Raleigh

The dogwoods were in full bloom when I got to Raleigh, and I noticed the azaleas a couple of days later. I didn't know what either of those plants were, and had to ask. Dad's townhouse has pink dogwoods in front and white ones in back. A week later, and the white flowers have a brown tinge on the outside of the petals, and tonight we have a rainstorm, and when the wind blows it looks like large snowflakes falling. The brick patio in back is covered with ivory petals.

Another wonder are the cardinals – common here, non-existent at home. And there's some sort of jay I'll have to look up, not like anything I've ever seen before.

As I drove out from Colorado, I time-traveled into spring. The trees went from bare to buds to fully leafed out. Here at Dad's, there's a small lake in back of his house, and the trees are so thick you can't see the houses on the other side. It looks like a secluded park.

I've been here a week. We had a day to go over things, and realized I should have come a week earlier. Then we had the time in the hospital. I was leaving a timed food dish down for Punkin; with the diabetes, she needs frequent small meals. When the ants discovered it, I changed my schedule to come home every 3 hours to feed her, then go back to the hospital. Not a problem – it's about a mile away, an easy drive. It was actually nice, giving us some structure to an otherwise totally unpredictable day.

Some things about hospitals have improved in the last 30 years (since the last time I was in one), and some have not. Food is better now. But people pop in at odd times, and with everyone on the floor trying to provide service, sometimes it turns out that no one does. Anyone staying in a hospital needs an advocate, who can get water and blankets, reach things that fall off the tray, and go down to actually get a nurse if needed. Call buttons get you someone who answers, but whether someone actually comes and takes care of the problem is another matter. I've stayed a couple of times with my daughter when my granddaughter was having tests done, so I knew what to expect with Dad's stay.

Now we're home – all three of us are happy about that (I'm including the cat). Dad's doing well, healing and rehabilitating, getting back on his feet – literally.

I've made a few forays out into the neighboring areas here in Raleigh, and learned that it IS possible for me to get totally lost. I've never done that before, but I've managed that dubious accomplishment here. Fortunately I had the GPS and I was going to a bookstore, so I bought a map. And also fortunately, it was AFTER I bought the map that the GPS went on the blink. It's working again, but the streets are so twisty-turny that the map is still invaluable. I can get a picture of where I am in relation to where I want to go, and I don't feel so, well, lost.

We're trying to settle into a schedule now, but we have various health personnel visiting here and there. This week the visits started on a Sunday, so the days and the people were all different. We should have the same people from now on, though, and next week will be the “regular” days. Of course, the home visits won't go on for long, so it will all change again. Just as well, though. Dad will be glad to get out and about again, even if it's going to doctors' appointments.

And we have the lovely rain, and the flowers everywhere, because it's fully spring here.