Jan11

Falling Down

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I took a fall on the ice yesterday that was extremely jarring, and left me with a big “goose egg” on the back of my head. Nothing was broken and I didn’t have a concussion, but I fully expected to be unable to move when I got out of bed this morning. Not so! All of yesterday’s soreness, muscle aches and tingling seems to be gone. Other than the lump on my head, I seem to be fine.

That’s always a big relief! I have weak bones, and often suspect that a bad fall will be the end of me. I’m cautious, always, but refuse to just stop moving. The last several days, with ice covered roads and walkways, my excursions were shortened to one mile, and that distance would take me about twice as long as usual, watching every footfall for safety and balance. Yesterday, with a couple inches of fresh snow over the ice, it felt much safer. The snow provided a little traction.

I told my dog Stella that we might just get a long walk in, and we were both excited about that. I walked over 470 miles in 2025, beating out the previous year by a hundred miles! This year, I want to surpass last year’s total. The way it’s going so far, I’m going to have a lot of making up to do! So, we started out happy, moving right along. I was confident we’d get two miles in, and possibly push it further.

I had barely made it to Loretta’s driveway, which is half-mile from my home, and where I’d turn if I were going to walk one mile, when, suddenly, I was on the ground, flat on my back. Normally, when I fall, though I know almost nothing about anatomy, in the split second it takes to go from “up-right” to “on-the-ground,” I think I could name every bone in my body, running through the list of what might give way. Not yesterday. It happened so quickly, I didn’t have time to react. The snow slid under my step; the cleats on my boots didn’t bite into the ice, and I was down.

Immediately, I hurt all over! I curled onto my side, and truly wondered if I’d be able to get up. My ribs ached, though they had not been battered in the fall. My fingernails ached! At a snail’s pace, I managed to get up, and very tentatively made my way back home. In slow motion, I stripped off my outerwear, and assessed my injuries. There was a big knot on my head, but that appeared to be the extent of it. Why was I so all-over sore?

Maybe the fall had driven the air out of my lungs, causing the pain around my ribcage. Maybe the bump on the head was causing the pain and tingling in my fingers. I put an ice pack on my head, and took to the computer to investigate. Did I possibly have a concussion? No, it didn’t sound like it. One-by-one, I eliminated every other possibility my hyper-active, hypochondriac mind could come up with. Okay. I am probably okay. I took it easy last evening, took two ibuprofen before bed and – it seems – I woke up in fine shape this morning. I think I’m even up for my yoga routine!

Twenty years ago, a fall wouldn’t be worth a mention; now, I can write several paragraphs about it. As I age, falling down has become a much bigger thing!

Jan7

Yesterday Was “the Day”

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Day before yesterday, I wrote “today is the day,” and I truly thought I would somehow manage to pull myself out of my lethargy, and get stuff done. No luck. I shoveled the snow from the side walkway, and cleared the hood and windows of the car. I took the dog for a long walk. I did a load of laundry, paid a few bills, and managed to figure out how to cancel a couple subscriptions. Beyond that, it was dinner, dishes, a minimal tidy-up, and bed. Discouraging, yes, but not hopeless.

As a lifelong procrastinator, I can verify the power of a last-possible-moment, now-or-never, adrenaline driven sprint! Growing up, we’d often rise up as a group, with a short half-hour before my Dad would pull in the driveway and, in a fury of last-minute energy, put the entire house in order. During my college days, I was able to pull amazing things out of seemingly thin air, right on the deadline. Due dates, test days and final critiques were regularly preceded by “all-nighters.” I managed good grades all the way through, but often wondered if I couldn’t have done even better, if I had managed my time more sensibly. It would have certainly been easier on me!

Anyway, here at home, all was not lost. I woke up very early yesterday, filled with desperation-fueled energy, and tucked in to the tasks on my list, and a few others that I ran into along the way. I had noticed that the table beside my bed had become a jumble of too many books: some finished but not shelved, some waiting to be read, and many “in progress.” Underneath it all was a layer of dust. So, with my first cup of coffee, that’s where I started. While following my exercise program in front of the computer – which involves standing, so a slightly different view of the surroundings – it had come to my attention that the simple curtain in front of that cubby was also badly in need of laundering. That was next.

