Ireland/China 2025, continuing (61)

[aadler]

Fifty-first day in China – August 10 Sunday

I woke at 9:30AM, Susan already up. Quick breakfast, and I got a shower and shave in preparation for the day’s plans.

Kevin picked me and Susan up about 11:30, took us to lunch at a place called the George and Dragon. (Yes, a British pub, in China, run by a Dutchman.) Susan and I each had fish & chips, and we relaxed and talked with Kevin before moving on unhurriedly to take our place at St. Thérèse of Lisieux, just down the block.

Susan and I said a Rosary together while Kevin and Mei‑li went through choir practice; also in attendance were Amber, her grandmother Laura, and the nanny with Ruby. Ruby’s baptism took place during the Mass but before the Eucharist, and when the entire service was over we hung around for some photographs.

Kevin delivered me and Susan back to our apartment, picked up the container in which Susan’s dinner was delivered last night, and set off for his own place. I read, Susan rested.

Around 5:30PM Kevin met us again downstairs, and together we went several blocks to the Japanese restaurant where we’d celebrated Amber’s birthday two years ago; this time, the celebration was for Ruby’s baptism. There were a full dozen of us in attendance, not counting Ruby herself.

(Toward the end, Susan needed to make a restroom visit, and I went along to show her the way. Because of different doorframe lips, she chose to walk rather than ride in her powered wheelchair, though she pushed the chair ahead of her while she held on for stability. She’s been dealing with so much back pain the last several weeks, it’s come close to immobilizing her … but there seemed to be maybe a bit less of that today, and the way she was forging a path to and from the ladies’ room made it clear that her knees have got enormously better. Which is heartening, considering the thousands we spent for the stem-cell treatment for those knees shortly before we started this trip.)

Back to the apartment after the meal was done, and settled in for basic evening relaxation. By 11:30 we were both ready to wind things up and start getting ready for bed.