A room with (an interior) view

Hello faithful bloggers,

Bernice is back in the now familiar hem/onc unit and is very satisfied with her B bed at a broad window. As I mentioned a few blogs ago, this handsome and functional 11-story building was designed by IM Pei and a major feature is that there are atriums extending to the full height of the building with glass roofs. Every patient room has a window facing either to the outside or to an atrium. Bernice's window faces an atrium and offers a view of the internal hallways flanking one side of this impressive space. She can watch the traffic of patients and staff. There is plenty of light and her view creates a feeling of extended openness. She and I are very pleased. Things are looking up medically. With help (they do not want another fall) she walks to the bathroom and moves from her bed to a comfortable chair next to her window. Her appetite has returned but is at a low level. A dietitian talked with her today and offered suggestions. She is supposed to exercise, even when in bed, by doing arm and leg raises. Bernice finds it hard to believe how weak her body is now but all the doctors tell her that her strength will be restored.

At about 6:00 tonight Bernice observed that I was looking tired and should head for the apartment. I agreed and here I am with an earlier blog time. We are probably entering a time of slow recovery and I don't expect any dramatic events to punctuate her return to normalcy. I mentioned back a few blogs ago that there might be another operation to "fix" the poorly healed wound in the back of her head. It turns out that this is a purely superficial fix to prettify the wound site. It will be covered by her hair and she vetoed going ahead with this. There is now a short, curly fuzz growing where her scalp was shaved. All the staff, including doctors from diverse disciplines, comment on how good she looks. Tired of her usual rejoinder she only smiles and gives me a subtle eye roll.

So far Earl has made no appearance in NY city. There are not even any outlying rain bands and so no rain at all. Earl has weakened and is centered hundreds of miles off the coast. There are presently a string of tropical storms, advancing like a line of ducks, following Earl and any of these could mature into a hurricane.

Goodnight all. I may skip a day or two but will be sure to bring notable news.
love, Merwin