Keepin it simple

Jeri sent me a family email.  She and I keep missing each other on ‘chat’ and she commented that I haven’t been keeping up very well with my blogs either.

I’m not exactly sure why that is.

It could be that my back is still bothering me and I am just sick of listening to myself complain.

It could be that I am not doing a lot these days.

But.. I sure feel busy and time is passing much too quickly.

Looking out toward Vancouver Island 

I have been refinishing a few bits and pieces of furniture. I have also been working on a couple of ‘talks’ on Australia and Oman for a group at the Legion Hall here in Madeira.  I take pictures of things around here.. it is so beautiful, and  I am editing my books.. yet again. 

As well, I am looking for a job, for February.   

For the most part, I am pretty happy here.  When the sun shines, it is a beautiful place to be.  Vas and I went for a walk on Francis Peninsula yesterday and I managed pretty well:  he hardly had to push me up any of the hard parts. 

I haven’t been out in the Kayaks much.. giving my back a break, and I have discovered that looking out at the sea from the land gives you a different perspective than from the water. 

Living here, with mom and dad so close, is also different from how I have been experiencing life for more than 40 years now.  

Mom keeps me hopping with her busy schedule. While she is playing bridge on Monday, Wednesday and once a month on Friday, I watch over dad.  On Thursday mom and I go for lunch and do chores in Sechelt.  Putting dad to bed each night is a two-person job, and never on a ‘schedule’ as that is not how people work. 

Looking at mom and dad's from the Francis Pen. 

Mom has me doing a bit of her shopping, chores around the house and in the yard and I know she would like more.. more crafts.. more cleaning.. more time together. 

I sometimes take dad out in the afternoon.. or at least visit with him as he sits in his lounge.  And Vas and I often go over to mom and dad’s for dinner.

It feels weird.. living with your parents.  You aren’t a kid, but you aren’t independent either. There are no clear ‘roles’ or divisions of responsibility.  And once again, as with parenting, no clear instruction books. Every one, every situation is different.

I am not exactly certain why it is that I am not blogging, but it might have something to do with the idea of sharing something that isn’t mine.  

And it could be that I just don't want to open up yet another part of my life where I have to be accountable to anyone but myself.  

How can I share intimate details of my life when it is so closely intertwined with that of my parents?  With perspectives 30 years apart, wouldn’t anything I say be.. well.. a bit of a lie.. ?

At this moment life is good: the sun is out, I go see Wendy (back treatments) next week, Vas is cooking a roast for dinner and I have written a blog!   

Just trying to KISS