Day 1: After Age 60 Survivor for 60 Days

Maureen arrived in London and I got an early call while I was still in bed that she had made it. It was a family call and that part is private.

Now, for the diary entry.

I watched my grandsons eat their breakfast with Maureen stationed between them. She could only feed one at a time, so she fed “Quill” while Mary fed “Gene”. The boys have an active hand, reaching to assist the “feeder” in keeping the mashed morsels flowing smoothly. As precise and Mother and Grandmother might take aim, somehow, food ends up all over the place. When the serving bowls are empty, the boys lick the bowls clean. Watching that made me hungry.

I went downstairs and made 2 cups of coffee. When you are accustomed to make coffee for two people and must cut it down to size, that is something different. Making pancakes for 1 person is also different. I will be having more pancakes tomorrow since I have sufficient batter.

Anyway, I tended to chores here in “Big Empty”. I get mad at myself for making unnecessary messes. My challenge is to navigate minimally and to avoid creating disturbances that require cleaning up.

In a week, contractors are arriving to replace all windows and the patio door. Talk about a disturbance. I have to remove all of the indoor blinds before that happens. Good grief, I don’t even know how to do that. Maureen tried to show me, and I get the idea, however, performing that everywhere will take a lot of work.

I did some editing this morning, getting my book ready to Simon & Schuster. I have 4 days before I muse upload the book. Yikes.

I promise that I will hike 4 miles a day at a minimum, so I marched off this morning to accomplish that. It was a little chilly, but no rain.

I had lunch, a sandwich, and then took a nap between 12:30 and 1:30 pm. After that, it was back to editing with time out for a Hangout call to see how Maureen was doing. She still had not had any rest. Boy, she is going to be jet-lagged.

I edited some more before preparing chicken that will last a couple of days. Cooking for one daily should be easy-peasy. Tomorrow, I will make Spanish chicken soup.

I want to make liver someday because Maureen will not eat that. I have to see my doctor this Wednesday, so I don’t want to do anything too strangely to upset my system as everything is operating smoothly.

Life for a deaf person is very quiet. Life without my wife is even quieter. I wear my hearing device all of the time to have some noise, but I truly miss a healthy supply of instructional guidance. I find myself talking in Maureen’s direction even though she isn’t here.

It is "sibling day" and my brother is coming soon to visit.

Tim and Jim

Tim, Jim and Mom