Small Pleasures

For those of you who follow my daughter’s blog, you will know by now that I recently spent some time in the hospital. I had been feeling poorly for a while, and finally on February 21st I fainted and was having a tough time of it, and Dee and I decided it was best for me to go to the hospital and get checked out. They found that I had an electrical problem with my heart, and a pacemaker was implanted. It was no fun whatsoever, but the nurses were very caring, and my children were with me 95% of the time. Now I feel much better, except for the usual arthritis issues.

The post below was started before I went to the hospital and just today I decided to finish it.

Everyone should have a retreat of some sort. Growing up, mine was quite often the big porch swing on our front porch.

When I was a teenager, our elderly swing squeaked something awful. When I came home from a date, the guys often suggested we sit in the swing and visit a bit before they had to go home. That was fine because it was very comfortable out there. Mother had her pot plants, rocking chairs etc and there was often a breeze. Our big ol’white frame house was not air conditioned, anyway.  Few were in those days. Finally, that squeak started bothering me and I asked Dad to oil it or do something to silence it. His and Mother’s  bedroom was on the front of the upstairs and, of course, their windows were open. “Oh no,  he said, as long as I hear that swing squeaking, I just sleep so good but when it stops, I wake right up!” Oh, Ok, ---

For various reasons, I spend a lot of time in my room, here at home. It is large and I have my computer, tv, bed, small sofa, easy chair, CD’s, desk, phone, and comfortable rolling desk chair etc. Seated at my desk, I can look out into our back yard and enjoy the Cardinals who live in the huge hydrangea bush, just under my window. Of course, my bathroom joins my room also. So this is my sanctuary, my refuge, if you will and one of several reasons we bought this particular house when Dee and I decided to live together, in 2005. An outside door to our patio is four steps, through the laundry room, from my bedroom [I just counted ]. Perhaps I should explain that Dee has the master bedroom and the kids have their rooms and baths, at the opposite side of the house, upstairs. So we all have our space. At night, Dee and I can communicate with our Walkie-talkies and I have various bells and an air horn in the bath as well as in here.

Coco mostly stays close to me. She always sleeps with me, as she has all her life. When Alesia first came home and we moved in together, Coco cheerfully went up to bed with Alesia  and stayed until she got her to sleep. Then, Coco came down and stayed with me. Coco dearly loves to play with the kids but when she comes flying into my room and dives under my bed, the kids are not allowed to follow.  Her little doggie bed is out in the kitchen for daytime naps. Coco has her sanctuary too and we respect that.  Recently, when I was in the hospital, Alesia had Coco sleep with her, and I was so grateful.

An advantage of my room placement is that everyone comes to visit at various times. I love and enjoy that. I get to hear various interesting news, happy and sad, and really, just good visits. I’m always amused when one of the kids comes in, kicks off their shoes, and piles up in the middle of my bed to talk. Most often, I am in my desk chair. I have labeled this blog as ”small pleasures” but visits really are a large pleasure.

With a touch of early spring in the air, I am beginning to get my taster set for a tomato sandwich made with peeled, sliced, home grown tomatoes, lots of Dukes’ mayo, and white bread. Actually, a couple slices of crisp bacon just wouldn’t hurt a thing……… but NO lettuce. I like lettuce, especially the soft varieties, with my own salad dressing, but to my way of thinking, it does not belong in a BLT.  So—a  BT ? Surely not a TB !

When I was a child, there were some characters in a story, whose names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter. These days, when I look into a mirror, I often think I can really identify with the first two. After I reached the ripe ol’ age of 75,  I decided there was no earthly reason to have to live so gussied up and harnessed all the time …… or any time, actually ! So I’ve pretty much tossed everything but what folks used to call drawers, I think .Whoo – hoo,  no belts and pullys ------ what I’d definitely call small pleasures !

I threw out high heels, medium heels, chunky heels etc a good while back. Now I mostly wear my Easy Spirits all the time. I have a pair of black ones for church – that’s as formal as it gets.  I no longer own a pair of panty hose. Several friends about my age, or older, still teeter totter around on their heels and look just plain silly. A couple of them have had several falls. I don’t understand why they won’t wear sensible shoes.

I have found that as I have grown older, there are still many things which give me pleasure, or perhaps the better word is contentment. I have my room, my books, my friends, my children, and my grandchildren, and that’s enough, for now.. For you young folks, I hope you can find a place of spiritual contentment and sanctuary, when you reach the senior years..