Time is a most precious gift. Given 24 hours each day, they’re a perishable commodity, taking me the pages of my life’s story. Minutes to sleep or work, read or watch television, walk or rest under the shade of the apricot tree. Time marches on, no matter the chosen activity.
Through my life, the worst thing I could imagine was not making each minute become a product of my intentions. VST was of the same mindset. An un-aimed arrow always hits its mark. So, I’d make a bullseye of goals, ready for completion. One by one I’d finish each, crossing them off my list. By the end of the day, the feeling of accomplishment was satisfying, if nothing else.
When I first moved to Winterpast, there was no choice in the matter. I needed to work as hard and fast as I could to get settled in. There wasn’t anyone else to do the things necessary to make a home. Just me. Some days, there wasn’t even time to breathe, let along find enjoyment. Preparing for a Memorial in July 2020, it was a race to the finish.
My lists were long, including all forms of unpacking, cleaning, organizing, planning, and contacts. Time was allotted for grief and rest, because anyone that’s been hit by a Mack Truck needs time to recuperate from gut wrenching devastation. Cancer is no less than that. Through the days, things came together as planned.
These days, my life is a bit different. I schedule in categories instead of by minutes. Making sure there’s time for spiritual, physical, and emotional health, my time is split equally between household tasks, gardening, and necessary outings. By dividing my time in this way, life is a balanced ballet, while I roll forward. When things are going pretty well, I can add another spoke to the tire. Lately, I’ve been sprinkling the entire experience with love, friendship, success, and lots of fun.
My God-Mom, being so very wise, told me long ago of the importance of practicing lazy. A valuable truth. Months ago, if an hour was spent doing nothing, I felt terribly guilty and unproductive. I SHOULD have something to show for every waking moment. However, an hour of meditation or napping IS something very important for the mind and body. I’ve been working on relaxation techniques and the hot tub has been helpful in that regard.
Sky watching has become one of my favorite hobbies. Being under the jet stream between East and West, as well as being near a huge US Naval Airport, the jets and their fluffy trails crisscross the sky right over my hot tub. Clouds, puffy and white, blow this way and that, showing me wind direction and speed. The sun makes its daily trail from my right to my left as I sit facing, as I face True North. The day time sky is as fascinating as the night, both mesmerizing.
Add in the daily activities of the bird families happily creating more of their own, and there’s an entire show going on right in my own back yard. One thing missing here at Winterpast are stray mammals. Random cat visits are non-existent thanks to a healthy coyote population. There are no opossums or skunks that make it over or under the white plastic fencing. A random hawk will take out a dove or robin, leaving the murder scene covered with feathers. But, that’s about the height of the mammalian drama in these parts.
I do long for travel, but that will need to wait. Doggy Day Camp is full, with no room at the Inn until after August. Oliver and I need to make the best of it and enjoy the daily routine that we enjoy. Summer camp is in fully swing with the summer solstice in two days. With Autumnal Equinox in 96 days, the extreme summer heat won’t last forever. Thank goodness.
I’m happy to report it seems Oliver is finally finished eating plastic. At least for now. The number of small lights on my pathway are holding steady. The drip system no longer under attack, Oliver is now focused intently on the ripening apricots. This is the new worry of the day, as apricot pits can be harmful to dogs. Well, plastic pathway lighting isn’t part of the normal canine diet, either. He waits by the back door each morning ready to hunt for fallen fruit. I sneak out before him to clear them away. We’re both enjoying our fair amount.
Sometimes my allotted lazy time is eaten up by tiny little disasters. Happily, I report that I’ve located the sprinkler line leak. In a major line for my drip system, it was buried 18 inches below the surface, probably leaking for a very, very long time. Now exposed, I’m going to try taping the crack with electrical tape until I can get someone to come fix it. A hack I found on the internet, it sounds brilliant. I will keep you updated on the success or fail.
Someday, it won’t be necessary to schedule my life in this way. Eventually the journey will carry me along, balanced in a little boat of happiness. For now, paying attention to the individual parts of my life is helping things run smoothly. Remember, time is a terrible thing to waste.