Thursday Update

I don’t have the regular post about Boston today for two reasons. So here’s a brief Thursday update by way of explanation instead.

This morning I’m driving to Maryland with my daughter and their family cat, Cringer, to be there when the movers arrive at their new house. The weather is beautiful up here but we’re going to hit rain somewhere around New York City and it will rain the rest of the way. Then thunderstorms and heavy rain once we arrive with the possibility of flash floods. Terrific.

Mystique appears to be a tad better today—more mobile and willing to move around. I think her head has come up a little but that could be my imagination. I leave her in the care of my husband and son, who will give the medication and offer food and water. If I put food on her paw she will lick it off eagerly but isn’t interested in what’s in the food dish I stick under her nose.  She will probably go back to the vet for some IV fluids as she’s still not drinking.

Hanging in there

Second: I would have written something in advance and had it scheduled to go up but there was just been too much going on this week for me to be able to do that.

After this move my granddaughters will be living much farther away than they do now. A 45-minute quick drive up Route 495 will be replaced either by a 400-mile drive or round-trip flights. That means I will see M and T less often but will probably spend more time with them when I do visit—a few days or a week instead of overnights. I’m trying to see it not as losing my grandchildren but gaining a place to visit and get away from the daily routine.

Mystique a Tad Better

Mystique appears to be a tad better today—more mobile and willing to move around. I think her head has come up a little but that could be my imagination. I leave her in the care of my husband and son, who will give the medication and offer food and water. If I put food on her paw she will lick it off eagerly but isn’t interested in whatever is in the dish I stick under her nose. She will probably go back to the vet for some IV fluids as she’s still not drinking.

Boston By Foot Party

: I joined Boston By Foot as a docent in 2013. Since then I have upped the number of tours I give every year and have added Boston By Slide lectures to my repertoire. In addition, I proposed a new tour--Murder, Martyrs and Mysticism--as the special tour for October and had it accepted. That meant doing the research and writing the tour manual, no small commitment of time.I’m flying back on Saturday morning in time to go to Boston By Foot’s 40th anniversary party at the Boston Beer Company. The organization began giving architectural and historical walking tours of Boston in 1976 and I’m proud to be a member.

Helping to maintain that kind of continuity makes one a part of something greater than oneself, which is both a challenge and a source of pride. When I think about how much I have learned since joining BBF in 1993, I’m amazed. When I think about how much I know compared to docents who have been doing this for decades, I’m humbled.

I also know that by the time I get to the party, I’ll be more than ready for a beer. Or two.