With a small load of whites in the washing machine, I made quick work of taking down, boxing up and putting away the Christmas decorations. From the dining room table, a gathering of Santa’s with random accessories, and the banner from the window behind. My crocheted Christmas stocking was hung on the side of a low cabinet; the nativity set rested on top. The little Christmas tree rested on top of the big old army trunk in the living room. It is inside of that trunk where all of it gets stored. I remembered to gather the various strands of beribboned jingle bells from every door knob, the Santa Claus spoon rest from on top of the stove, and the embroidered “Season’s Greetings” towel from the cupboard door. With everything back in storage bags and boxes, I am ready to move on to the new year!

My bullet journal, though not quite finished, is already in use. I put away the markers, pens, washi tape, rulers, calendars, and too much other paraphernalia to mention. I brought the paper cutter back upstairs to the studio. Anything that gets added or completed at this point, does not need to be such a major production!

Then, on to clearing out the studio. That meant making room for all the stuff I’d stored in there. In the past, that was the spare room…which was now set up as a guest bedroom. Oh, but I so enjoyed having company last summer! And I hated for it to be such a major production to make accommodations for guests! Might it be possible to leave that bed set up? I investigated. The attic space had barely room to fit the dismantled bed: headboard, footboard, mattress and box spring. It was stuffed full!

But, oh, there was the bread maker, which I was planning to put into use this winter anyway. I pulled that out. I rearranged a couple storage totes, a large artificial Christmas tree (that I don’t use, so should probably bring to the resale shop next December), a sewing machine and a box of fabric. Better access, but no more extra room.

At the other end, where the bed would be stored, was another twin sized mattress, that I had purchased – it was a trundle bed then – at the same time as the one I was using. Why was I sleeping on the same worn out mattress that I’d been using for the last ten years when I had its twin up here is storage? Well, it was quite a navigational challenge, but I managed to move it out of that tight space, around the dresser and the foot of the double bed, around the corner, and down the stairs. There, I stripped my bed, put the whites in the dryer and my bed linens in the washer, then dragged my old mattress outside, and replaced it with the better one.

That made space in the attic for a pile of 1 x 6 boards, my small trampoline, Pilates chair, hula hoop, dog crate, and two large baskets full of other things too numerous to mention, all out of the studio! That makes room for me to actually work in there!

I’m not done. I still need to figure what to do with the old mattress. The studio, abandoned and unusable for months, need to be cleaned and organized. There’s still plenty to do, in every room in this house. My day was broken up by a necessary trip to town mid-day. I still had to re-make the bed with clean sheets. And, the usual, dog walking, making meals, and tidying up. But, for this moment, I’m simply ready to celebrate all the progress I made. Turns out, yesterday was the day!

Jan5

Today is the Day!

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It’s the fifth day of January. Because of where the holidays landed, I’ve now had nine days off work. With pleasure and – as is normal for me – big intentions. The list looked something like this:

  • Write “Thank You” letters
  • Write Brenda
  • Finish setting up bullet journal
  • Dismantle and store guest bed
  • Reset guest room for meditation, exercise
  • Clear and clean studio
  • Start art project
  • Take down and put away Christmas

These are the highlights only. I didn’t list plans to give the house a thorough cleaning, start my New Year’s goal of clearing out and simplifying, get samples started for the art classes I teach, bring down and set up the bread machine, and, of course, get into good routines for all of my additional New Year goals.

So, nine days in, how many items can I cross off as finished? Zero!

In an effort to be absolutely as merciful as possible to myself, I did have one day of volunteer work at our island resale shop. That day was also busy with other chores in town. I spent another day de-icing and digging out my vehicle to go pick up a perishable delivery. That’s it, though. No more valid reasons than that for my unproductive week.

No reasons, but – as usual – excuses galore! I was tired; I felt lazy; it was cold upstairs; I’m still waiting for some journaling materials to arrive; the table is covered with bullet-journal-in-progress stuff, so I have no place to write a letter; I had a headache; and on, and on. I can hardly express all the self recrimination going on at this end. And, if I don’t make the very best of today and tomorrow, well, by Wednesday, I’ll be back at work and any hope of success will be gone.

So – also as is quite normal for me – rather than jump right into it, I have spent this morning doing other stuff: things that are borderline productive enough, that I can justify the time spent.

First, I checked the news. Once, while on a particularly bumpy flight to the mainland with my aunt, I had to silence her efforts to tell me what she needed from the grocery store. “Not right now, Aunt Katie,” I said, “I’m trying to keep this plane in the air!” Not that I was piloting it or anything, but I sincerely felt that my intense concentration on it might do some good. That’s how I feel about the news, and what is going on with our government, these days. Though it seems to go from disturbing to shocking to infuriating to terrifying with hardly a pause for breath, and it is almost painful to watch, I feel like I need to be involved, if only with my unwavering attention to it.

