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Five for Five

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by

Margaret

Although I love to stay busy, this week has included four mornings of coffee dates, a babysitting gig yesterday, the evening with YD’s littles tonight and a Happy Hour tomorrow. My cat misses me. (not really) Some of you will point out that I could say no to some of these activities, but that’s not my way. When opportunities come up, I don’t let them pass by. As the saying goes, life is short. And having caring and supportive friends who want to spend time with me is priceless.

I did manage a trip to the cemetery to honor my dad with flowers. These orange “pumpkin” ones are weirdly cool!

I’ve fit in a few walks, wearing some of my new black cat shirts. Because of Mari, my wardrobe is getting heavy on the black cat theme.

Along the way, I admired this stripey leaf.

Sharky and Obro loved their Seahawk jerseys, a surprise gift from their mother, although Sharky is the only one who enjoys football. Obro confided in me that “actually, the games are really boring.”

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is their favorite player whereas mine would probably be Julian Love. If he retires from football, he could easily be a model. 🙂

This morning’s coffee date was a random one with a friend I haven’t seen in years. We were very close once, drifted apart, went opposite directions about the Covid pandemic and maintained little contact. I wouldn’t call it an estrangement exactly, just a physical and emotional distancing. I was nervous to meet her, but it worked out well and we jumped right back into (over)sharing about our lives. We didn’t discuss politics, the pandemic, vaccines, or anything heavy. I regret that we can’t or possibly shouldn’t. But even the best friendships and relationships have some boundaries to them, right? She’s headed to Ireland with her husband next week, so I could give her lots of tips: bring a washcloth, ask for a top sheet, eat ice cream, and buy LOTS of Butler chocolate. Caramel Crunch for the win!

Screenshot

70-degree sunshine compared to John’s granddaughter kayaking around their outbuildings in El Paso–I think I’ll stay here. We’ll have rain coming this fall and winter, probably some atmospheric rivers, but at least I’ve never needed a boat in my yard.

Comments

28 responses to “Five for Five”

  1. Doug M Avatar
    Doug M

    Good grief on that final picture! Scary! Anyway Margaret, you sure do keep yourself busy. I feel like such a sloth reading your posts sometimes! But I loved the flowers you got for your dad’s niche and I liked your cat-shirt. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      I know! I would feel so helpless with the water rising all around. This week has been too busy. I prefer 3-4 activities each week, not so much time away from home. I can be a sloth too, especially in the mornings so the coffee dates give me a reason to get up and going. Thanks! The flowers were from a friend’s garden.

      Reply
  2. AC Avatar
    AC

    You have a lot of friends, which says a lot about you. I don’t, which says something about me, eh? 😎

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      For me, it makes a difference that I live alone, and I’m not married. When I lived with my husband, I didn’t socialize as much.

      Reply
  3. Marie Avatar
    Marie

    You were super busy! I like JSN, too. It’s a good month for black cat shirts🐈‍⬛

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      A little too busy! Of course, I’ve been terribly lazy since Ireland when I was getting up to an alarm and going multiple places every day. I love coffee dates (hint hint) but four of them in a row seems like a lot!

      Reply
  4. Kay's Musings Avatar
    Kay’s Musings

    It’s wonderful to spend time with friends. I certainly enjoyed spending time again with all my teacher buddies in Illinois. Now I’m back in Hawaii and just trying to catch up. How fabulous to spend time with the grandsons.
    And wow! That flooding is awful!

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      The flooding is terrible and the water is close to their storage shed and casita. I think it’s supposed to get better today, so the situation should improve. I love getting together with friends; we’re going through similar life stages and events, so we can share sorrows, joys and worries.

      Reply
  5. Pixie Avatar
    Pixie

    I’m glad that you and your friend were able to reconnect. It’s not always possible but you two made it happen. That’s lovely.

    I’m not a fan of football either, or any sport on tv for that matter, so I’m with Obro.

    As for the last photo, yikes.

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      I debated about meeting her since the last time I did, she was spouting all sorts of nonsense about the Covid vaccine and conspiracy theories. Obro adores his brother and was excited about the shirt for that reason. He’s much more interested in music than in sports.

      Reply
  6. janiejunebug Avatar
    janiejunebug

    It’s great that you help so much with the little ones. I never lived in a place where family could help me, not that they would have anyway. You are making your daughters’ lives easier. I’ve never needed a boat in my yard either, although at times of heavy rain I have what I call Lake Junebug in my back yard.

    Love,
    Janie

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      I do try to smooth out the rough edges of parenting like my own parents (and mother-in-law sometimes) did for me. It made me much less stressed! I’m sorry that you didn’t have that support because as you mentioned, it does make the parents’ lives easier. I’m not in a flood plain, thankfully. As we found out during the atmospheric rivers last year, too many places are!

      Reply
  7. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    Great photos. I love your cat shirt.

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      Because of Mari, I now have many cat shirts! Everyone knows how much I love my black cat. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Like Orbo, I find football to be boring. I know I am in the vast minority in this country, but it is what it is! I try and stay quite busy myself. Today I am starting a four week class on Ireland. This is at the same place where I take my memoir class.

