Below are the 8 most recent journal entries recorded in Beverly P. Sherman's LiveJournal:

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007
9:53 pm	June 12 Excitement in Benicia Howard tried to use our microwave yesterday and it would not work. So we got up early for us (9:00) this morning. We "abluted" and left the house before 11 and headed for early lunch   We then went to Target and returned our microwave which was totally uneventful. We went to Costco and bought another microwave and headed home at about 2:30. We drove up to our house to find a fire truck parked in front.  That ended uneventful.   Howard parked the car in the middle of the street and got out of the car. I made him repark.   I, walking with my walker over our new concrete path, realized my house was not burning but the fire hose was running through my yard and down the embankment into the acres of open space behind our yard.   I could smell charred grass and my eyes were burning. Not one fireman was anywhere to be seen. I called out several times.  Then I used my cell phone to call 911 and was put on hold. Howard came out of the car and ventured further into the yard and a neighbor came out.  She said the fire had been burning for hours. He saw the charred land.   I am really glad we were out. I am not sure our hearts could have handled the trauma while it was burning. Our neighbors were evacuated.   According to another neighbor who is a former firefighter, the blaze never came near our house but it burned 22 acres and fences on the other side of the open space as well as one roof.    Finally, a fireman came out of the open space and assured me that the fire was out. After about another hour, 4:30 or so, six more firemen appeared all black with soot. Howard stepped out and called to them and said thanks for being firemen. They smiled through the soot. After they left Howard  parked the car in the garage and we took deep breaths indoors.   I guess if one lives long enough the world comes close and intrudes even in sleepy little Benicia. Last week the wayward whales, this week we have a near-miss/kiss of fire.  The fire was started by 2 neighbor children ages 10 and 12.  School is out !   Current Mood: scared Current Music: We Didn't Start the Fire (Comment on this)
Saturday, November 4th, 2006
10:24 pm	Surgery and more They took out the cancer. I thought it was gone but she is at risk. What is next? Clean my carpets. Vote. Thanksgiving. Her birthday. Dan's birthday. His trip here. Life not death. Keep going. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006
5:04 pm	Fear My daughter Robyne has uterine cancer. I don't know what that means on so many levels. She is my baby. My baby is in jeopardy. Other than Howie I can't share this with anyone because I don't do that anymore. I don't know what stage it is. I don't know how pervasive. I don't know how long it has been there. I only know my baby has uterine cancer. Current Mood: scared (Comment on this)
Friday, April 7th, 2006
5:14 pm	Twilight Zone or Alzheimer's first moment at Montessori Yesterday, April 6, 2006, Morrisa took me on a belated birthday celebration. Ahem, we were very brave to risk the outing. I am still hanging on to a bladder infection. The beautiful, miraculous Morrisa dropped Miranda at school, went to a medical appointment, did a Trader Joe run for us and then came and picked her mommy up. We went to Bare Essentuals in Berkeley for me to have a fun makeover, as a belated birthday present. It turned out to be less of a makeover and more of a makeup application. My friend June, who has always been my wise mentor, stopped applying makeup when she was my age because she did not like the contrast. I apply makeup much less often because I don't see enough contrast. The charming cosmetician did an amazing job. I chose enough makeup to break the bank on Geranium Place. After my second trip to the excellent public facility at Peet's, we took off to go to lunch but elected to pick up Miranda first. Great, I was going to see Miranda's school for the first time. I hobbled into this charming yard/lunchroom/playground with my cane and a woman greeted me. "Oh, you must be Miranda's grandmother," she said. She then proceeded to extol Miranda's progress. I asked where Miranda was and was told that she was inside. Morrisa asked the woman if she could show me around. Everyone said "Okay," of course. Are you ready to enter the Twilight Zone with me? Everyone knows how I checkout Miranda's pictures and ask about her behavior every day. Well, here is what happened. I used my cane to go toward the stairs. At the top of the stairs stood an unknown little girl with pigtails, disheveled leggings and an outfit just like the one I had bought Miranda. She appeared to be cowering. It wasn't until I had reached the top of the stairs that I realized, that--though for a seemingly endless moment out of context--this unrecognizable grown-up, shy little Eloise girl in pigtails was Miranda. She, not a resident of the twilight zone, recognized me and was afraid her mommy was not there. Morrisa could not believe that the doting "granma" had truly not recognized Miranda who, by then, was contentedly wrapped in her mommy's embrace wearing the outfit I had bought her. Miranda and her teachers showed me her immaculate, organized classrooms. There were two bathrooms calling to me, but I did not ask to use the children's bathroom. I hoped I would make it to Geranium Place with everything intact. Morrisa piled Miranda into the car; took us home; became supermom; changed Miranda's diaper; prepared lunch while I fed Miranda Quesadilla. To be continued. Current Mood: amazed (Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2006