Then I checked social media, to see if anything there warranted my attention. Then on to YouTube for my yoga practice. I like “Yoga with Uliana” for do-able and easy to follow programs. After that I watched a short, but inspirational Ted Talk. Then I did my strength routine. And now, I’m writing this. Because somehow, writing about my lack of productivity seems like a worthwhile substitute for actual productivity. Such is my life.

Jan4

Wide Awake, 2AM

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Here I am again, unable to fall asleep. It’s so frustrating! I’ve given it a good try. I was in bed by ten, read for just a little while, and had the lights out by 10:30. And there I lay, eyes closed but wide awake, running through my repertoire of calming or relaxing tactics…for three hours! Enough!

Finally, I got out of bed, thinking a hot beverage and a little activity might allow me, finally, to fall asleep. I warmed a mug of apple cider. Probably not the best choice, because of the sugar, but it sounded good, and is soothing. I worked a little more on my bullet journal. I have the calendar done, and most of the other pages laid out; it’s just a matter of filling in the information. Copying addresses, phone numbers, passwords and other necessities from last year’s journal into this one. That’s the most tedious part…still, it didn’t make me feel like dozing.

It is as bright as day outside. The moon is waning, but still close to full, and putting out a lot of light. It was this bright last night, and the night before that, too, and it didn’t keep me from sleep.

I got plenty of exercise today. The weather was milder than it has been lately. The wind has died down, and it has warmed up a little. Also, there’s now a good pack of snow covering the ice. Stella and I took the opportunity for a nice long walk. I did my indoor exercise program, too, and whipped through the house to give it a freshening up.

Sometimes, when I can’t fall asleep, it seems like the best idea is to just give in to the wakefulness. If I just stop worrying about it, get up and do a little something, I’ll eventually be able to get some rest. Fighting the sleeplessness sure doesn’t work!

Jan1

This New Year!

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New Year’s Day. As usual, I am full of high hopes and big plans. Also as usual, so far I am falling far short.

I planned to spend New Year’s Eve preparing for a fresh start, in every way. My new bullet journal was going to be complete, and ready for January first. I was going to finish the – seemingly never-ending – book I’ve been working my way through, so I could start 2026 with fresh reading material. I was going to put fresh sheets on the bed, wash all the rugs, sweep through the entire house, take down the Christmas decorations, dismantle the bed upstairs, set up my studio, and defrost the freezer! Well. All of those plans fell apart fairly quickly.

I had placed an order last week with a – new to me – company. I spent almost a hundred and fifty dollars just before Christmas at our little island grocery store, with very little to show for it. No cleaning products, no pet food, no junk food, no alcohol, only two pounds of meat, and little in the way of fresh fruits and vegetables. I understand all the complexities of trying to maintain a business on Beaver Island, what with ordering limits and shipping costs. Still, I’m one human on a limited budget; I have to do what I can to get by. So, when I saw an ad for Misfits Market, I looked into it, and placed an order to try it out.

That order was supposed to arrive on Tuesday. Of course, on Tuesday, we were still recovering from a tremendous winter storm. I couldn’t have gotten out if I’d wanted to, and there was little need as the planes weren’t flying, so there would be no deliveries. Yesterday, though, with my driveway clear and the skies bright, I started worrying about that perishable shipment. The airport hadn’t notified me of a package, which made me worry that it had come through the postal service, which would mean it would be stored inside until I picked it up. We were no longer being warned to stay off the roads, so I decided to go check.

Stella was thrilled that I was going outside with her! She’d gone two days without her usual walk. She romped around, letting me know that she was up for anything: walk, ride, just a run around the yard…she was happy, whatever.

The snow shovel was frozen into the pile of snow beside the kitchen door; I had to retrieve the back-up snow shovel from the shed. With that, I dug my way from the plowed driveway, through the deep snow-pack, to the door of the car. Which was frozen shut. It turns out, that was the case with all the doors, and even the hatchback at the rear. I found a flat head screwdriver, and used it to get the driver’s side door open.

Before I dared start the vehicle, I had to clear the windshield of at least several inches of accumulation, so that the heater would have a chance. I pushed what I could away with the shovel, then tried the brush and ice scraper. Hopeless! I moved the snow away from the tires, so that I could at least drive it onto the cleared driveway. That was a challenge by itself, since the only view I had was from the open door. All of the windows were still covered in a thick layer of ice and snow. Once there, I turned on the heater to its highest setting, and let it run.

