Gatekeepers. They’re important. And you can’t really get anywhere without going through one. Last week I encountered two of them.

Two days later and I’m still stunned at my Friday turn of events. For an entire week I had worked non-stop to schedule what I thought was a life saving surgery and make sure I had the best hands possible doing the work.

A bit of good fortune came my way. During yesterday’s video consolation with a Houston doctor, I was told I didn’t require surgery.

Here we are at the end of what has proven to be a long week. One more consultation this morning with another doctor. This one in Houston. Then it’s decision time.

Walked outside this morning to the sweet smell of wet earth. It’s been a long time, my love. But there it was and with it came all the promise that rain brings.

I once worked for a man who liked the concept of what he called the bigger brain. He felt his team of people working together could solve any problem.

Well, the CT of my little abdominal aortic aneurysm has ratcheted up the complication level. It appears there are also aneurysms on the iliac arteries. Some deal.

I had a lazy day yesterday. Mostly it involved food. Hooked up with old friends from Houston. Drove to a fine Italian restaurant down by canyon lake. Ate a long leisurely lunch with dessert because every great meal needs to be topped off.

My power washer and I spent the day outside yesterday. We cleaned lawn chairs on the driveway, wiping away grime and swallow poop. Then we went to the back porch and did the same.

There was thunder, lightning, and rain yesterday. I measured .20 of an inch. Hardly record setting but a good start to what might prove a rainy week. We need it.

My geology books have started to arrive. Got a small one on volcanoes and another on how our continent was formed. I really want to know the story of the terrain from Fort Davis to Study Butte.

My CT scan with contrast to check on my abdominal aortic aneurysm went off without a hitch yesterday. Of course, I won’t know what it revealed until the doctor calls.

Well, durn, I hike over half of creation this past week without a twinge from my feet or any other part of my body. I wake up yesterday with a left ankle so sore I can barely touch it after a really good night’s sleep.

Had three dreams last night. All long. All vivid. None worth recounting here, although I remember them all. They were just me living. Seems a good sign to dream.

Walked outside this morning to the sight of rain on the drive and the sound of water running down the gutters. Exciting stuff. Checked the rain gauge real quick and found no measurable precipitation. That was a little disappointing.

A journey into the Davis Mountians to look at rocks and wonder how they got there and where they’re going.

Took a nice walk in an old volcano yesterday. The weather was fair, there was a quick breeze blowing, and the slope was gentle. The scenery was majestic, towering rock faces, blue skies, white clouds, a million years of life all around us.

Its hard to believe in the 60 years I lived in Texas how long it took me to do more than drive through West Texas. As a child we drove the wild stretches from El Paso to San Antonio on many a drive across the country following the dictates of the US Government.

Travel day. Packing to do. I’m on the way to Marathon to listen to and make music. Nice combination.

Summer golf means early tee-times which also means early times for leaving the house. Today it was a 7:15 start at Delaware Springs in Burnet. We left my house at 6, which meant no time for the daily words even thought I got up at 4:30 to eat and get ready.