so there was a power outage in and around the synagogue on Friday which caused a lot of commotion and work stoppage. i already had lunch planned with Jackie and so thought it was a good time to go anyway. almost got creamed by a truck at the intersection of The Alameda and Hedding. pretty scary. i think because there was no standing traffic at the signal, he didn't realize that the power was out and that he should have stopped and waited his turn. big truck. coulda been really nasty. screech, swerve, drive on. phew. breathe.
when i returned, the power was back on and so i was able to get labels printed and we got them affixed and got the September bulletin to the post office. major accomplishment, making everyone very happy.
today was a lovely bar mitzvah and fun party and now i'm home taking advantage of the day to do more laundry, pack, etc. measured suitcases. all are within the size limits. see how much will fit in each. getting closer. got email from david and julia about the bus trip on Friday. that will be a lot of fun.
i am really looking forward to traveling with jeremy and daniel (to a place that is not a funeral or unveiling). but. as i handle each suitcase, i finger gently the luggage tag, with linda's name, email address, etc. on it. i find receipts inside in the pockets. one from great neck ny from may 07. a card from the patisserie in london near the hotel. yum. and it hits me again and again: another in the endless series of firsts. the first trip to europe without linda. not only without her presence but without her meticulous planning and preparation. we don't have reservations in switzerland (because we are not certain yet where we will be staying -- a topic for this week with christine). i am truly on my own. i know i don't need to bring all the redundancies and extras and options that she would always bring, upping our luggage at every turn. but i need to find a europe packing list to make sure i take both cell phones, the matching SIM chips for europe, the phone charger, a converter so i can recharge batteries for the camera. ah yes, camera and all its associated equipment. gum. nuts, protein bars.
i think i was so busy yesterday with work (marcy was gone camping) that i didn't cry.
so i thought maybe i would get through today without any tears. didn't work out that way. it's ok. i know it's ok, that it will be ok. that i will be ok. as linda feldman said, given the passage of time (9 months for her since robert died) the pain isn't quite as grinding. that's a good word for it. so it is not quite as grinding as it was say even a month ago. but then i go and encounter another first. and it hurts.
my knee is getting fussy. i'm trying to be more disciplined about icing regularly and wearing the neoprene support when i walk. it makes me smile to remember how the knee got weakened in the first place. i flew to cleveland, one of my 6 trips during the 99-00 year of courting. i had my brown suitcase in the overhead rack. i reached up, retrieved it, rotated to put it in the aisle, and my knee gave out. so linda was stuck outside waiting to pick me up, and i had to wait, sign papers, come out in a wheelchair, and we headed to a local emergency room for x-rays and a serious brace and crutches. since then, i have always been aware that it is weaker on the right, so i step off (usually) from a curb onto my left foot. i hope it is better by the weekend.
off to rotate laundry loads. and strip the bed. and watch a DVD marcy loaned me: flight of the conchords. we saw one of the guys at a comedy club last week and were sorely disappointed.
tomorrow is the daylong trip with Jeff and Razmik and Robyn to see Elliot in Music Man. drive, eat, show, eat, drive. and the days move along. closer to next saturday. more packing, more packing.
