Summer is almost over

I have done very little blogging this summer.  I have been on my own for a few months and didn't feel like broadcasting that.  And, I just don't feel like saying much when the world is full of hot weather and bugs!

Nick is in China.  Has been since May.  He's coming home this week.

I am walking with a cane. Because I have a torn meniscus.  My knee hurts.  A lot.  I have had knee issues forever it seems.  But now, as I am in my 60s, the arthritis is wearing away at my knee joints.   But that's another issue.  Right now it is the tear, that I think is visible in this picture.  I am having surgery to repair it.   I hope it "takes".  I probably need a knee replacement, but my doctor said that I am too heavy and that makes me high risk.  I understand that knee replacements last about 20 years.  Since I plan to live at least another 30 years, that surgery can wait!

Nancy's right knee, August 2016

I continue to help moms and babies with breastfeeding.  With my knee pain I cannot currently "work".  By that I mean I am not making home visits in my capacity as a Lactation Consultant.  I am helping some family and friends, and moms in need of assistance online through email or Facebook.  I have gotten a couple of moms tell me how much I have helped them, which makes me feel really good!

There have been losses.  One friend's mother died.  Another friend's father in law died.  My Uncle John's sister died.   My Aunt Alice died.   I had not seen Aunt Alice in 10 years, but I always liked her.

My mother in law, who is 98 says that it is the curse of living a long life.  If you live long enough, all of your friends are gone.

I have friends in their 20s and 30s who have young children.  They are so busy and have so much energy.  I see myself in them.  Looking back in time. 

I also see myself full of energy and being busy again soon.  Very soon.    People say that "old" is a state of mind.  yes, I can see that.  But it is also a state of physical being.  My body is older.  I am not in my twenties or even my forties.   I have more health concerns.  My joints ache.  My eyes are dry.  But I have psychic energy.   In that way, I am not old yet.  I wonder if I ever will be old?  I wonder if I will know? 

Time will tell. They say

It's August!

Hello August.  I am ready for the weather to cool down.  I know it isn't your fault, August.  In fact, in the southern hemisphere it is winter.  I think I like winter better.    Or even spring or call.  I don't like being hot and sweaty!  Nope, not at all.  Nor do I enjoy being dirty.

This reminds me of when we first went to Thailand.  Our first overseas assignment.  It was June 1976.  The Bicentennial year.  And it was hot.  I got a lot of mosquito bites and I got hot a lot.  We took malaria prevention drugs, and I remember writing a lot of letters home, and taking a lot of showers.  At least twice a day.

I took a shower this morning and got dressed in my "grown up clothes" getting ready to make a lactation house call to help a new mom and baby.  But then I started to feel sick.  So I cancelled my appointment with the mom and baby and came home.  And here I am.

After my phone/ camera fell into the Pacific Ocean (while in my pocket), I lost a bunch of my pictures.  I used my sister's camera/ phone to take some.  I sent those pictures to myself yesterday, and also some that I didn't take.  here's one of the pictures I really like.   I am not 100% sure how to do the captions on the picture, but here goes:

Front row, me (Nancy Sherwood), my sister (Carol Hestvik)

Second row, Jim Knowlden (Carol's son) Courtney Sherwood (my daughter)  Tom Knowlden (Carol's younger son) Behind Courtney is Catherine Knowlden (Jim's wife), next row, Austin Sherwood (my son) Leander Sømme, (cousin from Norway)  Morgan Sherwood (my son)- behind Tom, last row, Molly Thompsen (my brother Dale's daughter), Jessica (Jim's daughter) behind Leander and Sarah (Jim's older daughter) next to Leander.