Sunday, December 5, 2021

Sunday, December 5, 2021 

Tonight's picture was taken on December 21, 2008. That day a former graduate student of mine, Carrie, came over to visit with her wonderful poodle, Jax. Mattie was having a race with Jax. He wanted to know which one of them could move faster.... Mattie in his wheelchair with Peter driving, or Jax running.  As you can see Jax made sure Mattie won! When I look at this photo, I of course miss Mattie, but I also miss my commons area in DC. Sure I have a much bigger property now, but this commons area in Washington, DC holds memories. Memories that do travel with me, but it's not the same as being there. 

Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins. 

• Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 49,085,361
• Number of people who died from the virus: 788,363

I feel like a chicken running around without my head. I am not sure what I am doing first. Caregiving, managing caregivers, dealing with administrative issues, or packing. No words can describe my day, and it is challenging managing this alone. Especially since I just finished a big move out of Washington, DC in August. Back to back moving, house renovations, and now this have worn me down. But there is no time to stop, and there won't be any time in the foreseeable future. Like when I was caring for Mattie in the hospital, the body and mind in a way go in over drive, and it is amazing when pushed what you can accomplish. But I do know this has long term consequences, as I found out after Mattie died. since now I have a medical specialist for practically every problem under the sun. 

While my dad's caregiver was here, I packed up more rooms. My goal was to clean out and pack every drawer and closet in the house. Amazingly I can say I did this. Keep in mind that the house my parents are renting is 3,600 square feet. So I am not packing up a small house. I describe this as trying to scoop up the ocean. Just when I think I have made progress, I turn around and see so much more to do. 

Though I am very busy, I am not blind to the fact that I too am saying good-bye to California. I won't be coming back here any time soon, and yet this area also holds a piece of my history. As I went to high school here. This is just yet another loss in my life. 

Our family friends, Phyllis and John took us out to lunch today, to the famous Smoke House located in Burbank, CA. This restaurant is iconic and has been around since 1946. We literally can go to two restaurants with my dad. For two reasons, he needs to sit close to a bathroom, and we need a bathroom that has a private room so I can go in and assist him. My dad refuses to go into the ladies room with me so I can help him, so we really are limited in what and where we can go. 

The restaurant has a photographer who came around to snap photos. Typically we say no, but today was a special day to celebrate Phyllis' birthday and a chance to say good-bye to friends. It was very touching that our friends wanted to take us out. 

I have known John since I was 14 years old. He is practically part of our family, as he would join us every Friday night when I was in high school to go out for pizza. These are friends we share history with and aren't replaceable. So happy we captured this moment in time. 

The movers come tomorrow morning at 8am to begin packing the breakables in our home. Tonight I am packing up luggage, so that we can stay at a hotel for the next three nights. I figured it made no sense with all this chaos to stay in the house. So I am headed to pack my dad's luggage as he can no longer mentally do this, much less remember that tomorrow we are going to stay at a hotel.