Anniversary

Early morning Saturday marks the 1st anniversary of my father.'s death. A very long year.  Bank accounts have been closed, bills have been paid, the house was sold, monies dispersed, probate closed.  I remember how very sick my father was, and how we prayed that he would be free to join his beautiful bride in Heaven.  So tomorrow, I will celebrate my Dad's life.

"It's lonely!'

Yesterday the owner of the flower shop came to the branch store.  He talked about the days when he had to work here because the other sales associate had broken a bone in her hand. He said that he gave both of us credit, being here all by ourselves, having no one to talk to.  He said he was ready to scream. He told me it was lonely!  I feel the loneliness too.  And it is compounded by the fact that my husband wears earphones so that he can hear the tv.  When he has his ears on, he can't hear me.  It is impossible to carry on a conversation.  So it's lonely at home too.

A Dog Guest

We are dogsitting for my sister's golden retriever.  Addie is 10 years old, the same age as Maui, our mini dachsund and Pudge the puggle.  Perhaps they met once years ago, but yesterday was the first time they had seen each other in a long while and Addie  has never stayed at our house.  She was whining when her family left her.  Calmed down after a half hour or so.  We have AJ a huge tabby and Mickey a skinny little cat that adopted us a few years ago.  He is young and an instigator. He decided to hop onto the table and stick his claws in Addie. This morning I heard Addie bark at Mickey.  I'm not sure what happened, but I put Mickey outside. When I get home I will take Pudge and Addie for a walk. 

Yoga

Although my blood pressure is under control with medication, I feel that I am not centered. I had a hard night the evening of my birthday.  I missed my dad--it was my first birthday without him.  I also feel that I need to get away and regroup.  I am hoping to have a couple days by myself in October and November when my daughter goes on maternity leave and is home with her babies.  In the meantime, I signed up for a yoga class.  It begins tomorrow.  I bought a new yoga mat and brick and some yoga pants. I haven't attended a yoga class in years.  I tried to find one more suitable for my age, but had a conflict.  So I enrolled with people 16 years old and older.  I feel in balance with work, babysitting my granddaughter, riding, training my mini horse, walking my two dogs, reading and yoga.  I fit household chores in between.

Tiny houses

Back in 2012, mother and dad, their dog Rosa, my brother and I went camping at a State Park.   I drove the van and pulled the popup.  My brother, who owns a popup, had it set up in 10 minutes.  I set it up as a tiny house--the dinette table up, windows open, sheets on the bed. The pantry of food was in the back of the van.  This trip became important because it started my fascination with tiny homes.  I was content in my neat little house!  I am interested to see how this fascination develops.  I have been researching small trailers--Runaways, Hikers, Little Guys, Sunrays and others. The idea was to purchase one and use it for my solo camping.  Not going to happen because my husband feels that there is no place to store it.

Bad Idea

Well I had one of those ideas that came back to bite me.  The pharmacy near my house is situated in a mall that has a terribly busy parking lot. So I thought to myself, why not call it in to the pharmacy by the flower shop.  Terrible idea.  First, the flower shop opens at 9 am; the pharmacy at 10 am.  And both close at 6. So I taped a sign on the door and  ran down the hill but the prescription wasn't ready.  I thought I had noted when the pharmacy was closed for lunch, but got there and discovered that it was closed.  And when I tried to unlock the flower shop door realized that I didn't have the keys; they were sitting on the desk as was my cell phone.  I headed to the muffler shop where my friend let me use her phone to call our delivery manager.  He had to drive across town in college football traffic.  First football game of the season.  While I was waiting, I tried again, but the prescription was still not ready. I discovered that the pharmacy was slammed because of a buy out of another area pharmacy!  Bad bad idea.

Celebrating My Birthday

I have much to be grateful for.  In March, I found I couldn't cope with the stress of unraveling my dad's house and selling  it without blood pressure meds. I also have a bit of a heart murmur due to narrowing of the the arterial valve. However, the nurse told me not to worry to keep moving.  I took lisinipril and am one of the few people who cough as a side effect.  I had just renewed the prescription and tried to tough it out, but with 14 tablets left called and asked for a different med.  I couldn't handle the violent cough that disturbed my sleep, my work and caused several other problems.  Now I am taking chlorthalidone and after 2 weeks the cough is mostly gone. And the chlorthalidone works better, my blood pressure is lower.   I enjoy working with Dory, the mini horse I lease and I ride Hope, my mare on Tuesday mornings.  I get together with friends on Wednesday for dinner.  My granddaughter is the sunshine of my life and we have happy adventures.  I like to walk my two dogs although they are ten years old and have slowed down.  I enjoy working at the flower shop.  I do need some time away by myself and am looking forward to a vacation in October and November (by myself).  I am celebrating my birthday with a cookout at the house.  My son, daughter and her family will be coming.  Happy happy birthday to me!