Saturday, February 19, 2011

Simple Things....

Rain falling from fat, gray clouds. Drum, drum, drumming on the roof. It's staccato beat is reassuring: it's warm and cozy inside. And dry. The smell of meatloaf baking in the oven wafts through the house, lending its fragrance to the sensory joys of being at home in a rain storm.

Candles flicker in the gathering dusk. Familiar sounds punctuate the silence: the washer and dryer humming as they work, a basketball game on TV, and my fingers pushing the keys on the computer. Familiar and safe and restful sounds.

Life is full of familiar things. Things that have become too familiar, perhaps. Sights and sounds and smells that need to be noticed and appreciated because they are truly the fabric of life. And it's a complex fabric, tightly woven and durable and long-lasting.

I have lived here for most of my life but, until recently, I didn't look at the mountains every day. And now, I do. Today they were beautiful, bluish tinted with caps of snow. And then their caps disappeared behind the fat, gray clouds that engulfed them. Last night, those same clouds were a fierce orange in the glow of sunset...

Simple things, daily things, familiar things....that mystify, and cause awe, and brighten each and every day.

Rain or shine....

Cali

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Taking Things For Granted....

Not a good idea, if you ask me. There are no guarantees in life.

Special moments can be fleeting, with lots of time in between. They must be savored when they happened, and remembered for as long as possible.

I went back to work on Thursday. It's been more than seven months since I was able to see patients and give them nursing care. I cannot believe how much I missed it. Perhaps because I have been doing it for thirty-five years, it was an integral part of my life that was missing.

And the time off was not a “practice” session for retirement. When I no longer need to work, and cannot continue doing the difficult work I do, it will be a celebration for me. Conclusion of a time in my life. And an end to the daily drudgery of having a job.

For seven months, I had no purpose, other than to get well. I had no direction, other than to try to get back to work. Just as I could not do the tasks I needed to do at work, I couldn't do those things I wanted to do at home.

Retirement will be different. It will be my choice. My logical next step. On my terms. And, instead of going out with back pain, I will go out with a sense of accomplishment. I will complete the job I started, so many years ago. And I will start my next job: enjoying my life and my love in a relaxed, retired setting.

Somewhere....

I will watch the sunset, and maybe a sunrise or two. I will relish life's little joys, and somehow, get through its sorrows. I will be me, I will be free, and I will enjoy what life brings.....

Every day.

Cali

Monday, February 7, 2011

Waiting...

I seem to be doing a lot of that, recently. Waiting for this or that to happen.

In order to wait, I have to ignore the moment. After all, I am WAITING.......and nothing can happen when I'm waiting, can it?

I took the car in for brakes and tires this morning. It will be ready tomorrow. I'll be waiting for a phone call.

I sent in the required information to request a copy of some records I need, and now I'm waiting for them, too.

And, since I had my procedure done last Thursday, I'm waiting for Wednesday, and a pronouncement from my physician:

Back to work, or not?

I'm glad the weather has been nice. I have spent a lot of happy hours just waiting.....and walking on the beach, going out with friends, watching the Super Bowl, and reading.....

And writing....

Know what passes you by when you focus on waiting?

Life.

Cali