Rain today, some sleet – an altogether messy day. A good day to hunker down and read a good book, which is exactly what I plan to do – along with washing the sheets.
Yesterday, I was functioning on overdrive. I did work outside, I watered all the plants, I cleaned the kitchen, living room and den – and the bathroom, which you know I hate doing. I ticked a few minor things that had been annoying me off my list, the kind of little chores that you come upon every day and file away for the future.
Very satisfying, indeed!
I’ve a couple of presents yet to buy for Don, but I know what I’m getting him. One is on the way. We’re keeping things rather low-key this year. We’ve had an extraordinary year. We’ve been blessed. And even though the show’s closing caused us great pain, as well as a huge loss of income, the good most definitely outweighed the bad. We don’t take any of it for granted and we are humbly aware of the gifts we have been given.
You know, we’ve had some very tough years in the past. Up until very, very recently we never knew if we were going to have enough money to pay our bills and our mortgage each month. Much of my energy was taken up with worrying about money. How much to pay on this bill or that? Would the check for some freelance work or acting work arrive in time to pay that bill? There’s no way I can adequately describe it to you, but believe me, we were in a constant state of stress about our finances. It’s only within the past couple of years that we’ve been able to relax a bit. We still have to cope with living on a limited income, as so many of us do. It was so wonderful to NOT have to worry about money at all when Don was working on Broadway. That’s over. So we still worry. Just not as much as we used to.
Thankfully, we’ve never missed a mortgage payment. We have good credit. But we had to fight, tooth and nail, to accomplish that.
We’ve had Christmases where we tried to scrape enough money together to spend $50 on each other. Sometimes less. In the end, it doesn’t really matter how much, if anything, you spend on a present. Some of our most creative Christmases were in those very lean years.
We’re just grateful that we’re together. That we have a roof over our head. That we love and are loved. That we have friends and family. That we laugh together – a lot.
It’s all good.
Happy Sunday.
I would never say that Claudia and Don didn’t realize what hard work, good ethics, and self-awareness weren’t. Even at your lowest, you don’t take things for granted and you never pull a self-entitlement card. I admire how you’ve earned what you strive for and continue to bring positivity into your lives. I’m not saying you aren’t bitter about some of the set backs, but you keep moving forward and don’t wallow in the past. You know that for every bad situation, more good situations tilt your balance. I love reading your posts first thing in the morning because you really do set me up in a positive mood for the rest of the day. Thank you, Claudia!
No sense wallowing in the past. But it does make sense to find the good in the seeming bad. Thanks, Wendy!
It really is during those tougher times that we realize of what we are made, isn’t it? A trip on the usually very straight Interstate with no bumps gets us where we are going, but the same trip on the side roads with a few twists and turns and a bump or two is so much more interesting. When we talk about the trip, it rarely is that “perfect” one that comes to mind. The stories and memories come from the more interesting drive, even though it wasn’t as quick and efficient. We certainly don’t want a trip being terrorized, but a few inconveniences along the way give us pause to reflect a bit on what we have and what is important. You show us that so many times in your posts. Creativity is born of a lot of those situations, I think, and although having some extra money certainly makes things easier, it won’t make you happy if you weren’t so already. Can’t wait to see what you decided upon for Don!! Your gifts to each other are always so perfect!
Hope you have a good Sunday. We have sun today and temps in the low 40’s!!! We have a concert to attend this afternoon, and it is nice to not be dreading going outside.
No sun here! Gray rainy skies and a weather advisory overnight! Yuck!
Thanks so much, Chris.
You know, Claudia – you’re so right about the lean times often end up being the most creative & fun times. ANYONE can buy great presents when he/she has dough – but it takes vision, ingenuity, inventiveness when there’s little [even no] money. Necessity really IS the mother of invention. When I was a young, underpaid teacher with college & car loans to pay, that’s when I always came up with my best Christmas ideas. Of course, as the years have gone on, we’ve scaled back considerably. We don’t have any little kids around currently, and none of us NEED anything, so we concentrate on a great party with great food, and charity giving for the most part. We do buy small gifts & play some game my SIL learned at her job where the packages get passed around. You never know what you’re going to get, and you can trade with someone else if you want at the end. Tis a lot of fun! Have a pleasurable Sunday reading! Peace. 🎁
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
My sister and I stopped exchanging gifts long ago and as the number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren increased, we cut way back and now we exchange cards and holiday wishes and that’s about it.
You said it all once again and in your usual well worded way. Tough times are not necessarily a bad thing if for no other reason than to help us to truly appreciate the better ones. Thanks for all you share. Enjoy your reading today.😊
Thank you so much, Janet!
Yes, gratitude!
Love is priceless.
Peace,
Monica
It is indeed! Thank you, Monica!
I think with what you and Don have then you are rich and better off than many people. Enjoy your reading day.
Fiona x
Thank you so much for your kind words, Fiona. xo
Personally….I think it’s all in your perspective. You can choose to be happy….or to not be happy. Money makes life easier…but does not guarantee happiness. Even in our lean times, we always managed to feel grateful, if only for the roof over our heads, and the food on our table.
I enjoyed this thought provoking post today…very fitting considering the time of year. Now…I’m off to bake some cookies. Another thing I’m thankful for…that my family still enjoys them! ;)
It’s all about perspective, Donnamae. We have so much to be grateful for! Enjoy baking those cookies!
great attitude, claudia! and glad you found some things for don.
hope the weather isn’t awful and that you enjoy staying in and reading a good book.
kathy in iowa
I did. Today started out sunny but now it’s cloudy! Darn.
Gratitude is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and others. I love this.
Thank you, Jeanie.
You are a great friend and your attitude is a big part of that. I am also so grateful for this life I have. Not easy but full of love and laughter. There are few things I want but I think my greatest joy is in the giving. Hugs!
Love, laugher and giving are everything, my friend. xo