The Week In Review
It seems to have been such a long week. Even with the washing maching fixed and back in place we have had three episodes of the sump failing. Wednesday night was the final straw. As I came in from the Lent program at church, I could hear the pump grinding away. Went downstairs to see if I could right it but nothing I tried seemed to work. Bill was out at a family Birthday dinner so I had to worry it out until he came home. He took one look at it and said, 'It's dead.'
So Bill's project yesterday was to put in a new sump. As with everything this required multiple trips up and downstairs and to Home Depot. He was finally finishing this up when he went into the side of his van to get a tool and discovered that he had been robbed. The lock punched out and some very nice tools taken. Don't know when. Don't even know where because I cannot see how this could have happened right in our driveway. But then odd things do happen. Bill is feeling violated but otherwise taking it pretty well.
During all of this chaos I somehow managed to feel some renewed energy and am making headway into some long overdue household chores. I'm actually feeling pretty good about this. A little order goes a long way for making me feel more ambitious and productive. So, it is a cycle well started.
I still have a wall phone on my kitchen wall. With a l o n g a, l o n g a cord. Time was when I would walk around the kitchen doing dishes, fixing meals, cleaning up. Not any more. I was never much of a telephone talker and with the advent of the computer I use the phone as little as possible -- the exception being talking with my sister.
Jacq still talks on the phone -- a lot. She has several distantly located contacts with whom she checks in periodically and spends an hour or so. Not me. I will talk to Jacq for an hour or more but with anyone else I get fidgety and bored. Not with Jacq.
As soon as there was Prodigy, I was an instant cyberspace communicator. When Prodigy went by the wayside I was instantly a subscriber to AOL. IM'd a lot. E-mail is my main communication link. My sister and I e-mail every day. (And we still have things to talk about when we phone.) Church communication is done via e-mail. Luncheon dates with the "Ladies" is done through e-mail. People know not to call unless it is an absolute emergency, otherwise just rest assured that I will answer the e-mail.
And so the phone sits idle most of the time. Interesting that with cell phones and IPhones, and FaceBook, we have REnamed the phone. It is now considered a Land Line. Progress is weird -- on many levels.
... bread. Of course. And our local ShopRite makes the most wonderful rosemary and ripe olive bread. Lent is my opportunity to make soup and indulge in this delicious bread -- and butter. Real butter.
This week chicken soup with sweet potatoes, celery, mushrooms and a fair amount of poached chicken breast. Nothing that should be on anyones 'dislike' list. Next time though I may make pumpkin-white bean. Many people don't do beans. I love beans. And another time maybe tomato something. We have a few people who don't do tomatoes. But chicken is pretty safe.
Safe is good. Some of the time. But taking chances and trying out new things is also good. Taking a chance means the possibility of failing. Or in the case of soup, disaster. I've had my share of those. I keep trying new combinations though. I put the failures on the 'let's not do this again' list. The successes are usually the basis for further experimentation. Sort of like life. I just keep trying to get it to be the best that I can. I guess when I finally succeed, I'll be done.
Yup, a glass of wine before dishing up dinner sounds like a really good idea. I think I'm pushing myself a little too much. Planning too much for the available time. This morning I did a day's work BEFORE I went to work. I need to pace myself better. Take more rests. Be more judicious with my planning. I get a list of projects in my head and then can't let it go. At the end of the day I'm disappointed because I didn't get everything accomplished.
So, time out. Slow down. Have a glass of wine. Take some deep breaths. AND it might even be a good idea to let God into the day.
This is just about the best I can do for now. Just hang in and cope. The phone keeps ringing. The sump pump stumbled and there is water all over the cellar floor. The oil burner smells -- the service guy will come when he can. My Spanish essay isn't even started. I'm behind on my Lent discipline. Laundry needs folding. I am feeling pressured by all these silly aggravations of my life. God doesn't care about any of this, so I think I'll just take a few deep breaths, pray for a little calmness, and get busy.
Jeff has been leading us through some different ways of understanding our own stories. We know one another through the sharing of our stories. First we need to know and remember our own past before we can understand and appreciate the stories of others. And we have to learn to be comfortable telling our stories and making others comfortable when they tell theirs.
This morning after our service we were given yet another exercise to awaken memories and record them for ourselves. There are just so many ways that we can do this. Today we were given a standard sheet of copy paper and the choice of writing/drawing implement. I had my purple gel pen with me so I was all set. We were instructed to choose an 'elder' or some person in our life that had been a significant influence. Hmmmm.... I am nearly seventy-four. A LOT of people have influenced who I am. I chose my dad.
The next part of the instruction was to write that persons name in the center of the paper, circle it if we wanted, and t h e n whatever popped into our mind, draw a line, write it down -- words or pictures. And if that thought sparked another, draw a line, identify the thought -- an so on. We were given ten/fifteen minutes. My mind works quickly so I drew lines and circles and words and simple pictures. And then I stopped and looked at all of it and was surprised.
Jeff asked: "What did that feel like for you?" Most said that it brought back forgotten memories. For me it was a surprise. It seems that I am much like my dad and hadn't realized the similarities. It made me feel good. And sad. Notice the heart with the hole that he left in my life when he died. Also notice that he was so connected to my sister and she to me with a love that is so binding, and the love of God, who holds me in God's hands.
Sunshine and blue sky. After all of the nasty dreary weather we have had this is a welcome relief. A lift of the spirits. Plus today is our Mission Outreach gathering at Grace. We are talking about and learning how each one of us can make a difference in the community around us. Not a throw money at an established group kind of thing -- a real hands on face to face offering. We are still in the discussion stage and beginnings are slow and sometimes cumbersome. We are, however, exploring opportunities and open to challenge.
