My kind of Winter

Central Texas in February!  Sunshine brought temperatures to the mid seventies peaking at eighty for a moment. Home was my sunny refuge on this President’s Day. A morning meeting with others on the journey through grief, several hours at the office wading through volumes of paperwork preparing for tomorrow, and I walked into my well windowed kitchen to that view of bright sunshine over the lake. 

I will be out early tomorrow, fielding calls from Miss Kitty, delivering tax documents and applying for certifications. First though, I must meet with our website developer to be sure my companies are active and positive in cyberspace. 

I look forward to a visit beginning in a couple of days. My lovely British outlaw will arrive in the wee hours Thursday. Son will pick her up and daughter in law will finish her commitment before she meets them here.  Her mom will stay with me for most of the coming week. We are hoping a relocation to Texas will be in her future. May we share more of this glorious sunshine with her.

Proper Preparation

It is pre-dawn at the beginning of a busy winter day. Yesterday, I arrived home late and went to bed early. Early awakening  is the result. My mind spins with the tasks before me and I prepare with my fresh cup of caffeine. It is trash day so I will be sure the bins are deposited at the street side as I leave.

I must arrive early at my office to respond to an inquiry from a state agency, prepare documents for another state agency's certification, check with my bank about delayed paperwork on a vehicle, and leave the office by ten to attend a class to sharpen another skill. Yes, my plan this year is to "learn".

I am learning that I am truly blessed with my good health. Even as I uncover unbelievable shortfalls in some, others circle around and prop me up with encouragement and assistance. I see friends and family suffering from serious health and emotional crisis and offer up fervent prayers for their healing. In the artificially lighted morning, reality is dawning. I shall make my list and check it twice. My presence will be fully active in the present moments, they are a gift from God! I will not fret over yesterday, nor will I concern myself for tomorrow.

I look forward to the predicted sunshine to light my way soon.

Signal

When a wife expects something from her mate, it often comes as a simple request in person, by phone or text. For years I Iamented that Ol’ Abner was very astute when reading my needs, rather his version of my needs. I wished for better light in a dim room and came home to find a large window ready for installation. He had sledge hammered his way through the outer wall and let in the light.  A few months later he brought in a giant projection TV that only that wall would hold, so the lovely window was behind a closed drape with 78” screen in front of it. I was planning a super bowl party! Thereafter, I learned to carefully state my wish.  He generally managed to make it happen anyway.

Our son seems to have adapted to the little signals with a rapid response. I was sitting in his office one afternoon. His phone dinged and he glanced down with a laugh saying “gotta go now”. The simple photo on the screen showed steam being released from the Insta-pot. He understood her message. Dinner was ready! He shut down his work and left for home!