Comments on: Plants in January, and neighbor

By: fraise

fraise — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:48:53 +0000

Whenever I see her, she’s in exactly the same position — but not just for the duration of a day, it’s the same position *every* day! Left arm folded over right, legs together and uncrossed. I’ve never noticed any shifts in her position, down to the point where I sometimes wonder if it isn’t a mannequin she’s put in her window, except that she does go outside occasionally to water her plants and sometimes isn’t there at noon (lunch time).

Catatonia certainly is a possibility, though I too imagine she’s dreaming up all sorts of malevolent “explanations” (delusions) for anything and everything my cat and I do. I am indeed not engaging, only ever looking at her indirectly. It’s actually nice that she sit there all day since it makes her easier to keep track of!

By: Bruce

Bruce — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:50:46 +0000

Oh dear, sounds like she’s not at all in very good shape. Well, at least she’s found a peaceable job to occupy her, “guarding” your door/apt. (from intruders? but from which side of the door?) before she closes up shop at the end of her “work day” (unfortunately, I’m only half-joking). Other than her laugh, have you been able to tell whether she physically moves on her chair or not? If she seems like she is “figée en place”, it might indicate either a semi-catatonic state (although real catatonic states are very rare, or even arguably almost non-existant), or maybe her hallucinations are keeping her pretty busy? Well, at least she seems peaceable for now. And probably a good idea to keep up your “Bushian policy of non-engagement”. (<= joke/non-joke ;-D )

En tout cas, bon courage!

By: fraise

fraise — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:55:43 +0000

I know! Unfortunately I still haven’t heard anything. “Francine” is very busy and doesn’t always have time to write; I’m hoping everything is all right.

“Gertrude” is still at her place. For two weeks now she’s been sitting right beside her living room window (across from my kitchen door onto the terrace) and staring at my place all day. When I say “all day,” I really mean it — every time I walk past that door, she’s still sitting in the same spot and in the same position, from 9am to 6pm (when she finally closes up). Every once in a while she cackles. It’s like she lives in a reality that’s the Twilight Zone…

By: Bruce

Bruce — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:29:52 +0000

You posted last week “The good news is that she [Gertrude] goes before the judge tomorrow [Monday the 27th]…”

Any news or developments? Has she taken (or even been given) some meds? Any of the proverbial “men in white coats”?

Enquiring readers want to know… ;-)