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| Rainy Monday |
I woke up to rain, this morning. It rained all morning, a good shower of rain that gave the garden a good soak. In the afternoon, it stopped raining and the sun shone between the clouds for a little bit. It remained quite cool, though, with the afternoon highs in the mid-50s. Then, it started to rain again in the evening and it as been raining on and off all evening.
I took it rather easy, today.
Today was the anniversary of my father's birthday. He was a doctor, he had been a widower with 5 children when he married my mother, and I was his youngest child and the only child from his second marriage. He died when I was 7 years old so I didn't get to know him as a person, his likes and dislikes, etc. This is one of the few pictures I have of the two of us, together.
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| My Father and I |
In the afternoon, when it stopped raining for a bit, I took the trash cans to the curb for pick up in the morning, picked a few oranges and some peapods, and checked on the garden shed. Apparently, the rain had come in from gaps between the roof and the walls, because the floor was wet in areas. Not that it matters much, but, it is good to know.
I didn't do anything in the garage, today, but, I continued to shred (cut, actually) the contents of the box of files I had brought in. My mother's old bank statements, retirement papers, correspondence with the Social Security Administration, etc. I had kept them just in case they were needed, but, they have not been needed and it is now time to dispose of them. But, it makes me feel sad, too, in a way. It's like I am erasing a bit of her history with every piece of paper I shred. This is why decluttering is so hard for me.
Later in the evening, I called to see if I need to report for jury duty tomorrow and was told I did not have to report in person. I will call again, tomorrow, to find out about Wednesday.
Today, I am grateful for:
- Rain for the garden
- A warm house providing shelter from the rain
- The few memories I do have of my father
- Working appliances
- Garden produce
Today's joyful activity was listening to the rain falling!
Plans for tomorrow include bringing in the trash cans, doing some laundry, and cleaning the kitchen!
How was your Monday? What are your plans for Tuesday?
Aww what a lovely photo of you with your father and a shame you lost him when you were just a young girl. I think there does come a time when you have to let go of old paperwork but it is hard I agree. Your garden had a good soaking, we have some rain expected this week but it hasn't arrived yet.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. I often wonder how things might have turned out for me if he had lived; it would have been a different life, I think.
DeleteYes, I am finally ready to let go of my mother's old paperwork, but, it just makes me feel a bit sad.
The garden got a much needed soaking; it's sunny, today, though. Hope you get just as much or as little rain as you need! :)
Did you dance in the rain?
ReplyDeleteI feel the same sadness about my own father, although at least I knew mine until I was 18, but even at that age it was still a child/parent relationship. He never knew me as an adult or shared in any of the things I've achieved in my life, and I'm sure that must be the same for you at times.
I also totally understand about disposing of your mother's papers and that feeling that you are erasing parts of her history. I have the same emotions every time I've dealt with any of my late partner's things. It's not easy. Sending {{hugs}} to you today.xx
I waltzed with the trash cans in the drizzle - does that count? :D
DeleteMy life would have been quite different if my father had lived, I think; I would have been different, too.
Thank you for the hugs, Eileen. I'm a sentimental old fool!
I agree, decluttering "personal" stuff, with memories of loved ones is hard
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela. I'm sure you felt it when you were going through your cousin's belongings. My mother would have been the first one to say, "Just get rid of that rubbish"; she didn't believe in holding on to things. :)
DeleteSending good thoughts for your father. It looks like you had a great bond. Also hugs for the decluttering.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lyssa, for both the thoughts and the hugs. Much appreciated. :)
DeleteWhat a lovely drenching for the garden! We have sleet, hail and snow in the forecast so I fear for the spring flowers, especially the tree blossom.
ReplyDeleteDecluttering personal things is definitely hardest of all, especially at a time when you are pensive because of your dad. I love shredding but can't imagine doing it by hand! Snore! How about burning the documents, or getting a small, cheap shredder?
It was a good shower of rain for the garden. Oh, I hope you don't get all what has been forecast! I hope your garden flowers will survive the storms!
DeleteI hadn't thought of burning the documents - but, perhaps I can pull out the barbeque grill and burn the documents in it! I sit and cut the stuff while I watch news. My daughter has been telling me to buy a shredder, but, I have been resistant to the idea because I've heard that they tend to get jammed after a few sheets of paper. But, maybe I should look into getting one.
I had a very cheap one once. It didn't like too many sheets in one go, and it couldn't handle long sessions of shredding. My current one, which is certainly not top of the range, takes 10 sheets at a time and I usually shred for 10-15 minutes. I oil it once in a blue moon (feed it with a pre-treated sheet) and then empty it at into the compost bin. But fires are fun too
DeleteMy daughter ordered one for me, today. We shall see how well it works. :)
DeleteHappy birthday, Lady Ella; wish you all the best. :)
It does look like a really wet day. Lovely that you have a photo of your dad. I bet it's a treasure.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely a wet day! A much needed wet day! Thank you; I do treasure the photos I have of my father. :)
DeleteSo far so good with the jury duty! Great to have rain, sad for you to remember your father and deal with that paperwork that was your mother's.
ReplyDeleteWe had a trip to the next two towns this morning for errands and on the way back took a leaf out of your book and had a nice unhealthy fast food lunch like you did the other day! Nuggets and fries, yay! We only needed soup and salad for our evening meal so that was easy.
Yes, so far so good with the jury duty! I don't have to go in tomorrow, either!
DeleteYes, in hindsight, maybe yesterday wasn't the best day to sort through my mother's files! I did a bit more, today, and it was much easier. :)
Ha, ha, I'm a bad influence, aren't I? Every now and then, a nice unhealthy meal is just what is needed! :)
That picture of you and your father says so much. It shows that you both adored each other.
ReplyDeleteThank you, June. Apparently, he hadn't wanted any more children because he already had five from his previous marriage and he was afraid my mother might mistreat her step-children if she had a child of her own. But, by all accounts he spoilt me once I was born and I certainly loved him. :)
DeleteHappy Birthday to your father. You've mentioned you have step brothers and sisters but didn't realize you were the only child (and his youngest child) from his marriage to your mother. Were your brothers and sisters very young when he married your mother?
ReplyDeleteYes for rain! I heard on the news you were getting some rain and I smiled.
Thank you, Debra. Yes, I'm both the youngest of 6 and an only child! :D My father's children were aged 5+ through 13 when he married my mother. The youngest was 8 when I was born; the oldest was 16.
DeleteThat rain was a real blessing! I didn't have to water the garden until today!