5/3/2024

Seems like the world has gone off the rails a bit, but there is nothing new under the sun, and there is much to be thankful for. 

2022

I retired in 2015 as I was turning 65. In the balance of things, I’d have to say I’m glad I did. It’s nice to get a paycheck. It’s good to feel independent and productive, the socialization is good, too, but there are perks to being free to make your own schedule.  It took a while to adjust, then there was Covid. I was glad I could stay home without a job to worry about, and no kids at home anymore. I’m sure I have watched too much Tv, more news shows than ever before. I felt like I was coming from behind, because I’ve never really paid much attention to what was going on in the world. That’s a little embarrassing, and yet I have gotten along just fine. Now I have access to more news than I can absorb and make sense of, but I try. Interesting for sure, as I think the future will be also. I pray for our country, and the world. Praying for peace, especially in Ukraine at this time.

Welcome 2021

January 3rd, 2021

Goodbye and good riddance to most of 2020, and soon hopefully to this election cycle, which feels like it will never end. 

It was chilly and windy today, but sunny, and I was glad to see the sun after a couple of rainy days. I feel like I'm not accomplishing very much, but I did get out for a while today. My dear neighbor and I walked our two miles down to the highway and back.  We felt good about that, and had a chance to talk to one of our neighbors.

I was out of birdseed after the morning feeding, and although I'm sure they would have been fine, I drove to a nearby town to buy more so that they will have their usual feeding in the morning. Watching the birds has been an  interesting and comforting pastime for me these last months while we have mostly  sheltered here at home during the pandemic.

May God bless you all and with his mercy and grace bring us out of this dark time into better and brighter days in the future.  We are excited and encouraged by the development of a vaccine. Glad for that, very glad. We grieve for those who have lost loved ones or been sick themselves, but it's good to have hope.

Thanksgiving 2020

We are eight plus months into this covid thing. What a crazy year this has been, like none I’ve ever seen in my now 70 years. Gosh, that seems like a long time, and it is. Life sure is a funny thing. So much of it I don’t even remember, I wish I did. Would that I could recall every happy thing that ever happened. Maybe it’s enough to be present in the moment and enjoy each day as best we can. Right now I’m enjoying the beautiful sunshine that’s gracing this fall day, listening to the quiet that is broken occasionally by geese as they land on the lake. They’re migrating now, I think. 

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. We had planned to all gather for the traditional meal and to enjoy some time together. We are blessed to all live in the same state, but the distance, traffic, and busy schedules still keep us apart much of the time. One of the grands had an exposure to the virus and was quarantined. They were missed very much, but otherwise it was a lovely day with the weather cooperating beautifully. The meal was delicious, the company was great. In the evening, we made our way to the backyard, where we sat around the fire, laughing and talking till long after dark. It was good to be reminded to be thankful, and I am.

Covid 19

Good evening everyone. I hope you are well and have not gotten sick with this new corona virus. If you are in the health care profession, may God bless and protect you. We rock along in life, and it feels like nothing will ever change. We become complacent, and I realize that we are blessed here in America. That is not to say that most of us don’t work hard, because we do, but we are blessed to live here and have many freedoms and opportunities that some people don’t. It’s not much to ask that we stay home, especially for someone like myself, who is retired. Even so, I feel a bit of cabin fever settling in. I want to be outside in the sun, but the pollen count is very high today. So I have stayed in, watched the church service online, ate some lunch, took a nap. I see that the social distancing recommendation has been extended until the end of April.  I’m not surprised, it’s for the best. Let’s pull together, we can do it. 

Some of you are too young for this to apply, but to quote from Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias, if you’re old enough to achieve puberty, you’re old enough to have a past. So, am I the only one, or does it seem like the older we get, the more we are shocked by life? That statement could take many forms, but in some way, does it ring true for you?

Reflecting on Seizing the Day

I don't know that I would say I truly seized the day yesterday, but I accomplished a fair amount. There is an old saying, they want to have their cake and eat it, too. When I first

heard that, I didn't know what it meant, and I think it probably was being used to describe

a wayward husband. Now I think it often applies to my life, not in that respect, of course, but for example, on my days off, I want to stay home, and I want to go out. I want to do this, but I want to do that, seems like I'm always at cross purposes. I'm glad I have some options and the freedom to choose, but it seems like I always want it all, and that's not possible. Today I have some choices to make, then I'm back to work and my time will no longer be my own. Sometimes I feel like that's ok, I'm almost tired of making choices. I'm ready to let someone else do it for a while. Silly, isn't it? At work I just move through the tasks of the day, it's kind of therapeutic, adding a different dimension to my life. Sometimes I think I can see how people can become workaholics. It's really easier most of the time than dealing with everything on the homefront, and my homefront is great. It would really be tough if there was lots of turmoil at home. Wow. Anyway, after a few days of work, I'll have my head squared up on my shoulders again, and I'll be excited about being free again. I'll look forward to being at home and having the time to do whatever I want to do with my day, sort of. At least that's what I tell myself.

Am I just crazy, or does this ring a bell with anyone?

Sorry if I'm whinning, I'm really fine and happy to be here. It's going to be a great day. I'm just expressing these thoughts that go through my head and wondering, am I the only one who has them? Surely not.

Have a blessed day. I'll be reading some of your blogs later, I'm sure.

Your bloggy friend,

Gram