Hey, guys. It’s Ben. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
So much to tell you.
Let’s start with our new student. “Lissa” is officially with us now – and she’s added a whole new dynamic to our group. She and Bella have become “fast friends” and, I swear, it’s like the ladies have taken over. Having a new student has been wonderful and I can’t wait till we eventually have the 12 – or maybe 15 students our little school needs!
Then… there’s the addition to Chad and Raef’s house. Alex had insisted their home needed a couple more bedrooms and baths, and volunteered to provide materials “left over from the Koala Cove project.” Anyway, he did a bunch of sketches and got in touch with Nathan about the job. Nathan told him they have a big project starting December 1st, and said “Why don’t we just knock out this addition right now?” So, Alex talked with Jim and they got a building permit for a “minor residential remodel – with no inspections required.” Gotta love Jim and his contacts! Nathan and his crews descended on the house and, like magic, it’s almost done. They’re artists who can do it all – carpentry, electrical, plumbing… everything. The addition is beautiful – as Alex promised – and it’ll be wonderful for them… with Lissa and Matty each having a bedroom and bathroom of their own.
We’ve talked with the grandparents – and they’re not coming for Thanksgiving. They’ve all been watching the warnings from the CDC about Holiday gatherings and don’t want to risk bringing covid into our group. We’ll do a family “Zoom” on Thursday afternoon – and plan a real “get together” at Christmastime.
Now, Some really personal stuff you may (or may not) want to read. It’s o.k.- whether you want to read this… or just look at the boners above.
It’s like this: David, Dub and I are HUGE fans of Rachael Maddow and her show on MSNBC. Recently, she had been absent from the program because she had been isolating while her partner Susan Mikula was battling coronavirus. Rachael said, “Susan has been sick with COVID these past couple of weeks. And at one point we really thought that there was a possibility that it might kill her. That’s why I’ve been away. She said, about Susan: “She’s the center of my life. She’s the organizing principle of my life. My relationship with Susan is the only thing at the end of the day that I would kill or die for without any hesitation.”
Which brings me to a couple of weeks ago when I dropped David off at the St Lukes emergency room – thinking they’d just check his heart arrhythmia – and we’d be headed back home before long. The next thing I knew, he had been moved to the main St. Lukes Hospital on the Plaza and was in “intensive care.” They wouldn’t let me see him for two days and I was frantic. When they finally moved him out of “intensive care” to the cardio care ward, they finally let me see him. When I saw him, he looked AWFUL. He was hooked up to a heart monitor and had an IV in each arm. He was pale and groggy and looked terrible – although he (sort of) managed a smile when he saw me. Then, of course, they escorted me out of his room and I wandered around in the parking lot for a while and then went and sat in my car and just cried for a long time – because I didn’t know if he was gonna live. And, I totally get how Rachael was feeling about Susan. And I totally understand when she said Susan was the “center of her life.” Because that’s what David is to me. He’s my life, my love, my everything. He’s the smile I wake to in the morning and my strength when things get tough. He’s the one I spend my life with – and want to grow old with – and spend forever with.
So… today… we’re thankful. David is well and things are good. We went on a long walk this afternoon with Dub and “Buzz the wonder dog” and came home and took the turkey out of the oven and made dressing… and watched Jeopardy and gave thanks.
We hope this THANKSGIVING DAY is special for you. We wish you happiness, good health, and good cheer. We love you. Ben, David and the gang.