Sylvia's Journal

It is Thursday morning. Joe is leaving today, a piece of reality that I ignored until I saw him getting that ramp in yesterday without taking a break – as there was no break to spare. Then it hit me. Joe has been getting us through the transition from immediate disaster relief to project management and helping the girls organize (for) this unimagined new life for the next couple of months. They hadn’t expected to care for their parents just yet.

Joe, I don’t know how to thank you for what you have brought, value definitely, some levity, your understanding of networks and how to help them focus and provide value, tons of expertise in calamity management and an endless supply of love and patience. We are humbled by your selflessness and hate to see you go. Have a wonderful trip to Europe with Rita. We know you will follow us via this site. Thanks.

Ann Buxbaum came for a visit in the morning and helped me shower at the neighbors and after that we just sat and talked and gossiped in the way we have for nearly 20 years at MSH. She brought a sushi lunch which we ate outside. Later Abigail Axelrod, a massage therapist from Gloucester showed up and gave Sita and Tessa a badly needed yoga massage, to get their muscles to relax and some of that tension out. She will come back once a week to work with them.

My physical therapist showed up and discharged me after checking my use of the ramp and showing some more exercises. There is not much he can do with me until my cast comes off. I used the walker to hop from the sitting area in the yard to the bathroom inside and back, which is probably why I was completely exhausted by the time Tessa took off for Salem. I had planned to go with her but did not have the energy. I heard about Axel’s good progress from all those who saw him.

I successfully transferred my care from Worcester to local specialists and care givers and so I am pleased that I don’t have to make that trip again. We are still working on Axel who has been called in for a follow up in Worcester but we are making sure this is not going to happen and find him a spine doctor and other specialists locally with the help of Shaughnessy and our own family doctor.

Sometime in the morning a box with moldy stuff arrived from the FAA. An eerie sight: it contained our personal effects from the plane: Axel’s backpack and notebook, his camera, my cell phone, my flight bag and some clothes. I had given up on those and had already ordered a new cell phone. The camera contained the pictures from our day’s outing. It’s good that we don’t know our future. We all look so happy and are having such a good time! I will ask Sita to post these pictures on her Flickr site.

A rough night, waking up a lot, dreams which much movement, which had to do with having to get back to work and being driven by a boy scout on vacation who is having a fun time and not in the least concerned with me getting back to work. Alison, I did read your email and Skype and have not responded because I don’t know what to say, too overwhelmed by the questions and the realization that I am out of commission for awhile. Call me and ask me one question at a time and I will try to answer.

I cried, Birgit, when I read your posting in the guestbook this morning. Thank you so much (it was a good cry, of the blessed kind). Thanks to everyone for your continuing prayers and support and your writings in the guestbook, it is the first thing that I read in the morning and it props me up and gets me through those long early morning hours when the house and the world are so still.