Day 6

September 14th.

Slept late today .. Maureen up early as usual and working in my garden.  She pulled out the summer plants out front that were pretty dead (have been neglected the last few weeks).

The plan today is to go out to buy some mums and other flowers etc. for the planters out front and decorate for the fall.

Did I tell you I have amazing friends?!!

Off we go to Vandermeer nurseries - picked out some planters that had already been made up - two for the wrought iron planters and 1 with a couple of extra fillers for the window boxes at the garage.  They were great - providing some colour and interest rather just regular mums.  We were happy with our choices.

We then went for lunch to Debbie's in Ajax - looking forward to some homemade soup and tea.  We walked into the restaurant and Maureen spotted a very old friend of hers - coincidentally having lunch with a girlfriend who was undergoing treatment for cancer.  Maureen's friend had recently lost her husband and here she was supporting a friend through her treatment, just the same as Maureen was doing for me.   The friend had had a brain tumor removed and had undergone radiation - the radiation had caused a skin cancer on her head and so she had to have a further bout of radiation to counteract the new cancer.  There is always someone worse off, no matter what it is you are going through.  She was strong and had a positive attitude and looked great with a hairpiece made especially for her to go with her own hair.

On the other side of the restaurant there was a fellow that used to work at Messier-Dowty - Reg Creed and his wife.  Reg is long since retired and has a wheelchair now to help him get about.  I went up to him to say hello - it was a little while before he realized who I was but got it in the end.  He is doing quite well - good to see him out and about.  They were with a friend of their's who turned out to the Ron Barlow's wife (another Messier-Dowty employee) who I know quite well.  Small world - a very small restaurant with three tables filled and we knew people at two of the tables.  Nice to have the feeling of being part of the neighbourhood!

Got home around 2 pm and I am wilting - legs a little shaky and ready for my afternoon nap.  Maureen did the planting - looks great by the way - and then got on her way home to Peterborough.

I am thankful for all the help Maureen gave both me and George and to Bruce for 'sparing' his wife for a few days so that she could be with us.

So it is George and I on our own now - helping each other.  George seems to be feeling a little better, although the legs are still giving him problems.  We'll be fine though.

Spoke with my sister Margaret today - she has been away for a while and we were unable to make contact with each other - it was good to finally speak with her and she was relieved to hear that I am doing OK.  Always good to speak to my sisters.

The nurse came today and checked the drainage tube - looks like it will be in for a while yet - I was hoping for the drainage to be reduced quite a bit by now, but it doesn't appear to be going down any.  I have to empty and measure the fluids and I try to do it every 12 hours or so.  Got myself a little excel spreadsheet going to keep track.

Gary, my next door neighbour, came over this evening - he is going to install a couple of hand/grab bars in the bathtub tomorrow for us.  We had spoken about it a while ago and his wife Dianne volunteered him for the job and so he came over to make sure he knows what is involved.  I have had the one bar for years, but we never got around to putting it up.  I ran out to Canadian Tire tonight to get a second bar to put on the shower wall to grab when getting into the shower - so it will be great to have them, especially for George who is unsteady on his legs.  Don't I have great neighbours!!

Watching survivor - a good time to be stuck home recuperating when all the new good tv shows are back  on.

Bye for now - just about ready for bed.