Maybe an hour, I thought. I took the compost bucket out and emptied it. I brought my accumulated papers out to the fire pit and burned them. I cleared the snow from the vent for the heating stove. Each of those small tasks were monumental, considering the deep, heavy snow I was wading through, and the shoveling I was doing to manage it. I checked the progress on the car (almost none!) and took Stella for a walk.

In all, it took over two and a half hours to get the ice on the windows soft enough so that I could scrape it off! Not sure of the road conditions, we made a slow, careful trip to town. No package at the post office. I stopped at the grocery store for a can of black-eyed peas, for my New Year’s Day dinner. Then, to the airport. No package there, either. Flights were still very limited, due to weather conditions; they’d let me know, they said, if my package made it over.

I got back home at four in the afternoon. I had first stepped outside at ten AM! I was wet, cold, and exhausted! All I wanted was to collapse. And that’s what I did! A simple supper, then an early bedtime. So, this new year is starting out with me being just as behind as usual! I guess that’s comforting, in its own way. Happy New Year!

Dec30

Inside, Looking Out

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I haven’t actually seen the sun today; this time of year, cloudy skies are the norm. Still, after yesterday’s all-day bursts of blowing, icy snow, today seemed bright and calm. It was cold, though, and I had no big desire to get outside.

I didn’t sleep well last night, and felt pretty sluggish all day. I tried a couple times to get a nap, but that didn’t work out, either. So, it’s been a lazy, mostly unproductive day. I worked some on a small crochet project; I spent quite a bit of time on my 2026 bullet journal. Mostly, I did nothing while streaming old episodes of The Closer. Since I rarely saw the show when it was in production, it’s all new to me.

There’s plenty, as usual, of things I should be working at. My intention, this week, is to dismantle and stow the large bed upstairs. When the metal frame has been taken apart and moved into the side attic, along with the box spring and mattress, I’ll be able to turn that small room back into an exercise and meditation room. Which will allow me to move a stack of long 1 x 6 boards (that will eventually be the base molding for the downstairs rooms, if my home ever gets to that point), two side chairs, a set of weights a small rebounder, a hula hoop, and a Pilates chair out of my studio and into that room, so that the little room that I call a studio can actually be used for that purpose!

The side attic is a narrow and low-ceilinged place that is a challenge to get in and out of. The components of the bed are heavy and cumbersome. So, though I am anxious to have that big job finished, I am dreading getting started!

With the new year fast approaching, I’m also feeling the pressure to get my bullet journal set up. I foolishly ordered a cheaper blank journal this year. I went through all the usual justifications, telling myself the more expensive version, very dependable from one year to the next, got away with charging more “just due to their good reputation.” I told myself that I was making the smarter, more frugal choice, and, “at half the price!” It turns out, the one I bought had such flimsy pages, every single writing instrument I tried bled through the paper, making the back side of each sheet unusable. What a disappointment!

My first thought was to order my old dependable journal, damn the cost. But, because I had already wasted money on the failed example, I held back. Instead, I pulled out a blank journal that I bought a couple years ago. Again, it had seemed like a good deal at the time…until I realized it had only half the pages of my usual journal. Then, I just set it aside and ordered correctly. This year, having once again chosen foolishly and, in an attempt to save money, I decided to use the old, skimpy one this year, as penance.

I had to alter my usual layout. The daily pages had to be condensed by half; where each week used to occupy a double page spread, now each week gets only one page. My monthly spread is now combined with the future log, birthday calendar, habit tracker and gratitude entries. It’s a struggle, and is taking more time than I have, with January first right around the corner! I meant to pay bills and write some letters today, but those tasks have been delayed until tomorrow.

I have things to do outside, too. There are burnable papers to get out to the fire pit. The compost bucket needs to be taken out and emptied, too. And, poor Stella would really appreciate a walk. I did venture out for just a moment today, when Trish came to plow my driveway. I threw on my boots, and ran a check out to pay her. The snow was heavy, and deep – up to my thighs just outside the kitchen door! With a thick layer of ice underneath, that made walking treacherous. And, it was cold! That was enough for me! Today, I’m inside…looking out!

