Back to Olds, Alberta

In the cafeteria at the hospital I bite into a hot dog and it goes crunch. If you’ve ever wondered about the ingredients of wieners you could understand that I was concerned and then somewhat relieved when I discovered that I’d broken a filling. I phone my dentist at home and he recommends a friend of his in downtown Calgary. The dentist is kind enough to see me today and charges me a minimal fee to fix the filling.

Dr. Anderson is giving Nicholas an actual vacation from the hospital. He asks us to be careful because Nick is “fragile.” This afternoon we drove through Olds, the town where Frankie was born, where FH and I first lived after we were married to stay with Larry and Donna on their farm. The boys are blissful. We forget about low platelets and the doctor’s warning and let Nicholas drive an ATV alongside his brother. They ride between the quonsets, the house and barns, and to the fields with llamas, horses and cattle.

The best part of Alberta is the big blue sky and today is a gorgeous September day. Despite the +20C temperature Nicholas wears a sweat shirt and coat. His skinny little body doesn’t carry a gram of fat. Long after my boys normally would have gone to bed they fall asleep a bit dirty, a lot tired and with more happiness than there has been in a long while.

Thursday, September 8