Once again, I had to wake Kate this morning; however, it was a little easier to get her up than yesterday. Once again, to save time we went to Panera for lunch and got back just before the sitter arrived at 1:00.
Up until now, I have thought of her sleeping late as erratic. In fact, that’s what I said in the message to her doctor just yesterday. It now looks like we are in the process of a fundamental change in our normal routine. I have a feeling of regret about this. I feel for her as I know this signals a new stage of her disease.
I also feel for myself because it means reducing my own social contact. It’s been over two weeks since I saw one of my favorite acquaintances at Panera. For the past two or more years, he and his wife and Kate and I have shared a few moments of conversation almost every morning. He and I are quite different politically and religiously, but we both enjoy social contact and conversation. Both of us like to talk, but each gives the other a chance to speak. I miss him.
In some ways, I wish I had a sitter for the morning rather than the afternoon. The problem is that neither of our sitters is available for those hours. In other ways, it’s probably a good thing for me to have a block of time to myself. There are household responsibilities that I could take care of. I know I won’t have any problem finding productive ways to occupy my time. As time goes by, I might very well see that simply relaxing would be a productive way to take care of myself. Of course, I will also increase our in-home care. When that happens, I will be freer to get out.
