January 29, 2025
We really fell down here, this past autumn, at the
Ashbury household. Now, I could blame the stars for not aligning properly, and
really that’s not as absurd as it sounds. Things really didn’t work out for us,
on more than one level and occasion. In fact, the timing sucked, all the way
around.
We’d planned to have our two oldest great-grandchildren
do yard work—to help with the raking of the leaves, the cleaning out of the
gardens, and the storing away of the back yard accoutrements: the table, the
chairs, and the “ground covering” that we place over a very rough patch of
concrete where the table and chairs take up space.
This plan was made because the children wanted to earn
money for a goal that they’d set for themselves. We’re all for that.
However, every weekend that the children were free,
the weather was awful. The weekends they weren’t free, and the weather wasn’t
too bad, but at least two of us were having mobility/health issues at any given
time.
So here we are, mid winter, none of the prep work for
winter having been done. The tables, chairs, and ground cover are outside in
the elements for the first winter, ever—as opposed to being tucked into the
shed where no snow falls or ice forms.
I’m the only one in the house who feels the weight of
this failure. And I think that is so, because it’s a part of my own personal
journey along these uncharted paths of getting older.
I think I need to learn how to acknowledge—mostly to
myself—that there are just things I cannot do anymore. That’s a hard thing for
me to admit. I’ve always had lots of energy, and lots of mental capacity to
juggle, handle, get things done. I also used to be the first person in line to
offer to help others. I believe in helping others. Not so much the reverse,
though.
Now I have to ask others for help, and that’s actually
the hardest thing for me to do.
If we get a “January thaw”, even if it’s in February,
I’m going to try and get some of those not-done chores done. I’ll give it my
best shot, at any rate, and I will nag for help.
One thing I have been doing, and likely shouldn’t tell
folks about, is I have been doing some very long overdue housekeeping of my
email files.
I won’t tell you how bad it was. Let’s just say I was
bordering on entering “hoarder” territory. When I realized just how many emails
I had in those files, I felt overwhelmed at the prospect of cleaning them up.
But I thought on the matter a great deal and realized
that I could set myself a goal of dealing with a certain number each day. Could
I sit down and get it all done in one day? Definitely not. Could I do a certain
number each day? Why yes, I could.
I’m pleased to report that two of my four email
accounts have been cleared. And I am into day two of the third one. It will
take some time. But I am determined to get this handled.
If you’re wondering what I will do once I have done so—well,
folks, this office of mine also includes some storage shelves for canned goods
and everyone’s what-nots, not just my own. And bookshelves where actual print
books reside. And a small refrigerator wherein the water, soda, and other sorts
of hydration reside, as well as the cases that fill same.
I know I’m going to need help for that phase of the project
I have dubbed “the reorganization of Morgan Ashbury.” And I plan to use my success in cleaning up
the email as a reason why those of sound mind and body should be delighted to
lend a hand.
That will likely be in a couple of months, because it
would be good to have a bit less cold weather to allow for the opening of
windows and the cleaning of the floor, and the airing out of the staleness of
clutter.
So, I’m just going to believe that when the time
comes, I’ll have the help—and the inspiration—that I need.
Love,
Morgan
http://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury
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