May 27, 2008
Last week, heavy rains came, and in a very short time, Sanctuary became primordial with grasses grown waist high overnight and trees heavy with moisture hanging their branches low over the paths creating long dark passages though the forest. Creatures seem delighted at all the new secret places and Alphie disappears in the tall grasses as he checks out their latest activities. I am struck by the number of faces the acreage has as light and water bring about astonishing changes in colors and shapes.
In my weekly foray into medical matters, I stopped by the pharmacy to inquire if there were any effective over-the-counter products for mouth sores. The young man very helpfully told me that all I had to do was mix equal parts Maalox and hydramine, which is an antihistamine, and gargle. He said it had the same ingredients as a prescription mouthwash and would work just as well. All of this sounded quite fine, and I dutifully got the products and mixed them up, though the sight of “cherry flavored” on the hydramine and “mint” on the Maalox bottle did give me pause. Mixed, the color of the stuff was a very hot pink indeed. I took a mouthful and tossed my head back and commenced to gargle. Oh my. The tongue registered a flavor which the brain identified as possibly “fermented bubble gum”. It is always discouraging to find out first hand the drawbacks of certain approaches to things. I shall endeavor to carry on at least a day before calling the doctor and requesting a prescription with the assumption that whatever it might be, it won’t be as full of flavor as the above.
This month draws to a close with Charles playing for weddings every weekend and John-paul returning from Egypt in just a few days. The grand daughters are finishing up the school year. . . older, wiser, and ready for summer’s new menu of activities. Life goes on, with happenings taking place “just like last year” but with enough variations to keep it interesting. We look upon it all with old eyes and new insights and we are ever thankful for the good things that accompany us on our journey.