East of Eden

Tuesday August 2, 2005

A day of mixed emotions. I was saddened to learn my neighbor and cat watcher Lois Dimaggio was in the hospital after having her appendix removed. I had just talked with her Friday when the power in our building went out and wondered why I hadn't heard from her the last few days. My downstairs neighbor Liz told me the unhappy news today. She said Lois was recovering well but sedated with morphine. I'll call her Wednesday.

This is the time of year I re-read my favorite book of all-time -- John Steinbeck's epic East of Eden. Written in 1952, I feel it's the finest piece of literature from the 20th Century. I think this is the 5th time I've read it. I've lost count. It's a story of good vs. evil, Cain vs. Abel, a family history and  tragedy. Steinbeck said he wrote a book on three different levels. The first couple of times I read the book I just scratched the surface, the next couple of times I think I got a little deeper into it and maybe this time I will find another level. But it really doesn't matter. It's such a pleasure to read. Some people have comfort foods. I have comfort books I come back to again and again.

I had a wonderful twilight candlelight yoga session at home that began and ended with some deep meditation. Afterwards I sat on the balcony, listened to the wind chimes and watched the lightning strikes with the slightly alarmed cats.

Now it's time for the daily numbers report. Currently the blood pressure is: 121/80, pulse 52 and the blood sugar is a very good 110. 

Well that's it for now I'm going to try to get up at 4:30 tomorrow morning for a 5am run before work. I gotta be ready for Saturday's 5k cross-country run at Sunset Park.  
"All the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal, or fattening."
-- Alexander Woolcott