Dec29

Nearing the End of December

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It’s a blustery day in northern Michigan! Our first major winter storm of the season! When I got up this morning, there were over two hundred homes without power here on Beaver Island! Mine, I’m happy to report, was not one of them. Though I listened, all night, to the wind whipping through the trees, my electricity never faltered.

This day, so far, has been much the same. Snow is not coming down right now, but it looks like we got at least six inches of it overnight. And the icy crystals of it are still being blown around by a pretty strong wind.

Our ferry boat had its last run of the year before Christmas, and it’s now docked until spring. The planes have cancelled their flights for today. The gas station has opened up, but most of the other island businesses are closed for the day. The road commission posted that we should all avoid being out on the roads, if possible. It’s a good time to just “hunker down.”

The dog has been out and about already. She wavered just a bit at the open door, but then plunged ahead through the drifts in the yard. There’s a squirrel that visits the compost pile behind the garden, and Stella finds it both maddening and fascinating. She feels, I think, a responsibility to chase the little animal away, but sometimes she just sits and watches it.

I have not yet ventured outside today, and I don’t plan to, either. At this moment, I have my warm robe on over my cozy “lazy-day” clothes. I’m still working my way through a pot of coffee. I have papers and pens strewn across the dining room table, as I’m in the process of setting up my bullet journal for the coming year. There are other, more productive, things that I could – or should – be doing, but the motivation escapes me.

I plan to put on a pot of soup, and maybe put in a movie. That’s enough for me, on this snowy end-of-December day!

Dec21

Two for One December Journal

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I toyed briefly with the idea of blogging every day in December. With the handy calendar I’d found and copied, I had prompts for every day this month. Luckily I had the good sense not to say that out loud! I know myself, and my shiftless ways, well enough after all these years.

On the first of October, I was planning a grand “last ninety days” push to right every negligent wrong in my daily routine. I’d walk every day, exercise every day, and write every day. I’d do better about getting household chores done regularly. I’d write more letters. I’d pay better attention to my eating habits. By January first, I’d be set, accustomed to good routines, and ready to start the new year on a high note.

Alas, that fell apart quickly. I never really even made an effort in November; December’s plans went by the wayside, too. Still, this month, whenever I have sat down to write, I’ve used the December journal prompts as a guide.

Yesterday, I was ready to write. I’d checked my topic for the day, and had tossed a few ideas around in my head, as I went through my morning activities. I can’t even remember what exactly derailed my plans, but I never got a blog written yesterday. I started today with good intentions, too, but here it is after five PM, and I am just beginning!

The prompt for yesterday is “something you’ve learned this year.” That seems more difficult than it should be. There were times in my life where I was learning something new every single day: an unfamiliar word; a new craft or art technique; a cooking method, or even just a fresh recipe. Every new job required training; I’d have to learn the ins and outs of the place, and the ways to be most helpful. At my age, new learning opportunities don’t present themselves as often.

I taught myself how to make “butter-swim biscuits,” because they looked so darn good in the on-line video. They are good, too; I made them this evening to go with my beef stew. I also studied a video to learn how to make a specific type of sock puppet, in order to present the lesson to my art class. Even though every single one of my students had better results than I did, it still counts as learning, I guess!

Today’s journal suggestion is “who made you laugh this year?” Well, the children come to mind first. from my great-granddaughter, Delilah, to the troupes of great nieces and nephews that I saw this year, in their presence, there was always reason to laugh. Thinking of this question, though, I have to say I miss those bouts of crazy, uncontrollable laughter that I’ve shared with family and good friends through the years. Time, age and distance have lessened the chances for those deep, rolling on the floor belly laughs. As I think ahead to aspirations for the new year, I plan to find more opportunities for a good laugh!

Dec11

This Special Day

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Today, the eleventh of December, is the day my youngest daughter was born. Shortly after midnight, early on a Wednesday, Kate came into the world and rounded out our small family. She was beautiful! She had a shock of black hair, deep blue eyes, and her skin was…golden. Kate was born with yellow jaundice, which terrified her young parents, and necessitated time under a special light, and a longer hospital stay. I juggled my time between being home with my two-year-old, and at the hospital to feed, treasure and cuddle my new baby. Christmas preparations were mostly put on hold.

On the day Kate came home from the hospital, after greetings and love and much “let me see/touch/hold this precious baby,” from the many family members that had shown up for the occasion, things calmed a little. My sister-in-law came over with her own newborn; we settled the two tiny, sleeping cousins on the sofa where we could see them. Then, along with my two-year-old daughter Jenny as helper, we made Christmas cookies.

