I Counted My Years -

 I counted my years

and realized that

I have less time to live by,

than I have lived so far.

I have more past than future.

I feel like that boy who got a bowl of cherries.

At first, he gobbled them,

but when he realized there were only few left,

he began to taste them intensely.

I no longer have time to deal with mediocrity.

I do not want to be in meetings where flamed egos parade.

I am bothered by the envious,

who seek to discredit the most able,

to usurp their places, coveting their seats,

talent, achievements and luck.

I do not have time for endless conversations,

useless to discuss about the lives of others

who are not part of mine.

I no longer have the time to manage

sensitivities of people who despite their chronological age, are immature.

I hate to confront those that struggle for power,

those that ‘do not debate content, just the labels’.

My time has become scarce to debate labels,

I want the essence.

My soul is in a hurry …

Not many cherries in my bowl,

I want to live close to human people, very human,

who laugh of their own stumbles,

and away from those turned smug

and overconfident with their triumphs,

away from those filled with self-importance.

The essential is what makes life worthwhile.

And for me, the essentials are enough!

Yes, I’m in a hurry.

I’m in a hurry to live with the intensity that only maturity can give.

I do not intend to waste any of the remaining cherries.

I am sure they will be exquisite, much more than those eaten so far.

My goal is to reach the end satisfied

and at peace with my loved ones and my conscience.

And per Confucius “We have two lives

and the second begins when you realize you only have one.”

Poem: Mário de Andrade - The Valuable Time of Maturity

For Ukraine

 

Ukraine - An Unprovoked War

 

After expressing “concern” for Ukraine in its war against Russia, these 31 GOP Senators voted against an aid package for Ukraine:

Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, Tennessee ... John Boozman and Tom Cotton, Arkansas ... Mike Braun, Indiana ... Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, North Carolina ... Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, Louisiana ... Tom Cotton, Arkansas ... Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, North Dakota ... Mike Crapo and James Risch, Idaho ... Ted Cruz, Texas ... Steve Daines, Montana ... Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse, Nebraska ... Josh Hawley, Missouri ... Ron Johnson, Wisconsin ... James Lankford, Oklahoma ... Mike Lee and Mitt Romney, Utah ... Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming ... Roger Marshall, Kansas ... Rand Paul, Kentucky ... Mike Rounds, South Dakota ... Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, Florida ... Tim Scott, South Carolina ... Dan Sullivan, Alaska ... Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania

Vote them all out.

 My heart is shattered.  My sister closest to me in all ways died suddenly on December 28, 2021.  

December 26, 2021 Boxing Day

 We had lots of fog this morning, the day after Christmas Day, Boxing Day.  Now it’s sunny and 64 degrees.  Projected high for today is 68.  Definitely does not feel like Christmas to me, weather-wise.  The previous two days, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, were abnormally warm too.  It’s hard for me to really get into the Christmas spirit when it’s not at least cold.  So different from most of the Winter temperatures at this time of year— until the last few years.  It has given beautiful sunsets (the middle picture on Christmas Eve) and Sunrises (Christmas Eve morning).  The whole month of December has gone by so quickly that I only got several batches of sugar cookies and several batches of fudge made.  So I have plans to make my Tasty Kake and sausage balls this coming week. 

So it’s all done and dusted for another year.  I really don’t know how I feel about that except it was fast.  They are all so different for me now.  Not bad—-just different.  

I have a lot of fabric close by, and I have been stitching a snowman.  Just simple backstitch, but it feels so good to have a needle and thread in my hands again.  It’s been ages since I’ve felt like stitching again.  And the kittens haven’t been interested, so far, in what I’m doing, which is a great thing.  

I hope that 2022 holds less virus, less contention, less emotional pain and stress than the last two years for all of us.

Christmas Eve

 

Merry Christmas!  May Santa find his way to your house and heart tonight.

Christmas Is Coming

 

I really have to get with a program!  I haven't even really started thinking about Christmas in terms of baking or shopping for the few gifts that I will give.  The older I get the more likely I am to be 'asleep' when special days come around.  :D  I do want to make some old-fashioned fudge, the kind you actually cook on the stove with cocoa, sugar and milk.  And I always want soft sugar cookies and Tasty Kake.  My friend, Joanie who is from PA, introduced me to Tasty Kake years ago, and it's my 'have to have' treat for Christmas.  Yellow cake with a thick layer of peanut butter on that, and then melted Hershey bars poured on top of the peanut butter.  What's not to drool over???  I admit not having a Christmas tree or any other decorations out does make it exceptionally hard for me to remember that Christmas is only a little over a week away!!

