Grey in My Soul

Grey here. Grey there. Inside and out. But heading over the bridge to the north may brighten things up. On all fronts.

Sheets

Percale. 100% cotton. Old and washed many times over to the point of beautiful smoothness. They also go to the corner laundry for washing, where they are ironed. Heavenly. This is another perk about living here to be remembered when the un-perky things rise up to challenge one. So far not too many un-perks, at least not ones that weren't anticipated and considered before embarking on this voyage. I love the sheets.

A Certain Vinegar Is an Internet Scam

Didn't you know? This is the lowdown from Aged Parent: any vinegar other than an ancient bottle of white Heinz vinegar must be a health scam from the Internet. We are talking Mrs. Bragg's here. But why argue? Why not just appreciate the sociology involved in the dialogue? It's a new approach to one's daily life. And it is very surprisingly not hard. Truly.

It's been such a long time since I could putter around (terminology from Long-Dead Parent) in the garden—but today I got to: deadhead roses, pull some weeds, sweep up leaves and crud. Felt so good! Dogs also puttered around. I even cut some hydrangea to bring into the house (having cleared permission from Aged Parent), and they do look lovely. The roses desperately needing cleaning up, so maybe we'll have some new blossoms soon to bring in as well. Aged Parent is very appreciative of the flowers now indoors.

AP is also is having more and more fun with the cats. Tom has wormed his way into her heart by being cozy on her lap—not at all surprising; he's pretty shameless. And lovey. But Ducky has her qualities as well: a reticent, elegant charm, nothing so forward as her transparent boy toy. She also is appreciated for her qualities by AP.

Little White Room

The damned cat is trying to block my screen. Pity me. But this is a wonderful little office in the front of the house -- the little white room with two windows and white curtains, overlooking The Block. There are way more cars here than ever there were in the 1960s. Probably an obvious observation. Still, do people now have more cars per household? Likely.

And all the strangers who bring their dogs up Our Block to run them in the Presidio. Never heard of that way back when. No one took one's dogs with intent out to run somewhere. All dogs just ran around, bothering people and children, depositing feces at will, and that is undoubtedly the reason for the current state of dog laws. With reason. I do not object; I just comment from a historical perspective.

This little room I lay in with a tragic pneumonia in 4th grade when my mother came in late at night to check on me and to parenthetically report that Reagan had won the CA election for governor. Now I'm dating myself. You can do the math. But the ingredients are interesting: Reagan, pneumonia, 4th grade. Funny combo but fairly typical for a childhood memory. This little room is connected to a big bedroom, also in the front of the house, through a door. Probably these were the main rooms, because the big room is connected to what was probably the Very Modern bathroom on this floor. So the little white room was a nursery? I think so. Makes sense. Given that the house was built in 1904 there may well be no original plans in City Hall -- didn't CH burn in the fire in '06? Anyway, old plans can only be fun.

Memories & Fog

Well, July fog in San Francisco really isn't worth commenting on, is it? As a child I watched it roll in waves over the wall and down 5th Avenue, thinking how very special & atmospheric it was, and it was. Haven't seen it yet as an adult, though. While based here, on 5th, as a returnee adult, perhaps I can find the rolling fog again. Unless global warming has f#$%d it up.

So...yeah, as Eddie Izzard says. Here on The Block. Camped out on the second floor of the childhood home while one's remaining parent (age 84) lives on the first floor. An historical note: this house was built in 1904 and first occupied by McLaren's assistant (one of them?). There are/were many Australian plants and trees in the garden as a result. The house stood up to the '06 EQ admirably. During WW2 it was split into flats to accommodate the wartime surge of occupants in SF. I hark back to that time now while living on the 2d floor. Somewhat different circumstances these days, but still a Time of Trial.

Dogs and cats are with us. Aged Parent is quite happy with them, indeed loves animals and is pleased to have them around without having to be responsible for them. Sounds good to me, but I am, alas, the primary caretaker for some time to come. When I am 84 someone else will be feeding and walking my dog(s), right?

Aged Parent is interested in: when we leave for work; what I cook for the dogs; very clean recycling; a closed garage door; moving one's vehicles at least 2 hours before street cleaning; salad dressing with not "too much oil." Her tolerance and general good spirits are most appreciated. It's a Very Brave New World. And it will last, with luck, for a short time so we can all part friends.

Stay tuned.