A Day on The Road

Brynn and I set out early in the morning. Our first stop was at 9:00 a.m. A conversation with my last elder for my book. We were there until 11:30. I thought Bryn would be bored but she enjoyed the elders cat Jack. She also enjoyed listening to the stories told.

We had brought art supplies as she was going to make me some birthday cards. She made one. She appeared to be more interested in listening to us elders talk.

We next had lunch at one of my favorite restaurants called Minnesota Nice, and that was great! Just Brynn and I as my brother couldn't make it as was planned.

Iona, who was named after my mother just turned 25, and we were planning a little surprise lunch for her, that would include Brynn's birthday card she made, and presents Brynn helped to pick out.

After lunch we went to my diabetic doctor visit to continue getting the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) prescription. I have been off pills and insulin for some time now and the CGM's have been helpful.

Brynn is a preteen and everything is so embarrassing. She wants to be invisible wherever we go and to not be mentioned by Grandma. Then here I am above getting her to do this embarrassing picture with family she hardly knows. They haven't seen her since she was a toddler.

It didn't take much to talk them into it! None of them were thrilled, however! Especially when I wanted to get three different photos. I thought it was great, and love to have photos of my brother like this.

Steve is ten years younger and he was only 5 months old when our dad died. That is when I slid into the role of being one of his parents. We talked about our younger brother Tim, who has died now, as we had a similar photo taken with him.

All my brothers were in the photo below with the two youngest being Tim and Steve. The two older brothers in the background. All younger than me.

Memories! This brings tears. My brother that is 18 months younger than me is currently battling cancer. And two of my brothers struggle with addiction. We were supposed to meet there for lunch, however, he couldn't pass his blow and go machine as he drank the night before. It was midafternoon for our meeting.

The story was they had a snake in the house during the night. He was stressed and had a drink. His wife died last year, and she was the one who could grab a snake and throw it out the door.

He said that he isn't that guy. He told me he pictured it having babies and baby snakes being all over their house. Gartner snakes are not dangerous. I would have to call my daughter as she has owned snakes and has never had any problem with them either.

As a temporary parent, I always feel guilty like he may have gotten that fear from me. What was worse was when my daughter handed me a rat in a small box that I could hear chewing the box. That was worse than the snakes. Never again did she stop at a pet shop with me in the car and ask me to hold the box.

We dropped off the check for the Team Carrie Cancer fundraiser. It was a money order for $1,275.00. Photos were taken. She was hopeful that it could be used for a couple staff's office desks and chairs. They have community health workers that work with cancer patients.

They transport and go with the patients to appointments out of town, including the Mayo hospital in Rochester, Minnesota and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

I had a few bid items that belong to a cousin I hoped to hand off but was not able to reach her. Next time I will have concrete plans with her. If it wasn't framed, and fragile art I would just put the four pieces in the mail.

We got home around dinner time. Nice full day, but I was exhausted. Brynn napped on the way home. I'm not sure she will want to go with grandma on my next outing.