Category: Uncategorized

When Life Was Simple

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I was about twelve and right on the verge of puberty when life was simple and easy to navigate.

My daily routine consisted of school, doing my homework, getting a few chores done for mom, and the rest of the time was mine and mine alone. I had the woods behind the house to explore and it gave me hours and hours of doing nothing but just that. One day I would explore a beautiful fern growing way up on a tree and on another day, rainbow fish swimming in the stream meandering through the forest. They were mesmerizing. Then there were the mushrooms in every color, shape, and size and I would look for little people under them. Yes, I had a vivid imagination which would help with my writing career later on in life.

It was a time when life was simple. The simple pleasures put a smile on my face and my mind was filled with something wondrous, nature at its best. I was caught up in a world of imagination and anything was possible, that was the message I got. I didn’t know at the time that I was getting ready to leave it all behind and “time” would show me a different path altogether. Simplicity would be left behind and I would embark on growing up where life became difficult but that year in the woods would stay with me forever.

It is a year I would love to relive and I would go back there willingly. Time stood still and I was caught up in something bigger than myself. It was a time when boys were waiting to be discovered and life’s demands were put on hold and SIMPLE was what it was about.

Daily writing prompt
If you could relive one year of your life, which one would it be?
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The Prep

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The first OP went better than I expected. I thought I was going to die but I’m still here and recuperating. The wound seems to be healing and I made six rounds in the garden today, walking from one end to other with no problems. Still, I am impatient and I want to get back to my normal routine of 40 minutes of bone-busting workouts!

Patience you say? Exactly what friends are saying. Anyway, the second OP is looming in the not so distant future, less than five weeks away and I’ll be wheeled into that operating room again. Seems like a long time before that happens but I know it is just a matter of time before I am staring it in the face!

I prepared like an athlete for the first one. Working out with weights, cardio, walks, meditation, and eating right were all part and parcel of my daily routine. It seemed to help because I was up and walking a few hours after the procedure and did 4 or 5 rounds in the hospital room with no help at all. Add no pain to it, no meds and no painkillers and it seemed like I was coasting through on clouds. Well, not quite. I was still attached to a couple of things but according to the Gods, the doctors, I was doing exceptionally well.

Coming back to the second OP, this one is going to be different. I know what to expect but the outcome is still unknown. Plus, I’m not able to workout like I want. These itty bitty walks in the garden is not going to do it. Keeping off my feet and resting is not going to do it either so I’m worried. Will I fare as well?

I don’t know and that is scaring the …. out of me! Planning ahead has always been my thing and I try not to leave things to chance. I find that I can’t do that with this one. Have faith? I am trying but just when I think I’ve conquered my fears, another bigger and stronger one rolls in. It comes in waves.

Concentrating on what I can control is my next step. Today, I made my six rounds in the garden. Then I got my bag and decided to pack the essentials again. This time a much smaller bag. Wishful thinking? Maybe, but fingers, toes, and everything else crossed!

The bag is not fully packed, it never is. I am “female” remember. We always need more. The next step is to eat right, try not to lift anything that could cause problems and get myself out of the house! It is getting claustrophobic!

A friend is going to come by later and drive me to the cafe. We plan to have coffee and breakfast there and people watch for a little while. It should be a good outing and will do wonders for my mind and psyche.

Have an amazing day.

In the Dead of Night

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I’m not a very brave person and being brave also means taking risks and I’m not a risk-taker. However, I have learned that sometimes you have no choice and being brave is not up to you but about the circumstances you are in.

I live in a village that goes to sleep at around 7:30 in the evenings! The streets are empty and so are the roads. When my son was in his teens and just starting to spread his wings, I found out that that bravery would be called into play many times.

I recall he was going to a party in the next village. He was going to walk and it would take him about 20 minutes to get there. It was ok in the daytime but at night a game changer. I was nervous about him getting home late at night so I offered to pick him up when he was done and ready to come home.

It was getting late approaching midnight when he wrote, “Mom, please pick me up at around 2.”

“Where?”

“Gas station”

I wasn’t happy but I had promised and I’m a promise keeper. At 1:30 in the morning, I got into my car. There was no traffic on the road as I made my way there. I was freaked out but took deep breaths as I pulled in at the gas station. It was deserted as with everything else at that time of morning. I parked and waited.

At a quarter past two, I heard voices. Then I saw two figures in the distance heading in my direction, they were talking and cutting up. One of them was my son. He saw the car as he got closer and I could see relief cross his face. His friend lived in that village so he was just a stone’s throw away from home and didn’t need help getting home.

My son got in and the first thing he said was, “Mom, I’m hungry! Let’s get Burger King!” We drove to the all-night Burger King place, which was deserted as well, and got him what he wanted. It was quiet in the car as we drove home and occasionally the silence would be broken by his chatter. He was happy and feeling safe. Mom had come to the rescue and it wouldn’t be the last time either! It was the beginning that would test my bravery many times over!

In the dead of night and when the world around me was asleep, I chose unwillingly to show just how brave I was!

Daily writing prompt
What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done when no one was watching?
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Chachi’s Blue Mood

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The little guy is sad. He lost his two buddies recently when they went back to their daddy. I’m talking about Shiro and Galli, temporary guests at my place. They belong to my son and after a short stay, it was time for them to go. So, he lost two best buddies.

He was still navigating that loss when he was faced with abandonment! My going in for an operation and having to spend time away from him DID NOT set too well with him. There was no other choice. I got him a cat sitter and she would come in twice a day to make sure he was alright. The pics she sent was of a grumpy cat who didn’t want to have anything to do with her! I came home after four days and his face looked like he had been crying! He also kept his distance from me.

