The Payback

Jim and Friedl at Clearbrook Country Club

As I stated in an earlier blog, Friedl and I went to Clearbrook to celebrate Mother's Day.  A fabulous brunch with EVERYTHING (and everything was delicious) along with a bottle of Champaign.  Champaign always makes me mellow so when I got home I spent most of the rest of the afternoon relaxing on the front porch.  Then, Friedl came by for dinner.  We had poached salmon. 

I got up this morning to take my friend Tom to the Holland Train Station.  It leaves at 8:21 a.m.  So I had to get up early.  The one guest I had today left at 7:30 a.m. and Tom took care of getting him breakfast and on the way.  On the way home I stopped to get gas...it was $3.99 a gallon.  A big bargain in today's gas price average.  I hear prices will continue to fall through Memorial Day. 

I said I was going to relax most of the day but I ended up doing some light work.  I weeded, watered, worked on the hot-tub, threw away old flower pots, worked on bills, etc.  I am planning on making Ray's chicken soup tonight.  However, I am getting lazier by the minute.  I may just buy the ingredients and make it tomorrow and have something else tonight.  I am home alone tonight.  I am kind of glad.  I'm all by myself. 

I think Ray would like me a lot more now.  Since his death I have gone through a process of change.  (As I mentioned in my last blog "A Changed Man)  I used to be so aggressive...almost too aggressive.  I had to "get things done" even if things didn't need to "get done."  I have mellowed out so much.  Maybe because I see life is so fragile now.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not neglecting things, however I take things at a slower pace.  Stop and smell the roses.  Enjoy the moment.  If it's a beautiful day (and if I am able to) I will go out and enjoy it rather than feel that I have to get some project done.  I always felt "project oriented."  I had to work.  I felt guilty if I took an afternoon and did nothing but enjoy watching the Food Network or walking around the yard.  I don't feel that way anymore.  I am more like Ray.  Maybe part of him is with me now.  I was thinking about how much Ray would like me more now while I was picking weeds this afternoon.  I was laying in the front yard pulling out TONS of tiny Maple trees coming up from the seeds that fell last fall.  There are literally hundreds.  I NEVER had that much patience before.  I would have said "the heck with it."  I found it kind of relaxing and enjoyable. 

I'm subbing for fourth grade Thursday at Douglas Elementary School.  That will be a nice diversion for me.  I was just telling Tom today how much I really enjoy subbing and miss it since I haven't done it in a few months. 

Well, tomorrow I can sleep in...but it will be the last in a while.  I've got a lot of projects to complete tomorrow.  The payback for relaxing today.  -  Jimmy