Saturday...The phone rang.  It was John, next door.  He has been a wonderful neighbor.  
A bull of a man , yet he is as gentle as he is big.  His mother is in my age group. 
Immediately, I thought, I owe her a visit.   
   "How you doing?", he asked, "Haven't seen you, so wondered if you are all right."
   "I'm O.K.  I'm in and out of the house.  We must have missed each other."  He probably
wondered why I haven't mowed.  He's such a great gardener.  Flowers, vegetables, the
works.  Cooks too.  Really gets away from his construction business...puts a loudspeaker
on and works for hours out there, filling our yards with show tunes and Streisand. 
    "We just wondered.  You could have fallen, anything." 
    "No.  How's your mother?"  John and his brother had placed their Mom in one of the
nicest assisted living facilities here on the Cape and bought new bedroom furniture for
her room there.  Otherwise bed, chairs, etc. would have a rental charge.  "I have to get
over and see her again soon."
    "Mom's all right.  She asks me 'What day is this?' Other than that---"
    We talked a bit.  He was concerned that I may have an accident.  I told him I have
been in the habit of carrying my wallet in my pocket when I worked outside.  
    "It has my medical insurance card.  And I bring the cell phone in case I have to call 911.
    "Good idea," He laughed a little.  He told me he would be over to help me lift a heavy
item out of my car.

    Just before lunch and before another rain storm, I mowed.  It took a while with the bag
attached.  I emptied clippings into the wooded area of the property almost too many times,
as the effort was wearing me out. 
    Sunday...I primed a small cabinet I had been meaning to get to.  After a few outdoor 
chores, I trimmed two overgrown shrubs.  Finally, I snipped the yew that was getting too
affectionate with the back of my house.  I wondered how long I would be able to
keep this up.

Footnote: If you have trouble keeping bags up over rim of trash can, see Household Tips