Chasing Sunsets and Dust Devils: A Day in the Life of a Man in Paradise
It is a brisk February day here in my little corner of paradise. Woke early and had coffee and cake with Snookums, my loving wife of two score and four years. She still is showing some signs of improvement and is learning to adapt to her handicap. A little chatting and sipping, and then into the studio to complete my morning routine.
We went shopping for the first time since the stroke yesterday. We didn’t get much, just bed sheets and some greeting cards. She had a time of that in the days leading up to the trip. She knew she needed to go to the store, but was having trouble remembering why. But she did well with the trip in spite of the bitter cold. I gave her a little coaching in the self checkout, but she did it without the usual frustration in trying to recall steps. If she doesn’t think about it and just rely on reflex, she remembers how to do things like self-checkout and cooking, though we keep a cautious eye on her when she is around the stove. It feels kind of good to begin to return to some normalcy, but on a vastly scaled back normal.
It is hard to believe how green the lawn is even after a cold snap. If I took a picture, you would just see a weedy yard that needs mowing and trimming, and you would expect the yard worker to be in a tee shirt. But if he was, he would also be one huge goosebump.
The news hardly gets a passing notice from me. About the only thing that holds my interest is the Middle East. Politics have all but vanished from my interest. I have turned into a pessimist and the future of things is not a very hopeful one. So I turn inward. I have fought. And fought. And funded, and funded. But now, other will need to carry the torch. I have done all, and now I stand.
But that gives me a little grief in these morning coffee posts. Hopefully I will transition to another less virulent crusade.
So goes the foggy brain this morning.
Rusty's Armory 
January 18, 2024 at 2:05 pm
Wonderful that your wife was able to get out and about. Sometimes just a change of scenery can do a world of good. Our green grass is now snow covered, but not for long. Teens this week, 40’s predicted for next.
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January 18, 2024 at 4:15 pm
Normalcy, even scaled back, is a wonderful thing. Just being able to get out together for a wee bit of retail therapy is a big deal. We’re green, too, but just because the grass is too cold to turn brown! This week is seeing us “enjoying” seasonal highs in the 20s and 30s but, supposedly, there is a respite coming and bringing some 40s and even low 50s!
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January 18, 2024 at 4:17 pm
And, once again, the old hillbilly broad forgot to say who was commenting. Iffen you couldn’t tell, it was Mop.
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January 19, 2024 at 4:01 pm
I recognize your handwriting, Mz Mops ..
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January 18, 2024 at 6:53 pm
What good news that your Snookums was able to get out and go shopping and do so well ! I’m with you on being a pessimist about the future of the world, but I also know there is a good ending to the story. Just don’t know how far down the road that may be. I just do the best I can in my little world here with family and friends. That is all any of us can do. Have a great week dear Sir ❤️
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January 28, 2024 at 10:33 am
Getting out and about, if only for a little while, is one more step forward. I’m happy for you both. Peace!
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