Moving along...

I went jogging (slowly: about 13 min. per mile) in the drizzle this morning. For five miles only two other people passed me. They were both wearing red shells and white bike helmets so I assumed they were together. I zoned out thinking only about taking the next few strides without irritating my knee. I felt great when I got back: wet but warmed all over and I made myself an espresso with a small head of buttered broccoli and a little pasta for lunch. What else can matter? Tomorrow we leave for New York and I'll be able to be with my grandchildren. They're so much fun the way they imitate us. And I'll be able to watch my son sit at his computer screen as the room grows darker and I rock gently in the nursing chair...

Recovering from loss(es)

Almost 18 years ago, when my son left for Harverd, there remained some items stashed in the corners of his closet and under his bed. The item under his bed was a fearsome-looking assault knife with a serrated edge. It took me six years, after he had graduated, to finally get rid of it. The items in the closet were bags of pennies that he had collected during his high school years from local banks. He would go through them looking for important dates hoping to come upon a lucky find. The problem was that the bags weighed so much that we (my wife and I) could hardly lift them. So they stayed in the closet - until this past summer when our daughter's grandchildren put nine dollars worth in 'penny sleeves' and we took them to the bank. Now, while licking my wounds from the recent financial tumult, we are sleeving more. We just did $12 worth in the last couple of days. The task is dulll and repetitive but it makes you feel as though you are making a little money - no fees or strings attached. And it's just right for this time in the economy. It's helping us get over losing tens of thousands of dollars. As they say, every little bit...and we're glad to get the stuff out of the house.

Recovering from loss(es)