Saturday, April 18, 2020

Waiting For The Phone To Ring






Jeanne made this mask for me. It's professionally done and even has a filter in it. Lovely colors that fit me, with a little bit of a forest motif. It will be the one I wear when I go "out." I'm grateful.

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Home alone ~ Piece of cake thought I when the mandate was announced. After all, I'm home alone most of the time as it is.

I like to be by myself, but what a difference it makes when you can't mix it up with being among your friends. 


Or other human beings -- people you don't know.

People you know a little, say hello to, chat with for a while.

People in the grocery store. People at the bank. Your doctor, dentist, vet, and the staff at all these places. People that are a part of your life. 

We are all a part of each other. I don't know how to phrase this, so I will quote John Donne, When the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.

I more fully understand this now.

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I have never been a fan of shopping. Browsing bookstores, when there was such a thing, I enjoyed. As well as the occasional antique or thrift store. Now, I miss shopping for groceries most of all.

I have some secrets when it comes to shopping. If someone were to go shopping for me, I couldn't ask them to go to my special store, the only place to find my special chocolates. My one weakness, my diabetes team knows, they are OK with it, since I'm doing well.

I can order online and pick up at Walmart, but they only have about half of what I need in groceries. 

How do I find the special baby carrots the dogs like? 

Why aren't there any Alpo treats online? The only inexpensive treats Samson can tolerate. Tractor Supply has them, but I'm not supposed to go there.

I miss my Icelandic yogurts. Jeanne told me Albertsons, where these wonderful yogurts can be found, has an app you can place your order on and then pick up at the store by appointment. I may try it later.

For now, I have ordered several things from Amazon. They are coming separately, mixed together. Yesterday my first package arrived. I didn't order through their pantry, so it will be just like Christmas when all the rest arrives. I can't remember most of what I ordered now.

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Then I found myself waiting for the phone to ring. Well, mine doesn't ring, of course, it plays a pretty melody. 

I caught myself feeling like the teenager I once was, waiting for a call from someone I had a crush on. Anxiously waiting since there were no answering machines back then, no record of who had called, nothing. If you didn't get to the phone in time, you were out of luck. 

Then you'd run into the guy somewhere and he'd say, "I called you, but no one answered. I called twice."

After catching myself waiting for the phone to ring, for  a friend to call, I smiled. 

Phones work both ways, after all.

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I didn't plan to write this post. But I know one thing, when I feel a bit down, this old Swedish proverb proves to be true for me:

Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.



Thanks for listening, have a wonderful rest of the day. 









17 comments:

  1. I never was a fan of grocery shopping but I don't mind it right now. It's a way to get out of the house.

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  2. I enjoyed your post - reading about what you miss, what your secret love is (chocolate) and how life is for you right now. That mask looks like it will do the job.

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  3. Yay for the nice mask. I'm not a fan of shopping either. I enjoy solitude but I like to be able to go where I want without restriction, when I want to go. I haven't driven my car for over a month now. I adapt well to just about any situation maybe it's because I have no expectations. I've enjoyed working in the fresh air
    cleaning out flower gardens. What a treat. I look forward to sit on my old swing on the deck when the days gets warmer.

    Take care, stay well and safe.
    Hugs, Julia

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  4. I know I can be by myself quite happily for a long time, but when it is compulsory, a bit different. Grocery shopping, I didn't like it much, but now wish I could go there. Thank goodness for emails, blog friends, phone calls, and a cat or dog or two for company. I am thinking our birthdays will not be ones for celebrating with a party, even that far ahead. Never mind, to be well, have families safe, is the best present of all.XXXX

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  5. I am so sorry. It is true that we cannot buy all of the things we are used to, and have to substitute. Your mask is lovely, and looks heavy duty. I hope you get lots of phone calls! When I first came here, I was afraid that you had gotten sick, I am so glad you are still well!!

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  6. It's all those little things that we miss.
    I am so thankful that I can still go for my morning walks.

