Lamb Chops and Little Things

I had lunch with an old dear friend this past week and we always solve the problems of the world during these once a month outings. We talked about many, many subjects from, of course, the election, to the aging process and back to the aging process. She is an only child (and has an only child) and was the primary caretaker for first her father, and then her mother.
Once her mother asked her for some lamb chops. She told her that it was "not the season" for lamb chops and besides, they were very expensive. After her mother passed, she was most troubled by not having bought those lamb chops. I suspect that we have lots of opportunities to "buy lamb chops" and we let those opportunities pass. Each day, I am more and more certain, that the "lamb chops" matter more than the things we think are more valuable. Let us make sure that each day we are buying lamb chops for those whom we love--little things matter!

CaringJoy

I have never fancied myself as a nurse/caregiver. I have always preferred taking care of the business side of illness rather than the nursing side. I liked typing out the medication list, making the appointments, and taking notes at the doctor's office. The day-to-day caregiving, was not what I believed I was very good at doing.
I am finding such joy in taking care of my sweet husband during his rehabilitation from knee surgery. One thing I have found is that whatever personality you have doing the good times is the same one you will have during difficult times. He is the perfect patient--does what he is supposed to do, cooperates, is not demanding and did a lot of things pre-surgery to make things easier for me. He labeled all of his cereal so that I would know what mixtures he wanted--I knew that he ate cereal every morning, but didn't know how he mixed it.
I have had to do grocery shopping (that's what he likes to do that) and found out that a former student works at my neighborhood Vons and has been there for four years. I didn't even know where to look for specific groceries because I hadn't shopped in so long, except for occasionally picking up one or two items. I have learned that he shops at at least 5 or 6 stores depending upon where the sales are. Milk at Walgreens, fruit at Henry's, sodas at Keils, Capri Suns at Food for Less, soup at Vons. What a day I had--but it was all joyful. I learned so many new things.
I have also learned a lot about where things are in the house. I have to get things for him, so now I know where he keeps everything in his office--I never went through his things before.
I have become an expert at "all things downstairs" because I have been spending a lot of time there. I think I have lost at least 5 pounds already from going up and down the stairs each day.
The most amazing part of all of this is the absolute joy I am feeling from taking care of him--I know that he would do the same for me. "Ain't love something?"

ArtJoy

I have never been able to draw anything beyond a stick figure, although I am creative in many other ways. It was a goal, because I enjoy art, to learn how to draw. I previously thought that art was a gift and that it could not be learned--either you had it or you didn't. All of my artsy friends told me that this was completely untrue, but I never believed them. I decided to take an art class, in my "freetirement" as part of my exploration of "new worlds." I am delighted to say that my friends were right--anyone, even I, can learn to draw.
The watercolor class on our cruise was my inspiration--I learned that it would be good to know how to draw before doing watercolor. I like my teacher because when I did my first drawing she told me "I can see that you are abstract." I know that was her way of telling me that my drawing sucked, but it made me feel good. Gawd, pats on the back do work. She tells us what to do and then allows us to get into our "own boxes," much unlike the sucky quilting teacher I had a few years ago. We all had to get into her quilting box, and of course I revolted and did my own work at home after listening to her explanations of things. Anyway, my husband, Tony can recognize what I have drawn--that inspires me because he is an artist. I thank my friends--Cran, for the art books and pencils, Cathy, for the inspiration, and of course, Tony, for always telling me that my work is nice, even when I know it isn't.
The most amazing thing about this art adventure is that I am seeing the world in a different way. When I walked on the beach at Coronado, the clouds, the water and the sand formed a picture. The sunset is now a picture, even every day objects are pictures. I still have trouble drawing a box, but I know that eventually I will get it right. I am now a "sketchbook journaler"
and am finding great joy in producing visual images. It's really just like writing--just another way of doing it. I liked what the Swiss painter, Paul Klee, said "Drawing is taking a line for a walk." I will keep "walking the lines."
poyes (that is the signature I use for my "work." :-)