Saturday November 28 2015  A DO NOTHING DAY

 

Today was one of those rare days when both Dave and I decided it was a day to choose to do nothing.  For me “to do nothing” is great!  AT LEAST FOR A HALF HOUR.  So I chose to do nothing and watched a half hour T.V. program.  But that was only after I decided to put something away, and when I looked in my cupboard I was utterly disgusted.  So I decided to tackle a few shelves, and get them organized and that was after I first cleaned a drawer out which had become too cluttered with pens and pencils and clothes pins (which we use to keep bags closed).  Of course when I finished, not everything would fit back in the cupboards.  Some was food I wanted to keep, some was food to give away, and some was food to throw away.  I so dislike allowing food to expire before being used.  So, after all was done I rested on the couch and watched my half hour program and a bit of news. 

Of course the rest gave me impetus to then get up raring to go!  NOT!  But I did get up anyway because I had made a commitment to myself to go to the gym.  I always feel so much more energized after a good sweaty workout.  While I was gone Dave actually gave up some of his precious, do nothing day, to peel and chop vegetables for me.  You see, I had more broth from yesterday’s turkey, no place to put it in the freezer, and I needed to use it up.  So of course I made more soup.  You see, the soup can go back into the containers that the broth was in and then we can eat it up, have company over, or give it away.  It is just the making of it that I enjoy doing.  And believe it or not, that is what I wanted to do on my “to do nothing” day.  It always makes it so much more fun when there is nothing pressing in on my time and that was the wondrous part of the day.  I love my grandkids, but boy it sure makes me realize what freedom I have after they have been around for a couple of days.  I loved it when I was parent and seemed to get everything done that needed doing.  Now, it takes a little longer to do just the necessary and kids add a bit more “necessary” to do.  Needless to say, Dave and I were quite happy to have a do nothing day.  Can’t wait until we have them over again soon.  Maybe they will be able to come over during the Christmas break (which is now referred to by the schools as the winter break).  I love having them over midweek because it just sort of emphasizes and reminds us “HEY, WE ARE RETIRED”!  I like that phrase!

So, my do nothing day turned out very well.  I did nothing I HAD TO DO and only that which I chose to do.  Dinner is now over, the beans just finished cooking that I will be adding to the soup, the soup is still on the stove cooling off and the dishes are almost finished washing in the dishwasher.  The laundry is working diligently to do what we could not do while the boys were here, and it is not even 8:00 p.m. as of yet.  A pretty good do nothing day I would say!  Oh, by the way, Dave chose to start all the yearend tax organizing so that we will be ready to have our taxes done after all the necessary documents arrive in the mail.  He likes to have taxes done as early as possible.  This will be a big year of organizing and calculating due to retiring and finally closing the business down. 

Oh yes, we also have our tree decorated already too.  We just haven’t decided exactly where we want to put it this year.  It is perfect for us.  It is fifteen INCHES high and sits on a table.  It has an electric cord that lights up all the little lights on it.  That will be the sum of our holiday décor.  Please don’t think me a scrooge.  There was a time when we went all out.  At one place we lived we actually had fresh cut trees that were fifteen FEET high.  We anchored them to the upstairs balcony that looked down over the living room.  Those were fun, magical times when our children were young (and so were we).  But now, well, we are just content without all the extra things to do.  Perhaps I will decorate one more time some year, but this isn’t the year.  Too much happening this year and we will just enjoy our son’s big tree that his family put up yesterday and decorated today.  We’ll get to enjoy theirs when we go visit them.  I love it when life just sort of simplifies itself!

 

ONCE UPON A TIME

By Kathleen Martens

November 28, 2015

 

Once upon a time

In a long ago land.

There was a mother and father,

A woman and a man.

 

There was a boy and a girl

Three years apart,

A brother and a sister

Both very smart.

 

They loved all the hoopla

Of decorating a tree,

Waiting in anticipation

For Santa to see.

 

They would set out the cookies

Make sure the chimney was clear

Knowing Santa Clause

Soon would be near.

 

As for the mother and father

It was their delight

To prepare all that was needed

For their Christmas Eve night.

 

The children now grown

And moved away.

And the tree unimportant

In a sad little way.

 

Where there was once noise

And excitement galore,

It is now too quiet,

For the kids are no more.

 

And the mother and father

Sit quietly at home,

Remembering the joy

They once did own.

 

Oh, but alas!

There is more to this story,

For they now have two grandsons

And life is not boring.

 

For now all the work

Belongs to another,

But they still get to enjoy it

This father and mother.

 

They pack up their gifts

And drive across town,

And never is there time

To wear a frown.

 

What lights up their day

Are these two little boys,

Who are the treasures of their hearts,

And bring them such joy!

 

Oh it is fun

To be getting so old.

To some it may be sad,

But to us it is gold!

 

We are looking forward to the Christmas season and we hope you are too.  Remember, I have a goal for the month of December.  Actually, two goals.  The first, is to watch a Christmas movie every day of the month, and the second, is to eat entirely from that which is in the freezer!  Maybe I won’t cook for one month.  I may have some withdrawal pains but I think I would survive.  Just don’t hold me to it. 

You know what the bad part is about the fact that my husband helps me proofread my blogs, it is that he always reads what I write, AND HE MIGHT HOLD ME TO IT!  On the other hand, probably not.  He likes his fresh salads now too.  But he still won’t eat Brussels sprouts.

Good night and God bless you.