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  7. It looks good. Well, good for a mask! 😊

    You can come here and talk to us. That's something. Some states are starting to open back up. There's hope!

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  8. I think the compulsory side makes it harder. A local friend who describes herself as a hermit, called yesterday. I hate and avoid the phone, beg for texting or messaging or email, anything else. But I picked up because I thought she must really need to talk. Which she did. I ended up plugging my phone in to charge because I thought it might give out before she was done. I could understand only the occasional word, terrible reception, but she seemed fine with it. So I was glad about that.

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  9. I totally understand. Well, maybe except the phone bit. I don't care to talk on the phone. I'm not much of a conversationalist. But, sitting at home and sewing, and puttering around are getting old. I don't know where I want to go. Im not a shopper, but it is difficult to not see and touch things I want to buy. I'm glad you are staying safe!

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  10. I relate to your post, and missing hanging out with friends, family and even grocery shopping for all those special things, which I usually do at several different stores. I wonder if Tractor Supply is open and will bring your order out and put it in your car trunk? I did that today with my favorite plant store, it is a no contact shopping because you order and pay ahead and stay in your car. Samson wants you to call them for his treats.

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  11. Hi Inger - yes I can 'hear' you ... it's a strange old world at the moment - where it'll lead us - who knows. I do hope you can get all your things ... and I agree with Terra - give Tractor Supply a go for Samson's treats. I see the odd person in the street when I'm out on my walk, or getting my shopping ... and have a brief chat - someone I know, or an unknown ... as this week - when my arms were tired, so I stopped for a brief respite before I carried the shopping home. It ended up being a South African ... he'd travelled around including Taiwan, Seattle, Vancouver ... not a long chat - but enough to get some interaction going. I think he was slightly non-plussed!!! But an interesting brief respite to my arms recovering. Good luck with all things ... love that mask and wonderful to have one that's of quality. Take care ... Hilary

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  12. It’s been interesting having to hide at home. I am grateful for Ed even when we are irritating each other.

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  13. you have just perfectly 100 percent described how I feel. I am getting the things I always got from Walmart so far. but other than that I feel the same way. I don't wait for the phone, I have set up texting with 5 TOPS members and my SIL and the 6 of them have been my daily contact. yesterday the phone quit sending text or receiving. I spent hours doing stuff to the phone and have now made it not work at all. I ordered a new phone, it said 1 to 3 days delivery. it hit the charge account, and now it is 3 days and it has not shipped. things get worse when things are already bad. I love the quote so I am sharing my sorrow tht I can't text and don't know when I will be able to... our world is topsy turvy. soooooo glad you shared this today.. perfect and I love your mask.

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  14. I miss talking to all the employees at WM I was spending an hour and 1/2 because of talking. now I zoom in and out on senior hour with not talking.

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  15. amazon just brought a box with 2 of the 5 items I ordered. topsy turvy..

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  16. wearing that beautiful mask I would think you would be safe in going to the tractor store.
    but I shouldn't say. I am like a bull in a china closet I guess.
    I have never liked to shop either. and have eye problems now enough that a book store which was always a favorite … doesn't appeal now. but we can't go into them anyway!
    I love being home. and my kindle and this computer are lifelines.
    still... if I wanted that chocolate or that yogurt and Samson's and Faith's carrots...
    and my car worked... I think I would put on my mask and go for it! just DON'T take off that mask! (and what do they always say at the end of unsolicited advice?)
    "the above is not to be taken as medical advice. see your individual health care provider." LOL!!! XOXO

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  17. Like your mask. I am waiting for some top designer to come out with fashion masks. I think there is a market.
    Agree with you on shopping. I do miss the option to go as much as the going. So far my internet purchases have been so slow that like you I sometimes forget what it was I ordered. Makes opening the packages a bit like Christmas.
    Stay safe.

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Thanks for leaving a comment.. ~~ Inger

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