I am sitting at the fishing cabin, which my husband calls “The Shack”. I’ve moved a desk down here and placed it in front of a window that overlooks the pond. It is quiet and peaceful here. I’ve been fixing it up with necessary items, so I can stay down here or at least spend the day. There’s currently a thunderstorm passing through with heavy rain drenching everything. The sound of the rain on the tin roof is calming to me. This summer has reminded me of a much more humid climate where the storms come through every afternoon. We have had the hottest July ever recorded here in Virginia!

Of course, this past week did not go as I wanted. I knew that would be the case when I jokingly wrote last week about life not getting in the way of my plans. My idea for the week was to rest and grieve. Extended family members thought I should get busy and take care of things that affected them. They bugged me enough that I decided to get my administrative duties over with, so that I could have my peace and my space. Fortunately, it does not involve a lengthy process. I also knocked out my last trip for a while to my brother’s place to take care of some things for him. In other words, I did what I had to do for both John and David – I shredded or ignored what was redundant, and I passed off other things to those who offered to help.

This morning, I made a calendar for the whole month of September that contains increments of time each day for rest, reflection, and taking care of myself. These things include regular, designated blocks of time solely for writing; catching up/keeping up with my online friends, making new friends, and investing more time in both. I also signed up for two online community college classes: a lifetime fitness class and a dietetics class. I did this solely for me because staying healthy is a whole new challenge with Covid’s “safer at home” requirement and isolation. I will be accountable for such things as devising and implementing a fitness plan, and evaluating my diet and metabolism. It’s important to me because Mom had her first stroke when she was 62 – an age I am fast closing in on. I know she would encourage me to do what I’m doing. I’ve learned a lot over the years, but putting it all together and having the initiative to act on the knowledge is a big challenge for anyone right now. Nutrition and science have also changed over the years.

I am enjoying my dogs in a way I have never been able to in the past. We are together every day , and I find we are becoming best buddies. Every morning, they ecstatically greet me, and they follow me everywhere. They are a great comfort. My one German Shepherd, Phebe, is so fluffy that when I hug her, it reminds me of hugging a huge, stuffed animal, but of course hugging her is much better. Since my children are all grown now, my dogs are like my children, and I do dote on them. Two of my adult daughters are also living here with me due to Covid’s effect on their life circumstances. They are ages 30 and 32. I am extremely grateful for their company. They are thoughtful, helpful, and we all respect each other’s space, which is crucial during this pandemic. Although there are difficult challenges right now, there is a lot to be grateful for as well.