Daughter and flower edition

Monday/Tuesday, May 4/5, 2026

W and I take the shuttle to the Jakarta airport. He checks me in and heads back to Bandung. Nice guy!

The trip through Taiwan and Seattle is uneventful. I post my sign over the screen on the plane: "Thanks for letting me sleep." That way, I don't have to refuse food and drink over and over on long flights. 

In Seattle, I go through immigration and customs, tossing my suitcase back on the conveyor belt to be checked through to Texas. A hotel shuttle takes me to a clean warm Sleep Inn, where I get a 4 hours of sleep. 

Kim comes for me at 5AM (what a friend!) We stop at Denny's where I order a seniors (small) breakfast. It is enormous, served on 2 dinner plates: 2 huge pancakes, bacon, sausages, and eggs. Since I haven't eaten since Taiwan (22 hours earlier), I eat as much as I can, leaving 2/3 of the pancakes on the plate. Kim drops me at the airport and heads for work.

After a slight delay, travel resumes. Daughter Kirsten picks me up at the other end.

We eat a delicious Ghanan stuffed bread, find my sunglasses in a discount shop, and head for her house. I arrange grocery flowers as K gets 3 calls from the hospital changing her surgery time from noon to 9AM, then to 7AM. Whew. We're getting up early tomorrow (3:30AM).

She confirms the time with the callers and sends a confirmation message to admissions. After watching a home-reno episode, we head for sleep. We get 4 1/2 hours of sleep zzz.

Wednesday
We're at surgery registration at 4:45AM, sitting for 1 1/2 hours before K goes to the desk to ask what's going on. They explain that surgery is delayed until just before noon because "we couldn't get through yesterday to confirm your 7AM surgery time. So you'll be in at 11 or 11:30 this morning, provided the person before you has no complications."

What? 3 calls and a message aren't enough? It's a hospital mix-up in internal communication. K talks to the surgeon, who reschedules her.

In Pre-Op, she's smart, informed, and articulate with the nurses and doctors. She gets finished and is in surgery by 10. Meanwhile, I'm jet-lagged and tired. Typically for USA public places, there's nowhere to stretch out. I edit a friend's book, sitting in the cafeteria. And then lay my head down for a half hour ... zzz. The surgeon says it's a successful surgery. 

K is discharged in mid-afternoon. And then she starts walking around her place. What! The nerve-blockers help with pain. We are both astonished at how well she's getting around. Alissia, an overnight helper, comes for 8 hours. She's a delight: caring, helpful, intuitive, gentle. 

Thursday
Along the walk are many wildflowers. Texas is known for wildflowers since Lady Bird Johnson, a former governor's wife, made them a feature of her state in the 1960s.

The colors are vibrant.

This shrub is a heap of texture in purples and greens.

I make breakfast before connecting with friends and those concerned with Kirsten. We read comments sent by well-wishers aloud. What a beautiful gathering of prayers and kindness. 

We both like renovation and home shows, so we watch an episode just for fun. I'm surprised by the ads: pharmaceuticals, lawyers, credit cards, and insurance. After lunch, we crash into a nap. Both of us sleep for an hour and a half and wake feeling refreshed.

Kirsten is a creative foodie. She combines chickpeas, Parmesan tapenade, spices, and peppers. We crisp a lamb sausage from a butcher on the way back from the airport, and try some couscous. It's such joy to be with someone I like so much, and to know she's our daughter makes it even better. It's hard to make close friends in Indonesia. Language is a barrier, as is the constant motion of expats who come for a season. Not many live close enough in our city or the next for casual visits and coffee time.

I'm hoping to reset jetlag - Bandung is exactly opposite (night or day) on the clock. I'm getting to know K's neighborhood on my walks. 

An HOA (housing council) is a scary thing, regulating many aspects of how neighours relate to each other and keep their yards and houses. For example, this one allows specific blue- and grey-toned paint colors for houses, with a few exceptions. Dogs are leashed and walked and all poop is picked up, not a bad thing! with so many around.

Friday
It's another rough, short night: sleep lasts 2:40. I finally give up at 6:30, after being up since 1:00. Time to head out for another walk, me thinks.

Read more:
*With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back; I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path where they shall not stumble, for I have become a father to Israel. Jeremiah 31:9

* In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7

Moravian Prayer: Loving Shepherd, you lead us with mercy and hear our cries. Even in our sorrow, you guide us beside still waters; in our struggles, you walk beside us. Help us trust your presence and rest in your care, now and always. Amen.