A New Life: Changes and Great Expectations! 2023 – 01

2023! A New Year!

Peace, Love and Happiness to you in the new year! Let your dreams take flight!

I want to start my first post in the new year after a long sabbatical with some thought provoking statements from well known people that touched me at this time. Positive, active energy that I need after months of – it seems – standing still.

“Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.” —Germany Kent

“Life’s not (only) about expecting, hoping and wishing, it’s about doing, being and becoming.” —Mike Dooley

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” —Nelson Mandela

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” —William Shakespeare

“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” —David Bowie

“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” —Shauna Niequist

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” —Socrates

Changes

Who could have thought that, after more than five happy years in a retirement community in Cary, we would be even happier in our own home in Apex? Our son, a top realtor, found us a house in a small community with a clubhouse and an outdoor pool; it has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an office, a fireplace, hardwood floors, a fenced-in patio with a nice border and a huge garage: a dream house! The best thing is that we are only two miles from our son’s house, so we enjoyed family visits during the holidays and my birthday.

Mike’s infections are clearing up, and he has even walked outside in the brilliant sunshine of a 64 degree New Year’s day with Lani and me. Caregivers are helping me during the week, and as far as shopping is concerned, I am delighting in the services of Instacart and DoorDash as long as I have not become familiar with our new environment. Thank goodness for their help, because I still need time to organize closets, for opening boxes and trying to find places to put things or hang things.

Our house is light and airy, with more windows in every room than before in the cottage, but that means there is less wall space than before to hang our beloved art and artifacts. So we are trying to find a good home for things and are delighted that it works! In the giant closet in the laundry room we have designated three shelves for “give-away things”, and our cleaning lady and caregivers go “shopping” to their heart’s content each time they come and see new things on those shelves.

Our first haircuts – Mike’s, mine and Lani’s, were a disaster. Both Mike and I got a recommendation from someone in Cary, and both stylists butchered us. Because all local groomers were busy, I ended up with an appointment for Lani at PetSmart. That’s a long story…it ended after two and a half hours, when she was bathed, dried and groomed except for her face and tail. She stood on the table and looked miserable. They said it would take another two hours because she needed breaks because she was too nervous. Then the manager said, “Ma’m, we can’t finish this dog. Please take her home and come back another time. We will not charge you.” Lani took a beeline to the exit, me in tow, and I was happy she at least had a bath and part groom, and free of charge. I will do her ears and cut some hair away from her eyes. In February, one of our neighbors will introduce me to her groomer and we’ll make an appointment that will only last two hours instead of four.

Be kind to one another, love everybody.

Life is beautiful, but getting shorter by the day!

Until next time,

Ronny