Chicago ~ in February

On February 23 I flew to Chicago to be with my friend Annie during and after her knee replacement surgery. After living in California for 15 years, I had forgotten how it feels when the thermometer reads 10º. I flew out of Palm Springs, where the temperature was 60º at 9:30 am, and landed at O'Hare Airport at 3:00 pm where the temperature was 10º. At least the sun was shinning brightly!]

The view from my bedroom window in Chicago

'This beautiful cardinal put on quite a display one morning when I was getting ready to walk to the hospital. Annie lives about 1/2 mile from the hospital so I was able to walk there every morning. It was a pretty good workout for a couch potato - if I didn't walk quickly I was afraid of freezing on the spot! And if I had ever had any thoughts about owning a dog, seeing those poor souls out there every morning, hands frozen to leashes, waiting for Fido to do whatever it is dogs do cured me from ever wanting to be a dog owner.




Annie's hospital stay was suppose to be for 3 or 4 days. Her stay actually lasted 11 days! The surgery went very well and she was able to walk the afternoon of the day of the surgery. However, the rest of her body did not wish to cooperate with the recovery schedule and complications set it. She was one miserable lady for many a day.

February 28 ~ 3 days after surgery

Even with all the issues she had, Annie would get up whenever the PT people  arrived and drag her IV pole around as she practiced walking with her new knee. We finally left the hospital on Sunday, March 8. Bob came to the hospital to drive us home and I could not have been more grateful. The thought of driving through downtown Chicago was very scary. The cats were thrilled to see Annie when she returned home. They tolerated me, probably because I was in charge of the feeding them, but they made it very clear I would never be their best friend!

Lily

Maggie

Terrace after the snow

It snowed a couple of times during my stay in Chicago. It actually snowed quite a bit in the early morning hours on the day of Anne's surgery and continued throughout the day. It was fun to watch from inside and by the time I was ready to go home at night (by cab, of course) it had ended. 

We were pretty much confined to the house for the rest of my visit. We did get out to visit the doctor and we had lunch out and one day it was warm enough to walk around the terrace. Two or three days before I headed for home I looked out on the terrace and the spring flowers were poking their little green leaves through the dirt. 

And people brought yummy stuff to eat ~ Shelly dropped off a whole chicken dinner, including desert, one day. Barbara came with delicious sandwiches, chips and Pellegrino fruit drinks that I am now addicted to. Jon and Cynthia treated us to pizza one night and it was wonderful! Kay and Bob sent a beautiful fruit arrangement that we ate for days. And it was very comforting for me to know that Julia, who lives upstairs, and Bob and Chadwick were always just a phone call away if there was anything we needed. Cynthia and Barbara each brought tulips when they came to visit. Cynthia chose pink ones and Lily really loved those! 

Before Lily discovered how fun it is to chew on tulips

After Lily discovered tulips

And Barbara bought yellow tulips. I took these tulips to my bedroom each night so Lily could not chew on them! And then, of course, I forgot one night and it was all over for the yellow tulips!

Bob and Chadwick brought this lovely little herb garden. It is just so cute!

After three and a half weeks I returned to sunny California. Annie is doing well and the knee is working perfectly. It was an ordeal but I'm sure she is very happy to be without pain in her knee. When I mentioned the left knee she gave me "such a look!" I didn't mention it again. And although it was tough on Annie and worrisome for me, I did so enjoy the time we had together. When you've been friends for 60 years getting together is a wonderful thing!