Paul was in and out, trying to catch up on business, so he could escape for the few days of the honeymooning. He'd yet to spend a night on the floor with us as he insisted it was only his schedule that prevented him from joining us. None of us believed him.
My sister Suzie drove up to visit us and check out my new digs. She too spent a night on the floor, old pro that she was. We were kids again and it felt wonderful to be on top terms with my sister after so many years. It was her first introduction to Timmy and they hit it off spectacularly.
Suzie and I shopped, explored and laughed our way through two delightful days together. I followed her back to Connecticut and visited my mother once more, but unfortunately she neither knew me nor remembered the book lady. I'd hoped to tell her all the wonders of my newly emerging life but I could only hope that conversations would take place in the future. I consoled myself that I was reestablishing our relationship even if my visits were one sided. My guilt over abandoning her for so long was beginning to fade.
A few days before my wedding, I was able to pull Karen away from her studies for a half day. We made use of our time by rummaging through the attic collection of odds and ends, now owned by us. It was a fun scavenger hunt.
The Alcott family was well represented by ninety years of discarded treasurers, clothing and bric-a-brac. Unlike the heirlooms of the North household, the Alcott treasures were more of the everyday variety. Most of our finds were mere curiosities but dozens of unopened gifts of linens, towels, blankets and kitchen items would prove useful. We began making a pile to cart downstairs and add to our growing collection. Some of the items were so outdated I hadn't seen them in decades. Others required explanation to Karen. An unused pressure cooker and two fondue dishes were left behind with three irons and a large hair dryer. We took one of the two new waffle irons. We considered a hand mixer that was better than mine and an expensive blender. They were added to our growing pile. Karen continually asked what items were used in my childhood household.
Medical equipment abounded. There were crutches, a walker, a wheel chair plus bed pans and a potty chair. Karen was curious about everything. She knew the function of a blood pressure cuff and thermometer. We'd store them in our downstairs hall closet. "What's that?" Karen asked, picking up a hot water bottle syringe combination still in its original unopened package.