Another day of sunshine. I was determined to spend it outside, and I did. I first went to see my friend Cathy who is wheelchair bound with a fractured tibial plateau, the very same injury that I had many years ago. I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle and she fell off a ladder in her apartment while hanging a picture.

I had pretty much decided that we would not hang out in her apartment, although our doing artwork together, as always, promised to be fun. So I pushed her in her wheelchair and we went to the Palmer Senior center (which is adjacent to her apartment building) and got commodities. There is a limit on how many items one can take in any given day, so I picked up some things for her.

Tyra and Raudi waiting to go out

Very strange, to be pushing someone around in a wheelchair who is just two years older than I am. I opted to remain on crutches when I fractured my tibial plateau, and she opted to get around by wheelchair. Now if I was her age, would I get around by wheelchair? No. I would not be able to get anywhere around here if I had to go with that particular option.

After we got our items, we went outside and sat in the sun, beside the rock garden that she put together. The garden, which is waist high, is full of painted and unpainted rocks. We sat there and examined the rocks, most of which she gathered while on walks on the Matanuska River. Some were painted and some were not.

It felt good to sit in the sun and veg. Like many, Cathy said, in so many words, that I need to take more time off. The hackles on my neck rise when I hear this – I would love to take time off from my job. And I would have no qualms about handing over the whole enchilada to someone who is willing to do the tasks I’m willing to do.

Nevertheless, this afternoon I decided to do less. I went into the hotel with the goal of getting five boxes of books ready for one village. I did this, then I took off early, so as to get a horseback ride in. Pete rode Tyra and I rode Raudi down to the Murphy Road corner. The horses moved slowly -- they are saying that their feet are tender. So the next time we go out, we’ll put their boots on them and see how they do.

After, I explained to Pete that I was concerned about getting the warehouse space in order before our next event, which is tomorrow. The good man that he is, he said he’d come along and do some work tonight. So we tried as best we could, to make a party out of it, got pizza, beer, and cranked up the tunes. We both got quite a bit done, although there is enough to do tomorrow.

I will go in later. I will first get in a ride on Hrimmi. Giddy up.

Next: 115. 4/26/24: Chug a lug