Today was mostly concentrated on one file.
Then I took on the task of Hospitality Riders for Ed Fest. And then I came home and ate perogies and puzzled and watched 1997 Fools Rush In with Matthew Perry and Selma Hayek and it was not horrible.
My garden thriving in spite of water and my computer made me smile today
The final night of Summer Sounds went very well. There was a good turn out of folks in spite of the cooler weather and the performers were well received. I had fun emceeing as I sported my Ed Fest t-shirt and talked it up as much as possible.
First up was Velle and Kootenay Soul. She brought some of her band and hired two brass players from Brass Monkeys. It is always fun to see Randy and Shinobu arrive at the park.
The middle performer was a real treat. Tyrel Hawke is an ICU nurse from Fort Steele who won the 2014 Kootenay’s Best Singer competition. He has concentrated on his career and it is so great to see him perform. I had forgotten that he and Ashlée were very close in high school and that he was also in A Midsummer Night’s Dream when she played Puck and I flew here to see it and surprise her on closing night. She came down specifically to see him perform and was moved to tears by a song he wrote about his family dynamics. It was great to see them reunite and share the love. He does have a killer voice.
I gathered all the money and paid the vendors for the volunteer coupons and then stuck around to help with the fence takedown tonight. I wanted to thank everyone for being part of another special summer experience.
But, I am glad this was the last one!
The Super Blue Moon is mostly hidden by cloud cover but it is trying to reflect through.
Today was mostly spent in anticipation of taking Missy to get her stitches out. I left work an hour ahead of her appointment to give myself time to corral her. She wasn’t too hard to wrap in a towel and put in a box but I had to weigh it down with my floor mat to stop her popping her head out. Apparently it went well to clean up her scabs and remove the stitches but it left some open wound which means 5 more days inside and in her cone. I feel bad as I promised her today would be the day. She is annoyed with me ut we shall overcome. Have to ensure she doesn’t get infected or lick at it.
The rest of my day, between paid moments was spent printing up my binders for MusicFest. I received a few email to change shifts and had to be firm that I had done my best to accommodate and this is what was expected. People don’t realize how much I have to Tetris the schedule to make it work. I understand they are ‘just’ volunteers but after all the hours I put in, so am I. It was a touchdown moment to get all the binders ready, two for each stage and know I only have the lock-up ones to complete. This is early for me and I am grateful
I hung out with Tracey on her deck late this evening. She always grounds me well. I look forward to no alarm tomorrow morning, Mic drop.
Emmy was so excited yesterday to play April Fools on her Dad and cousins that she had a list of things she could do. I woke up and set my bed like I was in it and went into the closet to get her Dad to tell her to come wake me. We had a good laugh when I startled her from the closet. She made a Kick Me sign and stuck it on her Dad. We made cupcakes to celebrate her birthday with her cousins and for me to take for my friend Galen’s birthday at poker tonight. After that Bill, Deanne, and the two international students came and helped move a sideboard to Mom’s that was her aunts and will hold the things she needs to access easily as her overhead cupboards are high. I then went to the hospital to see if she had been transferred yet and was told no but after I paid for parking and went up to the third floor it seems she already had been. I went to the Green Home to find I have to have a Covid test within 48 hours of visiting so they did one and I was finally able to see her in her new space. She has a private room and bath with a nice window to look out at and a nice sized flatscreen TV. She was sitting in a wheelchair when I got there, watching curling. She needed a little cheering up and it was nice that when they came around with snacks we were able to have a coffee and cookie together as we laughed that she got a room with a stripper pole. I have a list of clothes to pick up for her and bring tomorrow as she can wear normal ones now which is nice for her to start feeling on the mend. She will have physio 5 days a week and I was there to help complete the paperwork and history for her with the nurse. I feel she will get the care she needs there and it will be good for her. Next it was to the Guedes house for a visit and to celebrate Emmy turning 6 on Wednesday. I left and went for a much needed pedicure before returning for a lovely ham dinner with the family. Sawyer came to stay over with Emmy at my place. I helped get them settled and then headed to my poker game. I just left, having been the 7th one left at the table. It was a nice night and Galen liked his cupcakes and I sent some home with him for his wife and daughter. I am very tired and hope to catch up a little tonight as it will be a busy week coming up.
Good Morning, I have just had almost 12 hours sleep and am having a bit of breakfast before getting ready for the office. Funny, I would have chosen to stay home today but I didn’t bring my laptop.
