Lazy, lazy day today. Trying to make sure I am healthy for next week. After all my 35th High School Reunion is next Saturday. Where the hell did that time go?

Newell stayed home today too, feeling a little under the weather, so a lot of the day was spent napping. Nothing major was accomplished, but I do feel like tomorrow’s trip to Georgetown for lunch and a fitting is doable. I had feared the walk up to the restaurant for dinner last night might have been premature exercise, but I think I’ll be okay.

The doctor called today and said that my test results did show a slight white count elevation, but if I was feeling better, it could well have been viral rather than bacterial, and she didn’t want to prescribe antibiotics unless I needed them. I promised to let her know if I felt worse again.

So, it looks like the crisis is averted, and next week should be back to normal — which is good, because I have a TON to do.

Since you guys have been so sweet and patient, here is another poem for you:

I Stand Aside

I stand aside, as I have always done…

hands clenched tightly shut to keep safe —

to make sure that I don’t run my fingers

through the stacked blooms and dream.

Mother smiles indulgently as my sister

plucks her favorites from the masses,

squealing like a child with sweets at every find.

They will grace her wedding day.

And the fact that her suitor was my bosom companion…

that we told each other all our goals and hopes…

that we shared tender kisses and dreamed of more…

that he came to ask father for my hand and got hers…

All of that is deemed irrelevant.

She is the older. She marries first.

Better a mature goat with all its teeth

that no goat at all because the kid is not ready.

So my father convinced him.

And so, as I have done more times than I can say,

I clench my fists and watch forgotten.

I stand aside, as I have always done…

(This was written as a challenge piece about a picture which showed two girls and an older woman in a market tent looking at flowers.