1. Morning walks. We had a storm come through this week that brought a few mornings of rain, and I didn’t end up getting any pictures because whether we left early or late, it was dark and dreary. I’m hoping there will still be some fall color next week so I can get out and get some pictures of it.
2. Canceled plans and my “care team.” I tweaked my back again this week and had to cancel another week of yoga. Eric’s dad is visiting this weekend so I was trying to get the house ready and with my back being wonky it took a lot of extra time, and that meant I also didn’t get to write with my group on Friday morning. Weirdly enough I think what made SI joint so angry was the massage I got early in the week, which made everything but my back feel better. Acupuncture, my infrared heating pad, Aleve, some stretches and rest seem to have me on the path to recovery so hopefully I get to do some yoga at Red Sage this coming week and don’t miss Sunday morning Pilates.
3. Getting to spend time with Terry. He’s our only surviving parent. It’s good spending time with him, AND it is bringing up a lot of grief and anxiety for me. Like he always used to tell us after we visited, “glad you came, glad you’re leaving.” 🙂
4. Ringo. He is SUCH a good boy. I sure wish I knew how much time we had left together, and if I can’t know that I sure wish I could be softer, relax into this time we have together. I spend more time than I’d like tense and anxious, hypervigilant, worried that our time is limited, watching him for signs of age or illness or injury. This whole period of my life — aging parents, an aging pet, and my own aging body — is teaching me so much about accepting impermanence. And I am not gonna lie — I don’t like it. 😦
5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I love it here and every single thing that happens, almost no matter what it is, reminds me of that, only makes me more certain.
Bonus joy: cooking for Terry and Eric, molasses cookies from The Bread Chic, wool mattress toppers, old pictures, memories, finally finishing the book club book (it was disturbing and devastating and so well written, AND I can’t necessarily recommend it, probably wouldn’t have finished it if it weren’t for book club), naps, clean sheets, getting all the laundry done, tiny brass animals, other people’s kids and pets, cake, my new laptop, watching TV, leftovers, ice cream, getting in the pool, sitting in the sauna, flowers from the grocery store, crisp green grapes, mashed potatoes with butter and salt, sunshine, listening to music, comedy, poetry, good movies, green tea, a big glass of cold clean water, high yield savings accounts, wildlife photography, artists, down pillows and blankets, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.
