10 September 2020
Before I hit the sack, I thought I'd just let you know that nothing happened today. I don't want you to worry.
The pump was making quite a racket again last night, so I got up way too early and went back to bed when Joyce and her pump got up.
Because it's garbage day I went around the estate whacking weeds in the cement gardens and between the bricks on the patio and raking up the leaves for the green recycle bin.
Then I took a real long walk to two banks and the Post Office to pay some bills. I do that every month as if nothing happened anyway.
I thought it was awfully nice of the security guard to open the door for me at Bank of America. Both going in and coming out. I thanked him, we wished each other a pleasant day and off I went.
But thinking about it, I suppose that's protocol. If only his hands touch the door, it minimizes exposure. And nobody has to clean the door repeatedly.
Alice was our dinner time phone call tonight.
I got back in time to make dinner. Nothing special. Salmon burgers with fries and an aioli for the fries made from mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and garlic. That's going to have to suffice for your recipe today because nothing really happened in the kitchen.
Alice was our dinner time phone call tonight. She'd been to my mother's and told Joyce all about it. Except Joyce didn't quite get the drift of what she said. Something was broken but forget it and my mother is hearing noises.
Since it was dinner time, I just texted Alice with my free hand. She explained the disposal was out. She confirmed it was plugged in but when she hit the switch (you guess it), nothing happened.
I realized that I would have to go over there after dinner because tomorrow a lot is happening. The dressing change in the morning, the physical therapist after lunch and the washer/dryer delivery anytime between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
So I pack a flashlight (Mom has no working flashlight other than her iPhone) and some big Allen wrenches because only some unnamed divinity would know where the disposal tool was laid to rest.
I get over there in a flash, try the switch and it's just like Alice said. Nothing happened.
So I get under the sink, clean it up a bit (discovering ancient artifacts like clay pipes, porcelain doll heads and colored glass bottles) and see the reset button has popped out. I popped it in, gave the switch a try and it hummed but (ahem) nothing happened.
My biggest Allen wrench didn't seem to fit, of course. So I looked for a big wide screwdriver downstairs. Unsuccessfully.
Wait, Mike, I said to myself. Your Dad would not have disposed of the wrench. Where would he have put it?
Not taped to the disposal. Maybe in a drawer? I try the knife drawer and find a little box of tools. And there it is.
A bit of hard pressure to the right (which they call clockwise) and the flywheel releases. I try the switch and the disposal whirs to life.
We chat a bit before I leave just as a UPS truck, Amazon and FedEx all arrive at the same time and block me in. They're gone by the time I untangle the seat belt. And I get home without further incident.
Where Joyce says nothing happened except she took some garbage downstairs and fell trying to get back in the side door, which has a tall step, bruising her knees.
Well, the nurse is coming tomorrow. And those knees should be really sore by then. Perfect timing.
I ask if she heard from Dr. Tong, who she had written to about an embarrassing side effect of Ativan. Oh yeah, she tells me, she replied. When? After dinner? No, before. Well? I don't have to take it, she says. OK, that's settled.
And then her pump starts beeping because the canister is full again in just a day. So I change that.
And with nothing at all happening after that, I decide to make busy by taking out the rest of the garbage and writing this up so you won't worry.