As annoying as restlessness can be, it serves to drive me to creativity. This morning I gave a piano lesson to children in Italy followed by a lengthy conversation thread regarding developing PowerPoint for virtual worship and consulting on editing audio files. Developing ShowMe lessons for students, two book clubs, occasional webinars, Zoom meetings, and my blogs keep me occupied as I am somewhat confined indoors due to the heat. How fun to write while listening to Beethoven! My roses drying next to the patio nag me for trimming and watering. Later this afternoon thanks to my new knee, I will give them some love and reward myself with a dip in the pool.
Nevertheless, I find myself with much time to waste. ED does all the grocery shopping and cooking, leaving Mike and me with cleanup. Refusing to use paper products, we find ourselves loading and unloading the dishwasher and wiping counters unending. A few loads of laundry occupy me for a short time each week. My restlessness isn’t strong enough to drive me to house cleaning, but, as my friend Diane says, until you can write notes in the dust, it isn’t worth it. Truth: the dry dust of Arizona and a dog in the house means that I could clean continuously. Confession: I don’t.
A sewing project is on hold as the sewing table is currently covered with recording equipment. Not one to make phone calls unless under duress, I prod myself to connect with people a few times a week, not for myself, but for them during this stressful time. Admittedly I reap the reward of personal connection and never regret the calls.
The project pieces wait qietly for me: my mother’s birthday quilt, each square embroidered by a member of the family, to be dismantled and made into pillows for each contributor. Digitizing photos (isn’t every retiree doing that now?). General clearing out. Seeing the elements of unfinished tasks goads me to retreat to a good book.
This time of COVID-19 isolation is a good time to tackle long-delayed chores or take up new hobbies such as playing the harmonica (how fantastic is the internet?!) It is also a good time to sit still and listen. Stare into space, and wait for the touch of the divine.
You are more productive than me! Any excuse will do for me to sit down and read a book, after cleaning something in the kitchen, of course!
I love reading all your blogs even if I don’t comment on them. On quite a few things, I can relate to. Of course, dusting and house work are never on my to do list either. It’s amazing how busy we can be when we retire. Thankfully I don’t have a knee giving me problems. Glad the surgery went well and you are on the road to recovery. Had a friend who just went through the torn meniscus. She was surprised that you had the partial knee replacement.
Thanks for reading, Karen. I needed surgery not just because of the torn meniscus but because of arthritis which would not allow the meniscus to heal. Dang! But I’m doing well. Stay safe
Cleaning house is not a strength of mine, I will do anything else to avoid such as digging rocks/boulders out of my yard up north. I haven’t been able to focus on reading, I find my mind in lala land. I happy to hear that your knee is doing well and that you tend to be very productive. Keep up the good works for all of us.
Laura, both Michelle and I have had trouble reading. It has to be pretty captivating for me to stay with it. Do you think the stress of the times contributes to that?