Time well spent
It’s been a beautiful summer, with lovely weather in the fantastic Kootenay mountains, as well as the great company of Bernard’s friend Elena, who stayed with us for a month and a half. Most of the time was spent in our backyard, after a smallish pool was purchased and set up by the outdoor bed. On sunny days we listened to Chi Cha, read books, gardened, went for a swim, and generally enjoyed ourselves. It was, I think, great for Bernard to have a good friend come to visit, someone who actually cares about him and enjoys his company. On better days, we were even able to help Bernard into the pool…
There is a local beach just a couple minutes away, and a few times recently we made a makeshift bed in the back of the Jeep and brought Bernard down there for the day. It’s hard on him to travel that way (not to mention illegal and unsafe), but just a few minutes driving on a ‘good day’ is doable and essential to his sanity. Our sailboat also came along, and Bernard talked Elena, Ryan and I through its set up. It might drive him crazy not being able to sail himself, but he was also glad to see us do it.
The garden that was started this spring has done well, on the whole. There is a need to increase the quality of the soil, especially in some areas, but some great produce has come out of it already. Potatoes, zucchini, lettuce, swisschard, beets, beans, kale and turnips have all done well. Our grain trials were successful too, with hulless oats and barley, soft wheat, quinoa and amaranth all ripening at the moment.
Now autumn has blown in, quite suddenly and decisively, so that even a hot day can’t disquise it. It’s a little windier, a bit cooler and cloudier and just a little less green. A new list of essential chores has cropped up in my mind. We’re no closer to getting help for Bernard. The summer lulled us into relaxing, and it was certainly a neccesity for us to take a break. But now it once again falls on us that we don’t have someone in the medical system who’s going to get to the bottom of this. Our current family doctor has helped with medications and with forms for financial assistance. But I think he’s given up on Bernard actually getting better. He was supposed to organize an appointment for another test, but obviously has forgotten to do this, as we’ve not heard from him for months. We have to muster up the courage to try try again. Courage is something we were running short of. I hope our summer break has refreshed us emotionally enough to enter the ring again.
