Saturday

 

On my way up to Olney today, I thought of my blog friend, Pam, when I spotted this really cool license plate in Prince Frederick for the Maryland State Beekeepers' Association.

 

In Dunkirk, I stopped at Trott's roadside stand and took a few pictures.

I bought some apples for another pie, maybe, and some jars of beets and hot pepper relish.

Then I asked them why my cell phone number was appearing on their credit card receipts.

During this roadside stand season, I've been receiving mysterious complaints about missing flats of flowers, mistakes on credit card charges and other miscellaneous issues on my cell phone.  At first I just ignored messages or explained to people that they had the wrong number, but last week I actually called one of the people back and got the full story.

After I paid for my goods today, I checked the slip and there was MY phone number on the receipt!

Hopefully, it'll all get sorted out.

After rounding the Beltway and heading out New Hampshire Avenue, I stopped here (not to be confused with St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Church).

 

In Olney, I gathered up Mom and took her for a long-overdue trip to the hairdresser.

That's Grace, there.  She's been doing Mom's hair for a long time.

Mom was a pretty good sport about the pictures.  I don't think she knows they're out there for all to see, though.

We shared a sandwich for lunch from Panera Bread and got a chocolate milkshake for Mom on the way back to Antique Village.  She was pretty tuckered out.  I see a big change in her in recent months, but she still enjoys getting out to look around at the world.

After I left Mom's place, I headed over for a 30-minute visit with my sister-in-law, Connie, which stretched into two hours.  Connie's been so helpful with Mom, especially in recent months with all the trips to the ER.  She also helped a lot when I was trying to get Mom's house cleaned out after it was sold.

For my birthday, Connie presented me with the biggest candy bar I've ever seen!

I'm going to hold off on cracking it open until I've finished the course of powerful antibiotics I'm taking, which is wreaking havoc on all things gastrointestinal right now.

After I came home from the hospital a couple of weeks ago, I was feeling just about the same as before, when I came out of my in-bed-for-two-days stupor.  I made an appointment to follow up with my regular doctor, but by the time I went in to see her, I was feeling pretty poorly.  The bloating was worse than ever, and I had a chronic pain in my left side, along with some knots and tenderness.

By the time of my appointment, I had already imagined the worst.  I was in tears in her office, with the physical discomfort and stress of NOT KNOWING.

So, when she told me that she thought my symptoms indicated diverticulitis, I was greatly relieved.  Not that diverticulitis is a minor thing at it's worst, but not fatal if caught and treated.

Thus, the antibiotics.

It's a geezer thing . . . you wouldn't understand.

I've been called back to work, just as I was getting into the groove of not making regular trips to DC, except to see Mom.  Apparently, my replacement has proven to be less than reliable, so I've agreed to continue on until another replacement can be found.

Comments

[Pam Jones]

Wow. Your posts are so packed with important, meaningful details. I'm so sorry about (a) the stomach issues, and (b) the re-up on the job (but aren't you a saint for agreeing to help out). Love the bee license plate. If I stick with the beekeeping (it's a hung jury right now) I'll have to get one. And that wooden church is always a eye-catcher. I've never managed to get a good picture of it. Your mom looks great and happy and well-loved. What more could you ask for? Good job, Anne! Isn't it funny that your post includes the observation that Mom probably won't ever see these pictures? My post today included mention of someone who won't see his picture on my blog either.

[Pam Jones]

one more thing.... does your doctor think you have diverticuLITIS or diverticuLOSIS?

[Karenth49]

Assuming you don't Tweet, you don't know that I was in beautiful Maryland on Saturday or Monday. Catoctin Mount Park? A highway that runs along the most northern edge of MD? A couple of the most beautiful hours of wonderfully satisfying vacation. The BEST "fall color" of the trip.

Thanks for this sharing of your trip, your day with Mom. She's so pretty! To me, it feels that you are fortunate to be no further from her than you are, and that you have Connie. I have neither of those circumstances. DO have support and comfort from you and Mary, though. AND PHOTOS! Wonderful photos. I don't blog, but will send you and Mary a couple pix from vacation.

[Karenth49]

It had to be Monday. Saturday was NYC, my beloved skyline and Ellis Island, and dinner with a great brother. A REALLY rare treat!

[Miz S]

Anne, I didn't know you weren't feeling well. Sounds yucky, but I'm glad the doctor reassured you that you won't keel over anytime soon.

Oh, and hell yes I understand!