Where’s My Life Raft?

I’m wearing manta ray Tie o’ the Day to psych myself up into jumping into the pool. The beautiful Tie won’t be swimming with me, because I don’t especially want to swim with manta rays. Don’t worry, some of my stunt neckwear will swim with me when I finally take my first post-operation leap into the pool. You’ll see photos of the event soon, but I can’t quite wrap my mind around taking a dip yet. The problem is that I’m afraid swimming this soon will pull or tear all the wrong muscles and organs surrounding my teeny tiny pancreas, and then I’ll have to be opened up a second time. I will do anything (or NOT do anything) it takes to make sure I never have to stay in a hospital again. Ever since I came home from Hunstman, I’ve gazed longingly at the pool each day. The blue of the water calls to me. And here I sit on my couch, not answering the call. Yet. I think the pool misses me as much as I miss it. Being so cautious about doing stuff makes me feel prissy, and prissy isn’t something I usually feel. In fact, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt prissy in my life– not even when Suzanne once brought out her suitcases of make-up and gave me a full-out makeover. Having brought up that particular incident just now, I anticipate at least a couple of you will ask to see photos of such a thing happening to me again. Suzanne and I already discussed that me in make-up would be an excellent TIE O’ THE DAY post. We figure you’ll like it. So… now you have two specific posts to look forward to: Ties and bow ties swimming in the pool, and me with a made-up face. 💄

A Chip Off The Ol’ Block

Coloring book Neckwear o’ the Day was filled-in by the famous artist, Suzanne. She was so excited when she found this page in one of her coloring books. She knew it would rock my joy. Whenever she kept me company in the hospital, she pulled out her markers and coloring books. She colored for hours, cuz I wasn’t feeling very talky most of my stay. BTW How I play with words is rubbing off on Suzanne. This binder is her daily planner, which she named without any input from me. I guffaw at any writing with an “o'” in it instead of “of.” Writing “o'” instead o’ “of” saves so much time and printer toner, eh? 😂

The Rain In Spain Falls Mainly On The Tie Clip

Bow Tie o’ the Day is a new addition to my collection. Its title is BARCELONA. I’m wearing Tie Clip o’ the Day on my shirt because tie clips don’t go on bow ties. But there’s a theme here: Tie Clip came to me, from Suzanne, all the way from Barcelona. In 1986, Suzanne studied in Spain, where she saw this elegant tie clip. I have no doubt she said in her head, “This has Helen written all the heck over it.” She was right. As always. 😲 🎁