Day 4

Came home from the center to find a message from Hollie to come to the ER. They had a devastating fire in their home. Chuck had soot and smoke inhalation. Hollie was in shock. Half the house is gone and there is water and smoke damage in the rest. They will recover and rebuild. Nobody wants that to happen to anyone. Today I will attend the board of supervisors meeting. It will be well attended with people about ICE and the ACA.

Day 3

I came home from church and the phone rang. “Come back, we have a cake for you.”  I enjoyed an ample slice of chocolate cake and an hour’s conversation about local politics. Lots of activists and I’m one. Today is routine: already have the mat down and will finish the exercises as soon as I do this morning write. Then get myself together for senior center duty. It’s noisy on Monday’s. Lots of lonely people who come to the center for company.

Day 2

Lovely afternoon and dinner with the family at Hollie’s house in Hiouchi. Started with guacamole and chips and a beer, barbecue with steak and prawns, my favorite, her yummy potato salad, chopped salad, and cheese cake! All the Facebook messages, cards, and calls, I feel well celebrated and grateful for it. Today is wet again. I may get out between showers and I will walk to church. New day, new ideas. I want more connections and activities that are stimulating and productive.

Day 1

The first day of my new year: eighty two revolutions around earth. By now I should be spewing pearls of wisdom and insights into the meaning of life, but I guess my simple life and times will have to do. I like keeping track of my progress, activities, people, connections, and family. Today Hollie is preparing dinner for all of us and I’m happy for her care. It’s not raining so I may get a walk. That’s how I’m celebrating my birthday!

New Years’ Resolutions:

My priority is as always, taking care of my physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Physically, regular mat exercises, walking, taking supplements starting with acidophilus and yogurt for my immune strength, calcium and vitamin D for the bones, turmeric as an anti-inflammatory, garden work and play, dog walking, housework, and being grateful for the pure enjoyment of moving my body.

Mentally I need continual stimulation for my ever reaching curiosity. There is always something to learn and I am alert to possibilities. Since I don’t read as much as I once did, I find subjects of interest on the internet and television and mainly in conversation and observation while I’m with others. I write my blog, post on Facebook, belong to sites of interest, feel free to move to places of good energy and away from subjects that are not positive, productive, or edifying. I will volunteer at the senior center and the museum and keep a lookout for new opportunities, new people, new skills, new uses of my skills. I will be a participating member of the Democratic Central committee and continue to attend board of supervisors meetings and comment on the behavior of certain people. I support my tiny Episcopal congregation and regularly attend.

Emotionally I will stay close and connected to family and friends. I am blessed with the close ties with Hollie and Megan. They are a constant gift to my life. I have many friends and a small number of close friends. I like to send handwritten notes to friends afar and try to keep current with days of celebration for those close by people. I don’t have an active social life and I’m not sure I need one. I love the story group and hope it goes on for a long time. Rosie and I continue to pursue elder circles and to expand where we present the program. I’m up for that. I’m not a joiner of organizations and like to quit activity early so evenings are my time to fall into the comfort zone. I prefer busy mornings and that’s is when my energy is at its best.

This is subject to course corrections as time marches on and today is seems doable.