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Friday 6 July 2018

What If?

It's been another busy week.

The regular stuff -- work and meals and cat care and laundry and and and.

Plus a holiday which was used for getting some extra chores done.

Plus two funeral home visitations attended.

Plus taking the car to the garage (which will need done all over again next week, because the problem hasn't been fixed).

Plus a heatwave and all the extra manoeuvres made necessary on account of it -- window opening/window shutting, blinds up/blinds down, air exchanger on/air exchanger off, checking on my mom/checking on my adult children, because, let's face it, we always want to be sure we have given them every speck of wisdom we've acquired, on the off chance that it might save their lives someday or more to the point right now in the middle of the heatwave.

Plus chasing the cat who's chasing the bugs and moths and everything that's getting in the house via the air conditioners. Removing all living things to the outdoors, except the cats, who aren't allowed out. Wincing when I don't intervene fast enough and the cat crunches up the living things without even having the decency to kill them first.

It's exhausting looking after everybody.

Some days I dream about only having myself to take care of.

I would eat pizza for lunch and cookies for supper. I would read and browse the thrift stores and read and craft and read and walk and read and, well, mostly read. So, what I do already but more of it, plus the pizza and cookies.

But I know that after a day or two of that, I'd be lonely and wishing I had people to worry about.

Maybe not just to worry about, but to be with and talk with and laugh with and share with and eat with and make meals for and even do laundry for and give tips to and reminisce with and toss around ideas with . . . and also fret over. It's just part of the territory for me.

Anyway.

What would you do if you had nobody dependent on you -- no spouse, no children (young or adult), no pets, no wayward bugs -- and no work you had to do?




Not just for Sundays.


Have a good weekend, people!




37 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

Read more. Garden more. Sleep more. And repeat. Without guilt. Bliss.
And not cook food I don't eat. More bliss.

River said...

That Kitty's Sunday Plan is exactly what I did after I retired and before I got Angel.

Alphie Soup said...

Pretty much what you do every day without the cat herding & checking up on people to impart wisdom. And not eating pizza for lunch as I don't like it all that much, only eat it occasionally when I am out.
And yes, I do read - and sometimes comment on a blog I've just read.
Especially if the blogger has just asked an open question....
Alphie

dinthebeast said...

This has been a little bit of a busy week- Zsuzs is in town and she found out that her blood pressure is high, so I gave her back the blood pressure cuff she gave me 4 years ago when mine went kaput, along with a stern warning to do something about it BEFORE the bad thing happens... Which may be a bit hypocritical, because I sure didn't, but if I can't be a shining example, at least let me be a horrible warning.
And the dollar store we go to has been closed all week for some kind of cleaning and doesn't reopen until tomorrow, when Briana will be up in Windsor at Brenda's house.
What did I do when I had a full-time job? You know, for 32 years? Probably the same stuff but more of it, honestly.
Hope the heat wave breaks for you very soon.

-Doug in Oakland

Marie Smith said...

I would be bored, plain and simple. Boredom is not a word in my vocabulary in my regular life.

Have a great weekend Jenny, maybe with a bit of “me time” thrown in.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

I would not be happy. My role in life is to worry about the people I love and how grateful I am to have them to drive me crazy. I just learned recently that my four adult children have made a pact together to not tell me things that would upset me. How could they be so cruel? Without that, I will be a lost soul.

Joanne Noragon said...

I pick the Sunday plan.

Red said...

I am somewhat of a loner but after two or three days I would want some contact with people...not much though. I do most things by myself except the birding. Well, I do skate with people.

only slightly confused said...

Little cat has a lovely plan for Sunday.

Chicken said...

I would go to lunch and browse thrift shops with you.

Little Red Hen said...

I would travel. Not just travel but go and live in places for several months at a time.

Dee said...

