Tuesday: Almsgiving Update and Another Doctor's Appointment!

Today was a lovely, sunny day.  Clear blue skies.  An afternoon high of 70F.  Morning and evening a bit on the chilly side (mid 50s). 

I called the temple, this morning.  Last night, before I went to sleep, I had decided that I would cancel my almsgiving, as it would be too difficult to reschedule it, and that would leave the monks free to attend the other almsgiving.  After all, mine is a sort of a generic almsgiving that I have been giving in order to continue a tradition my mother started, while the other almsgiving is being held as part of a funerary rite.

Just to give a bit of background on my almsgiving, my mother held the first one without any thoughts of continuing it year after year.  My stepfather had died earlier that year and Mother thought it would be good to hold an almsgiving in the apartment (as opposed to at the temple) since my stepfather died in the apartment in his sleep, to sort of bless the apartment where a death had taken place and to end a difficult year on a positive note.  It just happened that she decided to continue doing it, saying she'll do it for as long as she physically could.  Then, one year, while preparing the food the night before the almsgiving, she suddenly felt faint and had a sort of a panic attack!  I helped her to bed and continued with the cooking and took over from her.  I did it for her for the rest of her life and then, continued after her death.  I actually held three almsgivings that year - one, seven days after she died, the second, three months later (again, part of the services for the dead), and, the end of the year almsgiving, because by this time, 19 years after that first year end almsgiving, it had become a tradition.  Last year, when I was undergoing treatment, I thought I will end the tradition and not hold the almsgiving because I knew I was not physically up to it, but my daughter volunteered to do it for me.  This year, my daughter doesn't have enough vacation time to come down to help me, but my friends have offered to help.  But, the reason for the almsgiving is more generic than one associated with a recent death.

So, I called the temple and offered to cancel my almsgiving.  And the monk I spoke with said not to worry about it, the situation has been resolved; the other family has scheduled their almsgiving to Friday!  I guess they would have preferred to have had it on Sunday, but since I hadn't agreed to rescheduling mine, they settled for a different date, when the monks would be free to attend.  Sigh.  I do wish I had known that they had the option of choosing a different date; all that stress and angst on my part was totally unnecessary!   Anyway, my almsgiving will take place on Sunday, as originally planned, the other family will still be able to hold their almsgiving, as well, and the monks will be able to attend both almsgivings. As the famous poet said, "All's well that ends well". 

After all that was settled, I had a sandwich for breakfast and did some office work.  Then, at 12:30 p.m., I left for my 1:30 p.m. doctor's appointment.  I arrived at the clinic in good time (1:15 p.m.), paid my co-pay, was weighed in, etc.  Then, I was seen by the Physician Assistant who has replaced my former primary care physician.  The new PA seemed quite nice.  She performed the screening test for cervical cancer, which was the reason for my visit, and had me do a blood test, as well.  My initial blood pressure readings had been elevated, so the PA rechecked my pressure after she did the screening test and I had a normal pressure reading.  I have a follow-up appointment with her in three weeks to go over the test results. That means I have three doctor's appointments scheduled in December, so far!

It was 4:30 p.m., by the time I got home!  The whole afternoon was gone!  I had tea, did a little more office work, and was glad I didn't have a long To Do list, for today!  Later in the evening, I spoke on the phone with one of my friends who called and video chatted with my daughter.  She had had a good day at work, gone to the bank to get a cashier's check to pay her rent, paid the rent, and video chatted with one of her friends before chatting with me.  Her friend, who is originally from Hawaii, is experiencing her first winter in Michigan! 

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Call the temple and offer to cancel the almsgiving - DONE; Almsgiving will proceed as scheduled.
- Office work - DID SOME
- Doctor's appointment in the afternoon - DONE
- Bring trash cans in - DONE by my neighbor!
- Water the houseplants - DONE

Wednesday's To Do List:
- Office work - send in completed work
- Do time sheets (taking time off on Thursday and Friday)
- Call and remind invitees to the almsgiving, now that the date has been confirmed
- Wash the almsgiving dishes

Today, I am grateful for:
- The issue with the dates has been resolved and my almsgiving can proceed as scheduled.
- All of you being so kind and supportive as I stressed about the almsgiving scheduling!
- The doctor's appointment went well.
- Safe drive to the clinic and back.
- My neighbor brought in my trash can for me.

How was your Tuesday?