1:50 pm	More act "as if" Part 2: So Sunday started with the help of the charming waiter at Priya, who carried the fragrant food to the car. I climbed up into my trusty Yukon and with Howard riding shotgun headed to the other side of Berkeley and Highway 13. Over the freeway and through the dusky day to Morrisa's house we went without incident. Morrisa & nj had already set out mucho food. Miranda, my 22 month-old granddaughter, was napping. (Oh well nothing is perfect.) We put out the Indian food when the others started to arrive. Soon the house was full of daughters,(3) grandchildren (4) great grandchildren (3) and friends (2). Of course, everyone ate and the rain came and the wind blew. I guess we exhausted the patience of Yahweh. The children wanted to open the gifts and we also exchanged our crafts as we do on Chanukah.* Miranda joined the party. We decided the threatening weather was too challenging. We prepared to spend the night on their air-bed. The children lit the Chanukah candles. We sang the prayer. We all ate again. Then the problems began. Bill's diesel Mercedes wouldn't start After an hour triple A came out but did not bring starter fluid for a diesel. They don't carry it. If that is the case they should not let Diesel owners join their club. Oh the frustration. So now there were 6 people spending the night.My grandson thought he had school Monday and Merryl was supposed to look in on the woman she assists. Morrisa's house is great for even 100 partaying people because it has this amazing flow to its rooms and levels but 6 extra people to sleep at night stretched her resources to the limit. The next morning Bill was up and out before the sun(which never did come out.) He went to Kragen's in the Yukon and got his stater fluid. They were good to go Howard did not have his pills for the extra day so we hustled out and I drove home in the rain,no wind, thank g-d, and very little traffic. We arrived home having had our adventure for 2005 and for the beginning 2006. *Robyne crocheted beautiful afghans Merryl baked wonderful amaretto, coconut, chocolate chip, nut cookies. Morrisa used a magnet to sort black iron sand from white sand and added the black sand to scientific specimen boxes to create magnetic toys. Dan, LIlibet,the twins and Baby David Howard produced a CD of the 4 year-old twins singing and 4 month old David cooing. Harry made his dynomite salsa. Bill brought Peaberry coffee from his friend's boutique coffee plantation in Hawaii. nj, Miranda and Fizzgig produced and hour long DVD of Miranda from 19 to 22 months. Back to Kaiser this week. We see the cardiologist for a check-up and open MRI happens later this week. For now, we are sipping Bill's coffee and Howard is eating Merryl's cookie Oh I forgot to mention how I was dismissed by 22 month-old Miranda. She and her Mom were going through their bedtime ritual. I was wartching from the rocking- chair. Morrisa told me she was going to need the rocker to give her some nice milk. I got up and walked over to the changing table. Miranda said "kiss me." I was thrilled and bent over and kissed her. As soon as I finished she said quite abruptly and forcefully "now get out" So I will do that now. Have an exciting New Year. (Comment on this)
Monday, January 2nd, 2006
1:42 pm	Act "as if" until the "Music Stops" Saturday December 30, 2005: We had tickets to Freight and Salvge for New Year's Eve. We were planning to have an early dinner at Priya and spend the night at Holiday Inn Express which was around the corner from Priya, which was across the street from Freight. Then spend Sunday, the last day of Chanukah at with the family at Dishy's The plan was perfect until the 40 days of rain came. Getting around has gotten harder for Howard. I have been limited for a long time. The wind that morning was bellowing at 50 mph and the rain swirled in response. I awoke, watched and decided to act "as if." We packed the car and waited. Suddenly the winds took a breath and stopped blowing and the rain clouds stretched to give me the smallest bit of blue. I got in the car with Howard and started off to Berkeley continuing to act "as if." Except for a brief tug -of-war between my hold on the wheel and the wind on the Carquinez Bridge the trip was my journey back into N-ach. I drove along the freeway feeling my power resurrected. We were young again and braving a hurricane to defeat the school district challenges in Washington DC, We arrived and the Parking Guru found a space in front of Priya. We yummed up the food and drove to the Inn where we rested waiting for Freight to open. The wind continued to hold its breath and the rain moved on. We walked the 2.5 blocks to Freight in the almost balmy winter air,waited in line for half an hour and ended up with seats in the front row. For Howard, "Nirvana" for me "No Exit" Four and a half hours later with 2 sore "tushies" we returned to the hotel. The night continued to caress us as we walked back to the hotel. We slept until 8:15. Sunday morning. Howard got up and went to garner strength from the continental breakfast, I abluted. We returned to Priya. Parking was a little less than perfect but still close enough. We ordered some sexy food to take to Dishy's waited while they prepared the food. (Still no rain or wind.) [to be continued] (Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 8th, 2003
9:40 pm	Hulk Howard and I went to see the Hulk today. The hulk moved like a person, super-person that is. First hour had little or no action. I am not sure if this is the Comic book character or a new idea of the Hulk. He did not fly but he leaped like he had seven league boots. Allegory: Hulk is terrorism and the establishment fights him with traditional warfare and weaponry. Big mistake --- Memories of Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack the Giant Killer, Science fiction from the forties and fifties and Resurrection seemed to be dancing through it. Current Mood: tired (Comment on this)
Saturday, June 28th, 2003
4:44 pm	Iraqi Dream The Iraqui desert was very hot and dry, and the sun shone too brightly to look up. Morrisa was wearing her belly dance clothes. We had food, clothes, computers, and money for the victims of the war. We ran from tent to hut, from tent to hut, giving people in long, flowing robes food. The men wore white and had flowing beards The children were naked, so Morrisa ran and got them clothes. A young man carried the computers to the huts without power for me. Morrisa came with the money. She gave a twenty dollar bill to each person. One of the men started to laugh at her. This made her cry. He said they had plenty of money, and plenty of oil, but there was nowhere to spend it. Morrisa ran back crying, and grabbed back all the twenty dollar bills. She said "I know where to spend them." Suddenly we were in Bologna, Italy in an outdoor market. We giggled, and began looking at Italian leather shoes. Current Mood: uncomfortable Current Music: Klezmer (Comment on this)