I had crocheted a giant clown for Jen, to go under the Christmas tree. It was created from yarn I bought – one skein at a time – at the store where I got my weekly groceries. My husband once dared, during an argument, to suggest that I was careless in my spending. “One skein of yarn per week,” I snarled, “and seventy-five cents a month for my magazines…that’s ALL I ever buy for myself!” I’m sure I went on to tell him that the yarn was then used to make things for other people: the slippers he wore, Jen’s winter hat, and for gifts. In those days, I was fast on my feet, always ready with an answer to any suggestion of my short-comings!

The clown’s face and hands were bright pink; big black crocheted booties covered his feet; his hair was bright red. Almost three-feet tall, it’s body, and long, gangly arms and legs were crocheted of a variegated yarn of red, yellow, blue and green. The whole thing was stuffed with fabric scraps, old pantyhose, and anything else that would fluff it up. In the last days before Christmas, I pulled out all the scraps of yarn, to make a similar but much smaller clown for my new baby.

All of my best holiday memories are from that time, when I had two little girls in the house. My life is enriched, even now, though they are both grown, for having them as a part of it. Happy Birthday, Kate!

Dec6

December 6th

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Today is Saturday. This time of year, I usually have Saturdays off, and that’s the case today. After several work days combined with nearly sleepless nights, I’m ready for it!

The moon has been nearing its “full moon” state, brightening our clear skies as if it were daytime. The light reflecting off the snow makes the entire landscape glow, too dazzling to sleep through. One night I lay watching as the wind carried a mass of clouds, just above the treetops and glowing from the moonlight, steadily across the sky.

Lack of sleep makes the workdays a challenge, though. By Thursday, it seemed like I was forcing a smile, and I went through my tasks as if on autopilot. Though Friday is a shorter day at work, it’s also my day for other tasks in town. I missed the bank, but made it to the grocery store, the hardware, and Post Office. There was a Christmas event at the museum, so I stayed in town to briefly attend, then drove home after dark, through a raging snowstorm.

At home, I’ve just let chores pile up. Yesterday, I told my co-workers that my plans – for today, Saturday – were to get the house clean, pull out and put up the holiday decorations, then spend this evening writing out my Christmas cards. It’s already after 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and I’ve done nothing but laze in front of the computer screen so far! I haven’t even taken Stella for her walk!

So, I start with writing this. It’s something I can do while still in my pajamas, and nursing a cup of coffee. It will give me one accomplishment, which will hopefully provide impetus to do more. So, back to my December Journal calendar, today’s suggestion is “memories from the year that make you smile, no matter how ordinary.”

1: I came upon a newborn fawn on the golf course. It was laying on a path just off the third fairway, still wet, and so tiny. The mother was standing among the trees nearby, watching. I backed away and took another route to get where I was going. It was just a few moments, but the memory of that special encounter has stayed with me all year.

2: When my great-granddaughter, Delilah, made her first trip to Beaver Island last May, there were many moments that made me smile. I remember her skill and competitiveness at card games. Even at only five years old, she quickly caught on to rules and winning strategies! She helped me plant the garden, and took her job very seriously. She spoke out loud as she measured “three fingers wide” between seeds in the row! She quickly took on keeping Stella in check, too. Though the dog was almost as big as she was, and probably outweighed her by double, she held her collar and sternly told her, “No….no, you stay away from that…”

3: My sister Cheryl and I took her grandchildren to a magic show when they were here. They all enjoyed it, but the middle child, Cade, was over the moon. He loves magic, and was excited to try to figure out how each trick was done. I smile just thinking of his enthusiasm!

4: In September, I went to the memorial service for my brother-in-law, Keith, and my nephew, Alan. As expected, it was a very sad occasion. Still, as is usual for anything that brings family and friends together, there were many joyous, heartfelt, and wonderful moments, too. I saw people I haven’t encountered in years, and caught up with many old friends. I saw family members that I don’t see nearly often enough, and met some that I hadn’t had a chance to meet in person before. One picture that sticks in my mind is my baby sister, Amy. Always dressed to the nines, with picture-perfect hair and make-up, she sat on a sofa in the funeral home, and her little grandchildren were all over her! Two little girls leaned in close on either side, while the youngest little boy sprawled across her lap. Amy wore a smile as she spoke to each of them. I smile, thinking of it!

That’s not all the good memories, of course, but it’s enough for now. Time to get busy with all the other things I want to do today!