Yesterday, I spent the early morning at Schuster Center, house managing the young people’s concert with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. I believe it was one of their best.

Since I was out by 12:30 PM, I decided to grab the No. 2 bus to the edge of the Oregon District to eat at my favorite Chinese buffet. I have only been there, recently, once since October 2024, and I have enjoyed my return.

I arrived home by 2:30 PM, happily greeted by five wonderful pooches who were pottied and fed before I climbed into bed for a two-hour nap. I really wasn’t too tired, but multiple sclerosis and grief are generous concoction of great fatigue. I rose at 5 PM, grabbed the southbound No. 17 to Town & Country Shopping Center, about one half mile away, to complete some deposits and to grab a few things from Kroger. Back at home, I didn’t feel like mowing but did get the trimming completed.

This morning, after feeding the tribe at 6 AM, I lounged on the deck while finishing my audiobook, Jon Meacham’s FRANKLIN & WINSTON: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF AN EPIC FRIENDSHIP, an exceptionally good dual-biograph on Franklin D. Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill. A few days before, I had completed Meacham’s AMERICAN GOSPEL which I enjoyed very much.

At 10 AM, I checked the weather and saw a large band of storms moving toward Dayton. With great speed, I mowed the entire yard, with more struggle than I have encountered before. I don’t know if the issues were from the achiness of the approaching front, or a sign of something else. With a little under 45 minutes, the mowing was completed and I was back on the deck to start a new book and relax before the quick, heavy band passed over.

Tonight is the Dayton Live Volunteer cookout at the Schuster Center. I had originally signed up to attend but have opted to remain home. I do love the wonderful Volunteers and wish I felt up to snuff so I could attend.

Monday, I will attend the funeral of a young neighbor lady, the 34-year-old wife of a former student. Less than two weeks ago, she announced she was abandoning targeted cancer therapy and passed away yesterday afternoon. I only met Mariah a dozen times, or so, the first being when she and Marlyn walked an escapee, Erma, back down Rockhill Avenue. I am so very, very sad for her family.