Such major changes have happened in my life this year that I have been thinking a lot about the things I have to be thankful for....and I find that there are many.
First and foremost is that I had Ned in my life for 58 years. He was such a gentle man who loved family, friends and a good time. I don't know of anyone who didn't like Ned. Together we raised three wonderful sons. I have so many precious memories of our life and I try to make that my focus not how much I miss him.
I have always thought my sons were special....well, maybe there were a few times when they were younger that I could have given them away if I could have found someone who would take them. Not any more. I'm keeping my "boys." They really pitched in and helped take care of Ned and are so supportive of me. I'll brag and say they are exceptional men and I'm so thankful for them. I'm thankful also for their wives and sons who did anything they could for us. I really have a great family. I can't imagine how I would have gotten through this last year without them.
Next on the list are my friends. If I had kept a list of all the things that my friends did for me during this past year it would be the size of a novel.
Mexico....I'm definitely thankful that I have my little house in San Miguel and I'm enriched everyday by living in here.
I'm thankful for my health. I know that at my age that feeling healthy and strong can change in a flash so I'm really trying to live in the moment and be greatful for each day.
Because I have all of these things, my life is rich and full and I am thankful.
The last couple of years we have been in Houston with Ned's sister for Thanksgiving. This year I'm staying put here in Mexico. A little later I'll meet some friends at a restaurant for the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. It seems a little funny that I'm not cooking today. The worst part of not cooking the big turkey dinner is that you don't have leftovers. Thanksgiving dinner is always soooo good the next day. I think restaurants could make a few extra bucks by having a "take-out box" for leftovers. I would definitely buy one.
To all my blogging friends, I hope you have a wonderful feast day with family and friends.
Showing posts with label Living Alone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Living Alone. Show all posts
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Cooking for One
Early in the morning we packed the car and Helen put all the road maps where she could get to them. This was back in the days before GPS. Helen liked to know where she was at all times. It made her feel secure and safe. Our plan was that we were going to drive to Pulaski Tennessee and spend the night with my cousin. Somehow there had been a miscommunication and my cousin had gone to a football game but she said for us to go to her Mother's house and we could get the key. Her Mother, my Aunt Lucille, was my favorite Aunt. Uncle Charlie had died a number of years before so she lived alone in an apartment in the center of Pulaski. It was in an old well-maintained building and had a wonderful spirit about it. I had driven from Texas to Tennessee several times to see her because she was getting up there in years.
Helen and I drove to the apartment and knocked on the door. Aunt Lucille opened the door and greeted us like she had been expecting us for weeks. She had this great smile and a shy laugh. Soon she was asking us if we had eaten dinner. No, we hadn't but we were going to get a burger or something. No, no! She would not hear of it. She was immediately in the kitchen, taking stuff from the refrigerator and getting out pans. In about 15 minutes we sat down at the table set with china, napkins. There was meat....I can't remember if it was pork chops or meatloaf and at least three vegetables. Ice tea....it is the South. And then she even had a home made dessert. I seem to remember a slice of cake. I was amazed at the food she prepared for us. When I asked her if she had cooked for company she told me no. She had cooked it for her dinner. I've never forgotten that night because for the first time I realized that even when there is only one person to cook for that the food can be prepared at home and be delicious.
Now since I'm cooking for one I've often thought of that night with Aunt Lucille and I have realized something just as important as having delicious food and that is, that the act of planning, purchasing and preparing the food is comforting and satisfying. Setting the table, even for one, with place mat, napkin and a little glass of wine feels good. Although I admit that the first time I sat at the table without Ned was very sad, it now comforts me.
The picture at the top? Well I put that up because it is the first time I've used my big-girl camera in a while. I did use it when I was in Colorado but I don't think I shot anything worthwhile. Basically, my photo-eye hasn't been working since early May. I took the camera with me into town yesterday and exposed about six images. This graffiti caught my eye because of the red heart. We don't usually see objects among the graffiti. I hope this means my photo-eye is waking up.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Looking for the Next Adventure
Although the apartment looks like a cyclone blew through, I'm making progress at getting out of it and on my way back to San Miguel. The hardest part has been folding Ned's clothes and putting them in bags. Some people say that they want to keep their loved ones clothes because they can smell the scent of the person on the clothes. I sniffed and sniffed but I didn't smell Ned's scent at all. I was doing okay until I had to fold some cotton shirts and folding and smoothing them was like I was caressing him. By the time I finished gathering his things, I knew I could not take them to the Salvation Army. Thank goodness for Son #2. He came and got them and took care of that for me.
In getting out of the apartment I've made the decision not to keep any of my furniture. Of course, we had gotten rid of most things when we moved to SMA full time but I still had some upholstered pieces for the living room and also some Chippendale dining room chairs. When or if I come back to Houston, I'll most likely buy a high-rise condo.
I've come to realize that I am in a different place and stuff I've had for 30 or 40 years just doesn't seem to fit me anymore. And if I put it in a condo, it will look like some of the pictures I see of condos that are for sale on the Houston Area Realtors website.....Like the condo owner is an older person(s) who downsized but their life is still the same. I know, my life is not the same.
This week also included a trip to San Antonio to meet up with friends who gave Carly a ride back to San Miguel. It was really hard to let her go. She has been my comfort and companion since Ned died. From San Antonio I dropped off a photograph that will be in a show in Johnson City and then on to Austin to see Son #3 and family. I was fortunate enough to hear Maxwell, 12 year old grandson, play with his new band. The band was good and he was great on the drums. He just gets better and better every time I hear him.
