Life in Rockburn, eh?

“Thanks.

Doug”

“Sorry to read that, Doug.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.”

“Here's to a speedy recovery.”

“Thanks.

We'll know more Thursday. I'm mostly concerned with convalescence and what we'll have to do and where we'll do it - here in Toronto or home in Rockburn.

The film show was fantastic, Suzanne's was in the 'Advocate' category with three others and hers was the best (says Dad).”

“Thanks.

We'll know more Thursday. I'm mostly concerned with convalescence and what we'll have to do and where we'll do it - here in Toronto or home in Rockburn.

The film show was fantastic, Suzanne's was in the 'Advocate' category with three others and hers was the best (says Dad).”

“It's true, Gremlins daughter is drop dead gorgeous. I have seen a photo of her.

I wish you and your family all the best. Write me if you want to talk.

K.”

“Well I'm in Suzanne's apartment and we are making the best of things. She is on crutches and I brought up a wheelchair. They will probably keep her until she can sit, but if not I'll take her back here and do what is necessary. The best case scenario is that she will be able to sit - both in my car for the trip back to Rockburn - and to convalesce there. We won't think about worste case scenarios. I'd appreciate it if you could keep us in your thoughts. (I can't make paragraphs on their computer)”

“still praying.”

“Heal fast.
Hang in there, Gremlin.”

“Thanks.”

“I just made dinner for her and a girlfriend (her boyfriend is up North planting trees where she thought she'd be going too). The MRI is to-morrow now and we'll be getting up at 5.0 a.m.

Oddly enough my mental health is a lot better and I was hoping to get some serious bagnights in, but that's over now.

I'll stay in touch, eh?

We're still trying to get financial assistance, but she is 'between the cracks' as we say. Theoretically she is a student until the end of August and is not eligible for social assistance till then. Obviously her mother and I will cover the rent till then and she will live with me until she can take care of herself, but her boyfriend needs a hand too.

We're in a bit of a bureaucratic jungle, but people have been very nice and have 'phoned back almost immediately. She can't work this summer (they make good money tree planting) and now that her Master's is finished we don't know when she can work again.”

“Well, we had the MRI this morning at St Michael's and met her surgeon this afternoon at Mt Sinai (both teaching hospitals of the University of Toronto). He's 99,9 % sure it's a benign aggressive tumour, but won't know for sure until the biopsy on July 8; pre-op is July 11 when we'll get the operation date. (Can't do paragraphs on this computer - enough to drive a former English teacher crazy.) The doctor says earlier rather than later - early July. The major danger is its position next to the artery that supplies blood to the ball of the femur. Necrosis is possible, usually in the first two years. The doctor says she'll be seeing him 'regularly over the next several years'. It looks like up to six weeks in a wheelchair and three to six months recovery, physio, then several years of follow-up. We're both relieved and happy with the speed and attention. Take care, everyone - we're back tp Rockburn to-morrow.”

“Cool”

“Yup. Now we have a plan and a time-frame.”

“And here I am sitting in the computer centre and my 'phone rings. My buddy called and said we're going to the renovation store NOW to get the lumber and build the wheelchair ramp NOW. A good friend is, well, a good friend. I'm a lucky guy in many ways. Gotta go.

Doug”

“Cool.”

“Hey Gremlin, how are things going?”

“I built a wheelchair ramp for after the operation. Suzanne has been at her mother's cottage in Westville, NY and my niece is visiting from Calgary with her 18 mlonth old son. I have been down there about every day. I'm bringing her and her dog back when I leave here.

There has been a change of plans - she will go to Toronto with her mother (instead of with me) for her biopsy and pre-op on the 8th. I'll keep the dog here in the country.

After her operation she will live with me.”

“How are things in Rockburn?”

“Pretty good.”

“Well, I drove my daughter to her mother's cottage in Westville, NY and they should be in Toronto in an hour or so. Biopsy at 8.30 and pre-op at 11.0 to-morrow. Operation to follow. I'm taking care of the dog here in Rockburn. My buddy raked this morning and we'll bale at 4.0. Haying is good therapy and will force me to think about something else. No news till to-morrow.

take care, eh?

Doug”

“Buckin' hay? F&%#in' eh!”

“only from gojo...LOL :-)”

“Fvckin eh!”

“And so we are sitting in Giles' (the crazy Frenchman) apartment having a beer (or two) with his girlfriend from New York City (don't ask) with bob's brand new Ram 1500 that he got for his chocolate lab because the Silverado didn't have a back seat. Bob is administering culture shock, but luckily Maureen is a good sport. There is, of course a language problem (we speak English), but Giles has his hands.”

