Haiku Prompt and Other Stuff

 I decided to tackle another of the June prompts I missed.

9. Write a haiku about your life this week.

Cell phone message pings

Long lost sister has been found

Explosion of joy

This is a rough, unedited haiku but it gives a brief picture of the moment my youngest sister

found my message from 5 years ago on Facebook and decided to take a chance and contact me.

It was a moment of pure joy!

~ ~ ~

My youngest sister and I have not made definite plans to get together in person yet, but hope to do that sometime soon. Other things happening with me are as follows.

I'm increasing my exercises to regain more of my mobility, while trying to eat a more heart healthy diet. What I thought was working ended up being too high on carbs. Soooo... less protein and less carbs and less salt. Basically less of all the delightful foods I love. More fruits and veg and fiber, which I also enjoy, but changing my palette has not been easy. It is important though, so I will comply! 

I have vowed to tackle my hoarding problem. My home is not just full of "stuff" but is incredibly dusty. Two years of physical limitations did not help. My husband has been wonderful as caregiver, cook, chauffeur, gardener, shopper, taking care of all the laundry. He's done it all, so dusting is not a priority to him or to me, and my "stuff" has to be sorted by me. Nobody else can decide what things are important for me to keep and which are to go to new homes. I have to do that part of it.

I'm still taking a Zoom class through Grow Me A Story and it has been so helpful! I'm doing a lot more writing, and I am enjoying it. I've also done a couple of craft projects. I haven't fully utilized the "Creative Rendezvous" we're assigned to do each week. It's a 2 hour block of time to explore and create on your own. It's hard for me to plan those since I'm not driving yet, but soon! I'd like to take myself to a museum or an actual bookstore or a second hand shop. Then treat myself to a fancy coffee somewhere. When I do go on my rendezvous I'll be sure to write about it here. Well, that's enough for today. Hope you are all well and happy!

© 16JUN2022 ajjahner

Keeping the Memories...

My imagination has been such an active part of who I am. I'm fascinated by what may come. What could happen? What will happen? The past has always called to me as well. I've imagined hundreds of different lives and wondered what it would have been like to be one of those interesting women.

In recent years, I turned that imagination about the past into actual research about my own ancestors. It's been fulfilling and fun. There's still so much I haven't been able to uncover, so my search continues.

My home is filled with bits and pieces of memories. I've been reluctant to part with items which trigger such strong imagery and feelings, but I've done quite a bit of parting over the past year or two. Yesterday I began going through some boxes of things. Odd assortments of photographs, vintage valentines, jewelry, knickknacks... junk to many, treasure to me. I still find it hard to separate the memories and the imaginings from the items. Is this what triggers all other keepers of things? Those labeled hoarders. Those disdained by the very neat and tidy masses? Thankfully, for me, it's not food or animals, but it's a wild assortment of so many other things.

My mama saved my first grade artwork, my dresses, shoes, even books which were left behind when I was sent to live with grandma and grandpa. She tucked them away in old suitcases and boxes, saving them for a day when we could look at them together and share a laugh and a memory. I don't know why I'm saving her treasures. I'll never get to sit with her, holding one in my hand and say, "Remember when..." or hear her giggle over any of it. When I do hold one of these things, I am transported back in a way nothing else can do. I'm there again, and she is with me, and my world seems a little more complete.

© 26Jan2016 ajj

Thoughts about Hoarding and about Letting Things Go...

I had pulled out a box of depression glass, I'd had stored in my garage, in preparation for a yard sale last month. Only a couple of pieces sold, so the rest went back into the box until another sale a week ago. I just finished rewrapping the leftover items to send to the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and happened to look at the date on the newspaper I'd had them wrapped in. It was June of 2004, exactly a year after my mom had passed away. These items were from her home and had been packed away for most of the intervening years. I'd pulled them out one other time a few years back for a sale, but when nothing sold, placed them into the same box wrapped in the same newspapers and returned them to the garage. They hadn't been enjoyed by anyone for over 11 years. That's what happens when grief hits and you can't let go of things, or if you're just one of those people who hoards things thinking you will use them some day.  It's really a shame nobody has been able to enjoy the pieces all these years.

I was able to sell a few pieces in the sale last Saturday. From what was left, I selected two milkshake glasses I love and two small bowls, which match my dishes, and placed them in my china hutch. They are pieces I will use and enjoy. The remaining dishes are packed up for their trip to St. Vincent's. It's time for some other bargain hunter, like my mother was, to find them and take them home to cherish.