Today was such a mixture of beautiful and sad. The beautiful happened first.
Walk in the sunshine this morning, some favorite late winter scenes, before early spring comes. Shadows on beeches. That golden foliage against the satin grey bark
A bit further into the trees, I startled dozens of mourning doves from the place they all roost in, like a clubhouse
Home to lunch and a concerned email from my knitting group leader because they hadn't seen me for ages. I just haven't got enough energy for people yet. I did send pictures of the gloves in progress. Nice to hear my friends are asking.
Then things went downhill, in quick succession.
Gary stopped by with bad news about another neighbor's health. She'd said it was okay for him to tell me. She's such an independent spirit, lifelong single mom, daughter living far away. I'm not sure what she'll let me do, but I'll be in touch.
Then not fifteen minutes later I picked up the mail, and found a letter from another friend -- more sad news, about her marriage this time.
Staying home, as you see, is not a recipe for an uneventful quiet life. I'll do what I can for both these dear women, once I figure out what.
Since hope springs eternal, are you up, despite all, for a puzzle?
I hope some better news comes tomorrow. I cannot for the life of me think what that puzzle's solution might be.
ReplyDeleteYrs, better news would be good.
DeleteThe ups and downs of life, eh? I am having a very tired day even though I slept fairly well last night, but I haven’t had any downs, so that helps.
ReplyDeleteNot surprising you're tired. It's been a rugged few days. I hope Sue's resting, too.
DeleteBeautiful sky in your photos! Wishing you soon, good news from your two friends. You seem to be 'a friend indeed to your friends in need'.
ReplyDeleteThey've been friends to me, too. The sky was lovely today.
DeleteThat’s enough sad news for now. Hope it’s better in the coming days!
ReplyDeleteBoth friends are at the beginning of a long hard road. But both have a lot of spirit. Do there's that.
DeleteSo, not do. Tiny screen, big finger.
DeleteMy heart goes out to you and those friends.
ReplyDeleteTo them, certainly.
DeleteNice of your knitting friends to enquire of your whereabouts. May your "spirited" friend begin sorting, soon.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got out and walked before the sad news descended. That February light on a spring-like day is a good boost. It's the way of the world, isn't it, that hard times get their turn too. It's good you're there for them, in whatever capacity.
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
One would think that after all our time on earth, we humans would have gotten used to the idea of our mortality but I don't think we ever will. We will all die. Marriages die too. All things must pass, and so forth.
ReplyDeleteBut thank goodness for spring and the sweet things to look forward to.
There's also a weird sense that people die in birth order. I'm much older than the neighbor dealing with very serious illness and it seems so wrong. But there's always good stuff somewhere, in every season.
DeleteI'm sorry for the bad news. That's hard stuff for both women. It has to feel good that your knitting friends are thinking of you. Clueless, as usual, on the puzzle.
ReplyDeleteWaiting for a clue from Tom on the puzzle, or anyone! It's nice to think I'm not forgotten, yes.
DeleteBad news does sometimes seem to seek us out. I hope you're able to give a boost to your friends.
ReplyDeleteI need to figure out how to do that without intruding. And to remember they're both grownups used to making their own decision, especially the neighbor, a very independent spirit.
DeleteAre either the kind of friends you can flat-out ask what kind of support would be appreciated?
DeleteChris from Boise
I think it would be received kindly and gently, but with a negative, not wanting to impose on an old party! Often just being in touch is good. I already did that, and I'll check in regularly. Even a text can help, to know you're not forgotten.
DeleteGood plan. A text can be a real spirit-lifter.
DeleteHi Boud
ReplyDeleteI didn't forget you, I just could not make my magic dictionary come up with a word...I'm working on it. We will go back to Dallas in a couple of hours. Our friend Ray went by ambulance, again, last night. We were there until Midnight. He is dying from Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Sorry time, we try to cheer him up. Everyone has sorry news today, that means it can only get better for all of us.
Tom
So sorry to hear about your friend. I was in a similar situation with a good artist friend a few years ago. I like your approach -- it has to get better!
DeleteIt is is a common and widespread small passerine bird in the finch family, Fringilla coelebs. Who in merciful heavens would have any idea what that sentence really says? I do like that the male bird has a strong voice and sings from exposed perches to attract a mate. I had a neighbor like that once.
ReplyDelete:)
Best I could do on short notice.
Tom
Thank you!
DeleteSad news, presence
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteSad news, presence can give comfort, thoughtful words of support as best you are able to give.
ReplyDeleteIt is easy gor some people to think that everyone else has a smooth life, has it all 'sorted', but as you demonstrate everyone gets curveballs.....It's what you do about them that makes the difference between you and those among us who find themselves immobilized by sad news.
ReplyDeleteA lot of lives look easy from outside, yes. And how you handle things makes a big difference. I think problem solving comes naturally to some minds, and that some families are more adept than others.
DeleteSo sorry about the sad news - it always seems to come in bunches doesn't it. As you said though (in response to another comment) "there's always good stuff somewhere, in every season".
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes it takes a bit of searching though.
Delete