What a crazy couple of days. We got to Columbus by 5:00PM on Monday. I wrote my post and we ordered carry out. I just had a salad and soup but it didn’t sit well. Butterflies and GERD…great combo. Also, I forget when we stay in a hotel room, Mr. FixIt watches his TV. I ended up putting in my earplugs and reading my Bible devotional. When I’m anxious, I have made it a habit to call on Jesus first before I chase down a rabbit hole. Sometimes I read the Bible. Sometimes I listen to praise music. Last night, I had a conversation with Him. I asked Him to go for a walk with me. It was so relaxing and peaceful. In my mind’s eye, we walked through the woods with the beautiful colors. I focused on the sounds and sights and smells and before I knew it, I was settled right down and snoozing.
I saw a picture of my friend Jack, sitting in the driveway surrounded by Trick or Treaters. He was in his element. Jack was my daughters’ psychology teacher in high school. He was our neighbor. He is friend to just about everyone he meets. He is a great storyteller. He’s colorful and deep and has an ever present smile. When I commented on the photo, I posted “King Jack, holding court!” He wrote back, “I am the king of soft edges and play, I think.”
Between the rainstorms of the last week, I’ve finished mowing here on our little slice of heaven. Here’s hoping it’s the last time till next year. Don’t get me wrong…you KNOW how much I love my riding mower, but I tell ya…by this time of year, I’m ready for a break. My bonus son called today and asked his dad to go to the driving range to hit some golf balls, so I was at home alone for a few hours.
All Souls Day, All Saints Day, Samhain, souling, guising, Guy Fawkes Day, Dia de los Muertos…Day of the Dead…pretty much all the same celebrations are celebrated in many places around the world. The tradition of Trick or Treating got it’s start via the original celebrations where someone dressed as a spirit danced around a bonfire and people threw gifts and coins to appease the spirit and get it to go back to where it belongs. Some cultures believe the day is when souls are allowed to come back to the world and visit their family members again.
I went to town yesterday morning to take the truck in for repairs. I was really early, so I stopped at my favorite coffee shop and enjoyed a latte and a pastry and read my new Brenda Gantt cookbook. As I sat there, thinking about the upcoming garage visit, I became uncomfortable. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly why. This happens sometimes and I have to cogitate on it for a while before it comes to me.
Awwwww, you guys! You went and made me cry! Did you read the comments the last couple of days? God is so good! He knew I needed a boost and there y’all were! I love writing these “letters from home” to you all. That’s what they feel like…newsy little missives from my heart to yours…letting you know what’s going on in this country girl’s life I get to live. Knowing I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing…vanquishing the darkness back where it belongs, is a privilege I don’t take lightly. Sharing that with such supportive readers is more than any writer could ask for. Thank you…every single one of you!
Way back in 2017, one of my readers started sending me comments to WALK STRONG. I loved that. Whenever things would get rough along the way, she’d send me WALK STRONG. It always reminded me to hold my head up, straighten my crown, and remind myself Whose daughter I am. And, every time the enemy starts to plant ideas in my head that maybe I need to stop this whole blog thing and do something else…you all lift me up, dust off my crown, and gently place it back on my head.
I’m torn. I’ve been reading the disturbing news about the Facebook Papers and how the company put profit over social responsibility. I mean…it’s not like I’m surprised or anything. We had to know they weren’t pulling the plug on the divisiveness train the last couple of years. And, just about every business is going to push for more profits. It’s the nature of capitalism. But…I’m an advocate of truth and peace and togetherness and kindness. I’ve always tried to be an island of peace in a sea of madness. I’m not always successful…but I do try.
Even though I have a list as long as my arm of things I want to get done before the snow flies, I didn’t get much accomplished yesterday. Since we had our Covid boosters on Sunday, I kind of expected yesterday to be a bit of a slack off our usual schedule. I wasn’t wrong. I don’t feel BAD. No headache, no fever, no body aches any worse than my baseline. Just didn’t have a lot of juice is the only way I can describe it. My arm is sore, but not as sore as the last two shots. So, overall…I’m good.
Mr. FixIt and I went to town yesterday afternoon and had our Moderna booster shot. I didn’t realize till later that the booster for Moderna is a half shot. Some are questioning that…why only half? Will that keep me covered? Maybe I should get one of the others that’s a full dose? I considered all of these responses last night and came to a conclusion. I trusted science enough to tell me there is a covid vaccine and it is safe, that you still may get covid but it’s very likely not going to kill you, and the protection the vaccine affords you outweighs the small risk of a negative reaction.
