Ed and I went to Clare’s house for Thanksgiving. She is a friend Ed made when he was an ombudsman for the elderly and Clare was the head of the program for south Florida. The only other guest was her son, who has schizophrenia and is on medication. He is doing fine and is a good cook and companion when he is on his meds.

Clare’s house is in a remote part of Fort Myers at the end of a long road in a gated, woodsy cul de sac. Across the road is the Calusahatchee, the big river emptying into the Gulf. She used to also own another house located across the compound on the river. She had to sell it after she was widowed. The area is really lovely, secluded and cozy. We always have a good time with them – lots of conversation and I supply the politically incorrect badinage.

Today we took a friend of ours, Pat, to lunch at the Tarpon Lodge, a special treat for her. She and her sister are sharing caregiving for their 99-year-old mother. She runs home to her place to take care of her cats, and runs back. She has to use a cane and is not in the best of health. We wanted to cheer her up. She has stayed at our place caring for our kitties when we have had to be away overnight.

Ed had wanted to go to BJ’s after lunch, but forgot about it and so did I.

My “silent” problem that affects my back and stomach is slowly getting better. I am taking Prilosec for it and I think it is helping. For six weeks, I have felt like there was a stone in the middle of my back and have experienced a grinding hunger that remains even after I eat. But, the symptoms are indeed abating. Not a minute too soon.

I printed out a photo I had taken of Curt,my friend who died a couple of months ago. I took it to his widow, Kate, braving the reception I thought I might get from her son, Darrin, and d.i.l., with whom I had a bad set-to when I criticized Rush Lamebaugh. But all was well. The son’s eyes teared up when he saw the photo. Everything was cool and I was glad I did it. I had considered just leaving it in the mailbox. They are leaving at the end of the month to go to Indiana for good. Most of their relatives are there. Nothing to keep Kate in Florida and I think she will do better surrounded by family. They introduced me to the fellow who will be occupying their house. Every time I pass it, which I do daily as it is on the way to the big road off the island, I think of Curt and his sweet dog, Buster, a purebred cocker spaniel he had, who preceded him in death.

Lots of sadness around lately.

xx, Teal