#78 – March 2021 – Benson AZ (again!)

 

March 2021 – Benson AZ (again!)

Moonrise from the back yard

March 18 was the highlight of the month, if not the last year: we got our second shots! Now (April 21) that 4 million people are getting shots every day it doesn’t seem like such a big deal, but it sure felt like it that day. We can get together with friends, again! It was great to actually be able to sit down with Jackie and Kaz, and Ellen and Cosmo.

One noteworthy event was that I got selected for a follow-on study for a medical device called the Watchman. It is a filter that is implanted in the heart to substantially reduce blood clots attributed to AFib. Intellectually I understand that doctors can guide tools and devices through veins and insert them in place in your heart, but I found that I had to suspend reality for awhile to actually let them do it to mine. It is remarkable how little there was to show for it. One stitch under a bandaid and a little soreness were all there was when I woke up. The sore throat from the camera that they send down was worse. The payoff is that the Watchman reduces the risk of stroke by over 80%, and I won’t have to take any more blood thinners.

Schroeder's new fave

The rest of the month passed quickly, but looking back we kinda hung out at home. We are finally able to enjoy the casita. Kayeanne’s sewing/clay/beading area in front of the big window to the back yard is giving her hours of enjoyment. Schroeder has a new bed in the sunny spot near the couch that has become one of his favorite places. The couch works well for naps, too.

Seemingly countless trips to Tucson for medical appointments took the place of the usual co-op social whirl that is still on Covid-induced hiatus. I am suffering from no-Bingo withdrawal. Little jobs on the coach and the casita that we had been procrastinating about finally had to be dealt with. Route planning seemed to take forever, but we eventually set a departure date that looks pretty firm: April 7. Take it away, Willie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBN86y30Ufc

Bird watching has become my latest passion

Matt Goldman’s second Nils Shapiro novel, Broken Ice, was as good as the first one. Steven Brust’s latest Vlad Taltos book, Vallista, was also worthwhile. I also reread Ted Kooser’s lovely short story anthology, Local Wonders:
Stories in the Bohemian Alps. I think it was even better the third (or fourth) time.

A couple of red wines I liked recently are Confidential Tinto Reserva 2016 and Goru Gold Red Blend, both from Costco. The Goru went up a few bucks but I think it is still worth it.

More soon,

Bob