Matt's Journal

Up with Laura at her doc meeting – dr. tuscano showed up late. I took notes. Her lumps are gone, she said. That’s certainly good. Continued monitoring with blood tests and PET scans. We stay active and her fitbit will help her, I hope. Or at least provide entertainment.

Books: an article by T. Merton, part of a quote collection of M. Gandhi. Key point: inevitability, sadness of, and repentability of sin. Sinner’s been punished already; mercy is apposite.

Another on pope Francis, recommended by Laura, by Mark Shriver of the political dynasty. The writing was descriptive – the pictures at the end matched those in my mind. The pope is complex, like his native Argentina. Are governments helped or hurt by being closely allied with religion? Neighboring Uruguay is secular and more tolerant. I don’t know if they’re better off in other ways—they’ve had their military governments too.

Started a book by R. Feynman – lectures about science in general. I also got one that is more technical by him.

Picked up an old book by Donald Knuth – one of the fathers of computer science – after reading a nice interview of him. His Stanford house contains a pipe organ – that would be enough to endear him to me. His book is the first of his 7-part series and it opens with a flowchart for how to proceed through the book. With subtle humor throughout, it’s not light reading but it could be fun. Let me give it a shot.

Several other books in my arsenal. A couple on science. One on container gardening – I’m trying it. The olive leaching experiment is in progress. Even when you follow a recipe cooking has the nature of an experiment. I have a list of tasks to do today, most from Laura. The dining room chairs loosen up over time and I tightened them up last night.

Laura made beautiful cards out of pictures from our trips in 2019. We did lots of it and saw much natural beauty. The cards will go to shut-ins and she wants to send some to my Mom too.

We talked with Mom last night as we walked. Monday is my appointed night to call her to assuage her presumed loneliness. We talked then Laura and she talked. I like that they get along. That is so sweet; my two favorite women get along and without me. Some men might feel supernumerary in this case, but for me I just listen and enjoy the harmony.

A leader who can just enjoy the harmonious interaction of those “under” him is likely to be a better leader than one who lords it over them and always has to be the center of things. I know that I preferred it that way. Likewise good followers get along with their peers and don’t need constant direction from above. I could have improved there, I suppose. Well, I’m still learning.

I miss the volunteer work! I might need to find new things to do in this new clime.