And, In The End

The love you take is equal to the love you make.

Gratefulness-Challenge Day 21 of 21 by KnowledgeCollective

Such a long day, so very productive but long.  I’m tired and it’s almost midnight, but this is day 21, and I want to enjoy this last of the three weeks of Gratitude.

1. Glorious Sunset - the clouds to the East were turning more and more pink, so even though I had finally landed from doing a bunch of work outside before dark, I headed outside to see what all the color was about. At this time of the year the sunset is obscured by houses even from the upstairs window. I walked several houses down and between two houses into a common green, open grass with no trees. The show of colors was stupendous. I don’t have a photo to share because I didn’t take my camera, and I’m glad. One of my conscious choices right now is to enjoy the moment to Savor not to Save. 

2. Light Tree - Many years ago I gifted my husband, a proud Vietnam Veteran, a full on flagpole in front of out home. The flag flies there daily, and we do it with great pride - especially pride in his service to this nation. Ten years ago, or thereabouts, he found a FairyBell light tree. Made specifically for flag poles it’s a net of lights that when pulled taut creates a tree of lights where there’s actually just a flagpole.  This afternoon I took advantage of the warm weather and got the thing up in record time. Colorful LED lights shine as our primary lighting contribution to the street’s holiday displays and give me nightly holiday happiness. And this I did photograph:

   

    

3. Moving Ahead - between having the interior of the house painted, rebooting the garage, arranging for the chimney to be cleaned and ready to finally have a fire in the living room wood stove again, and having a new-to-us range delivered today, I’m getting a lot done. The end goal is selling this big house and moving to a more retirement ready home and community.  Baby steps, but they feel so good. 

4. The Furkids - These creatures who allow us to live in their space and serve their whims are our children, and I couldn’t bear a life without them in it. Number 11 in our 40+ year cat history, the oldest at four years is Black Panther, aka B.P., aka Beeper, aka Beep, and third of that name. (The first B.P. was our neighbors’ and Hubby admired him so much that we got a black Bombay kitten and named him the same.) This B.P. III is 15 pounds, black from tip to toe, and sweet as a cat can be. He thinks he’s a puppy. We had him less than 6 months before Quarantine. Later in 2020 came The Twins, a brother and sister Snowshoe Siamese pair and numbers 12 and 13. Pale blue of eye and beautiful to behold they are named for characters from M*A*S*H - Maxwell Q. Klinger and Margaret Houlihan, aka Max and Meggie. Max is a doofus and excellent at the job, and Meggie is the first female we’ve had in our home. She is the QUEEN. They are deeply bonded littermates and also bonded with Beeper, a little pride of three. 

   

    Meggie, Beeper, Max

5. My Husband - Richard and I are about as different as two people can be, but despite (or because of) that we’ve been married 41 years. He’s quiet, and I’m a communicator but we get things said and shared. With him I know I am loved, I am valued, and I am enough. Truly something to be Grateful for.

Perhaps the best part of these three weeks has been getting in the habit of writing. Every. Single. Day.  I’m able to stop trying to make everything just right and instead express and share what’s true for me and maybe something good for you folks to read. 

Going forward I will be back to talking about Death and my observations and revelations as a Death Doula and End Of Life Educator. 

I love that you’re here for the unfolding story. Thank you so much