I partially unpack my suitcase over a few days. I’m not sure why the hesitation, but I’m in no hurry to put my clothes away. I’ve been accepted to USF and will be going to the St Pete Campus. For this reason, I must attend to my medical needs — actually going to my doctor (because the school needs my immunization record) and setting up an appointment with a new optometrist, which should be right on schedule. I get my teeth cleaned, and one out of 28 gets a “Keep an eye on this.”

Caleb was surprised that I hadn’t watched Watership Down (1978) in my childhood, so he quickly corrected that. The film is the bloodiest children’s story I’ve seen, but I’ve also never watched videos of Grimm’s Fairy Tales (the bedtime stories of mutilation, cannibalism, and infanticide). We go to bed early a few nights to account for the jet lag. I developed a heat rash that lasted two days — welcome back to the humidity that gets blown away in the Netherlands.

While I’m writing about our trip, I take breaks to talk with Fallon (over four hours) and Dad (67 minutes) on the phone, bring in a package for Christine B. and brush her kitties, and help Helen while her place was flooded — take pictures for insurance, collect pools of water, and move other things to dry — until the contractor could arrive hours later. We try to get our walking in before 7 am or after 6 pm, depending on the evening rains, but we still get sweaty.

I get concert tickets from Lisa U. to see Bush and invite other couples to join, but they all give their reasons, so Fallon and I will go. We had a great time listening to James and the Cold Gun, and Mammoth, with the sun in our eyes, and the crowd went wild when Gavin Rossdale (61-year-old singer for Bush) walked through the audience, still singing. I attend a three-hour online orientation (even with a technical difficulty) and finish the required hazing prevention course for USF.

Three days later, Caleb and I ride our bikes down to Coachman Park (where the concert was) to attend Sharkapalooza, complete with manatee art, mini donuts, flavored lemonade, a scientist speaking on stage, stickers, shirts, jewelry, and other ways to raise awareness for the animals of the sea. Susie’s 19-year-old cat, Molly, passed, so when she invites me to go on a walk with her, I gladly join, as I love walking, talking, and exploring somewhere new.

Caleb will walk Sarah’s dogs so I can go to the Bush concert with Fallon. I forgot to walk them one night and called hours later. Luckily, she thought I was out of town and already had a backup. I remind her that I don’t leave for two more weeks, so I’m still available to walk them twice a day for a week while her usual walker, Carrie, is on vacation. Caleb will book us flights to Montana, so I have one less trip to plan. I’ll be back in time to join Fallon on a cruise with stops in Costa Maya and Cozumel.

I read Walking Home by Rick Rogers and Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton. One adventure is definitely a walk in the park compared to the events that unfolded in surviving Antarctica, especially in the 1890s. I’m currently reading Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks (the author of Awakenings, which led to the film with Robin Williams) and am constantly impressed with how the human brain works for us and against us, as apparently not all malfunctions can be considered a superpower.

Susie gifted me some puzzles, so I spent a couple of hours completing a mountain scene with horses and another Amsterdam one. It feels good to play the piano again and have my fingers be hesitant until memory kicks in and the tune comes more easily. We watch two prison documentaries, one in Norway and the other in Germany. One looks like a hotel, and the other comes with many locked doors. The hostess worked in the British prison system, so she has a different perspective on what works.

I’m glad I didn’t bother reading the suggestion for book club this month as the table of eight gave mixed reviews. One has gone on to read two more in the series, one hated the theme and didn’t read it either, and two thought it was not a well put together book. I won’t be here for next month’s reading, but I’m told it’s better, so I still might read it. Besides trying Cricketers with the ladies, Caleb and I will go for coffee, chicken, and sushi.

We went to Marshall’s because they have hidden treasures, like a face mask sampler pack that makes my face feel like it has been to the spa, and to Target. After all, I had a $5 gift card. We bought another tea sampler box, and the acai berry green tea tastes better cold. We spend Memorial Day at Mary Jo and Roberto’s, eating waffles and burgers, drinking coffee and cider, and talking about travels past and future plans. Our neighbors are inspirational, thoughtful, and generous.