Surface ripples in a deep and murky pool

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted!

Meka has continued to do well after his emergency hospitalization in December.

On April 19th we participated in the MS Marketplace which was a first time feature of MS Walk 2009 .
MS Marketplace was a venue for Chapter members who had craft businesses. There were four members present. It was a fun day but it was very long because we had to be there before 6:30 AM. The weather was beautiful and we sold a number of items and gave 10% of the profits to the Chapter.

Since we were very busy most of the day the only pictures we have are from the cell phone camera but here they are:



In May, David and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary and later in the month was Mothers’ Day. I had all the attention that I could desire from David on both occasions and considerably more in the way of maternal adulation for Mothers’ Day than I’ve been accustomed to in years gone by (one of the perks of having boys grow up). Calls, flowers, cards; "I declare, it’s enough to make the head spin!" (the previous to be spoken in a slow drawl...)

We decided to try to make up for some of our lost income by renting our guest room and after several months of listing in various places we found a renter. He's a medical student who is doing rotations at Brooklyn Hospital Center just up the block. He's a very personable young man, very busy with his studies and I think the arrangement is going to work out well.

Meka stayed overnight at the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group here in Brooklyn in order to receive supportive treatment and to be monitored.


After taking a history, the vet had noted that Meka was exhibiting neurological symptoms arising from two distinct areas in the brain, brainstem and cerebellar regions.

We could not recall any reason to believe that he had ingested anything toxic, nor had he suffered any trauma.

They did blood work and x-rays which were essentially normal and unremarkable.

After determining that the facility was fully staffed throughout the night and that his neurological status would be monitored throughout the night and could receive treatment as necessary, reluctantly agreed to have him stay.

I checked in by phone for updates at least five times between getting home and 5 AM. My sleep was disrupted, so I did some computer research on his symptoms, which tends to give me some sense of control, however tenuous and spurious.

The reports varied from "somewhat worse" to "more or less the same" to "somewhat better" throughout the night but all the staff I spoke to agreed that he was "sweet" and that when offered food, would eat (that's my boy!!).

Later in the morning, I had just picked up the phone and was just about to call to check in again and to say that we would be coming in to see how he was and what our next step would be, when the phone rang. It was one of the vets from VERG who told me that Meka was doing much better; that he was walking and moving more normally, was wagging his tail, seemed in good spirits, obeyed commands. He stated that he would like to discharge Meka this afternoon!

So, at about 4PM on the 27th of December, we went to collect Meka.

As I waited for a staff member to open accessible entrance door, I turned my wheelchair around and there was Meka, returning from a walk with a vet tech.

I don't know who was more pleased or excited!

We completed all the necessary debriefing; his IV catheters were removed; follow-up appointment made and we were on our way.

After settling him in, I needed to get to church because I was due to act as Lector at 5:30 PM Mass. Having done that, and answering lots of questions as to Meka's whereabouts both in church and on the way there and back, I arrived home to find David taking the photo below.

As you can see from the picture, he doesn't look quite his ebullient self; he's a bit weary looking and has his shaven "cuffs", but is not deterred from a good chew on a tennis ball.

We're due for a follow-up on Tues. with the staff surgeon who specializes in neurology.

To quote, Dan George in Little Big Man, "My heart soars like an eagle!"

Last year about this time, I first posted comments on the pages of others and then began posting on this blog; so Boxing Day is both holiday in its own right and historical reference for me.

To all my friends at Opera, I'm glad to have had this time to get to know you.

The last several days have been a cookie making extravaganza!

Here are a few photos of the springerle cookies as they progressed.

September sort of slid by, partly because we’ve been occupied with decision making and planning related to the loss of David’s job at the end of July. His employer sold the business, Circle Press, and the initial word was “not to worry” things would go on as usual and the villagers would be happy.

Within two weeks, a large number of employees were laid off, including David. In addition to just getting used to the idea, there were numerous decisions to be researched and made, some still on-going; rolling over the 401K, getting on COBRA, looking at insurance alternatives, looking for a new job.

On September 20th and 21st I attended my (gulp) 45th high school reunion. There was a dinner cruise around the foot of Manhattan and the harbor and a brunch. It was a great time to get reacquainted with old friends. For anyone who’d like to see what that many old people gathered in one spot look like, check out
http://ihs45threunionsept20212008.shutterfly.com

We called Matthew to wish him Happy Birthday on Sept. 26 but he’s been working, so we haven’t seen him to give him his present yet and this past weekend we just celebrated David’s birthday with a lasagna dinner shared with several friends, Jane, Ronnye and John. Jane contributed salad and a beautiful apple pie, which she baked on site. (Yes we had birthday pie!) The birthday pie unfortunately, but not tragically, slid to the floor on it’s way out of the oven. It was a bit shaken and cosmetically challenged, but not ruined and still delicious! It was however designated, at least until the end of the evening and possibly forever, as “floor pie”!

This month I also began a new venture by placing some of my craft items on sale online at Etsy.com which is like an Ebay for handmade items. I began with some items that had been completed at earlier sessions of what Jane has dubbed “Santa’s Workshop”, when I would prepare handmade gifts for family and friends, or just when I felt like making something. Some of you might have even received related items as gifts on earlier occasions. Several are pictured here.

So, with gift-giving season almost upon us, take a look at my shop at:
http://www.felden.etsy.com

See what you can find for the people on your list!