20 May 2014: Tuesday ... meeting Anne Dunlap thanks to Gwen ... Katia and biking/brunch ... Bob and Alice ... bike rack & helmet

Gwen Hays, yoga and fitness instructor at the Western Y, introduced me to an extraordinary young woman this late morning, Anne Dunlap, who taught me about perseverance in the face of adversity and disability. She was injured severely in a car accident at age 18 in 1998 (she is a graduate of St. Mark's HS and Del Tech, where she earned her 2-year degree in four years -- she had planned to attend Virginia Tech until the accident with her boyfriend on Kirkwood Highway when their stalled car was struck by a DART bus). She asked that I write her an e-mail and I thought why not take a selfie of us on the tread mill. It does not do her justice as she she is an exquisitely beautiful young lady who could model with her looks. What a delight to get to meet her today thanks to Gwen's initiative. 

Hurried texts with Katia and her proximity to Bob and Alice prompted her request that I pick her up to visit my mom. She also mentioned riding bikes. her own. She wants to start getting some exercise. As a result, my mind went whirring and I called and then e-mailed Bob with the request to bring a visitor to brunch on Saturday. He responded right away and said bring her on, so I'll pick up Katia with my new bike rack (which I just ordered from Amazon) and my new bike helmet (also ordered from Amazon with 2-day shipping, so I should get it by Thursday). 

17 May 2014: Saturday ... a gorgeous day ... a lot done ... drugs arrive (FedEx and DE Hospice unbelievable) ... yard work (pulling and clipping) ... My portrait by Katia at Mt. Cuba Center ...

On this historic anniversary, the 60th of Brown v. Board of Education, my lifelong friend, Bob Hayman, wrote the central piece on the editorial page of the News Journal, entitled 

 
"Remembering Justice Earl Warren’s surprising legacy".


Katia's furtive photo of me at the Mt. Cuba Center
during our extended lunch (hers) visit on Friday, 9 May 2014,
when the gardens were open for a National Day for horticulture or whatever.


Just finished watching an extraordinary performance by a young pianist on WHYY's On Stage at Curtis, Andrew Hsu, playing a piano sonata by Samuel Barber, his Opus 26. Extremely difficult but played with facility and warmth and understanding by this eloquent young musician who is also a composer. He performed songs he'd written to the poetry of Emily Dickinson early in the program, aired each weekend and which was a staple for mom and dad as they both watched it together on the big bed, laying next to one another. 

22 March 2014: Saturday ... epiphany in yoga w/Christine and Gwen at "Fit to Give" fundraiser, Western Y ... mat next to Y director Pam Howard ... won tickets to 87ers game ... great walk with Dancer at Delcastle ... Flyers win 5th straight against best NHL team, St. Louis Blues, 4-1 ...

This morning's yogaflex was team taught by Christine and Gwen and it was special. Covered all the bases. Provided challenge both physically and spiritually as we connected with our bodies. They divied up the activities and as one instructed, the other could circulate and observe and provide instruction. I felt it worked and felt a special closeness when Christine came close by.