Spring                                                            Bee Hiving Moon

The Woollies met at the University Club in St. Paul, a fine location with a quiet room, attentive service and lots of laughter.

We marveled at Tom’s fingers wriggling out beyond the stylish black cast that immobilized his recently operated thumb and his dexterity in grasping with no opposable thumb. We heard Bill talk about his numbness in his left shoulder, the moments just after he woke up at 4 am and his quiet acceptance that this was o.k. Except instead of dying he went back to sleep. Of course, we don’t know the number of people who do the same thing and then die. In Bill’s case a number of tests ensued and he learned he’s quite healthy with the exception of some calcium in his high vertebrae.

We discussed Frank’s ongoing recovery from his back surgery yesterday.  Pain manageable and up and walking today or tomorrow.

The retreat brought up a lively discussion, as always.  We settled on a topic/theme, What is your walk? This inspired by Tom’s reflections on a book he’s currently reading on the philosophy of walking. The retreat will involve excursions to Red Wing, possibly to Wabasha and hiking in the area around the Frontenac Retreat Center where we will stay.

Warren spoke about an adjustment to retirement that he’s been making. And we all helped him. Ha.

It was a lively, engaging evening. One interesting discussion came up about the issue of cooking for one. Bill raised it. Charlie suggested making something really tasty in a crockpot, or something else and then eating off it for three or four days. We looked at the idea of a meal and how a meal may involve at least two people. Otherwise you’re just eating. This is a matter widowers and singletons know intimately.

We went out to a clear night, stars bright and a cool breeze. An excellent Minnesota evening.

Spring                                                             Bee Hive Moon

Tom’s thumb will be done tomorrow, a nifty operation, done often, same day.  Then, no using that opposable thumb (and what are we, after all, without our opposable thumbs) for three full months.  This post is for Tom.

Talk about a great attitude.  Tom’s going to take this opportunity to use his non-dominant hand and thereby increase the flexibility of his brain.  Making lemonade out of hand surgery. Or something.

Doesn’t sound like much, three months, in the abstract, but when you begin to add up the things we do so easily with our dominant hand, especially after 60+ years of practice and habit, well, then three months sounds like a very long time.  Buttoning shirts.  Using table utensils.  Opening doors.  Driving.  Typing. On this one Tom’s going to try to learn Dragonspeak.  I hope he does, maybe it’ll spur me to finally learn it.

We’ll be thinking about you tomorrow morning, Tom.  8 am.

P.T. Barnum and Charles Sherwood Stratton (Tom Thumb)

Imbolc                                                          Hare Moon

So, three Woolly’s walked into a bar.  The punch line is:  who is I?

Met for lunch with Bill Schmidt and Tom Crane today in Maple Grove, Biaggi’s.  I know about the three kings, the three wise guys and I’d title this group the three skeptical guys. We share a common suspicion of easy answers, traditional thought when it constricts the mind and the existence of only one I within.

Tom made an interesting observation about the I, “Maybe it’s more like a cloud with a floating data point, or like wave/photon theory of light.”  Makes sense to me.

We ate, then Tom, the still employed of the three of us, had to leave for a conference call. Ah, the workaday world.  I don’t miss it.