June 6, 2013

A year ago Jane and I took off on our adventure--last night I saw a PBS program on Victoria Falls and it brought back so many memories of the Zambezi and the animals. Lovely.

I begin the summer rather at loose ends. No big trips planned, No great projects--well I guess I DO have "projects"--Pete and my mom. Both quite needy and I'm their "go-to" person.

The lake this morning is shrouded in mist. Two pelicans float on a nearly glass-like Edgewater Bay. Just as our last summer was too dry, this spring is sharing too much rain, too much water, and the outcry from the farmers and the heaviness of the natural disasters is getting us all down. The weather has become the top news story of late--tornadoes, floods, landslides, fires...so much carnage that if one isn't careful, the entire world's problems (brought to us instantly by modern technology) can overwhelm us.

My goal is to turn inward a bit and keep myself more fit--physically and mentally. My "Fit Bit" (or as Pete calls it, my "fit bitch,") allows me to see how many steps I'm taking each day--strive for the 10,000 or about 5 miles. On the rainy days, however--only 5 non-precipitation days in May--it's not easy to enjoy an outdoor walk. I have to force myself outside in the mornings instead of enjoying a cup of coffee. The initial morning hours are my more creative ones, the moments I can write or read or study. But they're also the hours I best get some exercise, so I'll have to figure something out... I seem to be more concerned about my aging, now that I'm 61, and that's probably quite natural. But I am amazed at an eyelash product that somehow is allowing my lashes (sparse as they are) to grow longer than ever before. Very noticeable to me, and somehow that delights me. Never had a product ever show results like this and I'm having a bit of fun with it. Also concerned about really keeping my skin in shape and I'm seeing Dr. Davis in Mpls. to assure I have the right approach and products.

So the summer (I'm now in Day 2 of summer vacation) looms before me. The fact I have no College English next year still hasn't quite sunk in, yet I know I won't have the hours and hours of papers to correct next year. So looking forward to what life was like before my 13 years of 70 hour work weeks. Only two preps next year will be like semi-retirement!