Turkey Day followed by White Coat Week

Thanksgiving was lovely -- "The best ever!" according to Alex. He always says that. We hadn't had the feast at our house for at least ten years. It is a time consuming meal, but not a hard one. The dishes are pre-planned. No fancy gourmet dishes for this feast day. The big bird, the mashed potatoes, candied yams, cranberry sauce, dressing (I serve a side dish, not a stuffing), simple veggies, and pumpkin pie. We also had great appetizers, pecan pie, and a lovely salad provided by our guests. There were eight of us around the table and everyone except Nancy and Ryan has known the others for over 45 years. Tom and Darlene Hall and her mother, Eva Nixon, came down from the foothills to join us.

There is something almost soothing about setting the table with the same good china we have used for special meals for 40 years. We even put the tiny bread plates on the table for this one, along with the fancy flatware and the best crystal and glasses. I had to wash the goblets and the thistle glasses because we so rarely use them they grow filmy in the cupboard. Using all of these things gives me a sense of continuity. I'm doing things the same way my parents, and grandparents, and even the greats did them. We so embrace new ways that it is nice for this very traditional day to step back into the past.



We really enjoyed having Mom here for the holiday and the days before and after. She asked us not to plan much because she tires easily, but she held out just fine on the days we did go out. December 1 a friend and I drug her out Christmas shopping with us and she was game for hours in a high-end mall. The shops there are fun.



She was back to San Diego just in time. Her son-in-law is prepping for one of those exams where they put a little camera into your body and check things out. This one is tomorrow and is just routine. It does mean, however, that he has had to fast for a day and drink some pretty toxic stuff this evening. He has a hand tremor -- made worse by the lack of food -- and is just putting his glass of yucky liquid on a table and drinking from a straw. The Wondermouse is quite disgusted with his lap. It is usually the more reliable of the two in our household, and this evening it keeps getting up and leaving the room. She gets dumped on the floor about every fifteen minutes.



There will probably be another camera procedure, exploring the renal arteries, within a month or so. He has a consult with the doctor's office December 16 "to establish whether or not he is eligible" for the angiogram. If he has it and if they find the expected blockage (indicated by an ultrasound) they will insert a stent to open an artery. We don't expect any action until January. I will update the situation as it changes.