Life Changes

Hello,

The mail had my college class newsletter. I found it surprising to learn four of my classmates had died last year. I did recognize all of the names, but could not picture them in my mind. After looking them up in the yearbook, I “recognized” three of them.

How did I not know that we had moved from announcements of marriages, births, and job advancements to Obits? It seems there is a new stage in life. Before this in both high school and college classes some classmates have died, but never this many in one year. Because of it being younger people it did not have the feeling of a pattern to come. Each year will the list grow?

I do not feel close to death, but it is sobering to realize that I am a year older than my sister was when she died. It feels like a bonus even though my parents were older as was my grandmother when she died. She was 87 and I remember that seemed ancient. These days an eighty-seven year old can be quite young. As with much of life it is all relative.

I did go out and pick up trash on our block even though I had done it not so long ago. From a distance, it all looked good, but I still managed to collect a bag full before I felt too tired to proceed. I was a bit warmly dress and that added to my fatigue.

I will have to go out this evening to get in some more steps. Picking up trash is much squatting, but not many steps. I think there should be a notification to smokers that the butts are not good for the water ways and should be disposed of properly. They are rather tedious to pick up. To urge myself on I try to think of some friends who do this almost every day. They are my trash pick up role models.

Paula

Spring is Coming

Hello,

After walking to church in winter coats, hats and wearing scarves as well as gloves, we were happy to get inside out of the brisk wind. On the way home we were grateful for the same get up. I have to say that we did meet some much younger people who were in shorts, but with a jacket.

After lunch Leroy and I both went out to finish delivering the newsletters. Again we put on more winter attire and met some who were, in my opinion, scantily dressed. I guess that is one way to separate out the young and the old or the foolish and the wise.

Leaves are giving a green glow to hedges with some flowers blooming here and there especially on the south side of buildings. The tulips are up but look a bit weary. The jonquils in the neighborhood look much more at home in this wavering weather.

None of the seeds that Leroy planted outside have sprouted. We both think it might have been too cold. Course as I told him seeds left on their own will sometimes sprout later. Hope is still alive. Our garlic and onions look quite fine. If there were more of either I would be using some right now.

Is it spring or something else, but Leroy is quite busy working to organize stamps that he has been given. For some time he has an album that someone else had put together. Now he is soaking those stamps off the pages where they have been stuck. It is quite a big job, but he tells me, “There are many interesting stamps here.”

So he is quite willing to put forth the effort.

Paula

Card Sorting

Hello,

Today I wanted to send someone a greeting card. While looking for the right card, I realized that some sorting was in order. I have cards I bought, cards that I think came from Leroy’s mother who died 20 years ago, and cards that Leroy brought home from church because they were cleaning out and he knows I do not believe in throwing away anything that might yet have a use.

I made card stacks of the different types of occasions that require a card. Then I started matching envelops with the cards. That was a tough job as several cards were too large for any envelops in my possession. Especially that bunch from church seemed to be missing envelops for the larger cards. Did someone snitch them to be used elsewhere? Now how am I going to use these cards? Does anyone sell various sized envelops that would fit cards? Or will it be necessary to just buy some larger envelops that obviously do not fit, but will allow it to go through the mail? Maybe envelops could be made from a plain white piece of paper?

I do not have any larger envelops in my possession, but as of right now my cards are organized and ready to be sent to just the right person.

Paula

Windy

Hello,

We have had wind and rain so I know that we are missing much more that others have had to endure. Yesterday when I was starting my drive to work it was just raining a little. As I waited to turn left to the on ramp for the interstate, it started to rain much harder. The black truck ahead of me was just starting to make that left turn when another black truck from across the intersection almost slammed into it. I would guess there was about two feet of clearance once the interloper stopped. The truck in front of me, after some hesitation, proceeded up the ramp. The truck in the intersection sat a moment, but I waved it on. It continued with its left turn. By the time I got up on the interstate it was raining hard enough that I had some trouble seeing the lane markings. I just hoped the person in front of me could tell what the right space to be in was.

