Penny's Doing all Right. Huh.

Ok, so they've moved my grandmother out of the ICU. My aunts and uncles have found a place for her to sort of rehab after the hospital releases her (she's not sick enough to stay there, but too weak to go home). It's down my way, in south county, which is nice to hear. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes. She's not out of the woods but she has a path, at least.

My aunt Chris says she still doesn't recognize her (Chris) but looks at her and knows she should recognize her. She didn't know my uncle Glennon, either, but for some reason knew his friend John. My aunt Paula fares better in her memory. She is the oldest, after all. Chris is blaming the narcotics for most of this. She gets worse in the evening, but starts the day pretty well.

I really didn't think she was going to make it. As my brother Ian put it last week "she's a trooper." She is. If any 82 year old woman was going to do it, she was.

It's been making me reflect on life, on what, if anything, is important. I mean, things are important, right? But can we know them? Do we make a difference? In any way that we plan? Lilies of the field, sparrows in the air kind of thinking.

And then Sophia and I made brownies last night and ate some while they were still melty hot. I read a history textbook before I fell asleep. This morning I had coffee. I'm getting my hair cut this afternoon. I'll take a bike ride with the family tomorrow. I'm living in declarative sentences. Trying not to overthink it all. Or fall into a trance. Or count too many chickens.

But I'm hopeful.