Life after furlough - the thrill of the normal

Normal is the joy of the daily grind at work, then waking up once again at 3AM all perky and unable to sleep.  I just can't sleep more than five hours without breaking out in a sweat or having weird dreams--like sailing down a highway in rush hour traffic wondering where all the cars came from-- that wake me up.

Normal is feeling healthy again after a week of "the crud" that kicked me flat on my back with a 102 fever, chills, smashing headache with full boar hacking and projectile vomiting.  Not delightful, and definitely an ugly scene and I was a good patient.  I lost a couple of pounds that I've been able to keep off.  I take delight in small miracles.

Normal is my 67th birthday confirming that my mind and body no longer match.  You know your old when your grandson is your date and you enjoy the company.  Grandson was the youngest person in the packed theatre that night.  It was tough navigating among the gray hairs with canes and ladies whose bottoms overflowed the chairs. He endured and the play was decent (Pride in the Falls of Autrey Mill, a tragic comedy of the suburbs).  Probably wished his granddad had not flew off to Bali for a conference (at least that is what he said).  When I asked him what it was like, he stated flatly, "The Caribbean, but it takes 30 hours to get here."  Guess he really was there on business.

Normal is visiting our sail boat in dry dock on Saturday.  The sole (aka floor) is refinished. Not a ding or scratch to be seen.  Buster, the guy who repaired it, took great pride in the work.  It's so beautiful, I may never have the nerve to wear shoes below decks again.  Now, if we just had the mainsail, we'd be ready for action -- but wait--it's 40 degrees out and the boat, after eight months still needs a coat of bottom paint --the original reason we took her out of the water in the first place last March 28th.  Now we morn for spring when we will have the final work done -- the bottom painted, the deck exterior decks cleaned and polished, "tuning" sail and radar lessons. 

Normal is planning dessert for Thanksgiving dinner.  We're going to friends.  I'm making a killer apple tart with almond cream.  Appropriately deadly, but non-traditional - a requirement for the event.