Good morning, friends!
I hope
this first day of October finds you well. We're in the throes of early autumn here in North Carolina, my favorite time of year. Of course, this year, I'm mostly viewing it through my windows due to a ruptured tendon in my ankle, but at least I'm surrounded by trees outside of every single one.
And speaking of that, here's my ankle update: I had a follow-up visit with the ankle specialist, and I was super excited when he praised the great improvement. I was less excited when he told me I still have to sit most of the time and limit walking and that if I do have to walk, I must wear the big bulky immobilizer boot. I'm still in a lace-up brace and limited in activity for the next month. I told him I intend to be hiking again as soon as possible, and apparently, that feat (for my feet, haha)
is about five months away as long as I continue to strictly adhere to protocols.
Cue frustrated *SCREAM* at having to spend the entire fall indoors. A friend gave me an outdoor chair so at least I can sit outside. So that helps a lot! Having to sit indoors at all times was a real bummer. If I must sit, sitting outdoors is far less of a bummer.
The weather is cool at last, and my windows are open, letting in the birdsong, the sound of the breeze, and the music of the raindrops hitting the ground. My cat, strangely, has learned to chirp and sits on my desk at a window all but covered by a giant bush, chirping at the birds who live in the bush. I imagine if I were a bird, I'd find a cat speaking my language quite unsettling.
All in all, life is good, and I'm trying to adapt to this slower pace. I know it won't be forever, even if it feels that way right now.
Tomorrow is
my youngest daughter's birthday, and she'll be coming over for dinner and a small celebration. I've got a menu of all her favorite foods planned, and I can't wait to see her. Normally, she's over here a couple of times per week, but she had a housesitting job out of state for the past few weeks, and I've missed her like crazy. I look forward to spoiling her absolutely rotten for a day. I can't believe my baby is turning 23! Like most moms, I wonder where the time went.
One area of life in which I am extremely fortunate is my close relationship with my two daughters. There have been a couple of rough patches - aren't there always? - but our small family is very close-knit. We talk on the phone and we text many times per week, and we visit in person as often as possible. My kids tell me that they feel like they can tell me anything, and that is such a precious gift. In return, I try to limit the advice-giving to times when they ask unless it's
really imperative. And even then, I give the advice and then let it go because the surest way to drive away a loved one is by insisting they do only what you want them to do. As a result, we have a wonderful bond and truly enjoy one another's company.
It was a rather rambly personal note today, but I am making an effort during this downtime to slow down and appreciate things more. I could dwell on what I cannot do, or I can read that stack of books I've been meaning to get to, and I can focus on the love I'm lucky enough to have.
Life really is good, even when some aspects of it are less than stellar. How you feel about it is all about what you focus on. This is a lesson we can take with us as times get harder. There's always, always something to be grateful for, regardless of our difficulties.
Big hugs! I hope you all have a great week ahead!
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