Calm before the (Bärchen) storm

I'm back in Vancouver after a wonderful trip! It was wonderful to visit Boston again after all these years (my last visit there was in 1993, for Harvard's model UN), and Mom and Gord took very good care of me during my week with them. They would hardly let me lift a finger and truly pampered me. As it has become increasingly difficult to get a good night's sleep, the daytime rest was especially appreciated. Days spent sitting on the porch, the deck, or the lawn rejuvenated me. My cankles calmed down, because I was reminded (ordered?) several times each day to sit with my feet up. I napped. I read a few books. And I enjoyed the absolute quiet; peace such as this has become a foreign experience for me.

It felt nothing short of decadent, and more than once I felt guilty that Mom and Gord were going to such lengths to care for me. I felt a little restless, too, at times, because I wanted to contribute, to pull my own (ever-increasing) weight if you will.

On the other hand, I realise this was my last opportunity for many, many years to do this. Bärchen's needs will come first (probably forever), and it will be a long time before our little bear will not be completely dependent on me. These next few months represent my last opportunity to rest up, read books with polysyllabic words, and sleep and eat when I want to. (Ok, already I'm not sleeping when I want to, and feel like I'm eating all the day.)

So no guilt, just deep appreciation.