You have a way of making the mundane interesting, Eleni wrote in response to my latest blog post. Uh, thank you? It’s a generous comment, but I do wish I had more compelling things to explore. Alas.
On the subject of generosity: out on my front porch I found a mystery package from a company called “White Mountain.” Inside were two brand-new 500-piece jigsaw puzzles, a surprise from Marianna and Stephen who are forever giving me great stuff.
Marianna has also been offering ideas about interpreting and redirecting my nightmares. A recent product of my disordered brain:
My house and property in the woods north of Nevada City have been invaded by dozens of squatters. Though it’s late in the dry season, the intruders have built campfires everywhere—even in my living room. Within minutes, each blaze has sparked beyond its boundary, igniting trees, my neatly stacked woodpile, my furniture. In a panic, I grab a garden hose and try to douse the spreading flames while the onlookers laugh and pile on more fuel. As soon as I extinguish one fire, another bursts into life nearby. It's not long until my well runs dry. Only then do I realize I’m powerless to prevent the destruction of my home along with the forest surrounding it.
The next night I dreamed I was deep in conversation with Lily Tomlin, who kept interrupting me to insist that I was one of the most interesting and accomplished people she’d ever met. Ha ha ha ha ha.
Two days ago I was once again Chico-bound, this time to celebrate Ember’s eleventh birthday!
Meet Ash, her creation constructed on the foundation of a purchased plastic “dino mask.” Dinosaur mask modifications are, apparently, all the rage on TikTok. (Here, the fur, mushrooms, glasses and paint are her inspirations.)
After her birthday celebration she hesitantly agreed to stay with me at the AirBnB that night. It was lovely. Next day, Eleni rented a pool for three hours. Birthday Girl mid-air:
I was showing off to my grandkids how bravely I could enter a cold pool, and at 1:32 p.m. made a dramatic leap in. It was quite impressive, if I do say so myself. But in my enthusiasm I’d neglected to remove my father’s watch, which is now frozen at the exact moment of my foolishness. This is the same watch I spent $75 repairing only two months ago after I took it for an accidental dip in the Trinity River. Some people never learn.
Birthday Girl’s siblings:
On my second night in town Ember opted not to stay with me, so after dinner I kept busy at the lonely AirBnB by watching an episode of Grand Designs with Lulu via Zoom and texting with Eleni. By early this morning I was on the road home, making a little detour to Kaiser Richmond for my flu shot in the big tent in front of the hospital. However, finding it surrounded by striking picketers, I gave it a miss. I hope that the issue is resolved quickly, or that it is only local, because in three days I have my long-awaited appointment in Sacramento with the facial nerve doctor, and that one can’t be postponed, since the timing is critical. It would make me miserable to have to cross the line.
But do it if you must! Beautiful pool!!