Tuesday, Sept. 8     45 degrees—Mona and Tom drove up from Blue Earth to get the four-poster bed I promised them.  They took everything but the futon mattress, will return some other day.  The subject of LaVona didn’t come up.

This afternoon I drove to Timberdale for a window visit with LaVona which didn’t last long because of rain.  She asked me to bring two pairs of panties next time.

I’m beginning The Notebooks of Malta Laurids Brigge by Ranier Maria Rilke.   Second time around but it’s been years. It’s an amazing work.

For three days I’ve been dealing with a painful eruption, something an enormous boil, on my left fore arm.  Fearful it may be more cancer.

Tonight I made a stir fry with shrimp, mixed vegetables, and brown rice.

Turned on the furnace today.

Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020

 Up at 7:00 a,m,, pulled the blues out of the freezer for thawing, got dressed, checked messages, received Gibson's 8:10 a.m. phone call.  He said he has tired of Swanson's frozen food pies.

 Friday, Sept. 4, 2020    69 degrees--After having a window visit with LaVona this morning, I picked up Gibson and drove to a park trail in north Owatonna, a park that included the Dartt Park baseball field, Buxton Trail, etc. In all we walked about four miles, then ended with coffee at KwikTrip.  As usual Gibson talked while I listened, asked questions, nodded. On the drive back, we stopped at Little Professor Bookstore to pick up my order made two months ago, a paperback of Rilke's The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge.

Friday, Jan. 24, 2020—Today I’m resuming the diary, mainly because for the first time in 32 years LaVona and I are living separately.  About a month ago, LaVona was ordered by a doctor at Allina Owatonna hospital to a memory care facility.  Her daughter Melody recommended Timberdale Trace just a few blocks from our house in south Owatonna.  Since she’s been in room 18 of Timberdale, her memory loss and general bewilderment has increased noticeably.  Several times this week she asked me if we were married. If I ask her the names of her eight children, she can’t remember a single one unless I ask her to sing a song that the doctor who delivered all eight composed for her, one that lists the names in a catchy rhyme and melody.  

   

   She continues to request to return home.  I continue to tell her Timberdale is her current home as prescribed by her doctor.  She doesn’t find that answer very satisfying.

  I’m writing this at Old Town Bagel where I stopped in for a bagel sandwich and coffee. Now it’s time to pack up and walk the two miles along the Straight River trail to the car and drive over to Timberdale for a visit before heading home to make supper.  

  Being home alone is a novelty after 32 years of living with LaVona.