Topics for talk February

[pattrose]

Things I Miss

There are a lot of things I miss. I’m going to make a list.

1. My Grandparents, and my parents
2. When my children were young
3. My old job. I worked with developmentally disabled adults. They were all angels.
4. My younger days
5. All my dogs through the years
6. My old house that had a pool. I really miss the pool.
7. Driving
8. My healthy days before I got sicker
9. Our country before it was insane
10. Old friends that I no longer see

That’s a pretty good list. How about anyone else?

Comments

[wendelah1]

I miss my husband. Missing him dwarves missing anyone and everything else. I miss the things we used to do together--travel, concerts, walks in the park. Getting to share things and discuss them with him. I miss his hugs. I miss sex.

It's been three and a half years since he died. There is still a huge Kyle-shaped hole in my life. Don't ever see that changing.

My parents were both in their nineties when they died, my mother three days before Kyle, my father a year earlier. My grandparents have been gone for decades. I do feel nostalgic for family holiday gatherings that died out when my mother was no longer able to host. But I had no interest in taking over that burden, and now I couldn't even if I wanted to. Plus, I don't want to share indoor air with people who think COVID is the flu, or worse yet, just a bad cold. Everyone feels sorry for the widow so I get invitations that I turn down. "I don't drive at night," which is true. And sitting in a car for longer than about half an hour throws my back out, another excuse that gets me out of events when people offer to drive me.

Taking care of the cat I still have must keep me from missing the cats I've lost. She's a handful and a half.

Like you, I miss having a government for which I didn't feel daily rage and embarrassment.

I miss being younger and healthier.

I don't miss my job. It was hard and getting harder. I am grateful that we retired early and had time together, before Kyle got so sick.

I do miss being able to travel to see friends who live far away. I do my best to keep in touch but...

Maybe postcards. I've been painting some artist postcards. Instead of hoarding them, maybe I'll mail 'em out. See what happens.

[pattrose]

I’m so sorry about your dear husband. Life can be so cruel. I liked your list. It was a very good one. I really liked your idea of handmade post cards. I bet your friends would love them.

[wendelah1]

Thank you.

The postcards are fun to paint. But I have a class assignment I should be working on, and limited energy. Oh well. The postcards I can work on anywhere.

[kitarella_imagines]

Oh I did the same job as no. 3. Although I worked with kids aged 11-18. I really LOVED that job but life intervened and I only did it for 10 years.

[pattrose]

I only lasted 12 years. My health went downhill. They all brought me such joy.

[kitarella_imagines]

Yes that sort of work is stressful, and I had a baby after 10 years in that job, I was far too ill to go back permanently.

But you and I made a big difference to those we worked with so we should be proud! ⭐

[pattrose]

I am proud of both of us.

[kitarella_imagines]

🌻🌷🌼