May/June - Returning to normal

With the travel in March and April over it is time to get back to the job of returning to normal.  I have cut my therapy sessions to once a week (both physical and occupational for my hands).  I have added aqua aerobics twice a week to take the place of the dropped PT sessions.  The pool classes are very popular with 20-30 of us most of the time. We have 5 or 6 men that come regularly.  Most of us are retired ranging in age from 60's to 80's.

David and I are also back to somewhat regular stretching with our "DVD instructors" Tony and Miranda.  Occasionally we will add Pilates with Nicole or the Ali McGraw yoga tape.  If you remember Ali McGraw from Peyton Place (TV show) you must be of my generation

Getting back to normal means returning to my volunteer "job" at the Red Door thrift shop.  I don't know who was happier - me to be back or them to have me back.  I can say their sales have gone up with me back on the job.

I  hosedt our Piper Circle neighborhood book club in May.  We read "A Dog's Purpose".  I haven't seen the movie, but I did enjoy the boo.  Warning:  there are some sad parts, but there is a happy ending.

I started hiking on a somewhat regular basis with the Thursday hiking group.  We are so fortunate to have the North Cascades within reach.  Below is a photo from our Thunder Knob hike on May 25th.

At the end of May our yacht club hosted the Capital City Yacht Club from Sidney, BC in an event known as Capidalgo.  This year we had a pirate theme.  We all had a jolly good time!

I traded in "my pirate" for a Canadian Johnny Depp look alike

TBoating out was high on our list of things to do.  Our first two trips (Burrows Bay and Sucia Island) were true shake down cruises as we found things that needed repair.  Our third trip out to Blind Bay and Fisherman's cove was a clean trip with no problems detected.  I did successfully kayak for the first time at Sucia.

Kayaking in Shallow Bay, Sucia Island

I Being able to ride my bike was one of my physical therapy goals.  We started out riding around the neighborhood.  The first time we went downtown, I did fall over twice.  Not while I was riding, but when I was getting started.  We made some adjustments and since then (knock on wood) all has been well.

Riding around the Clearidge neighborhood

Normalcy also includes socializing with our Newcomer friends and welcoming friends from Hawaii on their visit back to the mainland.

I am feeling pretty normal these days.  David gets to live pretty normally as well, but he does keep a watchful eye on me as I push my limits.

I predict July and August will be more normal life, but who knows???