Useless

What makes a person feel useless? Is it when Dad is 87 years old and feels so lousy that he can't do much anymore? Is it when I am 57 years old and don't go teach little chilren anymore and my grown children don't "need" me anymore?
When are we really useless? Is it when we can't enjoy the air on our face in the morning or can't see the three quarter moon or the early morning stars? Is it when we can't use Google to look up exactly what the "Arab World" means or Rick Steves' Italy to find out about Siena?
What really makes a person useless?

The First Day of Spring

The beds around our house are spectacular this morning. Bernie hired Dex and Spencer to help him make the beds clean and beautiful. What a pleasant sight when you look out the window on the first day of spring.

I got out my jounal labeled "Ideas for Gardens 2008". What I have learned since 2008 is how overwhelming our beds are to me. 2011 will be a year to enjoy what is here: the plants that are tough enough to survive the overwhelmingness of nature here in Country Oaks.

Taking in a morning walk,
watching the sun rise on the day when there are equal hours of daylight and dark,
feasting my eyes on these beautiful garden beds when I return home,
Feeling a part of all that surrounds me.
The first day of spring.

Running

I still like to run. I wonder what it is about my body that makes me like to run. Today it was 50 degrees, partly cloudy, a chilly wind, bare Missouri trees.........thank goodness the running was fun. The rest was kinda blah.

Take a Day for Myself

"Take a day for yourself" was frequent advice in magazines. I would read the advice and think it was a good idea. Today I followed the advice and took a day for myself. I'm making the transition to a less busy busy busy life. Life is changing.

They did not hear, "Mom is quilting"

Quilting and needlework..........another homemaking skill that has a history for me. In the early 70s we did do some stitching. Mom was doing cross stitch. Sharon was doing counted cross stitch. I was doing what we called crewel embroidery. Needlework in the evenings was kinda fun. I guess we did that before there was e-mail, facebook, and blogging to do in the evenings. We've pulled out mom's blocks and are getting them made into quilts. There are still ladies around Washington that quilt.

Bernie's mom quilted. Grandma Blumer went to St. Peters Church to be a part of the quilting group that is still quilting and is doing some of the quilts for Mom. Grandma Beasley quilted, but, I get the sense that she quilted more out of necessity. Mom has quilts that she thinks belonged to Grandma Beasley but Mom thinks Grandma gave them to her to "keep you kids warm".

I am still not quilting, but, I am learning the basics of the craft by helping Mom get these blocks made into quilts. It is quite a mathematical, artistic, and passionate hobby. I admire the beauty and creativity of the quilts I am encountering as I learn the intricacies behind the final products.

The Answer is: 2 hours

As I spent two hours cleaning the house I realized there was a #4 with yesterday's post.

#4 reason our kids did not hear me say, "I'm going to clean the house today" --- Bernie and I had our latest plan for trying to get the kids to participate in "We're going to keep the house clean".

Transitions.........life is always changing...........it's nice to have a beautiful sunrise and a smile on my face. Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

"I'm going to clean the house today."

Yesterday I talked about our kids being grown, on their own. As they reflect on their childhood, I don't think they often heard their mom say "I'm going to clean the house today"

In my retirement, I have spent time reflecting on why this is true.
Is it #1? In the 70s, when I was starting out as a "grown up", we young, ego filled women figured that "cleaning the house" was not what we were going to do.
Is it #2? When I was growing up, my mom worked during the day and did the house jobs during her evenings. I suppose that is what I was on course to do, except that I drove kids to games and practices and graded papers in the evening instead of doing the house jobs.
Is it #3? I never developed the "attention span" to spend the day cleaning the house. I would allow myself to get distracted to do other more enjoyable tasks: cook, run, read, talk to Bernie, go on an outing, talk on the phone, play a game of kickball with the kids, etc. etc. etc.

I'm going to clean the house today. It is 8:36AM. I wonder how long my "attention span" will last today. I'll keep you "posted".

Our Kids Are Grown!!

In the photo for today's post you see that Ben and his dad are getting the roof top carrier situated for Ben's first "on his own" vacation. Talk about TRANSITIONS......our kids are all grown, on their own, living their lives. How did that happen?

March 2011

Life is always changing. Retirement has given me a chance to embrace the changes and transitions of my life.