I can’t even grasp how many leaves are on the ground now.
It’s September 25th.
Yikes.
September 25th is my best friend’s birthday, so I’m going to write a note to myself to call her.
I have a lot of dialect prep work to do today. I lost a day yesterday because I was going on less than 4 hours of sleep and I knew any attempts at research would be useless. So, today is about making up for yesterday because my coaching session is tomorrow.
I’m just about to finish another Gregg Hurwitz book in the Orphan X series. This one is Into the Fire. I have a couple more books from the library on hand, but I’m hoping the latest Richard Powers novel, Playground, arrives at my library today. It was just published yesterday and the hold list says “In transit.” He is one of my favorite writers and the pre-publishing reviews have been splendid.
I’m starting to like Don’s haircut. Now that the shock has worn off, it’s kind of cute. Boyish. If you’re a longtime reader of this blog, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that I’m a bit obsessed with Don’s hair. He has a great head of hair, naturally wavy. Frankly, I’m jealous if it as my hair is straight and baby fine. His hair is thick and gorgeous. (He does have a tiny bald spot now, but it isn’t real obvious.) Anyway, I was expecting one look, and when he came home from the salon, he had another. I took a moment yesterday to whisper in his ear that I liked his hair cut. He was pleased.
Laural, my best friend, turns 73 today. She’s Don’s age. I’m a year younger. How did we get to be in our seventies? I’ve known Laural since I was 12 years old. 60 years. Sixty! How is that possible? Yesterday, Don was talking on the phone to a woman who wants him to sing at a memorial service for her husband, who died in January. She said they were married for over 50 years and Don (like me, when I heard that) thought she must be elderly. You know how you sometimes think that you’re younger than people of a certain age? Don quickly realized that she is probably a contemporary of his. If his first marriage had worked out, he would be celebrating 51 years. Laural has been married over 50 years. But Don, like me, tends to see himself as younger than he is. Maybe that’s because we don’t have children and grandchildren. All I know is that quite often we have to be jolted back to reality as to our actual age.
Okay. I have to get going. But more coffee first.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
Yes, it is a “jolt”! I am still 21 in my head but my body does know better.
Anyway, age is a privilege. I am proud of it and I know that many do not get that privilege.
I am grateful.
Thanks, Lyn.
Stay safe.
(missed here monday for attending the funeral of a church member.)
glad you and don went for a ride on sunday, had a nice time. and that you are liking don’s haircut (hopefully he does, too). and that you keep reading, and seeing your great blue heron. i saw a great blue heron once in my parents’ backyard (northeast ohio at the time). very leafy so i didn’t see it clearly at first walking down the brick path towards the creek. my first thought was it was a little kid back there and walking like “mr. peanut” … haha … but what a sight!
best wishes on getting more sleep, and more work from this coaching job. and happy birthday wishes to your friend laural.
my mind knows i am 66 and often my body feels it, but i don’t feel that age in my heart and am glad about that. there are others, but seeing my nieces (at 35 next week and 38) and their children (ages 4, 6, 11 and 13) is a time-marker for sure. bittersweet, but getting older is a privilege and i am grateful.
my apartment is a smidge over 500 square feet and the smallest place i’ve ever lived in (not counting dorm rooms, but that’s different). i’ve been thinking about moving to a larger place, but what is currently available is either not to my liking or not fitting into my budget. so, i keep paring some stuff, rearranging other stuff and reminding myself to be grateful for it, too.
the “beatrix potter quaker” sampler pattern is on its way to me. once i get the linen and floss, i know i will want to work on it but really must get after those gifts for family members first. will be glad to do them; my mother and i worked on needlepoint kits since i was in grade school (always want to be like her). after a break from needlework in my 20s, i switched to counted cross-stitch but haven’t done any for eight years so good to get it back. love them all.
picking up the last book in the “vanderbeekers” series today or tomorrow. those books are for kids ages 8 – 12, but i find them sweet and poignant, nicely done. after that, who knows? grateful i have a big stack from which to choose.
best i get to other things, though, like laundry.
hope you, don and everyone else have a great day. stay safe.
kathy
I have a niece who is 50! (My late brother’s oldest child.) And she has a daughter that is 26 or so.
Thanks, Kathy.
Stay safe.
In my mind I am still 42. But in reality my body says otherwise. Lol! Time no longer marches by…it flies. To be as old as I am, 73, is a privilege, as Lyn said. And I don’t take that for granted.
