El Skippito

When I got home from the clinic yesterday, I took a nap. I was tired from being nervous all day. Plus I was just plain tired. Sometimes I forget that I have real, legitimate reasons to feel tired. I have leukemia. I am anemic. I have pneumonia. I spend hours EVERYDAY in a clinic getting treatment, etc. Anyway, my point is that I give myself a hard time about needing a nap or being run down. But not yesterday. I was tired; I'd had big tests and news and needed sleep.

After my 2 hr nap, I walked outside to get the mail (one of the highlights of my day). Lo and behold there was a package from Amazon on the porch. Since it is close to my birthday, I thought it might be addressed to Holly. But no, it was for me. I opened it to find 2 cool children's books about a little Siamese cat named Scippy Jon Jones. I immediately read the first one aloud to my mom. Scippy Jon imagines himself a great Zorro type sword fighter named El Skippito and helps a band of dogs get their beans back from the evil dude who stole them. Turns out he slashes a pinata (for real) that his mom has hidden in his closet. The book is such a joy, especially to read aloud.

And who do I have to thank for these marvelous books? Marty (and presumably Deb) who aren't even here right now. They are up in Maine at Colin's wedding with the rest of the Riley clan. Thank you both very much. I don't know if you thought the lightness would cheer me up (it does). Or if you already know these books well. But I love children's books. I am a big Olivia fan, the series about the bossy little girl pig detailed by the cartoonist Ian Falconer of the New Yorker. I have an olivia clock, lunchbox, stickers, cards, several dolls, well you get the picture. I am somewhat of an afficionato.

Yesterday's lab numbers looked great btw. HgB up to 10.6, plt's 389,000, white cells 8.2. Pretty good looking numbers, eh.

Todays's photo has me with Olivia pinned to my hat as I sit alongside my garden in Asheville. Never forget your inner child!