I celebrated my birthday on Thursday but yesterday was the actual date. I spent it doing nothing special and that was by design. I took it easy, though not as easy as I’m spending today.
It was Friday so the day started with an expedition to Harrison to see my therapist. It was beastly hot but I still walked to the MetroNorth station. As I didn’t leave time to put on sunblock I had to walk extra quickly. As I left the house I got a call from my sister Sue. I didn’t hear the phone ring and missed it. I’ll have to call her back today.
I spend half my travel time to and from therapy waiting. My train gets to Harrison at 1:50, my appointment is at 2:45. Five minutes of that is used on the bus ride, the rest waiting for the bus and for my session to start. On the way home most days my bus arrives right after the train leaves and then I have to wait 25 minutes for the next train. I spend the day waiting.
It’s not always a waste of time. Yesterday while in the waiting room Alison called to wish me a happy birthday. She just got back from Shetland and the Isle of Skye. The high temperature while she was there was 58°. This sweltering heat is a shock to her system.
I had an excellent session with my therapist. She made a card for me during the session. I don’t think most therapists do that. We dealt with my issues and with my birthday celebration. I just realized that I never got around to something that bothered me. That’s fine, it means I that I dealt with it myself. That is the goal.
I had great luck coming home. I think they changed the train schedule by a few minutes and instead of just missing the train I just made it. I got home a half hour earlier than usual. I once again chose to walk in the heat rather than take a bus or subway or combination. It helped that I knew I could reward myself with an ice-creamed coffee when I got home. I have this great Turkey Hill Tripolitan ice cream. It’s billed as dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and chocolate. I don’t quite know what chocolate without the prefix means. I do know that it’s one of the very best ice creams you can get in the supermarket. A birthday present to myself.
When I got home I saw that I had a message on my phone, Katherine had called just as I got off the train. It bothers me that I heard nothing when both Sue and Katherine called. I called Katherine back and we ended up talking for more than an hour. I never talk on the phone, I love talking on the phone, so talking both Alison and Katherine the same day was great. Katherine and I talked about a project we are working on and shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. On why the sea is boiling hot and whether pigs have wings. Those are the best conversations. When I’m finished writing this I’m calling Sue. I hope she can talk.
I planned on making barbecued ribs for dinner but couldn’t bear the thought of lighting an oven. My birthday dinner was peanut butter on a toasted bagel. That is not settling, there are few meals I enjoy more. I had peanut butter on matzoh brei for breakfast. Peanut butter is my ultimate comfort food. For dessert I had two of the cupcakes that Katherine had given me the night before. I finished those off today. My late-night snack was watermelon. Is there anything better on a hot day, well other than ice-creamed coffee?
As I was home I got to watch Agents of Shield as it was broadcast. That show is underappreciated. It’s one of the best and one of the weirdest science-fiction shows ever.
It ended up being a great birthday though I did nothing that is usually considered a celebratory. I ate food that I loved, what TV that I loved, and spoke to people that I love. Dayanu!
The Mets put a damper on things by losing in extra innings. I didn’t watch the great game as the only room I can watch it in has no AC. I was happy that de Grom pitched magnificently. You take what you can get.
I have no idea what I’ll write about tomorrow as I’m doing nothing today. Like god on the seventh day I rested. I can’t believe how much I slept today. Now to call Sue then work on Budgiedome business.
Wise Madness 