FaceTime

My brother got a new phone - and I am delighted to discover he has FaceTime available. No one else I know has that capability. I call him and try it out. What a marvelous improvement on the phone. I see myself in the corner of the screen, and I see him in living color in real time! This is great. Way better than skype which only works sometimes, and you can't move around with it. With the cell phones, the link is portable. And they can point it at anything around them so I can see everything.

I ask to talk to Mom, and we can finally see each other. I am ecstatic. She looks thin and tired, but is sitting calmly. We chat for a few seconds, then she is done talking.

THIS is what I have wanted for a long time. I don't need an hour of chatting. Just to check in and see that she is OK. It is way to easy for her to say she doesn't want to talk on the phone, but my brother just shoves the screen in her face and she can't say no. Hurrah! I am so glad to have this option. I plan to call everyday and check in. Thank you, tech gurus who make this possible.

Graduation 2012 RWC

Drew needs the car today, but I need to get to campus for Baccalaureate and graduation services. I love marching in the faculty lineup and seeing all the students I know make this important leap to their next phase. But Drew is groggy and slow. I urge him on. I am going to be late. I hate being late. I was always taught to be ten minutes early. Then I would be on time. Drew believes if you arrive somewhere within a half hour of the start time, its all good. I know he is just typical for his generation, but it bugs the tar out of me. Especially  when it makes me late!

I grumble all the way to campus, give Drew an earful. Shame on me. I run into the library, throw on my gown and hood, and dash down the main walk to Pearce. I am not used to running, and I huff and puff my way to where the rest of the faculty are lined up waiting for the signal. I have a few minutes to catch my breath before we begin to move. Drew would have said I had plenty of time. I feel like I cut it way too close.

Fortunately, it all falls away as soon as we begin. I am so proud of the people graduating, of the professors who participate, of the musicians who smooth the way. What a terrific group of people I am surrounded by.  I enjoy the whole rest of the day and gratefully go home in the afternoon to continue resting and getting over my 'bug.' One more graduation down. I can't believe I have been here for five whole years already! Who would have thought!

No Concert for You

I have been coughing for over a year, an irritating constant cough that the doctors have tried to figure out. Nothing seems to help or make it go away. It doesn't seem to be allergy or infection. The best explanation is that the damage done by the radiation is still affecting my throat and vocal cords. I have adjusted.

Recently, the cough has gotten much worse. Tonight I am also aching and have the chills. I must be coming down with something. Phooey. I planned to go to a concert of bell choirs downtown and scout for music for the chime choir. I hoped some of my ringers would go too. But that is out. I spend the evening hydrating, then go to bed early. I know there is some kind of bug going around, and I want to nip this one in the bud.

I certainly can't imagine listening to a two hour concert of bells ringing! Sigh. Can't do everything, even though I would like to. There will be more concerts. Meanwhile, I can still work on the summer chime choir workshop. Just not tonight.