So Much Devastation

 I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around the total devastation in Mayfield, KY, from a tornado last night. And the other cities/states that were hit as well.  So many lives lost, and so many others who lost everything but their lives.  Heart-wrenching.  We had some hard rain and wind today but the predicted wind speeds missed us.  Climate change is wreaking havoc in so many ways.

This sunrise was on December 9 (I think).  I just stood, totally enchanted by the beauty.  December has gifted us with some glorious sunsets as well.

It’s impossible to believe that Christmas is two weeks away.  I am not putting out any decorations this year because of the kittens, but I have been in the Christmas spirit, and watching lots of Christmas movies.  I will do some baking soon.  

Frosty Mornings and Turkeys

 

Yesterday morning and this morning, 27 degrees and 26 degrees, respectively, I marveled at the heavy frost both mornings.  On the rooftops, at a quick glance, you would have thought it was a light snow.  There were turkeys in my neighbor's yard eating the berries from her Dogwood tree.  So strange to see them in the middle of a city, and so fun to see them so close to Thanksgiving.  I hope they stay safe from the cars that whiz up and down this street.

I am FINALLY feeling like I'm recovering from whatever I have had for over two weeks.  I feel like it has been going on for two months rather than two weeks.  So grateful to be seeing light at the end of this tunnel.  

Thanksgiving is this coming week.  I have gotten a turkey breast in the house, and I plan to cook my favorite things while watching/listening to the Macy's parade.  It's tradition and comforts of home to do this.   Will share with my sister and BIL but have no elaborate plans for the Holiday---just the way I like it.  

Fall Light and Still Sick

 

I am still sick.  Went back to Urgent Care last Friday, and they now say Walking Pneumonia.  I finished a round of antibiotics today but still not much better.  My pharmacist said there is something going around here in our city that the doctors aren't able to definitively diagnose.  Oh yay.  Fortunately, I don't have to be anywhere or do anything, so I'm good just staying home and doing as little as I can get by with.  

So hard to believe that next week is Thanksgiving.  The time absolutely passes in a blink.  

We have had some breathtaking sunsets this week, and the morning light has been such a delight to photograph with the last of the year's golden leaves being lit up.  A magical quality to the days...

 I woke up around 3 a.m. on Saturday morning so sick that it scared me.  I was coughing continuously and couldn't breathe for coughing which led to vomiting and feeling like I was going to pass out.  Miserable!  I hung in there until this morning then went to Urgent Care on the advice of my pharmacist, who also said it sounded a lot like...whooping cough!!  Whoa, wait, I thought had to do with kids and has been off the worry radar for a whole bunch of years!  So I was tested for Covid, Flu, some other SARS somethings and Whooping Cough, along with 2 chest xrays.  Negative on flu, Covid, and other SARS stuff.  Won't know about the the Whooping Cough thing for 2 to 3 days.  Oh, and I don't have pneumonia either, but I do have acute bronchitis.  So the raising of 3 kittens just became a little bit more challenging.

Wow! November 1, 2021 This Year Gobbled Up By Kittens

 

I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that it's November 1.  Lordy, can you believe I have spent the whole blasted Summer in this house raising these three kittens!!!  And I really really wanted to find a groove with my bicycle this Summer.  That didn't happen.  Now we are racing into cold weather.  Oh well, at least I have a huge stash of books that I'm looking forward to hibernating with.

My brother-in-law, Fred, had his 80th birthday yesterday.  He's a spook baby.  He is the least likely 80 year old that I have ever met or known.  The man looks, moves and acts as if he's in his early 60s---at the oldest.  He's a live wire, and is always working out in one manner or another or on the bicycle.  May there be many many more years ahead to enjoy.

I had 5 teeth implant bases put in place last Wednesday.  Not a fun few days afterward but I'm much better now.  Will have a follow up in three weeks and find out what the next step will be and when.

Today was absolutely gorgeous!!  Tonight the low will be around 34 with rain/cold on the way for the rest of the week.  May even get into the upper 20s the latter part of the week.  Need to pull out some thicker clothes for these aging bones.