rDay Fifty

Despite considerable reluctance to be photographed, Kim and Ivi invite me along on a plant nursery shopping outing for succulents and cacti.

Kim heroically saved the day when an elderly woman drove over the leash of a dog and psychologically froze in place, unable to take action.  The leash was affixed to a truck at the side of a driveway but it was long enough to extend across the entire width, so of course the dog went to the opposite side of the road, when the hapless lady drove over the extended leash, trapped under her self-stalled car, with the dog unable to retreat.  But Kim calmed the dog and the woman in turn, unlatching the leash from the truck so that the latter’s car could pass over and leave.  The dog’s owner came upon the scene later.  Should have done video to document the proper sequence, but it was over in a couple of moments.

 

 

Dennis and Mt. Baldy

Younger (by 20 months) brother Dennis sends me this picture documenting some of his past weekend.

Mt Baldy 10He says:

I was in a group of five, four men and one woman.  That trail is steep–4,000 ft. elevation gain in 4-1/2 miles, and the last half mile or so is SERIOUSLY steep, the kind that has you gasping for air (I realize not everybody considers that fun) and the strong separating themselves from the weak.  The strong in this case being the woman, who beat all the macho men to the summit.  Although the oldest of the group, I managed to get there in 3rd place.  This is not to imply that competition was the whole point!

rDay Thirty-Four, Waiting

Waiting on the front steps to go shopping & seeing bees (?) in nearby flowers, waiting in the vehicle while the Prime Shopper grabs a bank withdrawal, waiting for the shopping to actually conclude.

Also waiting for healing.  Ivi sends me a note this morning to report progress in the restoration of the skin on the palm of her burned hand.  However, her enclosed photo documentation will have to await publishing permissions.

This Just In

Today was a momentous day for Ivi.  A couple of papers were due, the acceptance of her thesis was up in the air, she was to make a oral presentation of her thesis, she was to learn whether she would be accorded special honors status (she was one of six candidates), etc.

So her mother got a call from her mid-afternoon to find that Ivi had been undergoing emergency treatment for a cooking burn on her hand (seemingly a reprise of the nastiness of one year ago) and missed out on everything.  But she called to say that all was under control, she had consulted with her instructors, and was resting and was medicated.

Another call came in at dinner time, intercepted by her dad, to say that she had just learned — about two minutes prior — that she was receiving the honors designation.  And she is “resting comfortably” and will be taking it easy, at least tonight.

ivi and dad 1993or4 001

A Conversation With Ivi

This morning Ivi, by way of Google Hangouts, called. We learn that she has completed and submitted her thesis, plans an outing at the zoo next week, is sewing a new blue dress, received some jasmine tea that a friend brought back for her from a spring break trip to China,  is trying to line up guest dancer demos for her organization, is generally feeling great and rather stress-relieved.  And much more.   Lively as always …