Enjoy the prep work today for your coaching tomorrow! ;)
Me too. I’m in my early forties, just as I was when I met Don.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
Ah, the age thing. With my milestone bday in August (I turned 75), age has been on my mind lots too. This coming January 3rd will be the 42nd anniversary of my meeting Dean. How can that be? My niece turned 50 this summer. I held her on my lap on road trips with her mom, my sister-in-law, in the days before car seats! And our oldest will turn 37 in November, closer to 40 now than his twenties. How can THAT be?
I think a lot about my mom and her 7 siblings and the seemingly millions of cousins I grew up with. All the family gatherings over the decades and everyone thinking it would always be that way. Mom, her sibs, and their spouses are all gone now. My younger son tells me he likes how good I am at “living in the moment.” I sure hope so. Those moments go by really fast.
Take care,
Kay
My niece turns 50 in December. (My late brother’s oldest child.)
My dad and all of his siblings are gone. My mom is gone. I have 3 cousins still living and I treasure them.
Stay safe, Kay.
I know exactly what you mean about “looking a certain age.” I think I look younger than my years which is likely not true.
I saw a book in the library while browsing…”You don’t Look your Age and Other Fairy Tales.” by
Shelia Nevins. I have not read it, but it made me laugh out loud.
Take Care,
Kaye
Yes, I always think I look younger than I am until I catch a glimpse of my face in a window and the jarring reality hits me!
Stay safe, Kaye.
I am laughing at the age thing. because it has really bit me in the behind lately. While Mom was still alive and I was taking care of her, SHE was the old lady. Heck, now it’s ME! I aged while I wasn’t looking it seems. Having to really adjust my life to my new normal. Achy back and knees, tiredness and just plain old ‘don’t bother me’ feelings. Of course a few hours with my Grands and I’m young again in spirit. I’ll be 75 next June so my family is planning a trip to Texas to visit the cemetery where Mom and Dad are. Also see my brother’s children and other Texas family as we are able. Probably one of my last big trips.
Part of the challenge for Don and me is how quickly we get tired nowadays. I don’t like it. And, like you, we just want to not be bothered by anyone. I understand!
Stay safe, Linda.
I totally understand the age misperception! I’m always so surprised when I realize how old I really am, and not in my 30s. I’ll be 68 in several months. I just found out I have osteoporosis and now feel even older! I wish I’d told my real 30-year old self to get serious about taking better care of myself! On a positive note, we’re having cooler weather! Glad Don’s hair is more appealing after growing a bit…or maybe growing on you! Happy reading.
It’s not because it’s growing a bit – I can hardly see any difference! It’s because it’s growing on me.
Stay safe< Barrie!
“We are not our age, we are our energy.” And I must admit some days I have more energy than other days. Hope your coaching job goes well tomorrow, Claudia. Glad Don’s hair cut is growing on you. Hugs, Elaine
Thanks so much, Elaine.
Stay safe!
Today is my youngest son’s birthday and he is 38. That makes me feel old as the time has flown by since my children were born.
My best friend and I realized that we met 60 years ago when we started as freshman in high school in 1964. Those long friendships are so nice to celebrate!
I watched a sweet movie on MAX called Marcel the shell who has shoes on. Have you seen it? It’s live action and stop action animation and I really enjoyed it.
I haven’t seen it, but I’ve heard about it.
Thanks so much, Ellen.
Stay safe.
I think all of us “of a certain age” have that feeling of “how did this happen?” The body may be slowing down, the hair looking a lot different and perhaps there are more ailments. But in our heads we are still young, hip (now that’s dating myself) and engaged people who wonder why people think we are “old.” I’m Don’s age and recently described myself as “slightly above middle age” until I realized I had to correct it and say, “well above middle age.” Can’t quite go with elderly yet.
I hope I didn’t miss it — my viewing has been spotty of late (and completely out of it as of next Wednesday) but will we get to see Don’s new haircut?
I cannot go with ‘elderly’ at all!
Thanks so much, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
It is a shock when you describe some as old then realize they are about your age. What can you do? I am working at acceptance. Not easy.
I would love a photo of Don’s new look.
Acceptance is very hard. I struggle with it on a daily basis.
Stay safe, Kay.
As I age into my seventies (just turned 73) I can often hear the beautiful voices of Simon and Garfunkel singing ‘How terribly strange to be 70″.
I remember listening to this in the 60’s and thinking I couldn’t possibly imagine being 70!
Memories of wonderful music and time passing.
Yes, we think of those words ofteb!
Stay safe, Mumsy.