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!
Read more. Garden more. Sleep more. And repeat. Without guilt. Bliss.
ReplyDeleteAnd not cook food I don't eat. More bliss.
The "without guilt" part is essential for bliss!
DeleteThat Kitty's Sunday Plan is exactly what I did after I retired and before I got Angel.
ReplyDeleteSome days all I want to do is sleep and eat. Like a cat :)
DeletePretty 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.
ReplyDeleteAnd 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
Ha ha! Thanks for commenting, Alphie Soup :)
DeleteThis 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.
ReplyDeleteAnd 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
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 :)
DeleteYes, 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.
I would be bored, plain and simple. Boredom is not a word in my vocabulary in my regular life.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend Jenny, maybe with a bit of “me time” thrown in.
It's good to find the lifestyle that makes us happy (and not bored), isn't it?
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteHah! Somebody has to do it, right? :)
DeleteI pick the Sunday plan.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't sound like you, Joanne; you surprise me!
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you had enough of people from teaching for so long! Kids are definitely a drain on people who like their alone time.
DeleteLittle cat has a lovely plan for Sunday.
ReplyDeleteSounds good, doesn't it?
DeleteI would go to lunch and browse thrift shops with you.
ReplyDeleteI wish we could!
DeleteI would travel. Not just travel but go and live in places for several months at a time.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to fulfill that wish at some point. Thanks for dropping by :)
DeleteDear 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.
ReplyDeletePeople whose dreams and real life align are lucky indeed, Dee -- I'm glad you are enjoying life! Peace to you as well.
DeleteYour 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. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt'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" :))
DeleteI'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.
ReplyDeleteI love imagining, because - as you pointed out - there's no commitment - haha
DeleteSix 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!
ReplyDeleteA pack of rescue dogs would be nice but in truth I can't really mange one dog on my own.....
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!
DeleteI bet Harry is your favourite responsibility. I won't tell anyone though :)
I tell the kids I love them just as much as him but sometimes I wonder if it's actually true!
DeleteWhat 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.
ReplyDeleteWhat 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.
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.
DeleteI like to explore life by myself usually but I would get sad and lonely after a while.
ReplyDeleteYes, same here, John.
DeleteOh my gosh, Jenny! You pooped me out reading all that. But I tell you, you also wrote it funny.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I'd be doing everything I'm doing now. Which is a good thing.
LOVE the cat at the end. Too cute!
If you are already doing what you most enjoy, that is indeed an excellent thing!
DeleteThat cat may be cute but she has a - er - spirited personality :)