I couldn’t hold him because he was too heavy and I had orders not to lift anything heavy. I stroked and cooed to him but nothing helped. One night, he did come over to be cuddled and those purrs took a long time coming. I thought we had crossed the bridge to forgiveness but the next day, he was back to being the same.

The traffic, well-wishers, didn’t help either. They meant well but for Chachi they were encroaching on his sacred space again so it was tough. He ate very little and kept his distance from me. He wasn’t used to all the noise and the chatter of people talking. It was just me and him most days so this disruption to his regular routine was a no go.

It has been more than a week since I’ve been home and he is slowly warming up. I have given him his vitamins, brushed him, kissed him several times, and tried to hug him standing up. That was hard! In the evening, he started cuddling again but he is still suspicious. I whispered, “I am sorry.” Last night, he stayed beside me for most of the night although the purrs would come and go. It wasn’t a constant.

This morning, a new Chachi appeared. He was happier and wanted to play. Purrs are aplenty and he is following me around again. However, here’s the problem. I have another OP at the beginning of October and he will have to go through the same procedure again.

I wish there was another way.

Less Heavy-Handedness

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My parents were hands-on when it came to raising a child. There was strict discipline, no talking back, do as we say, no bucking the rules, and definitely no DISRESPECT!

It was tough growing up in such a household because at times I wanted to spew like a volcano and let them know that I wasn’t going to stand for it anymore. However, I kept it all inside and had to find other avenues of letting my frustrations out. Running wild in the woods was one such way.

I’m not saying they were bad parents, probably the opposite. However, they took discipline to a new level and it wasn’t to my liking. The thing I do differently is to raise my child with less discipline and more understanding. I also tell him that I love him everyday. My parents forgot that part in the hectic and chaotic world of raising a brood! I wanted to hear those words badly but they just went about it a different way. As a parent, I want my child to know that he is loved unconditionally, no guessing games involved.

Discipline is hard here in Germany. The child raising model is different.They emphasize, “independence, self-reliance, and social integration.” All fine and good but discipline is sorely lacking and respect, well, it is right up there with discipline. My neighbor’s kid used to call or rather scream his mother’s first name when he needed help. It shocked me at first but different strokes for different folks I suppose.

Mine was never allowed to do that. I doled out disciplinary measures and my ex, a German, didn’t agree. Time-out when the child was acting up was cruel and inhuman punishment, according to him. I had to navigate both sides, but I must say that I’ve raised a good boy. He is a young adult now and doing well on his own. He knows he is loved and he is independent starting to travel the world because his job requires it.

I’ve learned to let him go although the “helicopter rotor blades” are ready to take off any minute if needed! I am still there to talk with if he needs that support, I let him have his say, and anything he wants to tell me, I am there for him with a listening ear and a warm embrace.

Those are the things I do differently and I think it has worked well so far. Respect is still hard because at times he kicks up his heels and at those times, I give him space. Sometimes I get a sorry but seldom and that is okay too. I am standing on the sidelines now watching him take off and I wish him well.

I’m still here if he needs me.

Daily writing prompt
What’s something you do completely differently from how you were raised?
View all responses

LOL!

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This is hilarious and I must add, a very smart God indeed!

A man climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai and gets close enough to talk to God. Looking up, he asks the Lord, “God, what does a million years mean to you?” The Lord replies, “A minute.”

The man then asks, “And what does a million dollars mean to you?” The Lord replies, “A penny.”

Then he asks,”Can I have a penny?” The Lord replies, “In a minute.”

🤣🤣🤣

Ode to Google

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“Hello darkness, my old friend/ I’ve come to talk with you again”

Remember the lyrics. It was an old song sang by the rock duo Simon and Garfunkel and it was about “the inability of people to communicate with each other.” A beautiful song from a beloved duo.

Now, take out the “darkness” part and replace it with Google and that’s where I stand with Google now. It is my best buddy, my mentor, my go to for everything I’m unsure of, and it keeps my night moving! It is also a wealth of information at your fingertips. Google Search is a godsent for people like me meaning the worrywarts. When something pops into my head and I need answers right away, there it is, my tried and tested true friend. I almost feel like I have someone right there in the room with me at times!

The recent health scare had me relying on Google even before the doctors could set the record straight. I walked in armed to the teeth and knew more than some of those doctors did and at times I would catch them viewing me suspiciously. “Who is she and how come she knows so much and where is her whitecoat?” Hmm…..the problem with knowing everything and more can be a detriment at times. I was hyped to the gills, fear took hold, and I had no peace because I KNEW the risk factors and that in itself was enough to stop me from going through with what needed to be done.

It told me everything from checking in, what to expect, how to prepare, what comes after, what to watch out for, and the recovery period right through to Week 4! Wow! I knew everything and when the doctors walked in, I was ready to bombard them with questions. Yes, you guessed it. They thought I was a royal pain in the you know what!

A friend said recently, “I hate Google!” I think he was going about it the wrong way. Embrace it and it does wonders for your psyche, your well-being, and to put your mind at ease. Not always! There were times when I would ask something and it would switch to Spanish! I would say, “Why Spanish?”

“Oops sorry, I accidentally hit the wrong button!”

Or the time, I would ask something and it would keep repeating the same stuff.

“You’ve already answered that question.”

“Sorry, let’s start again.”

I guess with everything there are glitches and they show up now and then but Google, my friend, you are what I need right now. I can do almost everything without leaving home and everything I need to know is just a fingertip away!

Thank you for keeping me company when the night is long and lonely, for making the silence a little less foreboding, and for easing my stress and tension by arming me with knowledge, the kind I need to survive this ordeal.

I’M A BIG FAN!