How long has it been? Of course, it has been way too long since I have written. Life has taken a series of twists and turns, some of them joyful, some of them stressful. But all of them taking up time. On the joyful side: Christmas, including Christmas Eve service at my beloved church, thoughtful gifts given and received, and lots of (perhaps too much?) good food. There was the visit from my daughter and son-in-law, and our beloved grandson, Jameson. Such a joy he is. Time spent with my mother-in-law, Joan, visiting from California.
Stressful included a terrible cold, a sinus infection, and, finally COVID. It included this doggone weather, keeping Joan here an extra day due to a cancelled flight, and keeping my children from traveling safely until I-90 was opened back up. We were putting our house on the market, the very definition of stressful. Included with that were less than pleasant negotiations with the buyer, and an inspection necessitating our departure from the house for 4 hours on a day of near-record snowfall. John, Joan, and I drove to a movie theater that day – what else was there to do? I am not exaggerating when I say we were 1 of 3 cars parked in the massive cinema multiplex parking lot.
Then there is my son and his little yappy dog, who are staying with us in between apartments. Our son is a loving presence in our lives, but he (and his yappy dog), are just that. A presence which we are not used to having in our empty nest.
Then more snow, keeping us inside for days on end. Whew! It’s a lot.
So, this week’s JOY: getting back to normal. I am thrilled to be writing. Thrilled to have played pickleball yesterday after a 2-month hiatus. Happy to be dancing, playing Mahjong, making myself exercise. It’s amazing (and distressing!) to me that all these things fell by the wayside during these trying times.
Along with joy, I feel gratitude. Grateful that my body can heal, that we can shovel our way out of the snow, that our house sold. I am grateful for my “families” – Mahjong, dance, pickleball, and thankful for the joy they showed me when we reunited.
I am grateful for the time spent with my “real” family – my son, my daughter, son-in-law, the world’s cutest toddler, and my mother-in-law.
I am grateful for the opportunity to write.
And, perhaps most of all, I am grateful for the joy of just a regular day.