Cabernet and Carboplatin

The day started in a way I had hoped would be 10 years from now. At around 2 am, Jerry crawled into bed and asked me if I was awake. I was. He then said, "Argyle died." How could this be? Our youngest, most exuberant, trouble-making cat. The one who probably thought his name was "Argyle No!" When Jerry has trouble sleeping he goes into the TV room, stretches out on the couch, and reads himself back to sleep. Inevitably, one, or more, cats join him. Argyle did join him, but something was very wrong. His hind legs and tail were paralyzed. He likely had a stroke. Jerry stayed with him, and it was not long before he passed away. When Jerry came back to bed we held each other as Jerry sobbed. We both then went back to the TV room so I could say goodbye to my boy. We went back to bed, held each other and cried. We did fall back asleep for a little while, and I dreamed that Argyle had not died. That it was all a mistake. It was, of course, just a dream. In the m...

the harder the decision. I am thankful there are only two choices regarding osseointegration surgery. I am also thankful I have some time to think about it. The appointment with the orthopedic surgeon in New York went very well. He thinks I would be a great candidate for osseointegration (OI) and he sent me off to their west side office for a CT scan, because the implant has to be made for specifications particular to me. That will take two to three months. Which is good. Because at the OI clinic today at Hopkins I was informed that my wound is healed enogh for me to move forward with a socket prosthesis. I will get a casting next week. Both the socket and a custom made gel liner will take several weeks to be made. I also discussed prosthetics with the prosthetist and am pretty sure which one I want-- a microprocessor knee with a number of settings, allowing me to walk on different terrains and up and down stairs more easily. It will work with a socket as well as OI. It is entire...

through disabled-colored glasses is quite different. And those glasses have really opened my eyes. I pretty much can't go anywhere alone. I can't drive, and there is only so far I can push myself in my wheelchair. Jerry and I try to lead as normal a life as possible. When the pandemic began we started going to TraderJoe's and Costco every other week together, and we've kept that up. Except now in Costco I riding one of those electric scooters with the shopping basket in front, which in reality,is much too small for a a Costco run, but we make do. But until I rode in one, I didn't realize these electric carts are invisible. People are reading email or texting while they are shopping, and they decide to stop walking and text back in the middle of an aisle, leaving no room on either side for me to pass. Or they block the way waiting for a free sample. I say "excuse me" a lot in Costco and do my best not to get angry. In Trader Joe's I carry a baske...