Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. Usually on Valentine’s Day, I wear red. Being in a school, students will often notice if you don’t. (In my darker days, I wore black, but that’s a different story!) Yesterday, for some reason, I forgot. I was dressed in blue and green.

When I got to work, I realized I had not “dressed for the day”. Where was my red? Then I remembered. Master doesn’t allow me to wear plain, white bras, and I had put a red one on because it was February 14. I wasn’t “redless”. But I also didn’t intend to show that to anyone who asked. I have never flashed anyone. So did that mean that I had no red.

Nope. The collar that I wear includes red on it. I was still covered.

Thank you, Master Bennet.

It’s that special day to celebrate love. Do you have special plans? I do.

I plan to spend the day with Master. We will enjoy a semi formal dinner and sit by the lake. Perhaps we will walk hand in hand along the shore or enjoy a boat ride. We’ll spend the evening at a nice hotel doing….whatever Master may come up with.

How can we do this in Iowa in the middle of the winter? Well, we can’t. Master has agreed to accept my gift of a plane ticket and a stay at my house,but we are going to schedule this trip for a nicer time of year.

After I getting my taxes done, I am going to purchase a ticket for Master to come visit in June. We haven’t hammered out the details yet but we are looking at 10-14 days together.

I also asked Master if he would like to meet my family. I thought he might be apprehensive about that. Instead, he said he would enjoy it. So, we will travel the 250 miles to where my family leaves. We will probably stay in a hotel because my father doesn’t have extra bed space. I’m so excited to show Master where and how I grew up! Visiting my hometown (okay, he’ll think it’s “quiet”) the town I attended college in, and maybe the nearby state capital with my Master will be so much fun. At least I think so. I hope Master agrees!

So that will probably take care of 4-5 days. What will we do with the rest of them? Well, there is a little shop that sells used DVDs. I’m sure we will have to take a day and visit that store. I also expect we’ll spend some time watching some baseball games, which tends to make up the bulk of my (free) summer entertainment. I am also looking forward to cooking for my Master. He didn’t get much of my cooking last time he was here.

When he visited last time (in the middle of winter) we went by the front of the house to where there are a couple of glider chairs. I hope Master and I can sit outside and enjoy some diet Mountain Dew or Pepsi. I realize Master does not want to spend two weeks sitting outside sipping lemonade, and yet a few minutes just enjoying the June weather might be nice.

So, I may not be doing anything “today”, but I do have plans. Big plans.

I have been thinking a lot about Master. I have been reminded of him by things in the news lately.

First of all, there is the writers’ strike. Master supports the writers. I know he has been concerned about where it would go and whether the writers would get a fair contract. I do not know the details of the deal that has been worked out, but it seems to have the blessing of the leadership of the guild. This should make the writers happy, which will make Master happy, which makes me happy.

Second, the primaries are in Master’s area. We have discussed politics briefly. When the voting is discussed, I think of Master being involved.

So, Master, although I always think of you, as issues that are important to you are in the news, I think of you even more.

If you are old enough, you know what I mean. We are not the only ones who get older. Our parents age as well. I have been forced to accept that as I look at my father.

My father is a strong man. He is the type that can fix things around the home or garage. We never hired anyone to come in and fix something. Dad did it when he had time.

My house now is desperately in need of repairs, but I have finally accepted that my father cannot come and fix things. He is not able to anymore. Oh, he can do some things, but to spend days working on a house is not something he can do any more.

I have also noticed the change in him even at his house. His house is small with a limited number of beds. He used to let me have his bed and he would take the couch. But I noticed last time I was there that he cannot sleep well on the couch. Other arrangements will be made from now on.

My mother was always in poor health, and her deterioration did not really come as a surprise. Watching my father’s slow decline, however, is different. His body is slowly able to do less and less. My body is doing the same, but he is further along on this journey we call aging.

Are you a coward when it comes to pain? I guess I don’t know how to answer that. Like most Americans, I have not been confronted by terrible pain. But I do know that I don’t tolerate pain in my head. If I get either a head ache or a toothache I am down for the count.

I have been battling headaches recently. I am almost at the point of going to the doctor. The ibuprophen that I took all day yesterday didn't seem to have much of an effect. What do I expect if I go to the doctor? A brain scan and the dreaded brain tumor? Not really. I do have two possible culprits, though.

#1
I got new glasses a couple of weeks ago. When I first got them, they nearly made me sick as I wondered around Walmart. They were bifocals, however, and I thought it was just a result of wearing them. They did get better, although things aren’t always in focus as well as I’d like.

#2
Often a sinus infection can cause headaches. The pain seems to be around the eyes and “mask” of my face. Perhaps there is something going on with my sinuses that is causing the problem. I’m not stuffed up, however, so I don’t know.

After going to bed last night, I woke up, headache free (YIPPEEE!). Unfortunately, the nagging pain has already begun again.