While discussing with Son #3 some of my thoughts about what I was doing as well as some of the doubts, He told me to rent the animated movie UP. It is about a man who met his wife when they were young kids and she always had the dream of taking off on an adventure. Life goes on and they were never able to save the money to fulfill her dream before she died. He is pressed down with grief but circumstances force him out of his rut and he is off on the adventure they always dreamed about. Son #3 talked to me about moving forward and going on to new adventures. When did my "baby" become so wise and insightful?
Son #1 has told me that I should go do anything I want to do. Parachute out of a plane. Travel anywhere. I don't have to worry about Ned or any of them. Live my life to the fullest. What a wonderful blessing my three sons are.
So this next week my nephew who just bought a new house will come and take a bunch of stuff. The movers will come and take boxes to storage and deliver the furniture to the Guild Shop. I'll move over to Son #1's house. Then I'm off with friends to Port Aransas for a few days and I'll try to do some more photography for the PortA project. Back in Houston for a day or two of last minute shopping, storing the car and then I'll fly to San Miguel and look for my next adventure.
In getting out of the apartment I've made the decision not to keep any of my furniture. Of course, we had gotten rid of most things when we moved to SMA full time but I still had some upholstered pieces for the living room and also some Chippendale dining room chairs. When or if I come back to Houston, I'll most likely buy a high-rise condo.
I've come to realize that I am in a different place and stuff I've had for 30 or 40 years just doesn't seem to fit me anymore. And if I put it in a condo, it will look like some of the pictures I see of condos that are for sale on the Houston Area Realtors website.....Like the condo owner is an older person(s) who downsized but their life is still the same. I know, my life is not the same.
This week also included a trip to San Antonio to meet up with friends who gave Carly a ride back to San Miguel. It was really hard to let her go. She has been my comfort and companion since Ned died. From San Antonio I dropped off a photograph that will be in a show in Johnson City and then on to Austin to see Son #3 and family. I was fortunate enough to hear Maxwell, 12 year old grandson, play with his new band. The band was good and he was great on the drums. He just gets better and better every time I hear him.
While discussing with Son #3 some of my thoughts about what I was doing as well as some of the doubts, He told me to rent the animated movie UP. It is about a man who met his wife when they were young kids and she always had the dream of taking off on an adventure. Life goes on and they were never able to save the money to fulfill her dream before she died. He is pressed down with grief but circumstances force him out of his rut and he is off on the adventure they always dreamed about. Son #3 talked to me about moving forward and going on to new adventures. When did my "baby" become so wise and insightful?
Son #1 has told me that I should go do anything I want to do. Parachute out of a plane. Travel anywhere. I don't have to worry about Ned or any of them. Live my life to the fullest. What a wonderful blessing my three sons are.
So this next week my nephew who just bought a new house will come and take a bunch of stuff. The movers will come and take boxes to storage and deliver the furniture to the Guild Shop. I'll move over to Son #1's house. Then I'm off with friends to Port Aransas for a few days and I'll try to do some more photography for the PortA project. Back in Houston for a day or two of last minute shopping, storing the car and then I'll fly to San Miguel and look for my next adventure.
Thursday, August 09, 2012
I Can Do It
This week on CBS the Sunday Morning News program had a segment about living alone.
One out of every seven Americans lives alone.
About 30% of them are over 65 years old.
Women living alone do better than men.
In my whole life I have never lived alone although I've always treasured time alone. When I was working the only time I had at home was at nights and on the weekends. Of course, there was always someone around. I have to confess that sometimes I would call into work on a weekday and say I was sick, so I could have a day at home alone just to putter around. Maybe take on a project. Maybe do nothing important at all. But that time alone at home was comforting and healing.
It is different now. I am one out of every seven Americans who lives alone. This is a different alone than what I wanted years ago when I was working and raising kids. Then I just wanted a little "piece" of being alone. What I have now is yards and yards of alone and I have to find my way to cut those yards into little pieces and remake a life. I'm not writing this to make anyone feel sad for me. It is just the way it is. The thing that I keep thinking about is how many fabulous women I know who live alone and have full and exciting lives. They can be my pattern for how to cut up all the yards of alone-ness and put the pieces back together into a warm and rewarding life.
Last night I went to bed feeling overwhelmed with all I have to do from now on by myself, alone, I woke up this morning and again I thought about my friends who have done amazing things alone. If they can do it, I can do it. I will do it!
And the first thing on the list is no small task.....wrap up the apartment and business here in Houston and get Carly and me back to San Miguel. I can do it!
One out of every seven Americans lives alone.
About 30% of them are over 65 years old.
Women living alone do better than men.
In my whole life I have never lived alone although I've always treasured time alone. When I was working the only time I had at home was at nights and on the weekends. Of course, there was always someone around. I have to confess that sometimes I would call into work on a weekday and say I was sick, so I could have a day at home alone just to putter around. Maybe take on a project. Maybe do nothing important at all. But that time alone at home was comforting and healing.
It is different now. I am one out of every seven Americans who lives alone. This is a different alone than what I wanted years ago when I was working and raising kids. Then I just wanted a little "piece" of being alone. What I have now is yards and yards of alone and I have to find my way to cut those yards into little pieces and remake a life. I'm not writing this to make anyone feel sad for me. It is just the way it is. The thing that I keep thinking about is how many fabulous women I know who live alone and have full and exciting lives. They can be my pattern for how to cut up all the yards of alone-ness and put the pieces back together into a warm and rewarding life.
Last night I went to bed feeling overwhelmed with all I have to do from now on by myself, alone, I woke up this morning and again I thought about my friends who have done amazing things alone. If they can do it, I can do it. I will do it!
And the first thing on the list is no small task.....wrap up the apartment and business here in Houston and get Carly and me back to San Miguel. I can do it!
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