June 22, 2007
Summer came to Sanctuary with full force. We had pleasant spring temperatures and gentle breezes that celebrated June until nearly the hour of the solstice and then heat and high humidity arrived without any transition. Usually, temperatures creep up and give one time to prepare the mind and body for what is to come, but this year, the season came fully developed as though it had been reading the calendar.
Many of the birds have their fledges at flying school now – this morning the swallows that live in the upper porch entryway had their two little ones sitting on the edges of the herb enclosures in front of the house, urging them on and seemingly very aware of how vulnerable their offspring were. Later, Alphie and I passed a pair of wrens circling a bush and scolding us fiercely as we walked by. Everywhere we go through Sanctuary right now, there are birds sounding warnings and concern; I have learned to identify the catbird’s choice – it is much like the quack of a duck. Since catbirds’ songs are mostly imitative of other birds, perhaps it heard the duck quack, and decided that this was a sound of substance with frightening overtones well worth using to get rid of would-be fledge snatchers.
My MDS continues to keep us on ground that will not remain steady. One walks along, and the earth shifts beneath, making the progress uneven and fearful. After feeling better for a bit, the blood readings have been going down to levels which I have not seen since April and May of 2006. This means that I am once again dealing with a fading immune system, and if the downward spiral isn’t stopped, flying across the waters to New Zealand will not be possible. After today’s sorry numbers, the oncologist immediately placed me back on Neupogen injections to encourage the white blood cells to get with it, and I re-check the blood in five days. Fortunately, there is time for improvement, and we will hope and pray for the best.