Notes From The Canyon

The above picture didn't work as header photo, so I'm posting it and it's sister here, just to have them on record. I really like how they turned out ~ mountains wearing hats. They were taken with my phone, so maybe that's why they didn't work in the header.

I'm feeling much better than I did at the beginning of the year. As I said, I was dreading certain dates, none more so than January 22nd, which last year was the last good day Errol and I had together. 

But I'm learning that fear has no place in our lives, not really. First thing that happened on January 22nd was a lovely email from my childhood friend in Sweden, Barbro. She's the shorter one in the picture above. We have been friends since 1946, 70 years now. Pretty amazing and I was so happy to hear from her.

Then my relatively new friend, Mary, invited me to come over and crochet with her as the crochet group was cancelled. This is one of Mary's dogs, Sparkle, and Mary's legs in the snow at Christmas.

This again is from Christmas and the stunning view from Mary's deck. Mary is a widow also, and we were able to share some serious things, as well as having a fun and creative afternoon.

My friend Carol sent this lovely yarn for Christmas, along with other things to encourage me in my crocheting adventures. It wasn't enough for a scarf, so Mary suggested a cowl. I finished it later and it's very warm and looks good too. All this to say that my worries about a specific date did just that, worried me. The day itself was just another day and turned out to be a lovely one. 

As most of you know, last April was for me the cruelest month, since Errol passed away in April 2015. So I thought I would really challenge myself this year and signed up for the A to Z Challenge, where you post every weekday throughout the month, a letter for each day, A to Z.  I think I can do it. I am calling it, "Me, Alone," borrowing the title from Stewart O'Nan's wonderful book about the life of another widow, "Emily, Alone." I would like to write about how I am finding my way in this new life of mine. And it will not be a sad story, I think it will be hopeful and happy at the end. 

Other than that, I have been waiting all day for UPS to come and deliver my new insulin pump. It's now 7:30 in the evening. I just sent off an email to UPS tracking service, asking them to let me know what's going on. I need to drive down my hill and lock my gate and go to bed, I said. Not that that will make them come any sooner........