October Musings

Another week has gone by……….and a leisurely weekend approaches. We have canceled out trip to eastern Washington wine country because the winery canceled the German wine and onion pie fest. As it turns out, it is not a good time for Rod and Karen to be away as his dad is in a coma and not expected to live but a few hours or days. He has been in failing health for the past year, and this comes as no surprise, but of course they need to be nearby.

Colleen is going out to dinner with girlfriends this evening to celebrate turning 40, and we had Craig, Cassie and Greta here for an early birthday dinner last night. It was Colleen’s favorite meal: pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, squash, broccoli, homemade bread, and apple crisp for dessert.

We spent last weekend with Craig and Cassie as well. Saturday afternoon we went to the Oktoberfest at the Puyallup Fair Grounds where there was German music, beer, and the worst schnitzel I have ever encountered. In an adjacent building was a Scandinavian Heritage festival, with lots of booths to browse.

Then on Sunday we joined C&C at the Mason County Fairgrounds in Shelton for the annual Oysterfest, which would have been fabulous had it not been raining cats and dogs. I felt sorry for all the organizations that had put so much effort into setting up booths with everything from food (oyster shooters, bacon-wrapped oysters, pie, chowder, etc. etc.) to sea life displays, wine tastings and musical entertainment. It ran for two days, so I hope the previous day was more lucrative for everyone.

Saturday night we attended an 80th birthday party for a lady with whom I used to play bridge. Her sister and brother-in-law, Jerry and Mary Ellen McKain who live a stone’s throw away, hosted the party and most attendees were family save the Kirkwoods. I had a good visit with Dick and Patty Quinn (Mary Ellen’s brother and wife). They lived in Spokane while brother Pat was ill, and Dick was a godsend through all of it.

I can’t believe how entangled we become with medical care. The more we try to tie up loose ends before we leave for the winter, the more convoluted it becomes. It seems like every step/appointment forward equates to two backward. A single follow-up appointment with my regular doctor resulted in some consultation/physical therapy to determine what if anything can be done for my aching back, so that will certainly take some time. And Ken has ongoing appointments between his regular doctor and oncologist. Getting old is not for the faint of heart.

It is very fall-like around here, and the trees are spectacular. We have had rain off and on with more predicted, but nothing we can’t live with. All in all quite mild and pleasant.

Ciao