Luckily that serious rain did not last very long. It was still raining when I stopped at the library, but it was little enough to easily get in the building.

Today I delivered some of the neighborhood newsletters. Because of the cold wind I only did a small amount of the route. I am hoping that Saturday and Sunday are ok for finishing the job. Leroy will be home so he will probably help. That means we can get it done, however I will not get in as many steps as I like to do. I like taking walks that have a purpose other than for steps. I might have to walk around the block a few times because I only have 7,000 steps so far today.

Paula

Flowers

Hello,

The violets are blooming beautifully. I am so impressed, considering that I have not always been successful with violets. It must be the space that they are in which feels just right.

One of our blinds broke so to raise and lower it we have been moving the poinsettias in and out of their space. Perhaps because of that they have been losing more leaves. At Leroy said, “It will be good to plant them outside.”

Two days ago it seemed the weather would soon be warm enough to put those poinsettias out, but today makes a different thought come to mind with the wind, rain and cooler temperatures. Course our neighbors to the north are having snow fall so we are not complaining. Again today Leroy drove rather than rode the bike. He has not been on the bike as much as usual.

The two Christmas cactus are now officially done blooming until in the fall. The anthurium is still blooming, but does not have many blooms. I gather it is supposed to be in a warm to hot room and we do not have that. So the violets out shine the anthurium , but they are in a different room. These flowers can each feel appreciated.

Paula

Leroy Saw the Pictures

Hello,

Sunday, Leroy finally saw the pictures. We had been gone since Friday morning so he can be excused for some of the time. We returned Sunday. He was pleased with how it looks now that it is the focus of his attention.

My plan was to tell him on Wednesday which would have made it a week without noticing them. He does often eat with his focus on his food and his head is lowered over it. We do talk some during the meal. Or perhaps I should say, “I talk some during the meal.”

Leroy has planted some lettuce and a few radishes. However last night he told me that something has been digging in the bed. We both blame our friendly neighborhood squirrel or squirrels. They certainly feel at home anywhere around the territory. It could be that they buried some walnuts in that very spot or they have a vague memory of last fall’s activities. Now they just search in many places hoping to get that nut free from the clutches of the earth. Leroy made it easy to dig in the garden. Surely lettuce and radish seeds are too small for them to consume.

Our winter onions and garlic look quite fine. I just so look forward to things that I can eat in my local area. It satisfies my sense of what is good. Even though I rarely eat meat, I might be persuaded to eat squirrel if that were an acceptable city thing to do.

Paula

Day Off?

Hello,

I am not sure why I call it a day off. First thing, I drove across town to get my glasses adjusted. Earlier, I had gone to a place on this side of town for an adjustment, but it hurt quite a lot behind my ear consequently I kept pulling on the frame and I believe it was not in proper alignment. So I went back to the purchase place. It feels much better, but I am not sure it is in the very best position for my distance vision. Position seems to be critical for focusing on the far away objects. If I press the frame up closer to my face I see better. Maybe another trip will get it.

After that I had three stores to go to for needed supplies. One of the stops was to pick up the family pictures. In the 8x10, Miriam and Olivia have a bit of the side of the face compromised, but I am ignoring that because it will probably be years before we are all together once more. They do both look good in other pictures.

By the time I got home I could start on making granola now that I had all the ingredients.

Continued April 4, 2019

I know that I was busy much of the rest of the day.

Today I worked an extra hour because my coworkers had other obligations. One of the good things about this work experience is that we help each other when someone needs some time off. I am grateful for that so I try to help whenever possible, because I know they will help me.

Leroy did not see the family pictures hanging in the kitchen yesterday or this morning. He was home for lunch by himself so he might have seen them then. Last night after we were in bed, he questioned, “Did you pick up the pictures today?” He knows they are here. Obviously this guy is focused when he is in the kitchen.

Paula