The husband and I have started working on our wills. Most of our will is straight forward-- if I die my possessions go to him. He makes my health care decisions if I am unable to respond.

And he me should the situation is reversed.

What if we are both not dead, but can't respond? What if we are both in comas? The lawyer asked us to think that through. 

After a few days of contemplating, I asked C2 if he would handle my health care directive if the husband was not able. 

I asked "Could you pull the plug on me?"

He responded "Oh yeah. I'd want the same."

That's what friends are for.

We went snowboarding Thursday night. And I hurt my knee. For now I'm just icing it, and keeping weight off of it.

The husband and I both bought new skis and snowboards. So we have been trying to hit the hills. Last Sunday we drove to a local ski hill with C6. That ski hill had a large power outage just before we arrived. Power wasn't returned till the next morning.

Later today we are going to try night skiing. The weather looks bad. We shall see.

We had dinner with C2 last night. C2 has spent the last week moving into his new apartment and visiting his father in hospice. C2 is frustrated with his father's inability to die. C2's father just lays there like a vegetable. He eats every 2nd day or so. He defecates. That's it. No communication. He's not on life support. He's not on life sustaining medications. He just lays there.

When I think about my future, my end-of-life, I always assume I'm going to be able to talk until I die-- to communicate my wishes. If I turned into a vegetable, at some point I'd hope someone would give me end-of-life medications. Will doctors allow that? Our state allows assisted suicide. However, you must be awake and able to communicate. You must take the drugs yourself while an independent doctor watches. This is a complication for vegetables.

I need diet and exercise discipline that I don't abandon when we travel. At home I have no problems eating healthy, running and lifting weights regularly. 

When I travel... Exercise? Why? I'll catch up when I'm home. Dessert! Yes! Sure I'll take seconds. Oh, you want to get rid of the box of chocolates? Let me help!

It's good to be home. I love our bed. The dog was happy to see us. 

On the trip back we had about three hours of delays.

Now back to reality. I have gained about seven lbs. For the past two weeks I've indulged on sweets and fine food. The husband feels no sympathy for me. I don't have to eat every chocolate placed in front of me. That was my choice.

While we were away Seattle had a big dump of snow followed by floods. We seem to have avoided that. It's beautiful today. 

We have passed our COVID tests and made our way through Customs. The only things that can stop us now are the bad weather in Seattle or a screw up with the airlines.

I remain optimistic.

There were a few COVID travel learning lessons this time… maybe I don't need to spend two weeks in Ontario in the winter… That one sounds "well duh!"

The husband needs to get out for walks regularly. Pick places where we don't need long elevator rides.

We are still in Toronto. The week is a little frustrating. Omicron has caused the province to institute a lockdown-- indoor restaurant service is closed, so it's become difficult to meet up with old friends.

The husband is a real trooper here. He doesn't like being cooped up in our condo. The condo is OK, it's clean and quiet, but it's not set up for people to live and work for an extended period of time. He has been going for long walks in the afternoon to try and blow off some steam.

The night before the restaurant lockdown, the husband and went out for dinner with as many of my friends as were comfortable. We had an interesting discussion about COVID. These friends are all pro-science. Most of them are triple vaxed. They are all very tired of the lockdowns. This affects them more direct than I as many of them have kids and the lockdown means their children will now school from home.

There are no great answers here. I understand why someone would lash out against the restrictions. As Tommy says "it is what is is... Life Goes on... Life is OK."

 > Have a good 2022, if that is possible, Roderick. P.S

Hi Roderick! Welcome.

Bathwater, I see that people can reply to comments on your blog. How did you turn that on?

We are in Toronto now, visiting my old college buddies. We'e rented a condo workationing there for the week. 

I may have put my husband in a situation where he feels cooped up as the weather is cold so we can't get out of the condo that often.

Toronto is a bit more locked down than Seattle is. Even so, we have no problems going to restaurants. 

New Years Eve we went out for an outdoor light show at the Toronto Zoo. It was gorgeous.

Saturday was long walk along the waterfront with maybe a dozen other friends, their children and their spouses. Usually these friends have a large indoor New Years Day party. COVID canceled that (too many people indoors in one location) Hence the walk.

The walk felt good. For the past week I've been visiting, drinking coffee and eating sweets. Some activity is just what the doctor ordered.

Our home, Seattle has had a huge dump of snow. Toronto is above freezing and clear of snow. Our Toronto friends are bugging us about this.

Our aging parents is a large topic of conversation amongst my generation. We must love them and care for them while we can. 

For my future reference... all the people we visited last week...

Flew in Saturday the 25th. Flights were delayed and rescheduled owing to COVID, but we made it late in the day.

26th we drove to my brothers for a wonderful dinner. 

Monday... We had a social distant visit with my aunt R. She ended up being hospitalized later that day. Long story, but she is in her eighties and has been in and hospital for a while. 

Tuesday we visited my cousin B for coffee and then had dinner with my cousins A,A,H,M. 

H is a fine wood carver. He can make decoy ducks that almost look real. My parent's farm has a large bush around it. H and my Dad work together to fell the right trees and turn them into wood that H will later carve. He likes having access to the wood on their farm because he doesn't feel bad if he makes a mistake. Dad likes working with H to produce the wood.

Wednesday we cooked a nice lunch for my parents and my uncle J. In the afternoon we had coffee with a friend and old neighbor, N

Wednesday evening, the husband I took time off from visiting and had a great dinner at a local restaurant.

Thursday the husband and I had an outdoor visit with an old high school friend. In the afternoon we took care of mom while dad ran errands and visited my hospitalized aunt.

While we watched mom,, about every ten to fifteen minutes, mom would ask where dad was. We would patiently explain that he was visiting Aunt R. Mom would respond by telling us the same story about my aunt.