From Yucky to Friends and Contra Dancing, Two

Okay, here's the post including the visit from friends, playing music, a dinner party, and going dancing, among other things.

On Wednesday morning Nadine took it easy. Nadine had her first home visit from a physical therapist -- I'd put it off until Nadine was up to it. She showed Nadine stretches and strengthening work. I was amazed at how strong Nadine was, even though she had been so inactive for so long. Lifts, etc.

Some wonderful friends, the Guertins, came in to visit from Vermont Tuesday evening. Their 3 teen-age "kids" were close friends of Nadine's, and the parents are wonderful too. We know them through music festival and event circles (including Ashokan), and stayed with them after the Champlain Valley Festival last year, with about-knee-deep mud amidst which we'd danced and enjoyed ourselves anyway. We had hosted their daughter Gillian for camping there. When we spent the night at their place afterwards, I'd declined to enter their home until someone could get me a bowl to wash my feet and legs in. Sylvia met them this year when we brought her and Rafi to Dance Flurry, and Sylvia's mom (and my dear friend) Sue had met them when they visited us at MacDonald House, and had extended them an invitation to stay from Tues through Friday.

On Wednesday we had a wonderful visit with them(and the Klassens) at the Klassens' house, much hanging out, cooking, fun, laughter. We arrived just in time for luscious Indian food for lunch, which Nadine ate with gusto. The kids, including Nadine, romped and laughed and hugged and were delightful for the afternoon; I thoroughly enjoyed all of it. They took over the family room. There was a lot of petting of Nadine's fuzzy head. A lot of smiling and joking.

Nadine took a walk in the woods with the other 4 "kids", going over the rickety bridge, up the outdoor stairs, and everything. Nadine had recently tired when walking from one end of the lot to the other.

Dinner was Mexican food, cooked by a slew of people including Nadine, again amidst merriment. Ten of us (the 5 Guertins, the 3 Klassens, Nadine and me) sat at a long table, hands held around the table, then delicious dishes of food passed around. I was happy to contribute the farm-raised ground beef for the meal. There was plenty of talk about math -- all 5 Guertins are into math, Diane teaches it and Gillian just got into MIT, Victor Klassen is a physicist, Sue used to teach math, and Sylvia plans to study math at college.

During our conversation during the day I discovered that the Guertins are avid players of Settlers and similar games (like Puerto Rico, which we have). I lamented that we hadn't brought our game over. It was just fine -- they had brought theirs, including the extension set. So a lively game ensued -- there were 7 of us for 6 spots, so Dave and Diane teamed up, and it was fun to sit next to them and watch them do it. Much conniving, much strategizing and manipulating, the works -- what fun to find a family I already have a lot in common with have more in common. Nadine got into playing of course.

Afterwards, I was ready for bed. The kids weren't. They had still taken over the family room, heads on laps, conversations, etc., at first lively, then winding down but still fun.

I realized that Nadine's health would benefit more from fun than from coddling, so I brought down a blanket, they welcomed it over all of them, and I went up to Nathan's room where I had been "assigned" for the night. Needless to say, Nadine didn't join me -- she wanted to sleep on the family room couch, where her friends were.

The next morning, I was late for breakfast (by a little) in the interest of taking a shower. Nadine was down there -- I was surprised she made it that early. There was lots of conversation and fun again.

Jessie the nurse came, and accessed Nadine's port and drew blood for labwork with an audience of Nadine's interested friends -- no sweat.

Nadine was lobbying to get to go to the Thursday night contra dancethat night -- everyone else was going. She asked Jessie in front everyone -- I expected a "no" but she said it should be fine. There would be an announcement at the dance about hand sanitizer-- this could be done. I was worried about her going, but I'd brought masks just in case she did. Jessie and I thought Nadine's blood counts would be up, judging from how she felt.

After that, Nadine joined a musical jam session with Neil, Stuart, and Gillian. I did piano at first, but felt it was better teens-only, so I bowed out and enjoyed listening and taking pictures. What a treat. Afterward, Nadine decided to lie down on the couch -- I appreciate her sensitivity to what she needs.

Margaret the nurse called -- Nadine's counts were low after all, a surprise given her energy level. The neutrophil count was low, and the platelets were at 14,000, really low, and red cells were borderline. She'd need a platelet transfusion, but Margaret was willing to put it off until the next day.

To my surprise, Margaret felt the dance would STILL be a nice idea for Nadine, as it would be nice for her to have some fun. I was figuratively quaking about it. Oh dear.

Another game of Settlers was played, and off we went to the wonderful dinner party in Rochester in honor of Sylvia's leaving for college. Nadine had a super-fine time there. There were tasteful placements of hand sanitizer, and an announcement was made at "circle". It was a buffet, but Sue thought of having Nadine get her food first -- all was done well. We sat outside and I loved watching Nadine visiting so many friends.

Afterwards, we went off to the dance!! A large number of people from Sylvia's party went, including many newcomers. When we arrived, we were greeted by Nancy Spero, the caller, who was from Ithaca -- she seemed really happy to see Nadine out there again. She made an announcement from the stage that people should use hand sanitizer so Nadine could dance, and about 100 people swarmed to the stage to wash up.

Nadine promptly joined the dancing, and she looked completely energetic. She could barefly climb stairs, but she could dance! Graceful and energetic. A friend who danced with her said she was "zesty". Her friends were there with her, and the friends from the contra dance community. She knew to sit out when needed, and danced about 3 or 4 dances. As for me, I loved being able to dance again. The band was superb, and I felt energetic as well. We stayed until the first half was over; then we chatted with friends. There were many hugs and "byes", with the Guertins (who were leaving the next day), as well as friends from the community. Finally we left around 10:15.

We picked up Nadine's brother Erek at the airport that night, and another phase began, to be "written" about later.