Thanks for the Birthday Happies, guys. This week has been a ride.

September 10th: Mom's had a fall and is in rehab recovering, had a crisis, was transported to the hospital AND THE REHAB DID NOT TELL ME. Once I found out from her roommate's daughter (with whom I've exchanged numbers) the rehab then didn't know WHICH HOSPITAL SHE'D BEEN TAKEN TO. There's, like, 47 hospitals on the island of Manhattan and while there were two leading contenders... as I was being passed through phone trees I grew concerned that she was, in fact, dead, and no one was telling me over the phone. Finally found the right hospital and she's not dead and its not a stroke so hooray. Mom and I were supposed to see Hamilton that night so sister came in and stayed with mom and I went solo which I really didn't want to do but better than blowing both tickets I guess... and the box office told me me "our tickets do not expire, when your mother recovers we will reschedule her visit" which was really pretty great.

September 11th: My birthday. Went to the rehab to get mom's phone and oral chemo to take to her at the hospital. Not the best birthday ever, but, not the worst either!

September 12th: Took mom back to rehab. Not happy with them, obvy, but now she's in a single instead of a triple so maybe they're a bit contrite?

September 13th: Birthday party - rode around on ferries drinking wine dressed like a roman for my roman birthday (Initials? LV Age? Also LV). Went to night market. Decompressed a good bit.

September 14th: Two trips to mom's rehab for assorted non-life-threatening-crises. Read some good articles and had official 9/11 cry.

September 15th: Stepmother died... next three days a blur of mom meetings and stepmother calls and crying and getting some sleep while looking at the disaster which is my apartment.

I'm back at work today mostly because we're having COVID shots on site and, hey, those could be illegal soon.

So, yeah, a ride.

Trudy, that is beyond a lot. I hope your life calms down a bit soon, and my condolences on the loss of your stepmother.

Thanks, Calli.

Oh! I got to see Victor & Lea at their reading on Monday, so that was wonderful!

Oh dear, Trudy. That is a whole lot. Good there were a couple bright moments in there.

Dang, Trudy. Glad you got to do a little Roman-style celebrating in amongst the a-lot-ness

Thanks for the wishes...kind of in a strange spot this year--really feeling that this is also an accident anniversary, too(Some of the people who I know that are paralyzed also mark that date when it's not their birthday--some even call it a second birthday...not sure I could be that gracious, but maybe it comes from the place that lets me get excited about my birthday, sometimes.) This time it's hard...fifty-two as this is kind of weird...Miracle Baby at Midlife is a strange look I think, but a. My mother would hate that I said that(She kind of pretends I'm 25, anyway) and 2. Eating cake two days in a row could only go so wrong. Picked out one of my presents early--a series of writing workshops that will finish in November, I think. Not exactly letting bon temps rollez, but you know, quiet fun.(One day, I'd like the other kind; is that greedy?)

{{{{Trudy}}}} that is all too much. Were you here or were Lea and Victor there?

My childhood BFF, T, is going to be in town this weekend! We are always in touch but haven’t actually seen each other in person since 2010! She’s never met ltc in person either although they have FaceTimed and talked on the phone and she’s always sending gifts. I’m so very excited!

Lea and Victor had a reading in NYC. It was awesome to see them.

Wonderful that T and li'l T will at long last meet!

Aw, that's great, sj, enjoy!

I'm glad you had some good times in among all the anxious moments and your stepmother's death, Trudy. That was a hell of... just one week? Geez.

Writing workshops sound like fun, erika. Good present!

That does sound good, Trudy. It's totally weird that Victor and I have been friends for so long and never met physically. I'd say he should come here, but that's not really a nice thing to do. Much as I might like it. Cool about your old friend, sj.