September 15
How can it possibly be fifty years since high school graduation?
1986
Mom’s depression continues to get worse. She’s plagued by worries, guilt, and paranoia that simply won’t let go. Today she begins electroconvulsive therapy, which I hope has an effect. The doctor says 80-90% effective, and I want to believe that she’s on the 80-90% side, not the 10-20% side. Certainly the drug therapy isn’t working.
It is especially hard because I have no one to talk to about it. Jim gets upset, perhaps because he is so far away from his mother and she’s so much older (15 years). He’s has been real good about taking over at home, spending more time with Kiddo, etc. But emotional support…sometimes I wonder how deeply that’s buried.
1997
That was a great weekend. Friday night we (Jim, Kiddo 1 and I) went to see “The Full Monty”, which was excellent. Saturday I attended Religious Education Orientation at church. Kiddo and I went to a thrift store and got some clothes for a murder master party she was attending. When I dropped her off, I got recruited into the party because one guest couldn’t come. Never having done it before, I was hesitant, but it turned out to be great fun. (And I turned out to be the murderer!)
Our first religious education class went well, and we came home and cleaned and mowed for the department party, which was very pleasant, as always.) I’m looking forward to the first Girl Scout meeting tonight.
“Authentic success is having time enough for personal pursuits that bring you pleasure, time enough to make the loving gestures for your family that you long to do, time enough to care for your home, tend your garden, nurture your soul.”
- Sarah Ben Breathnach, Simple Abundance
2014
So what has changed since Star Island? I still do not watch TV in the morning. I have been watching less at night. I do a tarot reading in the morning and reflect on my day. I have sat on the deck with my coffee. Am I still too busy and distracted? Hell, yes.
2017
Today is Friday. I am feeling relieved, having successfully transferred from Amtrak (Penn Station) to Metro North (Grand Central) and bought a ticket and boarded the connecting train that will get me to Brewster to catch the bus to Danbury. Then just two more legs: bus to Danbury and bus stop to hotel.
How can it possibly be fifty years since high school graduation?
Posted to Facebook later that night, after the first reunion event:
“ Insight from my 50th high school reunion: none of us really knew each other. How could we, when we barely knew ourselves? Getting acquainted at last is a real joy.”
2024
Prost! Oktoberfest yesterday at my favorite brewpub: a pretzel as big as your head, and a mug of great beer for a nickel.