So yesterday…
The first sadness was learning that Gordon isn’t responding well to the chemo, that he had to be taken by ambulance and is getting rehydrated with his lovely Rhonda by his side. Fuck Pancreatic Cancer
The first shock was learning of an unconfirmed report that George died some time in the last two weeks. He was the janitor in the space I work and because of my late hours we shared many a conversation, an occasional meal and many good street meets since he stopped working there. I considered him a friend and it hits closer to home as he was a year younger than I am, a fact of which he often reminded me. I hope to learn more. Fuck whatever took him
I was feeling grateful that the the last of the T4s that I am directly responsible for are done and was working on VIMF email when the news came that Thom had passed peacefully that afternoon. I knew it was coming, was somewhat prepared but in the end, was broken. There is a special relationship that can result from being in a play together. The roles he and I played in The Tin Woman by Sean Grennan brought us together as grieving parents. We both fell into the roles and bonded as friends during it. I am so sad for Eleanor, their daughters and grandkids. I will miss our Santa. Fuck aggressive glioblastoma
I found myself having an anxiety attack, that I needed to FaceTime with my other ill friend just to see his face and know he is still doing ok. I did and he is and that was somewhat comforting. Fuck whatever it is causing his problems.
The only relief from it all was going to be sleep so I poured a hot THC bathbombed bath, ate a wee special cookie from a friend, put on Wakanda Forever and tried to relax. Seems I did, as I only made it half way through the movie (which I will have to watch again) before I was out and into bed. It wasn’t even 9 pm and I was glad to have turned off my ringer. I awoke momentarily at 11:30, usual bed time, and then my alarm was going off. I even snoozed it and ultimately slept almost 12 hours. I feel better over all. Grief is tough. For me, I can deeply miss those I don’t see very often, the most as there is always the expectation of running into them, of reconnecting. Instead there is a void created. As I pointed out to a friend, it would be easy to avoid if I didn’t make these connections in the first place… but what a sad life that would be.
Fuck it all, I’ll take the grief, as it is proof of love.
My neighbour and I went to the matinee of The Whale today. It is a stunning portrayal of so many deep subjects. I found myself completely engrossed in the intensely honest performances of a very tough subject. We are a result of the trauma that occurs in our lives. It touched me deeply and made me revisit some places I avoid. The damage caused by many organized religions in the name of God, the breakdown of relationships, the coping mechanisms we turn to.. the pain of parents divorcing, the strength of true bonds.. all heart wrenchingly touched on. I highly recommend this movie.
After a short mall shop, we returned home where I finished my laundry and began a new puzzle that Rae had given me.
It was then time to head to Key City to volunteer for my old friend Barb Phillip’s show Lost Marbles: Diary of a Breakdown. We knew each other at a very dramatic time of our lives in the early 90’s when we were both seekers at a Born Again Christian church. Our last children were born the same year and I did not remember the Psychosis, the mental break she suffered as I was dealing with my own struggles with depression and bullying in the name of God. Listening to her tonight touched my heart. She gives voice to the silence, the shame of mental illness. I am so glad I was there tonight, and am proud of us both for who we are and where we are in our lives now. I envy that she has had her husband Kevin by her side over 36 years now, an ever present strength for her.
I feel the need to feel the feels, to allow myself to know that the things that were stirred up today are well earned, will once again be put back in the box of memories and that they made me strong and caring. The sun will rise and fall again tomorrow. I will go on.
This morning started out great as I watched That 90s Show while I was on the treadmill. I enjoyed all the cameos but my favourite moment was seeing ‘Fez’ on the car I had 20 years later. The show is just good fun.
I got to the office and buckled down to answer all my email, take care of some volunteer work and then tackle a tough payroll. I completed it and then heard from the owner that he had not entered all the hours. I had to recall it and start again. Fortunately I had done all the pre work so it only took another half hour. It was frustrating though as I had much else to do. The rest of the day went as planned, work wise. The next sad news was about the event I was supposed to host and emcee tomorrow night. It turns out the band that was to come from out of town had a member test positive with Covid and the decision had to be made to postpone the event. There were many email flying back and forth between Board members but it was finally agreed to try to reschedule rather than give the event goers less than they deserve. I did work on creating an event on Facebook for my show which will go live next Monday. I am getting excited about announcing it!
Finally got home an made my last Hello Fresh of the week as I skipped this next week. It was so good I forgot to take a pretty picture but have one of the lunch for tomorrow.
