Saturday.

I must say that I'm a little disappointed in today's weather. It was supposed to be rainy/snowy, cold, and dreary. I did feel a few drops of rain this morning and then later, driving home from the store, saw some sleet pellets.  And then boom! The sun came it. The wind is still howling a bit - howling partly because it is indeed windy and partly because I have the windows cracked a bit in my sewing room because I love the sound of howling wind. 

Last night, we celebrated a birthday with lasagna and chocolate cake. I took a half day of vacation to come home and cook but it was lovely outside and I didn't feel like spending much time inside (especially since gray, grumpy weather was in the forecast). So I made the lasagna and bought the cake! One of my daughters came over early and we took the dogs down to see the creek. Over the past 2 years, this little run has flooded so many times that it is hard to see the original banks. We have some little waterfalls and it is just beautiful! 

Anyhow, I am disappointed that today was not a day to curl up on the sofa with my pups to snooze, read, watch movies, and basically, just waste away the day! But honest, the was pretty much exactly what I did but I felt guilty.

The weather forecast for tomorrow is chilly, rainy, and gross. A perfect day for napping and reading and watching movies.  We'll see.

 

The circle is getting smaller.

 This has been a week. My mother-in-law (technically my ex-mother-in-law but she will forever be my mother-in-law) passed away on Saturday. She was 87. This was not unexpected. I saw her shortly after Christmas and it was apparent that she was simply biding her time. I loved her. We had our differences, that's true. She was the mother of my first husband, my first love. Oh, I loved that family so much! They bickered and fought, got irritated with each but never cut each other down. They always forgave. I remember when my husband left - it was a very long and painful process and at the time, I didn't realize what was happening. But when I figured out that he had left me, had created a life somewhere else, with someone else, to say I was heartbroken was a gross understatement. It was the most painful time in my life. But I had Ruby and Don, his parents. They loved their son but they loved me too and were crazy about their grandkids. They never made me feel as if I wasn't welcome in their home. I was included - not just invited - but included in their Christmas's, their family dinners, their celebrations. I remember Ruby telling me that I would always be her daughter-in-law and they always made sure I felt that. Don passed on years ago and now Ruby and Don are together again. As they should be.

I found out about the death of someone I loved very much. They died over a month ago and I only learned about it yesterday through an internet search. This was a very unlikely relationship, truly happenstance. This person was a friend to me when I was going through a terrible time in my life - not catastrophic like the breakup of my marriage - but a time of great uncertainty and really poor decisions. They helped me get my head on straight and were simply just a really good friend. And a good friend is something that I needed - I never had one before and haven't had one since. We helped each other get through some rough stuff. I can't believe that this person is no longer in the world. I hadn't seen them in many, many years but I always believed that our paths would cross again someday. 

Today I found out about the death of an old quilt camp buddy. I know that she had been ill, had overcome cancer years ago. It's been 3 years since the last quilt camp and apparently during that time, the cancer returned and was fatal. I feel empty knowing that when quilt camp comes around again, she won't be there.

All of these deaths, one not unexpected at all, one a complete surprise, and one not expected. It's crazy how life goes on. It does go on, even without those we though we could never live without. It will be different, that's for sure. Life is still sweet.

Dodging worms.

 It is frustrating to encounter hurting people and to not be able to do anything. Sometimes all I can do is pray.

But today. Today I could dodge the worms on my walk to work. Doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things I suppose except to a few worms who got to live a little longer.

Mondays in April.

 

In my retirement, I plan to join a few clubs. I spotted this jacket on campus last fall and thought it was appropriate for me and for many of my co-workers. I will not be joining the Anti-social Social Club. Lol. 

In my retirement, I want to not be such a recluse. I think being an introvert is fine as long as I can do it with a group. Or something like that. I like activities that put me near people but don't necessarily require me to interact. Heaven knows I have the social skills of a rock. Hahaha.

There are so many things to do, so many ways to help, that don't cost money and instead, use other resources. I can sew, I can walk a dog, I can drive people places. 

I'm so happy to be retiring but am a little afraid of becoming lost. My kids are grown and have all moved away. I have my dogs and cats. I think I've found a purpose. I just don't want to disappear.

Ugh. I wish I could learn to turn off the predictive text. It is making me sound dumber than I am!

April fools.

 The weather in State College is playing an April Fools joke. I took a walk at lunch - 5 hours of sitting in a basement office with no window - I needed a break!  So I took a walk 

to Starbucks which in the library in the next building over. I did take the scenic route and I experienced 3 seasons. When I stepped out of the building, I encountered winter with a light wind and pretty little flurries. Those flurries quickly changed into what I can only describe as Oobleck (remember Dr. Seuss' book?). After the oobleck which morphed into Styrofoam chunks, I entered into spring which ended shortly before walking back into Sparks by turning back into winter. Pennsylvania. Even the temperature changed! Unbelievable after yesterday's high of near 65! 

Which reminds me that I need to finish up my 'temperature quilt from 2021'. It is a daily textile record of precipitation and temperatures for one year.