Dear Jenny_o, I pretty much have the life you describe in your final question. I've never had children; I live alone; I can no longer drive; I'm 82 and retired; I have few friends in this new town in which I live. BUT I do live with three cats whose antics delight my life. And, like you, I read and read and read. But perhaps the greatest blessing is that I have a passion for writing. And so I'm working on a novel. I feel so fortunate to have this life and to be me! Peace.

jenny_o said...

The "without guilt" part is essential for bliss!

jenny_o said...

Some days all I want to do is sleep and eat. Like a cat :)

jenny_o said...

Ha ha! Thanks for commenting, Alphie Soup :)

jenny_o said...

Thanks, Doug. We had a big rain today and it has helped with the heat. The humidity, on the other hand . . . I'm going to have to buy some snorkels for us and the cats if it doesn't get better soon :)

Yes, yes, YES to Zsuzs taking care of her blood pressure issue ASAP. I live in dread of having a stroke like my dad had, even though my BP is fine. I think the most compelling examples are people who have lived through consequences themselves. Hopefully your friend will think so too.

jenny_o said...

It's good to find the lifestyle that makes us happy (and not bored), isn't it?

jenny_o said...

Hah! Somebody has to do it, right? :)

jenny_o said...

That doesn't sound like you, Joanne; you surprise me!

jenny_o said...

Maybe you had enough of people from teaching for so long! Kids are definitely a drain on people who like their alone time.

jenny_o said...

Sounds good, doesn't it?

jenny_o said...

I wish we could!

jenny_o said...

I hope you get to fulfill that wish at some point. Thanks for dropping by :)

jenny_o said...

People whose dreams and real life align are lucky indeed, Dee -- I'm glad you are enjoying life! Peace to you as well.

Diane Henders said...

Your kitteh has an excellent plan! If I didn't HAVE to do any of the things I do now... I'd do them anyway. I love my work and my play! But I'd probably eat a more varied diet - Hubby is a bit of a picky eater and I can't be bothered cooking two meals for one instead of one meal for two. ;-)

Martha said...

I'd travel and read and garden and do photography and browse quaint little shops and eat more salads and get a dog. Maybe about the dog. Because I'd hate having to walk it in Canadian winters. But the idea of it sounds nice, so I'll just go with that for now since there's no real commitment. I already do some of this stuff but maybe I'd become more intense about it.

jenny_o said...

It's probably a miracle of sorts when people end up liking the same things to eat, at least that's been my experience. In our house, I'm the cook but I'm also the picky eater, so it leads to guilt rather than frustration ("I'm depriving you of tasty stuff" :))

jenny_o said...

I love imagining, because - as you pointed out - there's no commitment - haha

kylie said...

Six years of minimal employment and adult kids who don't need much has taught me that I have no idea what to do with myself when I don't have to be responsible!

A pack of rescue dogs would be nice but in truth I can't really mange one dog on my own.....

My life so far said...

What you wrote is pretty much how I feel at times. And you're right, without the people and animals to take care of I would be lonely and out of sorts.

What would I do if I didn't have anyone dependent on me, I'd find someone to take care of. It's what I do.

John M said...

I like to explore life by myself usually but I would get sad and lonely after a while.

The Happy Whisk said...

Oh my gosh, Jenny! You pooped me out reading all that. But I tell you, you also wrote it funny.

To be honest, I'd be doing everything I'm doing now. Which is a good thing.

LOVE the cat at the end. Too cute!

jenny_o said...

But aren't you making all the meals and doing all the dishes at your house? That sounds like quite a lot of work for that number of adults!

I bet Harry is your favourite responsibility. I won't tell anyone though :)

jenny_o said...

And you can be sure there is always someone or something that DOES need taken care of. A person doesn't have to look very far to find somebody in need.

jenny_o said...

Yes, same here, John.

jenny_o said...

If you are already doing what you most enjoy, that is indeed an excellent thing!

That cat may be cute but she has a - er - spirited personality :)

kylie said...

I tell the kids I love them just as much as him but sometimes I wonder if it's actually true!