I played on my iPad as I watched my shows and am going to puzzle a bit before going to bed. I have to decide if I have the energy left to cover some upcoming shifts at Arby’s tomorrow and Saturday. Friday and Saturday are both Hockey game nights, and I work Thursday and Sunday lunch shifts. It will all depend how much I get done the next couple days. I am frustrated by two clients not bringing me their info yet… should this poor planning be my emergency or stress, sigh.
Today I was frustrated by other people’s actions or lack of action. I had intended to work my way through three ‘bonus’ files that I was begged to assist on but not one of them had supplied the complete info I needed to do so. I got everything else done and finally decided I didn’t need to start anything more. Diane had reached out last night to offer me a bag of Raspberry fruit wine she was given that she didn’t love. I stopped there after work and ended up having a lovely evening reminiscent of our early covid days together. We had dinner and drinks and three games of crib which Sean won of course. I only got skunked once at least and it made my heart happy to spend time with them again.
It was windy and cool today, winter is coming….
It is 10:21 pm and I am finally home. So much happened today! In no particular order: Found out Roger’s Dad, Ryon will not be with us long and the family should come, so his sister is on the way from the States. Ashlée had to go to the hospital with serious breathing issues after having no voice for the last couple days and tested positive for Covid-19. I had been around Rae-Anne the last couple days and Ash lives in her home, so I raced home and took a test and then went to Arby’s and aided a couple people to test. So far, no more positives so that is a relief. They are already struggling for help and should more have been positive, they may have had to close temporarily. It was Cindy’s birthday today so I went to Hot Shots and got her a special coffee, got my last passport stamp and stopped at the Cranbrook Visitors centre to pick up my enamel mug. I love it! Dealt with a ton of things at the office before heading to the dentist for my cleaning. He also topically froze the end of my tongue and removed the odd growth. He said it was similar to a skin tag and snipped it off. It feels so good to have it gone since it appeared the first week of August. Another couple hours of work and I was off to a client to work on his prior year file for him so he can get caught up. He nicely provided pizza and I stayed to nearly 10 with promises to return as soon as possible. One of the highlights of the day was getting a call from HealthLink letting me know that I was on their list for openings for a family Dr. She let me know how to get Mom on the list as well. The other highlight was watching the NASA Dart as it neared and hit an asteroid. It was the test mission for protecting earth should it be necessary in the future. Once all he info is in we will hear if it moved it at all. The big excitement at the office space today was the arrival of the big Laser something or other. I was too busy to find out exactly what it is but it was certainly making the boys happy.
Today, there was a BBQ at the workplace, much payroll to run, files to finish and tours to take. I picked up Mom for a 1 pm tour of Joseph Creek Seniors living. We went to the wrong entrance where Mom had her first Covid test ever! We passed, as she put it, and walked over to the independent living building where Rosie was waiting. We were given a tour of the facility including two available suites, a studio and a one bedroom. The studio was far too small and the other was wonderful as it was on the top floor relatively near the laundry and elevator, but you could hear neither. The menu for dinner was very enticing. I think Mom was very overwhelmed but I also think she is warming to the idea of moving here and she liked that apartment. It is $3250 per month including so many things. She would have to pay her cell and internet and buy groceries for breakfast and lunch only. Everything else is included. I hope she comes to the decision to take it. We have a tour tomorrow of Kootenay Street Village which is new by comparison and has underground parking which impresses her. It also has a waiting list and higher cost but we will go see it for comparison.
After, we stopped at Arby’s to see the girls and Roger also happened to stop in. I carried on back to work. Once I was done what I could handle today, I came home and made us dinner. We then watched the Finale and Results of America’s Got Talent and the performers I loved from the beginning won. Now we are watching a documentary about Queen Elizabeth II for an hour before heading to bed.
It was girl guide cookie day and we enjoyed some for dessert. Mint are my favourite.
I can’t even believe that I found out Mom has never seen E.T.!! Of course as soon as we were both home from the day, we had to watch it. She is really loving it. I have forgotten most of it and am still impressed. It is timeless. So far there was only one little PC incorrect thing, the rest of it is amazing. For something made in 1982, it is timeless.
Tonight was the last night of me being officially on the Board of CCT. I now am trusted to still have keys, be the General Contractor for the final projects in the President’s absence for the next 3 months and will continue to do the books and make payments with signing authority. It really is the best for both worlds.
I sold my brand new BBQ to the GroundFloor and it is being picked up in the morning. First major step in my downsizing, working my way to the UK!
This morning I stopped and picked up my Bucks season tickets. First game is already on Saturday night, can it really be that summer is over?!
Tonight, after the AGM, I took my moment with Bud. RIP dear soul.
