2018–FAMILY TIME IN THE COOL PINES IS CUT SHORT—b

Thankfully, Dr. L is taking such good care of Will as to have instructed her staff to call to relate his cat-scan results before sunset, yesterday. Will has two kidney stones, both of which look small enough to pass without elevating his pain level, which has been tolerable, thus far, and that’s very good, because passing stones, which may take several days and at times requires hospitalization and morphine drips, can be as excruciating as being in labor.

One stone is already part way through the ureter on its way to his bladder.  The other may remain in the kidney, causing no problems for years.  We’ll know more when we see the doctor, after the weekend.  As for now, Will was told to push liquids in hopes of flushing out the stone that's in the process of passing and go to the ER if his pain worsens; so, though he is enduring discomfort enough to require pain medication (which Will is most assuredly Spartan about), you can bet that we’re feeling much relieved to have received a diagnosis that has naught to do with the word—tumor!

Here are three photos, two of which
I’d snapped on The Fourth
The first is of Ravi, sporting a playful smile while
Bathing in bubbles on the deck of our cabin
The second offers you a glimpse of
Our tall stately pines, reaching upward as though eager to
Embrace the beauty of our sun-kissed blue sky
The third is of a homemade float, created by
One of many families that participated in our
Community parade, which I chose to miss so as to
Stay with Will though he'd continued to insist that
He’d be fine until he realized that everyone else was
Already marching down the hill toward the main drag where
All of the holiday festivities were taking place while
My wordless smile, which spoke of freedom to
Decide for myself, strolled into our bedroom offering up
A steaming cup of sweetened, orange flavored tea ...
I mean, after 52 years of marriage, you'd think
Will would have come to accept the fact that
Mary Poppins has developed a mind of her own—right?  Right!