Continued Catch-Up

Nadine said that on Sunday she’d make up the week's activity and do “nothing” and she did well at it. Barry came up late Saturday night, and it was nice to have him there with me and Nadine for the night. He stayed through most of Sunday too, and we had a game together and it was an enjoyable visit. A quiet day at last.

I changed Nadine’s wound dressing on Sunday. She doesn’t seem to like me to do it, and I in turn feel clumsy. Not dangerous, just clumsy. This was no exception. Barry wanted to see how it was done, and he got to. The wound was definitely getting smaller, which is excellent. Nadine fussed while I did the deed, but thanked me profusely afterwards. Oh well.

I got a treat -- Hope Greitzer, with whom I'd planned to start a band, was in town. I'd called her a few days earlier (a big step), planning to meet her in Corning, but she was right here (accompanying kids at the fiddlers' faire). We practiced together in my bedroom (which has a piano too!) with Nadine and Barry keeping me company. Hope has a warm, smooth and lively fiddle style, and a warm loving and lively nature. We knew quite a few tunes in common and also taught each other a few. Her husband Jim joined us, and shared some wonderful finger-picking guitar, which Nadine loved -- she has been teaching herself guitar. I’m so pleased.

The dressing for the new port insertion still is stuck on one of the sutures -- I plan to call the department that put it in and have them look at it next week, although it is probably just fine.

On Monday Kristin, the physical therapist, arrived -- Nadine felt sheepish that she hadn’t done more of the set exercises, but at least she had gotten dance exercise. Arm-strengthening was nice for Nadine, though. She can use it.

It was nice and hot out , and while Nadine stayed at home, I called Wendy Mancarella and took her up on her offer of swimming in her pool. I have received so many gifts tailored to what I love; this was one of them. Wendy is gracious and lovely, and her twins (about to be 14 years old) are also lovely -- I’ve done theater stuff with them. Their 4-year-old daughter Leah is a lively little love. I invited her to splash me in the pool to get me wet. I remember how much it fun it used to be to splash others -- why not give her the pleasure? It was an ideal and idyllic few moments.

Nadine’s composition teacher Margaret arrived for an afternoon visit-- we visited alone first, then we all visited. Margaret is so giving and caring and lively. She is also a marathon runner. I put on Nadine’s audition CD for the National Flute Association high school flute choir -- I hadn’t remembered how gorgeous it was. Margaret loved listening to it too. Nadine played the starkly lyrical Chante perfectly -- it is gorgeous, with meaningful repetition built into it. It took complete musicality or it could sound trite. The Bach partita was also lovely, and I realized that her stylistic choice of detached notes was completely right, even though I’d disagreed with it at the time. The very modern alto flute selection was also gorgeous -- some like a wild bumble bee and other parts lyrical. I love the richness-plus-range of the alto flute.

Margaret announced she’s planning a concert in which Nadine would be honored, and Nadine’s pieces would be performed. My compositions would also be in it. I persuaded Margaret to include hers as well. That should get us going.

She also worked with Nadine on preparing for her piano proficiency test for her Eastman “preparatory diploma”. Nadine amazingly picked up the scales quickly, plus arpeggios and has a lovely touch. She could have been a pianist if she hadn’t already chosen the flute. I suggested she use the Bach minuet and the Beethoven Sonatina in G for pieces for that, and Margaret said she’d bring them next time. It was nice to see them together. Nadine had indicated she wanted to do piano mostly without me and I had honored it. I loved watching, though.

Later, Nadine and I had another nice quiet night complete with reading. At bedtime, however, Nadine seemed anxious and wanted me to lie down with her. This often happens at night.
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