Emmy woke up at 7 and we had a nice day until it was time to brush her teeth and she got cheeky and then a toy broke and then she had a full on meltdown and locked herself in the bathroom until her Mom get here. I was barely holding on to my temper. Once Malcolm and Danika and Gwen arrived she did calm down and ended up even laughing. I truly think it was a panic attack based on the broken toy. Danika and I have messaged about it and we are working out ways to talk her through these moments.
I was tired out after she left! Mom and I watched Thirteen Lives about the soccer team trapped in a cave in Thailand. It was directed by Ron Howard and really good. After that we went outside and mom read her book while I cleaned up the deer damage and cleared out one of my flowers beds. The hollyhocks have thousands of seeds. I will have to watch for where they sprout up. My guts were very unhappy with me. I am not used to white bread anymore and ate too much of it yesterday. It started to warm up outside and I was worn out so we came in and watched Outbreak Onboard about the Ruby Princess cruise ship that brought Covid19 to Australia and New Zealand. It was an interesting hour long documentary. Shameful the way it was all handled. Next was dinner and the newest Elvis movie. That one was for mom although I enjoyed it as well and Tom Hanks is really something as Colonel Tom Parker. Tonight I shall sleep deeply and be ready for the week ahead.
Sawyer slept well, we got up and had breakfast, I made a coffee and we piled up the pillows against my headboard and watched a sweet movie called Oddball. It is a true story and I do love those. Definitely a family movie for all ages. We played a lot of Wii Fit, and Super Mario Bros before making some food and then watching another movie about dogs, but this one had Golden Retriever puppies and was a little bit lame but the dogs were cute. It was called Golden Winter and I think Sawyer liked it. We had a lot of good talks and got outside a bit as well. He tells some tall tales but also tells me the things he does that he shouldn’t and says I am the best Nana ever. It was nice to have him. Once he left I made some dinner and am planning to change the filters on my water softener, clean the fish bowl and put away some laundry.
Three years ago today was my first full day in the UK. The Hearndens took me to Brighton so I could put my feet in the English Channel . We played on the pier, had the top down on the car and explored lovely shops. I even made it to my first official Dr. Martens store. It truly was the beginning of things changing in my mind, that I am more suited to a vagabond life. Not a hundred percent, I think I need at least a base to store my treasures (Fluevogs) but I want to see more of the planet and if I could manifest Peru for my 50th I think British Isles for my 60th is looking promising. From the greater London area one can go in so many directions reasonably inexpensively and definitely in a short time compared to the need for a couple weeks minimum if one is to go to Europe from Canada on vacation. There is a part of me that wants to drive on the other side of the road, get a Triumph tattoo, and live simply. I was thinking a furnished flat but really, bringing personal items and scouring rummage sales and thrift stores, throwing in a new mattress… feels like taking back my youth and rediscovering my own style, not just the one I have ended up with. The dream continues. Next there shall be lists and I shall make do with what I have and start selling that which I have not used enough. I plan to sell off my whole pool set up as I did a lot of work to maintain it and it has only been used twice. I asked bear if he would be interested in a good deal for it all if they come and take it away. It is a good depth for the number and age of the kids. I am to let him know what I want for it. I have to be careful as I tend to feel empathy and practically give things away. I should check if he has any carpentry skills and maybe trade him for some labour around the property… hmmmm.
I am doing this early as I want to chill and go to bed early. This is the most of my day unless something extraordinary is still to come that I am unaware of.
I was amused by waking to man items in my bathroom. One was left behind last week and one is Sheldons who is currently staying here. I admit that man reminders are lovely. If only a handsome single man of my dating range would show up! These younger men and I are having amazing depths of conversation, they are sexy as can be and yet… my position as hostess and my age, likely seen by them as beyond keeps me in Uber control. It is funny how many of the men show up indoors barely dressed. One came out of the shower only in his towel, another shows up shoe and shirtless, hot as fuck. I had a good laugh when a friend said that was an invitation. I just think it is more likely that two things come into play. They see me as too old to be a prospect and the age range has total body acceptance, therefore lack of clothing is not a signal for anything but sun screen.
I had a pretty good day, got a lot done, paid and unpaid. The plan was to go kayaking with a group, following friends out to Lazy Lake. The plan was also to meet Shannon and Teri at the Blind Pig for wings and a bevie first. I was having a great time finally getting time to hang with the ladies and having a good time so I decided to skip the kayaking. That was a good plan as I got home to have a great visit with Sheldon and make a plan for him to potentially stay here through to December as he is a pipe fitter on a local project. He would stay in the trailer as long as is weather comfortable and then I would give him a monthly rate to use the den. I think I could handle that with some adjustments to my routine. He is out for work before my alarm so that helps, it would mostly be my nighttime routine… may have to use earbuds to fall asleep to the TV or podcasts. We shall see.
