Barbara J. Hamby

sign-up for our email list

No More Pirate Garb

Last night I wore the pirate eye patch for the last time, until the other eye is operated on, anyway. Today I start tapering off the eye drops and gradually resuming physical activities. Having to slow down for a couple of weeks causes me to regret the work ethic I cut my teeth on that results in guilt if I’m not productive. I can manage one or two chores a day, sandwiched in between naps—that’s about all. A backlog piles up quickly and pressures me. However, I haven’t lived this long without learning to ignore guilt and pressure.

A sister in Seattle will be presented with a Good Neighbor award later this month. She is a great neighbor and has lived on the same property for more than sixty years. She has provided countless cookies and pumpkins to neighbors’ children in that time, and many dinners, cinnamon rolls, etc. for her friends. She is also very active in her church and is a volunteer caterer for their many social functions. Widowed now, her calendar rarely has an empty space when she can catch her breath. Like the rest of us in later years, she bemoans the number of memorial services for friends that leave us bereft.

Now, with what energy I have left after doing a load of laundry, I need to decide which task to tackle next, or maybe I’ll just take a nap.