I needed a picture for this post. I really wanted to post a picture of my friends goats. They are over-the-top freaking cute. Cute enough that you'll forget I'm not talking about walking. But it's not nice to swipe things from Facebook. Then I thought I'd pick a rando picture from my 'keep' photos. I had zero for 2024. Sure I've taken pictures but they are not keepers. I had to go into my deleted folder to find something—the tulip tree across the street.
It is obvious: I haven't done any serious walking or exercise all month. It's been a
tough one.
What's been going on. Let's start with the positive. My health has finally improved, and I got a thumbs-up from the doctor on Saturday. I go back once more in three months, and if I'm still good, I'm out of the woods. And I lost weight. Whoo hoo.
I am still awful at hills. But then I always was. Most days I am walking from the remote lot to my classroom. And most importantly I am making plans for real walks.
Closer to positive news. Sharon's shoulder is healing and she is less dependent on me. However, that means no more home care. I need to drag her to PT twice a week. PT is an hour, and I need a half hour to get her there and another to come home. Yet it's only three miles away. Why? She moves at a snails pace and getting her in and out of the car is an adventure. Hopefully by the end of May I can replace that time with walking time.
The bad news. The roomie has died. About 10 days ago. There was no fanfare or service. It's what she wanted. She was as stubborn as the day is long. She got a cold and I could see things unfolding like they did the last time, two years ago. It was also around Easter...she always got seriously ill around holidays. For several days I asked if she wanted me to call the doctor. She said no. As she got worse I changed it to "ambulance". She yelled "I don't want a f*ing ambulance." If you knew her when she was actively drinking she was a mean-ass drunk. That personality came back. I described it as bug-eyed with her talons out. The next morning she didn't answer. I called an ambulance. Three days later she was dead. RIP Pat.
Pat's death has put a whole lot of stuff in motion. When the EMT moved the bench in the hall there were generations of dust bunnies under it. I was mortified. I knew the house wasn't "clean" but I didn't realize how dirty it was. These dust bunnies should have paid rent. I had actually been looking for a cleaner for about two years, the last time she got sick. Every day I drive past a house on Fiot. Their van has a housecleaning sign on it. I walked down, took a pic of the sign, and called them. My hope was to have it done before she got home. They came the day she ultimately died to give me the estimate.
I'm glad I spent the money and had the house deep cleaned. There was no way I'd get that done. I have a two page list of stuff to take care of. It will grow. It seemed cold and callous, but I cleaned out her clothes and took them to Goodwill. Why? She didn't use her dressers. The drawers were mostly empty. She had all her clothes piled around her room. It seemed senseless to put them in the drawers so the cleaning people could clean, and then take them out later to give away. Many had tags on. Including shoes. Someone who wears a 5.5 is going to be happy at Goodwill. I'll be going to Goodwill at least once a week. The collection of glasses is going to the Lions Club.
And then there is yarn and projects. This is all finished projects. Lap/Baby blankets; kitchen dish cloths, towels, and hot pads; and hats and scarves. All of these need homes. I will keep some. I will not keep all.
In February she had used up the bulk of her yarn and started to purchase some. Then my one sister-in-law brought her a garbage bag full. I'm packing everything up in grocery sacks. This is the yarn collection. Another sister in law called and asked if there was any yarn, her granddaughter was crocheting. She just picked it up.
The house is less cluttered. I don't even want to think about going to the third floor and her old room. It's probably a time warp from the 80s. Good thing vintage is cool. This summer I'll have my nephew help me. He can carry crap down the stairs and unload it at Goodwill.
So purging will be my job for the summer. Maybe next summer I can paint. And fix the kitchen floor. Meanwhile, I can just be delighted that the dishes are done regularly and there is a tablecloth on the table. First time in 21 years. I may not be so excited when I have to iron them again.
Change is in the air. I signed up for an art scavenger hunt at Lehigh, and I'll be attending the LBW walk in Swarthmore Saturday. I signed up for the AARP walks in May at local parks. I'm taking Sharon to PT twice a week and they have a chair exercise class the same day. I hope to go to at least some of them. And of course, the walking festival in Canada.
I joined a CSA before Pat went into the hospital. And now I am eating down all the unhealthy food. When I shop again I will not be feeding a fussy eater. This should be interesting
My readership has probably plummeted. I'll have to work on getting my readers back.
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