Best wishes for our neighbors to the north!
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I am finally starting to get excited about Berlin — only 5 more days 
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I’m staying up to check on the results!
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I now need an aquarium … and a 3D printer.
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And sea urchins!
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Even the urchins are wearing hats nowadays…
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I thought they were included with the aquarium 
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Yesterday I completed my 20th and final session of cardiac rehab. 
I got a graduation certificate, even! 
I still have to have a stress echocardiogram on May 14th due to some minor issues I had during rehab, but I’m hoping it proves that the stents remain in place and everything’s hunky-dory, and these are just the “twinges” I was told I would have, even after the stents.
So while I very much appreciated the cardiac rehab nurses and therapy specialists being there pushing me on the treadmill and NuStep to progressively harder levels and being there every step of the way for me, I did tell them that I hope I’d never see them again. They completely understood.
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Woo hoo! I still have my certificate! As a matter of fact, my rehab offers a non-ekg monitored membership for grads, for cheap. I recommend, if you have a similar setup.
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Ohhh, I don’t think this one does. It’s tied in with Beth Israel-Lahey Hospital in one of their smaller medical facilities, and the classes are filled immediately (up to 9 of us) as soon as one of us graduates. There were two of us graduating yesterday, so there will be two new people tomorrow (I went on their Tues/Thurs class days, as those had a choice of a 4:30 start time for one of the day’s classes).
BUT - there’s a treadmill in a small fitness place on the floor below me, and employees in the Mill complex where I work have access for free. They also have a stair climber, which I won’t use, and weights, so the treadmill is it for me. But I like the steady pace it gives me, allowing me to add inclines or declines manually. So I’ll continue to use that to try and keep myself less sedentary. Plus, nice weather so walking outside on the weekends will help (provided it stops raining EVERY DAMN WEEKEND!)
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Mine is in the hospital. Small, but mighty. Plus there’s a crash cart …
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I was in the hospital for a few weeks last year. The nurses, pt staff, etc all agreed it would be nice to see each other again: at Target, Giant, in the park, . . . 
Glad to hear you’re doing well. 
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Yeah, they have a very small ER facility at this medical group location, but it’s mostly primary care with some pediatrics as well, along with the cardiac/vascular rehab.
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Exactly! If I saw them out and about, I’d greet them with a big smile and a hug! But otherwise? Don’t wanna see them at all. 
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Fabulous news!
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I found out at dinner time on Thursday that my closest cousin’s husband died of a stomach aneurism on Thursday afternoon. He had driven his 5 yo grandson to school, developed back pain some time after he got home. My cousin was at work, and was able to call an ambulance to get him to the hospital. He died as they were prepping him for surgery. He was 66.
Then, last night, a friend I’ve known for close to 20 years let me know that her nephew’s wife died of cancer. She was 52.
I had been good friends with the nephew and wife 25 years ago, before I met my friend. The wife and I had a falling out, and I backed out of being a bridesmaid at their wedding. I was very fond of the husband, but I never reached out because it fell too awkward. Would you reach out to offer condolences to someone who you know ages ago, if their wife died? I don’t want to add to his grief. I have mixed feelings so I told his aunt (my friend) that I felt badly for him, and he was the one of the kindest people I know.
Life has a lot of unexpected turns
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Yes, I would. My experience was under very different circumstances. I was good friends with a guy from childhood through our twenties. We knew each other’s families very well. But when he started dating his now-wife, we sort of fell out as she didn’t like him having a close female friend. Anyway, years later when my father died, he sent the kindest note full of personal recollections. I still have it and just writing about it still makes me tear up.
Life is short. If you are thinking of that person, let him know.
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Thanks. I appreciate your thoughts on this.
In terms of friendships with family friends, I have had a similar thing happen, where the wives of the sons of our family friends were not interested in becoming friends with me, and ultimately, it has meant I don’t see the sons at all, unless they happen to be visiting their mother when I’m visiting.
In one case, I brought the son and his wife a wedding gift and baby gifts. I went to their annual Xmas open house for the first 10 years they were married. I also brought their daughters jewellery that had been mine when I was a kid. I stopped attending about 10 years ago when the wife’s friends made a couple comments to me that made me feel unwelcome. Life goes on. I would still reach out to any of those sons, if someone close to them died. I stay away, in general, not to aggravate their wives or add stress to whatever is their relationship dynamic.
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I’m sorry for the cascade of bad news for you.
I think he would very much appreciate your concern and condolences. Grief is a tough nut to crack, but when you’re in it’s throes, ANY expression of comfort is helpful. No matter how you may feel (or have felt) about his late wife, you were fond of him, and that’s what’s important. You’re fond of him. He’s suffering. Your comfort will mean worlds to him. He’ll feel better. So will you.
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