Covid changed me

I have changed this past covid year.  Social and mainstream media, commercials on radio and TV weigh heavily upon me--a great burden causing depression.  I have developed a phobia about riding and no longer ride.  I listen to music on cassettes and cds.  I take flower orders over the phone and  help with curbside delivery.  I shop at the department store.  I babysit my grands.  I just started attending church services after almost a year.  There are no hymnals, the music and lyrics are on my smartphone., I walk my old dog.  I clean up the yard.  I visit with my two local adult children.  I play a golf game on the PS4 a couple times a week.  I cook dinner, serve and clean up after.  I work out virtually with my sister and daughter once a week and by myself the other days.  I wasn't exercising as often as  I needed and just today did cardio and resistance bands.  I am doing just fine.  Every one of my orchid plants is in bloom.  One is struggling because the poor baby was thrown in the garbage at work and then knocked over by my cat at the house.  The green shoots of bulb plants are coming up under the protective leaves from the fall.  I am purging and spring cleaning.  I am going to spruce up my daughter's bike and ride it about the city,.  I am going to camp a few times this summer..  The sun is warm through the window.  Yes, I am fine.

Riding

 I went to the farm today to ride.  I had to take a hiatus from riding for a few months to allow healing from surgery so it was my first riding lesson in forever. My riding lesson tonight was not too brilliant.  I am so unsure of myself!  I have a new riding instructor and she had me ride a huge horse I have never ridden before.  I didn't know which pads, shims, saddle, girth or bridle to use nor how long to make the stirrups.  I felt so needy.  I walked Grey, did some 2 point exercises, managed to trot a couple steps.  My teacher asked if the lesson was okay.  I wish the lesson had gone better.  Oh well.  Lifestyle changes to lower my weight and cholesterol and keep heartburn away are in process and quite successful.  The purpose is to avoid cholesterol medication.  I watch what I eat, do cardio and some strength/toning/firming.  

A few days to relax

 My brother is going camping in a week and has invited me to join him.  I decided to drive out to the state park next Saturday and spend a few days.  I invited my sister and her husband to visit some evening.  I cleared my schedule.  I am taking the pop-up tent trailer.  I texted my brother about helping with set up.  I can't back the trailer up and don't want to run over anything.  Since I am leaving from work, I need to find a place to park the car and trailer. At the park, I hope to go out in my brother's boat, ride my bike and gather information and dates of camping trips taken in my lifetime.  I'm hoping my brother has photos of my children camping with their cousins.  I would like to figure out years our friends from Missouri camped with us.  Once the research is done, I want to make a book of all my camping adventures.  I began camping when I was 10 months old.  I hope my husband and the animals do okay while I am gone.  I need to stop this worrying about everything.

Relaxation

Last weekend my husband, adult children and their spouses or partners, grandchildren and granddogs met at a state park on the west side of the state, on Lake Michigan.  Unlike the holidays, we relaxed at the beach, grilled burgers and brats and sat around the fire.  The weather was perfect...it rained maybe three drops.  My husband, son, daughter and her husband played a round of golf.  It was a nice reprieve from the covid, politics and riots.  I feel peaceful and ready to attempt a healthier lifestyle.

Yesterday

I had a tough day yesterday!  Someone had left two boxes of vases by the front of the store.  I emptied the boxes.  One was wet from rain, so I decided to throw the box on the trash.  As I walked toward the dumpster   a heavy duty wrecker came beating toward me.  The driver saw me and steered away and my heart pumped away.  I came back into the store and my phone rang.  My brother called to tell me that our aunt, Dad's sister, passed away the night before.  I didn't know that a couple weeks ago she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  She was funny and loving and I miss her.  I drove to the farm for a riding lesson.  The horse dragged me into a stall to turn around
Greenie that I am I thought she wanted to eat but she wanted to be in the aisle facing the other way.  I practiced 2 point and trotting over ground poles.  It was a circus.  Rider and stallion practicing reining, 2 other students and horses having a lesson.  Bit unnerving for my instructor and me.  I told my teacher that I had some time off and would enjoy camping with the horses at a nearby equestrian camp.  She laughed and said it sounded like a lot of work.  My friend took a photo of my horse and me, but unfortunately I pressed a combination of buttons which cleared the phone to factory specifications.  I spent last night and today resetting the phone and saving photos.  As far as the virus....I had thought our state was safe, but after 34 people tested positive after having a drink in a bar. I know that I need to remain vigilant.

Happy Father's Day

Neither my husband's father nor my father is alive.  Yet we have happy memories in our hearts of  camping trips, holiday activities and special talks.  Tomorrow we celebrate.  We celebrate all those who are acting as a father.  My family  is gathering to share a meal and give my husband a surprise or two.  We will give our son-in-law a card and gift too.  In this year of the virus, my family is looking forward to Dad's Day.  We are looking forward to sharing a meal and making happy memories to replace the sad memories of the virus.  And I will be remembering those families who are grieving the loss of a father or who cannot be together.

Making appointments

As the state opens, my husband and I are trying to catch up with appointments.  Both dogs need their nails clipped, and the mini dachsund needs grooming.  Both my husband and I need our hair cut.  I missed my eye appointment a year ago and had a long visit with my optometrist.  All is well except my astigmatism requires new glasses.  My husband and daughter's dental appointments and my physical were canceled.  The dental appointments were rescheduled but since my physical was canceled three times, I opted for referrals for my yearly mammogram and my once-every-three year dexa scan for osteopenia.  Pop bottles need to be returned and we need a few groceries.  Riding lessons have started.  We are all in a similar situation.  I try to remain positive and cheerful an