An old friend

I was so unhealthy then.

I think these were important words for me to say on Thursday night, and I'm glad I got the chance to, without going into any detail or turning a pleasant reunion into an intense experience of another sort for any of us.

Feelings all a-jumble

Kim.  T.  wedding.  memorial arrangements.  crazy work.

sad.  excited.  nervous.  happy.  anxious.  (not a one-to-one correspondence with the previous list.)

better skip that next sangria i was contemplating.

Today's words

caduceus \kuh-DOO-see-us\ - 1. the symbolic staff of a herald; specifically : a representation of a staff with two entwined snakes and two wings at the top  2. an insignia bearing a caduceus and symbolizing a physician

Seems as if I should have known this one.  But when I see it, my brain wants to think "adjective" instead of noun," as if it ended in -ous.

And from today's word game:

anadem \A-nuh-,dem\ - (archaic) a wreath for the head : garland

aerolite \AIR-uh-,lite\ - a stony meteorite

screed \SKREED\ - 1a : a lengthy discourse  b. an informal piece of writing (as a personal letter) C. a ranting piece of writing  2. a strip (as of a plaster of the thickness planned for the coat) laid on as a guide  3. a leveling device drawn over freshly poured concrete

I knew the third definition of this last one, and had at least heard the first two before.

Reunions and dear friends

I find (and have noticed others comment on this, as well) that my closest, most precious friends are those with whom I can get together after an absence - weeks, years, even decades - and feel as if we're picking up right where we left off.

I don't really expect to have that experience this week.  There has just been too much of my own history in the intervening score-point-four years since we unexpectedly bumped into each other in Baltimore.  The dynamic of having our spouses there will make things very different, too.  I never spent much time with both T. and her then-boyfriend, save one autumn evening thirty three years ago, as his Academy schedule didn't permit a lot of socializing (which was practically my major at that point).  Teri never much knew either of them.  

I hope I'm pleasantly surprised, but I've learned that I should never expect that to happen, anyway, as the expectation can be the biggest thing that gets in the way.  The other thing is, it isn't just old friends who can feel like that every time you talk with them.  I've learned that close friendships, while rare and precious, appear where you least expect them, and it is important for me to tend them whether old or new so that they don't drift away over time and distance.

That gets especially important in those times when a good friend might have his or her own hands and life full.  I guess I count myself fortunate to have had a couple cases of that of late, because I wouldn't have that "problem" were I not truly blessed with incredibly good friends.  Still, it's important for me to not cross the line between friend and pest.

Physically is not the chief way in which I worry about losing my hearing . . .

A frustrating development

So a few years ago, after an incident with a blown exhaust system while we were home in Maryland for an emergency visit, I knew my hearing had gotten worse.  I've since had my hearing tested, and knew that I really should have some hearing aids to correct my loss.  The thing is, decent hearing aids are going to require a sizable investment, and will not be covered by our insurance.

But I've noticed in recent weeks another noticeable decline in my hearing.  I'm asking people to repeat themselves more often in situations in which I think I'd have been able to hear them in the past.  But the clearest indication of just how bad things have gotten came this morning during Mass.  Before the Holy Holy, I looked down at my guitar and reminded myself that I needed to move the capo before I started playing. Halfway through I noticed that something didn't sound right. Yes, I forgotten to move it, and the really disturbing part is that my hearing has gotten so bad that I was halfway through a piece I was vigorously strumming before I noticed I was a half-step off key. So while we try to budget for hearing aids next year, I'm going to have to stop singing while I'm playing with our choir.

I don't want to hurt
but there's so much in this world to make me grieve.  - Pearl Jam

It's a bit early in the season for an autumn funk.  That's what this feels like, though.