Tuesday 4 Oct 2005
1:08 p.m.

It froze hard overnight, was about 6-below this morning, Scott said, when I asked why we were so fortunate as to have a fire kindled in the woodstove before I woke up this morning. “Because it’s cold out there!” he said. And yes indeed, my cheeky snapdragons and brave little petunias had a layer of ice crystals on them when we went out the door at 8 o’clock to go into the hospital for blood tests (getting cholesterol checked)(ack, we've reached that age!).

Afterward we went to D’s Diner and had black coffee with overeasy eggs, crispy bacon, fried potatoes, and brown toast. We sat in a booth next to the front window, which overlooks the main street, and listened to the old farmers teasing each other at the tables nearby. I said to Scott, “I could sit here all day.” I don't actually hear much of what they are saying, as just like when I listen to songs, I hear the melody and harmony but rarely the lyrics; but it's the overall ambience that I can relax into. It's warm, unhurried, and goodnatured.

This weekend for the first time I ran into one of the town's local celebrities, former journalist and national broadcaster Pamela Wallin, now Canadian Consul to New York City, in the lineup for the till at the Co-op store. I had a greeting from a work colleague of hers from long ago days, and finally had the opportunity to pass it along. She seems likeable enough — smiling and friendly, like most everyone around here is, truth be told.

I remarked on this to Scott after we left the hospital lab, where there was so much joking going on: patients were giving the lab techs grief over taking blood, the lab techs were giving the patients a rough time right back, a lady in the waiting room was complaining about the horrible brew "they're making me drink" and so on and so forth. I didn't have my health card (ensuring that my medical costs will be paid for by the Saskatchewan government; hooray for medicare! read it and weep, ye non-Canadians) with me, but the clerk made sure I got through anyway so my trip to town wouldn't be wasted. If you live in a big city, the easy camaraderie even among strangers out here might surprise you.

***

I'm feeling a lot better, thanks for asking. Not taking any long walks yet; going to bed early; and not pushing myself hard.

Gotta go, appointments 15-minutes' drive north in 15 minutes. Scott is supposed to be in from picking stones now so we can leave. I'd best be ready.

xoxoETC
Kate