Quarantine mixed with Retirement

 A year ago today, Vance had extensive open heart surgery. He had a few complications which extended his hospitalization to thirty seven days. Meanwhile, besides visiting him twice a day, I was settling us into another home with the tremendous help of family and friends. There was a water disaster at the new residence but we ended up blessed with three rooms of new carpet. My sister found a new to us vehicle to replace my less than reliable ride. So many decisions! 

Vance came home to the mix of new and familiar.  He loved it all.  He also came home to a different world of recovery, rehab, covid quarantine and forced retirement.  I also was forced to retire from my enjoyable part time job, maneuver safely in the masked quarantined world and keep up as a caregiver. So many changes! 

And now a year later, we are still adjusting to the mix of quarantine and retirement.  It’s rather liberating to not have a schedule per se. We get up and go to bed when we want. We do afternoon appointments. We have a small social bubble of family and friends come over for meals and games. We miss fellowship with our church family immensely and look forward to resuming our church attendance when the covid risks are fewer. So many quiet days! 

We are so thankful for the prayers, helping hands and encouragement in cards and calls. Our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ sustains us. Always trusting.

Spilled noodles happen

 Ever have days when you wonder if you are losing it?  Like when you are draining a pot of noodles and the colander goes askew and half the noodles spill into the kitchen sink. Or you can’t find stuff that you put in a safe place you wouldn’t forget but then do. Speaking of forgetting, I forgot to empty the filter on my Eureka lightweight vacuum cleaner and the full filter falls off the machine and dumps an embarrassing load of feathers, fur and dust in front of my three daughters. And how many times have I pushed the radio button to start my car instead of the ignition button?  Or when the family arrived for spaghetti and I’d forgotten to boil the noodles.  Senior moments.  So I’m losing a sense of having it all together which is indeed a loss.  And a pride issue since I’m being transparent.   

But last night a long time friend died of Covid. This is a loss beyond words for his dear family and friends. A loss that is a life journey of grieving.  Moments that hurt. Anniversaries of the first time since a loved one died. An empty chair at the table. A song. A season. A smell. A food. A memory.  Lots of memories. A forever longing for one more day. 

So I am reminded that my sense of having it all together is now very insignificant.  Spilled noodles happen . Senior moments go on. I am choosing to be content in whatever situation  I am in. And praying for those who are suffering a deep loss.