My friends left yesterday afternoon so I’m back. With them, it is always as if we had seen each other the day or week before. We laugh a lot. We eat great foods that Peg always brings. We take rides along the ocean. On this visit, we went out to lunch. We stopped at a new place, the Maritime Museum in Hyannis where even I had never been. We took our time with the great exhibits and watched for a while a boat rocker building class. As for the dogs and my company, Henry stayed away a bit but then warmed to Bill and allowed patting. As for Nala, there are no strangers, just people to jump on and lick.

My house always feels empty after people leave.

Today is colder, in the low 40’s. The sun is so very bright, the sky a straight blue, but cloudy is the forecast. I have no list for today though I could be clearing spiders’ webs. They seem to be everywhere, across door ways, around chair legs and from frond to frond on my plants. I need to walk round carrying my duster.

My dance card for the week is uke heavy again. I have practice, a lesson and three concerts. Our music for the week is bluegrass.

When I was a kid, Saturday was kids’ day. Sunday was for family. With no stores open, there was only home or the grandparents’ house. I preferred home, but I had no vote. Now, I am the only vote. I stay home. The house is warm and cozy. The fridge is filled with great food, leftovers from Peg. I’ve already eaten toasted Irish bread, a wonderful recipe with orange and cranberries. The dogs are sleeping on the couch.

I’m old, but I don’t feel old; however, the signs are there. At stores and even the dump people ask me if I need help. I used to say no. I don’t any more. Everything is heavy. Also, all the tops of jars are difficult to open as are pill bottles. I have to use pliers. I think it is a conspiracy.