“Yes, I must admit that life in Rockburn and Hinchinbrook has been a bit different than my life in New York City. Everyone has been very kind to me as my Brooklyn accent has been a source of humor for everyone!”

“FYI - the last post was mine!!

- Maureen”

“Oh dear! Gremlin is suffering split personality. I know he had a tough time lately. Now he calls himself Maureen, beliefs to be posting from NY and talks with a Brooklyn accent.
Doug, please take your meds.”

“Thanks, Euro, I needed that.”

“ROTFL, BTW.”

“Took a little time-out from yourself, huh?”

“Yup. Suzanne's up North with her boyfriend and will lounge in camp (an old airforce base) while the others plant trees. Her operation has been put back to 13 August, after her surgeon's vacation so that he'll be there for follow-up.

I've reserved a B&B the next street over for the days after her surgery.

Oh shyte - I just got it, LOL (I mis-read 'for' for 'from').

Maureen is actually a beautiful and charming univesity professor that Gilles met at an ashram.”

“Well, (bad habit that) I drove Maureen to get Gilles in the nearby city of Valleyfield and on the drive back Maureen said sorry for no real reason. I pointed out that Karen McNeill never let a woman (client) say sorry. Also each woman would have to say something they had done especially well and before being let down to ground, or off the mountain and they all had to shout, 'I am a godess'.

I added that her body has still not been found.

'Was she kidnapped and murdered?' asked Maureen.

'No, Silly, she died in the snow (duh). (McNeill and Sue Nott were lost on Mount Foraker in 2 005).

Silly Cousins to the South.”

“I AM A GODESS!


Now let me down, will ya.”

“I AM A GODESS!


Now let me down, will ya.”

“I am so not going to comment.”

“Sorry, I didn't meant to post twice, but I so got carried away.”

“Still not commenting, eh?”

“Yes you are a goddess and I would never let you down (virtually, of course).”

“I went to gas up and they are harvesting apples. Crates and tractors everywhere. This is more than a month early. We have blueberries, strawberries - all kinds of vegetables. I bought local corn almost a month ago.”

“Bumper crop year!”

“Big time.”

“Suzanne was operated on Friday. It was a success, but she was in extreme pain until yesterday. The pain team were in Saturday and yesterday, as well as the orthopaedic resident. Everything got adjusted and they let her out this afternoon.

Suzanne, her boyfriend and I are are at their apartment. Now it's physio and recovery. Things have turned out much better than we feared.”

“The geese are flying over in waves and I saw my first flight of snow geese in a field while driving in. Corn is three weeks early, apples two and trucks, tractors and flat beds make what is for Rockburn a rush hour twice a day. Cars are parked in the orchards, crates, both empty and full are stacked by the road.

The kiosques have been painted and decorated. Tourists fill the roads on the week-end looking for wine (I'm on the 'wine route') and cider, particularly ice wine (Beerenauslese) and ice cider. A friend saw two women fighting over an apple pie. Children running across the highway for pony rides.

Cyclists by the dozen park at schools and ride to see the colours. Motorcyclists take advantage of the last good days to sit at the pub.

My buddies are goose hunting Sunday, but I'll be in Masten, PA with the Boneheads. Primitive weapons deer hunting has begun and I have a few friends I won't see untill rifle season when we meet in Bob's garage at the end of each day.

Just another autumn in paradise, eh?”

“I was wondering what kept you busy and have been missing to hear from Rockburn.”

“Jerks! All of you Jerks! Thread raping jerks!! You should all take yourself Gremlin as an example on good behaviour and good conversation. Yes.

Here, I show you how nice, casual conversation goes:

It's definetly autumn here. This weekend the weather will be mainly dry, but grey, with little or no sun. In the morning temps in Bern are below 10°C, so warm clothes are needed, but in the afternoon it can still get pretty warm and when the sun is out and no wind is going it is t-shirt weather. Around here, in the lowlands, the trees are still mostly green. They are just starting to change colours. Most trees will eventually change to a pale yellow. Few will display a vibrant orange or red as can be seen with North American trees.
I think farmers have mostly finished the harvest, except in the wineyards or so. Living in a town I don't get to see much of the seasonal farming business. Only on the local farmers market I notice how the products change with the season.

The End”

“But is it rape-rape?”

“uuuuuuhhhmmmmmmm....mmmmm...???
...??
There is a difference?”

“What happened?”

“euro doesn't like raping jerks.”