I had to text Mary Lynne, my friend on Salt Spring as years ago four girlfriends went to see Nearly Neil at Artspring on Island. The memory of Annie reaching into her purse during the intermission and pulling out her home phone made me literally laugh out loud. Those were such good times when I had a woman posse.
I had a terrible toss and turn night that culminated in a nightmare that had me stressed out at 5:30 am. I haven’t had one like that in a long time, one that left me shaken. I even tried to yell in the dream, to stop them from touching my bike and wanting to wake up at the same time. I struggled to fall back asleep and finally decided to get up and on with the day. It was a good choice as I was at the office an hour early after spending over an hour on the treadmill watching the final episode of Inventing Anna. That Shonda Rhimes, she sure makes quirky character magic.
The day was irksome at moments and I was likely curt a few times but got my jobs done. I decided to whip home at 5 to make dinner and I did enjoy it but forgot to take a good after picture. My leftovers are going to make a great lunch tomorrow.
Next on the list was a board meeting to mostly discuss our plans for Peak Music Festival, the Friday night and Saturday of the September long weekend. I have a good sized task list for the next couple days but was thrilled when it was agreed I am to be the Emcee for the event. I will also fill other jobs where needed to help make it a success. It is nice to have something important and fun to look forward to. I am glad I finally spoke up that I would love to as I may have been holding back too much at first. I do love our little group of humans that put this music in the park on all summer. Now, I hope we get the volunteers to lighten the load!
I couldn’t resist taking photos of all the colour variations in my Hollyhocks, so beautiful!!
I slept well and long enough, awoke to accomplish some chores in the house and then headed outside to deal with my nasty pool. I haven’t been maintaining it properly and on top of it, little miss Emmy came down with hand foot and mouth disease and she was in it last weekend. I left it covered and intended to get chemicals and deal with it sooner but by the time I opened it up this afternoon, it was pretty green, sigh. I had bought a kit yesterday to shock it so I followed the directions and have to wait 48 hours to see how it worked. I seriously hope I don’t have to refill it, such a waste of water. I will perhaps have a greener lawn though, so that would be an advantage.
I slept through the cool part of the day so didn’t get the lawn mowed, again. I had tried to start my weed eater last time I was doing lawn maintenance but it wouldn’t run. I need to trim the lawn edges more than mow but it will have to wait for another day. My roses have recovered from the deer attacking them and I am still getting a few raspberries daily which is a blessing.
Through late afternoon and evening I took down one of the ceiling swag curtains in the trailer and put the beautiful piece of material I picked up at Fabricland. I then spent the rest of the time making two new curtains out of it for the side windows as they got some mildew stains I can’t get out. I haven’t sewn in a while but it was very enjoyable. They are not fully finished on all edges but I have a guest for the whole week so I had to get them finished ‘enough’ and hang them.
I made a Hello Fresh meal for the first in a long time, California Style Fish Tacos and it was so great in the texture and taste department. I will see how well that transfers to my lunch tomorrow, though.
While I was doing all the indoor things today I watched the limited series on Netflix, Inventing Anna. It do is something that would be completely unbelievable if it wasn’t true.
I tried to sleep in this morning but found myself up at a decent time and working my way through some chores. I decided to get myself prettied up in a sun dress and head into the office to finish my data entry and reporting for Tuesday’s FPPAS board meeting. I intermittently dropped things off at the park and accomplished many chores, picking up prescriptions, purchasing chemicals for my pool as poor Emmy was in it last and came down with Hand, Foot and Mouth disease (from others, not the pool), and shopping for a punching bag to hang on the stand I was able to get for free from an acquaintance.
Once I got myself settled at Rotary Park, I learned the stage manager preferred me to MC. I admit, I really love doing it. Over the years I have been blessed to do so in front of 10s of thousands of folks at EXPo 86 and many other moments. It is a different kind of performance, more like stand up and it is more awkward as the audience is at quite a distance but I really do love it and am honoured that our team has that faith in me. It is also fun to do the announcements with Maureen as our banter back and forth works well.
