I think that this is it – the fall monsoon. The weather has been variable; some days rain, some days sunshine. Yesterday, my birthday, the weather was excellent. Today, it threatened to rain early in the day, and it held true to its promise in the early evening.

I had big plans that this morning seemed like a logistical challenge. It all went according to plan. Look ahead and the hurdle seems insurmountable. Look behind and the hurdle seems nearly non-existent.  Hardly seems fair.

First stop, the Palmer Senior Center. There I assisted Cathy, who is now in charge with putting books of all genres out on the table. I then had Pam take a card that I’d picked out for Mario and Mary (Cathy made it) and had those who came in for commodities and books sign it. It felt good to have her take it around to everyone.

I left the senior center, with what seemed minutes to spare, drove to the hotel, picked up the remaining kid’s cupboard lunches, and took them to Mario and Mary’s place in the Butte.

I was glad to see that today Mario was eating. Yesterday he had some juice – maybe it was too acidic because he was not able to swallow it. Today he wolfed down cottage cheese and whatnot.

He’s barely audible – sounds like Darth Vader, if Darth had ALS. With considerable effort, I can make out what he’s saying. He and Mary both appreciated getting the card and a book that I picked out for them. I will, when I go back to their place on Saturday, take some lentil stew with me.

I went from Mario and Mary’s back to the hotel. The developmentally disabled fellows had finished stamping duplicate books. I thought – wow, I am glad that I’d planned ahead and got the books out of U-Haul last Sunday.

No one ever gives me any credit for my thinking ahead and being efficient. Is it that they know and just don’t care about what I’m doing so well? Or is it that they don’t know because they lack the ability to acknowledge something of such magnitude.

Tomorrow I am going to call hospice and see if I can get someone to move Mario’s paperwork along, so that he can spend the rest of his days getting the care he needs. This is just too much of a struggle for Mary.

I found myself wondering today that there must not be a God for no God in their right mind would allow someone to suffer, well knowing that they are not going to recover. I was once told that God knows these things go on but can’t do anything about it.

I do not know if there is or isn’t a God – therefore, I would need definite proof in order to respond in the affirmative when asked – do you believe in God?

Once again, I stepped off the beaten track here. Well, the afternoon was spent in the company of friends in what has become a community space.

Next: 252. 9/19/25: Work hard, Play hard