In this case the night owl got the muffins, but they brought them back to the nest in the first place so it’s all good.

Mom seems to be doing really well, slept better last night than since she got home and is stiff from sleeping so hard but not achy, which is great. My sister is en route from the airport, so I’ll be heading home at some point. That will be weird.

Teppy, how was sleep last night?

Honestly pretty decent. Based on all the stuff I read about recovering at home, I had expected to sleep in the recliner, but I slept in bed just fine with a soft collar — basically a neck travel pillow [link] And I’m sure the drugs helped.

My neck muscles are sore today, but I knew to expect that. And my throat is sore, but I also knew to expect that. I honestly feel pretty good. But I also have a lot of napping on today’s schedule.

How are you tolerating the collar?

Oh! The surgeon said I don't need to wear it at home at all if I don't want to, since I only had 2 levels fused. The more vertebrae you have fused, the more important it is to wear the hard collar. He said I do need to wear it if I leave the house (which I don't anticipate doing, at least for the next several days), and I can wear it if I feel like I need a lot of support/stability. Right now it seems like everything is fine without it, so for now, no hard brace.

Excellent progress, -t's mom and Teppy! Good to hear.

Fall is considering falling here in Otter Lake. It was 45F this morning! Color showing up here and there in the maples, but peak shouldn't be for another month. Still quite a few red leaves in my driveway.

Good news, Tep!

Congrats on speedy real estate, Hec.

I’m glad things are going well, Steph.

Lack of cinnamon rolls is whatever, but lack of them when you expect them is annoying. Now I want cinnamon rolls. Hmph.

Meds delivered at 8:05 p.m. CDT (95 minutes after today's estimated delivery window).

::whew::

Phew, I know what that's like dcp.

If I were Emmett, I would be so excited I would be sleeping there the very first day, on blankets on the floor if need be.

Even though he was too sick to work today ("I almost shit myself on the ladder yesterday," he told me) he was over at the house, got the key from the contractor's lock box got in and started moving stuff.

The seller's realtor came by with the keys and the garage remote so they're actively moving stuff in already.

I did feel a pang about it today. I'm sixty five years old and I've had that apartment for forty years. It's where Emmett and Matilda were conceived and brought home from the hospital. It's where JZ ran up the steps to accept my proposal. It's the backyard where I taught Emmett how to play baseball. It's where my first marriage ended, one of the most painful experiences of my life.

It's where Matilda shared an apple with Baby Dylan, and it's where Teppy saw pre-school first grade Emmett taking a bath. Where Kate P. and sa stayed when they were coming back from travels. Where I cut Amy Garvey's hair on the back porch and Amych knit on the couch with Matilda. Where Laura hooked up my Roku to my VCR. Where Nilly visited. Where Scola left his bags while we went walking in the neighborhood.

I did feel a pang about it today.

I understand. The walls are filled with love and history. It was lovely when Emmett moved in after you and JZ moved, giving your family a bit of transition time.

I remember showing you, Shrift, and Sean Biodiversity: Wild About Life there in 2015. Man, that was so long ago, but it seems like yesterday.

I remember visiting that apartment as well, a couple times over the years—once in like, 2001 or some nonsense, when we went to some sort of mod party (I remember trying to find a dress and boots that worked!). Wild to be not having it any longer!