    That last photo was something else. I am very lucky that I don’t live in a flood plain!

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      How interesting! The class on Ireland, after having been there will be fascinating. I enjoy learning about places I’ve been because it’s more real to me. My dad and brothers watched and played sports, so I grew up with them from an early age. I wonder if that’s why I like them? I’m happy to not deal with floods where I live (although WA has them in other places); it’s enough to have an active volcano nearby and to sit on a dangerous fault line.

      Reply
  9. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    We had the wettest September in recorded history here but I think today, the sun is supposed to come out and there is no rain in the 10 day forecast… yet. I can’t wait.

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      I haven’t seen any statistics, but I would suspect that this has been one of our driest Septembers. I’m glad you’re finally getting a dry period.

      Reply
  10. Luftmentsch Avatar
    Luftmentsch

    I have different politics to most of my friends and don’t discuss it with them. I don’t think it’s really necessary. E is the only person I really discuss politics with (we don’t agree on everything). The idea that everything has to be political is one of the things destroying our society.

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      Focusing on only one aspect of a person (their politics, their religion, among other things) doesn’t allow us to see the whole picture. We are complex humans with a wide range of opinions and attitudes. There’s almost always something to like and dislike; it’s nearly impossible to agree on everything, in my humble opinion.

      Reply
      1. kayak woman Avatar
        kayak woman

        People are definitely complex. In my huge set of family members (my fam, his fam, etc.) there are widely varying political views. My husband I have totally opposing views. But somehow we work it out. When we are in a car together, and start arguing because of what’s on the radio, we turn it to Willie’s Roadhouse, or 60s radio or whatever. People are very complicated.

  11. Betty Renfroe Avatar
    Betty Renfroe

    Connecting with friends of our past is a nice addition to our daily lives. We don’t have to fuss to distance ourselves from others. We just get on roads that don’t meet.

    I was thinking how lucky we are today to have meds to combat disease even viruses. 🦠 Those boys just bounced back.

    I agree about keeping our friends with different political views. My friend Kay is a “big” Republican. When we went to lunch she made a comment about Biden. I could feel my blood boiling up but I said “ I feel the same about your man” so I don’t think we need to discuss this. She agreed and neither tried to get the last word. What hurts me the most is wondering…how could a “good” person support such things. My Laura told me last time I yelled at Kay after my sister passed “Mom, she can’t be a “good” person is she supports what they are doing”. So…that’s the saddest part for me. I decided since I’ve been her friend so long I should not break that connection. I pray for her eyes to open up. proverbs 17: 15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination to the Lord.

    The flowers are so nice. I want to take a new bouquet to Larry. It’s a 2 hour drive…but soon.

    I’m liking the Whistler.

    That water standing in El Paso is very germy. No, telling what diseases are in it.

    Glad you are walking again. Shoot for at least 3 times a week.

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      Medications and vaccines are indeed miraculous! Republicans are one thing but Trumpers entirely another. In the past, I’ve voted for GOP candidates in my state (rarely, I admit) but now I would never do so because it’s not just about fiscal policy, it’s about their morals and ethics aligning with a criminal, corrupt unethical narcissist. However, I can’t write off my brother, so I just keep my mouth shut. It’s HARD though; he’s always been such a kind and thoughtful person. I don’t want to see a different side of him. Laura is right though, sigh. I’m glad you’re liking Whistler. It’s an interesting book and I’m eager to see where Patchett takes the story. John’s daughters allow a lot that I wouldn’t. I’ll leave it at that.

      Reply
  12. Ceci Avatar
    Ceci

    I’m also with Obro on the entertainment value of football. Years ago I offended my new in-laws by bringing a needlework project along to work on during family football watching get togethers. I figured we would have to each adjust a bit, me to attending something crushingly dull and them to having a light on in the corner. Mixed results….

    Ceci

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      I think that’s a great alternative. I am often not watching the game intently unless there’s something exciting going on. Even then, there are always 100 replays. My dad and three brothers liked and played sports, so I grew up watching them. I wonder if that made a difference?

      Reply
  13. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Football was never of interest to me. Sharky seems to like sports. Watching football from the sidelines and/or on the TV is okay but hopefully Sharky will not want to play as a member of the team. The risk of injury is quite serious.
    Re-connecting with a friend is always nice and it sounds like you both enjoyed the meet-up.

    Reply
    1. Margaret Avatar
      Margaret

      Sharky seems to be more interested in sports than his brother, but neither of them will be allowed to play football. We seemed to pick up our friendship where we left off about four years ago. 👍

      Reply
  14. kayak woman Avatar
    kayak woman

    I’m with Obro on football although I love the ambience of a football game on TV. I finally figured out that I like to watch other people watch sports even if I’m not that interested. Years ago in Ann Arbor we a big rainstorm that made it possible for people to kayak in the downtown streets. (I won’t even try to describe our geography/topography.) I was at my office and could not participate.

    Reply

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