middle of the road on their own. Even a careful driver doing 15 miles an hour might have trouble seeing your kid, and a ton of slow-moving car will smash the kid just as flat as if it hit him doing 50. And no one makes room for bikers, so it’s tricky for me too.

I was happy to see Maggie (yellow lab) and Gus (springer spaniel) who were dressed as Batman and Superman, and seemed to enjoy it. Gus was out for the first time in a couple of months because he had been recuperating from an injured leg. He gave me his doggy smile and was happy to get his ears scratched. They are a treat.

Ed up really early this morning to do some services for a woman who is suffering a terminal illness. She has made him her trustee and he will oversee her care. He got this case through her lawyer, whom he met during his volunteer ombudsman work. It’s in line with his new venture as a guardian and that will be official after he takes the state exam in January. After that, the court assigns cases, both paid and pro bono. The woman is being difficult and I reminded Ed that her brain tumors are probably responsible for at least some of that and that he shouldn’t take anything personally.

xx, Teal