SandyFerret of Zenith

I was unable to post yesterday, because we had a big thunderstorm in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, and the power went out. A large number of people were similarly afflicted, but ours was worse, because a big tree in the back yard split and toppled over, bashing the back end of our garage and pulling the power lines right off the house! There was no danger from downed lines, because there was no power anyway. We notified the power company, but they didn't seem in a big hurry to dash over, probably for that reason. I could dwell in great detail upon the many aspects of the ensuing aggravation, but eventually the electricians came to put things right, and then finally the power company hooked us back up late this afternoon, so all is forgiven. Of course, we still have a gigantic tree and its remnants littering the yard, but the tree cutters are going to come over one of these days. The electricians were very kind, and sort of tacked the siding back over the hole in the garage, so the rain won't come in for now, but we'll have to get someone to come and put up a real wall and some new gutters.

As fate would have it, today also turned out to be the very day that Mademoiselle asked me to bring her mother to the hospital to visit the new baby! Madame has been quite cranky at every mention of this project. She has been anxious to go, but she wanted to get her legendary car and go under her own steam, not at the behest of others. Also, she did not expect that Mademoiselle was in the hospital, and persistently denied that this was the case. I enlisted the Sparrowhawk to chauffeur us, so he could drop us off right at the entrance. Eventually we found our way up to Karolina's room and met the most adorable, perfect baby! Her name is Winifred Sylvia, to be known as Winnie. I thought this was lovely, but Madame grumbled that she didn't see why people gave children such long names and then had to make up some nickname. I also met the Fiance and dad, of whom Madame has never had one good word to say, and found him adorable as well. He's just a tall, skinny, Dutch nerd, charmingly solicitous of mother and baby, and kind to Madame. I can't think why she doesn't like him! Poor Mademoiselle ended up needing a c-section at the last minute, and Madame no longer has the wherewithal to understand what that means, and how Mademoiselle could use some extra kindness and appreciation. I took every opportunity to tell her how brave she was and how beautiful was the baby, hoping Madame would follow suit, but it was no go.

It wasn't the perfect occasion, but I think everyone was satisfied in their own way that it was done, and done properly. I then dropped the Sparrowhawk off at our house to see if any of the people we had called would show up--this was before the power came back--and took Madame to lunch. She was sorely in need of food and grumbled that she had a headache. I do understand the anxiety and loss of control that people with dementia feel when they have to do new and strange things, so I didn't take her crankiness personally. It's just a panic reaction. I took her back to "that place" as she calls it, and came home. A couple of hours after that, the power came back. We were so tired that we ended up taking a nap. Our cable is still not working, but we have internet via an alternate service, so at least I can use my laptop again! Good deeds are so nice in theory, but in practice they involve imperfect excursions with imperfect people--myself included--and as a result they are VERY EXHAUSTING. It will be super great to go to bed tonight without needing a flashlight.