Dept. of Sunshine
Sep. 21st, 2025 07:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kaffy_rDespair Sucks. Perhaps a Palate Cleanser's in Order
Even though the world is on fire and every morning brings pit-of-the-stomach dread about what the morning headlines will tell, it isn't giving up the fight to say "today I'm going to tell despair to suck it."
I realized this morning that my last couple of posts have been full of rage and frustration. Those are true emotions, but they're also corrosive in the long run - and who the hell knows how much time "the long run" comprises. So here are a couple of things I can honestly say made me smile, or things that I did that I think were fun, or good for someone.
I can't recall if I've mentioned my friend Sandy's efforts to get her and her husband, Dr. Bob, back into the house they had to leave last December because of fire. Their situation has been fraught on so many levels, and Bob and I haven't been able to help much, other than to have them over for supper and an evening away from their long-term BnB just to have time away from the whole thing. But now that they're starting the process of getting back home, we've been able to help.
They have had 1100 badly packed and mislabeled boxes of goods delivered back to their house (that's part of why their situation has been so fraught, even now) and they were overwhelmed with the prospect of unboxing everything and putting things back to rights. Bob and I have spent a few hours every day or so helping them do that; from helping them sort things into "keep," "give away," and "pitch" bags, to simple things like breaking down boxes. Boxes and boxes and boxes - and breaking down those boxes and packing garbage bag after garbage bag with the paper used to pack the boxes - becomes really important in this situation. Sometimes all Sandy needed was someone to listen as we took a coffee break, so that she wasn't simply screaming into the void.
As of today, when I walked in to help Dr. Bob and their friend Steve with more unboxing, the place is starting to look a fair bit more than simply piles of boxes. I think even Dr. Bob, who is inclined to be a glass half empty type, was feeling a little bit of hope.
They have a long way to go before the place is completely back to rights, but at least they know we won't abandon them. Their longtime friend and retired housekeeper is coming up from Birmingham to do some of the heavy emotional and unpacking lifting that's still necessary. I think they'll finally be able to call their home an actual home before the end of the year.
Earlier this week, we had the unexpected pleasure of a visit fromljgeoff , who was on her way from one travel nursing assignment to another. It's been a few years since Lisa last visited us; we shared some pizza, chocolate chip cookies, and conversation, and then she was on her way. She has more energy in her little finger than I have in my entire body. She also is braver than I think I'll ever be. It was a joy to be in the same room with her again.
And finally, we've decided to give away the Keurig coffee/tea/whatever maker that a friend gave us. We are drinking enough coffee these days that we haven't used the Keurig in months. Mind you, given the increasing price of coffee, perhaps keeping the Keurig and getting rid of the regular coffee maker might be the smarter choice. Sigh.
Even though the world is on fire and every morning brings pit-of-the-stomach dread about what the morning headlines will tell, it isn't giving up the fight to say "today I'm going to tell despair to suck it."
I realized this morning that my last couple of posts have been full of rage and frustration. Those are true emotions, but they're also corrosive in the long run - and who the hell knows how much time "the long run" comprises. So here are a couple of things I can honestly say made me smile, or things that I did that I think were fun, or good for someone.
I can't recall if I've mentioned my friend Sandy's efforts to get her and her husband, Dr. Bob, back into the house they had to leave last December because of fire. Their situation has been fraught on so many levels, and Bob and I haven't been able to help much, other than to have them over for supper and an evening away from their long-term BnB just to have time away from the whole thing. But now that they're starting the process of getting back home, we've been able to help.
They have had 1100 badly packed and mislabeled boxes of goods delivered back to their house (that's part of why their situation has been so fraught, even now) and they were overwhelmed with the prospect of unboxing everything and putting things back to rights. Bob and I have spent a few hours every day or so helping them do that; from helping them sort things into "keep," "give away," and "pitch" bags, to simple things like breaking down boxes. Boxes and boxes and boxes - and breaking down those boxes and packing garbage bag after garbage bag with the paper used to pack the boxes - becomes really important in this situation. Sometimes all Sandy needed was someone to listen as we took a coffee break, so that she wasn't simply screaming into the void.
As of today, when I walked in to help Dr. Bob and their friend Steve with more unboxing, the place is starting to look a fair bit more than simply piles of boxes. I think even Dr. Bob, who is inclined to be a glass half empty type, was feeling a little bit of hope.
They have a long way to go before the place is completely back to rights, but at least they know we won't abandon them. Their longtime friend and retired housekeeper is coming up from Birmingham to do some of the heavy emotional and unpacking lifting that's still necessary. I think they'll finally be able to call their home an actual home before the end of the year.
Earlier this week, we had the unexpected pleasure of a visit from
ljgeoff , who was on her way from one travel nursing assignment to another. It's been a few years since Lisa last visited us; we shared some pizza, chocolate chip cookies, and conversation, and then she was on her way. She has more energy in her little finger than I have in my entire body. She also is braver than I think I'll ever be. It was a joy to be in the same room with her again. And finally, we've decided to give away the Keurig coffee/tea/whatever maker that a friend gave us. We are drinking enough coffee these days that we haven't used the Keurig in months. Mind you, given the increasing price of coffee, perhaps keeping the Keurig and getting rid of the regular coffee maker might be the smarter choice. Sigh.
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