I knew it was my official night off and that I could mostly hang out so I had messaged my friend Steph and asked her to join me. We had a great night of chat and encouraging each other in our life goals etc. We acknowledge each other’s ethics and desires for the good and full life we desire. It is good to have a top tier friend like her. At 59 and 45 it is wonderful to find such connection.
I came home and have been watching Amazing Race Canada which has been nearly local in Fernie and Sparwood. So fun to watch.
I ask your forgiveness for dropping out of sight. It has been nearly a month since my last missive! I have been processing this whole ‘what is my story and what is not’ and decided I just need to catch up and carry on. I will do a separate entry eventually to record the hot spots of what has gone on previously but decided that the stress of that was keeping me from my daily. So, here I am.
I was motivated to share tonight by a lovely young couple staying in my Airbnb. Oriana and Lucas were super cute and friendly. I was prepared by saying goodnight and goodbye as I will not be setting an alarm before they are likely to leave in the morning. As it happened I was engrossed watching Clickbait when Lucas came in for a shower and in a random conversation as he was heading out we connected that Oriana also grew up in a houseboat in Queensborough. He ran out to get her and we discovered so many connections including him going to theatre school at Uvic and her working here at Fort Steele in the past! We ended up having a great visit and it reminds me why I do this Airbnb thing; not for the money, but for the relationships.
Meanwhile IRL, today was not easy, but I adore that an onsite assist client stepped out and brought me an Ice Cap, asked if he could book me for his year end and compliments me big time about my abilities. It makes what I do feel meaningful, especially when I feel left out of the clique back at the office.
Rae texted me for a ‘red chair in the yard’ visit which I always wish for more of and we had a good catch up before she had to go back to work to help close due to a sick employee. It was great to get her perspective on what has been going on for me and hear all about her work vacation to Ottawa and Montreal. I miss our long conversations when I would be driving to a job and she had her own shop and time to talk,
I believe I am back for a while now. It is hard to know what is my story to tell and what is just the reaction to others stories but I know that I have obsessed about not doing this. Each night the thoughts rush through my brain on a loop because I have not ‘penned’ them here. I believe it is good for my mental health, so I shall continue.
Goodnight, my friends, I have missed you.
OH yeah, beware blueberries, I turned my smoothie into pudding this morning. I had to use a spoon rather than drink it, lol
My bed set-up worked great and I was baked out around 8. My stomach does not agree with me today, unfortunately but I have enjoyed lingering and meeting with Doug to go over all the stages. Unfortunately we have already had two artists and a techie have to drop out due to Covid tests. I feel bad for the guy who came from England, only to be found positive in Vancouver. I hope he had a negative one and can still make it but it is not looking promising.
Ashlée and KC arrived, set up their tent and went for coffee and distilled water for me as I didn’t get the make out this morning. It has tried to rain a little but the sun is out again and the breeze so hopefully that bad weather will move along.
The day was a bit discombobulating as things are behind where I am used to at this stage. It is a lessen in patience and understanding. As more familiar faces arrived it became more real, that we are going to make this happen. I spent time with Doug going through all the schedules and ensuring I knew of any things out of the ordinary. It is one of my favourite times as I am filled in by him on who each person is in the music world. His knowledge of artists and their place in this universe is outstanding. I took time to rest and ready, was grateful for a hot shower and began preparing my mind for the speech I had to give as a coordinator at the volunteer meeting. Not long before that I was standing beside Doug who was sitting at the picnic table and he mentioned he really wasn’t feeling well and it felt like his heart. His son and I took him to First Aid being careful not to alert any one, especially his wife who was very busy at the time. They recommended he go to the hospital so I got my daughter to get the car and we took him up to the parking area where she picked him up and off they went. It was a large and fearful burden to keep the secret. My comfort was that Ash was with him and would stay as long as necessary. I walked over to where the meeting was and met Cresslynn on the way so made the decision to tell her as she and his wife are very close. I got up on stage, did my introduction and waited until it was time to have a crew meeting and orient those who had attended. While under way, Ash walked up and my brain erased momentarily. After the meeting I found out that she had called Doug’s daughter and his wife was soon on her way to the hospital. He is fine and I don’t know all the details but it was so good to see him come back and be able to carry on.
I was standing chatting with Clay, the owner of the sound company that attends the main stage when he mentioned he really wanted a coffee so I grabbed my maker and headed to his trailer. One good cup of Peruvian coffee and he was a happy camper. I sat for a while enjoying a piece of pizza and a visit before heading back to my camp. I love sitting here listening to the banter of the site crew in their party living room campsite. I shall tuck in and get some sleep as tomorrow promises to be a long busy day.
triumphgal 