Strange Happenings

If one waits long enough to write a post the chances increase there might be some worthwhile news.

Becoming grandparents is such news. Only a daughter can blow your mind like this. For ages it has been: we’ll adopt or foster if we want children. Then the clock got louder and louder. And now it’s a boy.

For the first time I wish I was younger. At 70 the countdown has begun. Yes, this year I reached the 70 mark. Stephen has been so welcoming to me, probably relieved not to be alone anymore.

The other good news is that after a year of knitting hiatus, I finally regained the use of my arthritic hand. Torture I tell you, seeing patterns and having ideas and not being able to act on them. I didn’t give up and kept on moving and playing with my hands. Then it happened in the nick of time.

Though I swore never to buy more yarn, what was the first thing I did when I heard about the baby? Yes, it’s true, I bought yarn. There was a blanket that has always intrigued me, a crochet blanket at that. Does that mean that not just 70 defines me as a grandma but crocheting a blanket adds to that? But have a look, it’s beautiful, even the unfinished version.

And that wasn’t the last order. There was also this sweater I had my eyes on for years. Since I hardly have any washable or thicker than fingering yarn I also indulged myself and am almost halfway done.

Everything looks so cute all of a sudden, I ordered more yarn for a knit blanket. No photos yet since the yarn didn’t even arrive yet.

A few months ago we had to say good bye to Arnold. A devastating and sad decision, but he told us it’s time. We are mourning him and he’s included in our dance parties at night living in his little box now. This is one of his last photos on the morning of. Every once in a while I’m overcome and I shout his name real loud: ARNOLD!!!

I still get knots in my throat and want to burst out crying, hardly able to swallow. The hole he left behind is huge. I still hear his nails on the wood flooring. I still walk around areas his bed used to be. I still look to the back seat of the car which was his spot. I would have given him the rest of my life. Showered him with attention and love and pets.

I would like to talk about another strange new development, hoping it’s not dementia and that others perhaps share this. I’m a voracious reader lately. Just finished 2 books in 3 days. Of course that means I’m really into the book and want to keep on reading through the night. But there is a thing like sleep that most of us need. I start drifting while reading in bed. That doesn’t mean I stop reading, I just stop reading the book, and instead start reading or thinking I am reading what I think about or how I imagine the story goes on. It’s never more than a sentence or two. It’s like nodding off, but continuing with the activity, but making it up.

I’m not going to talk about the books I read because they’re controversial books, but damn good stories. Our library didn’t have the books so I searched online with Link+ that allows one to order books from other libraries. And to my amazement I found the books in the original language: German.

The libraries deserve every penny we can spare and give to them. They have taken me to so many places and distracted me so many times when needed and always give me inspiration. Like internet in print form. A reversal, I know.

Everyone is trying to stay cool right now. And we’re very successful at it, or rather the house is with a little help from Stephen. Facing south, we have a bunch of trees out front, a good thing most times unless we would want solar, then not so good. Unfortunately 2 of the trees will be cut this month because they died. Let’s hope it will not increase the inside temperature. Stephen makes sure to open windows as soon as the outside temps are lower than inside and goes around in the mornings closing everything again.

Fires seem everywhere right now. Toby just got back from Colorado and has his mandatory days off. But i’m pretty sure that can’t last long. Fingers crossed this fire season.