January 24, 2010

I hate to leave you all hanging so long that you forget the story line here, or worse, cease to care. But I will nevertheless try to keep this one short. We’re still living in the trailer from hell, but, two days ago, the old rusted don’t-even-think-about-what-microbes-are-living-in-it window heat-a/c unit died, in a loud and violent way, and instead of saying “Tough nuggies, isn’t it obvious we’re never putting a dime into that place?” the owners kindly allowed us to purchase and install a new unit, in return for which we will not pay rent for a few months. Now we have nice clean air to breathe, we can hear each other talk when the heat is turned on, and it doesn’t cost us a small fortune to keep the place hovering around 60 degrees. I’ve been wearing an average of 5 layers of clothing, top and bottom, and I want you to take that into consideration when you view the photo of me in the newest fashion rage—pink Snuggie, avec scarf at neck and waist. I have a pink tam too, which matches the Snuggie as though they were designed by the same French Fashion House, but I rarely have to wear that any more, inside.

I still have two kidneys. My friend is recovering right now from surgery to remove the cadaver kidney that has been kindly keeping her blood clean for the past 15 years. It had gotten exhausted and stopped working about 6 months ago, having lasted about 3 years longer than the usual donated cadaver kidney but, in its death throes, had begun putting out chemicals that were making my friend very sick. So it had to come out. She’s on anti-rejection drugs now, in preparation for my kidney which, as soon as I get finished with the last two of the seven thousand tests I’ve had done, I’ll be happy to give her. Here’s a picture of us as little girls. When this photo was taken, we’d already been friends for about 4 years.

What else? Kai is enjoying his last semester of school at NC State-- designing electrical-type projects in lab, and training for road races with the Cycling Club. Bob is still working on our friends’ boat—here’s a photo of the railing he built on their deck. I help him when he needs it, otherwise I write, bake cookies or bread, my new (renewed) fun thing to do to keep me awake at night and make this trailer feel like home. I walk on the beach nearly every day, sun or rain, cool or cold. It’s free, it’s different every day, and it's always, to me anyway, astoundingly beautiful.Trio still awaits our attention, and we still need to sell Kalliope. If you have any sailing friends, give them this link! www.kalliopechallenger40.webs.com

We’re fine, we’re happy, we hope you all are as well. We'd love to hear from you! Suzy