Memoirous

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Three days after coming home from a grueling bike trip, a tour of the Pacific Coast to San Fran, I went into cataract surgery mode. A friend asked: is it operation or surgery or procedure? Not sure. I was kitted up and on a gurney and rolled into an operation theater. Anesthesia was twilight, meaning I was awake but didn’t feel anything. No after effects. I came home and made Swedish crackers. Sat outside under trees and wearing sunglasses watching grandkids. The next day the eye cup was removed and . . .   MAGIC. My vision was so clear as to make me wonder if it was AI, if it was real. Everything was super crisp. I was elated and at the same time sad about what I’d been missing ever so gradually for the past 6 months. Especially the dirt on my floors that I can see only too well now. But, I’ll have to wait a bit longer for a big clean, as I’ve been advised to stay away from dust and dirt and be careful about lifting, and no bending head lower than waist for about a week. The...

This was a hard trip: the climbs the roads my eyes length of tour But, I rode my ass off. I did really well with the climbs, finishing, staying in the saddle, etc--it's just that I could handle only 3 big ones of 1000 feet and then I was sapped. In the end, it was the numerous short. steep ones that felt like too much. If doing this tour, consider 30-40 miles along the coast in California a good distance. The roads: mostly a wide bike lane, but not always. You must be good with traffic right next to you. Even at night I could hear the 101 buzzing from the h/b camp site. There was not a lot of peace and quiet--except on the Avenue of the Giants and a few back roads. Cars and traffic were a persistent element of the tour. My eyes: they are what they are. I did it. Now I'll get my cataract surgery and have the rest of the summer to wonder what I might have missed had they been perfect. If doing the Pacific Coast, I recommend a flexible schedule. Sure, you'll have to figure out...

 I spent 5 days exploring San Francisco. It is a big, international, hectic city. I'm surprised--after living in Chicago for nearly 40 years--how overwhelmed I felt. Of course, my friend had to work and helped me out with a ride to and from the hospital, but touring the city was not going to be something we could do together.  Tuesday, I sourced a bike box and after she clocked out of her remote social media job, we went to the Castro and explored the Mission District. I bought a book as I had finished the one I brought in the park waiting to camp, which never happened. I was happy enough just to eat and build up energy. Wednesday, I set out on my own to explore the city. I took a bus to Fisherman's Wharf, then walked up a hill to the Norwegian Fisherman's Church (excellent views!) and nice chat with ladies there, who offered me coffee and a waffle. Then on to the crookedest and steepest street in SF (there might be others, but this one is touted). I stumbled into a tour of...

 My first full day off the bike in San Francisco was spent with our friend Mark Zuckerberg. Hahaha. The hospital he had endowed. Historically terrible people such as slave owners, robber barons, union busters, etc have supported/started institutions. I just find it so ironic  But, who cares! I needed to get an idea of what was going on with my finger.  I was dropped off a little before 10 a.m. and was released around 4:30. In between staff brought me crackers, like a pre-schooler snack. I walked in and the process of check in went great. My insurance was accepted. I saw a nurse who sent me for X-rays. Then the real wait was for the person who was going to snatch the finger and straighten it out. He told me his name was Joseph, he had gone to University of Chicago, we had a lot of patter which took my mind off the fact he used a needle to numb and was going to have to realign the dislocated finger by yanking it. Listen, it all went well  More time, though, spent getti...