Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke
The universe cooperated beautifully this morning. I got my run in early, the temperatures stayed reasonable, and I returned home with just enough energy to tackle the pre-guest checklist before my friend arrives today. Although I am finding out that our guest arrives at midnight.
And what a visit this has been, a long time coming. We go all the way back to university. We had the kind of friendship that’s survived decades through a rather impressive number of late-night online gaming sessions. The last attempt at an in-person reunion was foiled by COVID. My wife got passed by her college, which put a hard stop to plans faster than you can say “positive test.”
This time, no illness. Just… logistics.
My wife couldn’t arrange a day off. It’s the quarterly audit that kicks off next week, and apparently, spreadsheets wait for no one. She was a good sport about it, though slightly droopy-eyed by 9 pm. This is what happens when you’re a dedicated early-morning runner. She wakes up with the sunrise, which means she also answers to it at bedtime. By the time my phone buzzed with the update, friend running late, won’t arrive until nearly midnight, she was already fading into the couch cushions like a very tired houseplant.
So the plan: I’ll stay up, play the gracious host, get everyone settled, and slip off to bed once the midnight adventure is complete.
Our Cat and Strangers
The real wildcard, of course, is the cat. She’s perfectly at ease with us, a regal creature of established routine, but guests are a rare phenomenon in this household. She will either vanish into the deepest closet until Tuesday, or she’ll decide that a visitor simply means two more hands available for ear scratches. There is no in-between with this cat. I am genuinely curious which version we’ll get.
Stay tuned for the verdict and whether I manage to stay awake past 11.
Until next time, may your houseguests arrive on time and your cats be sociable.