More Kindness

It is as chilly as winter today and a slow drizzly rain that is reminiscent of beginning snow has fallen all day. The damp chill seems to sink into my bones like honey into warm cornbread! Even Biscuit doesn’t want out, but curls up on our bed trying to wait for a sunnier day.

Last night we went to ER again and this time DH got some temporary relief which some mental relief for me. I never do well in the month of March as S.A.D. wipes me out. This year with cancer and hubby and family issues and the sorrowful state of our country, well, life in general, I was holding my own until yesterday. Then worry about hubby broke me down. I called ER and got a truly kind charge nurse who said, “Bring him in. I can help him.” She did and then the PA, also a kind woman, did blood work that should have been done long before. They gave him pain meds and enough relief until we can see a doctor on Monday. I think we are in for another big life change here. Doesn’t feel fair that our Golden Years are so tarnished! But I am grateful for kindness of these women.

Another strange incident in kindness happened this morning when I went to grocery store. I did not use the riding cart but got myself through the store walking, a feat for me these days. A man smiled at me in line and when I got my stuff to the car, he too had checked out and was parked next to me. He started talking to me about how unkind some people are these days and how a lady in the store made him feel bad. Did I ever have that happen? Ah, yes, and I wondered in the cold drizzle what kind of a come on this was. I said people are upset in general and maybe she had bad day before the store. He said the woman had ruined his day until a kind woman talked to him in the parking lot, thanked me, and wished me a good day ahead. Strange. But I said a little prayer asking God to never let me forget what a kind word does for people, no matter how depressed or sick I get.

 

So, March is ending now, and I have always like April because it is National Poetry Month. This afternoon Jan Morrill put up a Haiku challenge on her blog page. Oh, what fun this sounds like! I have struggled with haiku as I try to follow the rules and then have had editors correct me, saying I adhere too closely to rules. Hum, I never know what to do. But this is 30 days with new topic for every April day. Surely, I can write a few 17 syllable poems for her page! I have not been able to write at all, but this just might help get the brain working again. I suggest you check her page out at https://haikubyhaiku.wordpress.com/2017/03/30/celebrate-national-poetry-month/

I hope to see your own lines there during April!!!!

 

Clip art from http://www.bing.com/

In the Pink?

Friday night was another difficult night and then in the wee hours of morning a storm with lots of thunder moved through. Biscuit doesn’t like thunder, but she was a trooper and remained quiet in her crate. The whole house waited for storm to be over and that made the coming day even more tiresome.

But I wanted to do something to take my mind off all the difficulties in life. I was tired of sitting and straightened a few things around here. I made a new casserole for lunch and stirred up cookies for the first time in over a year. Oh, folks have brought us cakes and cookies, but we have been trying to leave them alone for health reasons. Ah, yesterday was a big fail because I wanted some of my own chocolate chip cookies. I just use the Toll House recipe, but I use three different kinds of chocolate chips.

Then I changed table top again. I might not be able to climb and clean corners and sweeping floor is often beyond me, but I can change a table cloth and feel like I am in control of some part of my own wonky life! I chose pink, a color I rarely use and it feels like Easter and spring and light and airy! When I was four years old, I loved pink, wanted everything pink. My mom hated pink and loved red. It was a squabble every time I dressed, but I guess I got my fill of pink in the end. Nice to see it again though now.

 

 

 

In the afternoon, I read a book which is also difficult some of these days. I finished A Piece of Time by Christina Kline, and I really enjoyed the book. It is story built around Wyeth’s painting titled “Christina’s World”. I’ve always liked the painting, and my mother-in-law had a print of the painting hanging in her house for years. I recommend the story even if you are not familiar with Wyeth or the painting. I think I will sample more of this author when I can.

                                               Christina's World by A. Wyeth

The day ended and night was better for me; DH still had issues, but I was so tired (and cookie full) that I slept. Now the Sunday morning is bright with sunshine despite more storms coming. I hope to get out on the deck this afternoon to soak up sunshine while I can. March is ending this week, and I hope it takes all the darkness with it—well, as much as it can. Let April bring some lightness and cheer.

Happy Sunday to you!

KINDNESS!

In a world that seems to have gone amok, there is still joy, color, sunshine, and kindness, and yes, weeds too!

 

                                                    from Susan

DH has been sick for three weeks. Still no answers but some meds finally this week that are helping. It has been a little hard to keep that “stiff upper lip” around here! But today it is 75 and windows open which is delightful. I refuse to worry today about the severe storms, hail and wind forecast for tomorrow!

                                                from Kim

 This morning I went to the post office which is a challenge as so many steps or a long walk up handicapped ramps. I was carrying a couple of large and one heavy box. A man was there before I started and climbed the steps and stood. By the time I got to the doors, I realized he had been waiting on me from the beginning just to open the door. He told me the inside door was already open so I did not need to wait for him to open for me. I thanked him but was amazed to realize how much he put himself out for me. It feels good to see kindness.

 

                                                    from Dennis and Kathy

 Of course, the kindness of others has carried me a long way thus far this year. I constantly am on the receiving end of kindness from others, from many readers here.  I have posted pictures of things before, but here are more of things where people went out of their way to think of me.

 

                                               from Linda and the Lawrences

 Thanks again! I try to pay it forward and hope to have many opportunities to do it a lot longer!

                                                       from Lynn

So Grateful for Blogger Pals!

It has been a month since I wrote a blog page, a long and very hard month. While I miss blogging so much, I also have nothing to write about since all my news lately has been bad or negative. I work so hard to find something good to say, something fun to share. Today I had DH at ER among other things, but then I came home to the national news. I just wanted to put my head down on my desk and cry. Don’t worry, I won’t get all political on you.
 

Today I had to leave the ER exam room to go to the bathroom. Sounds simple, right? Well, I was geared up in a mask and worried about germs, but when I came out of the hall bathroom, I was lost! The doorways all looked alike! I thought surely I could do this. I chose a door and I got it wrong! Quickly, I shut it and was more confused than ever. Every single door looked exactly the same. So I wove myself back out to the admissions desk and told them I was lost, couldn’t find my hubby. They smiled at this crazy lady, gave me a number and I headed back to try again.

DH laughed his head off. Said what was happening to us-other than getting old! We are doing more and more of this kind of thing. So at least we haven’t lost the ability to laugh at ourselves.

A few weeks ago, a woman in Arizona found an old post where I wrote about Jerico Springs, Missouri. Her family came from there years ago, and we started exchanging emails and information. I helped her with some numbers to local historical society offices and sent her some printed history materials. Although we can’t find the exact link, we suspect that we share a far-out branch on a family tree. She sent me these lovely tulips this week, in a week of dark days and cold weather. The tulips were like a kiss of sunshine. They are so beautiful. And to think, we connected because of blogging!

Notes and thoughts and prayers continue to come my way and many from bloggers I will never see face to face. I continue to be grateful for each of you blogger friends! So, while I have nothing much to share or any writing to discuss, I want to say once more I am glad you are out there.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from one whose people were once Irish immigrants!