First Weekend

My word of the year is "Foundation."

I was very much envisioning that in the manner of purchasing a home.  I thought my partner and I might finally be in a space to build a solid foundation together.  I was excited and getting ready.

Now eight months later, I am here in the condo I moved into instead. I haven't really thought of it as a foundation my first week here, more as a cocoon.  I feel safe here, and a sense of peace.  It has easy access to nature, and it is close to many things.

When I sat down to write this initially I couldn't recall my word of the year.  I thought it should be something like, drift or float, because that is how I feel.  Clearly my plan for my life was askew, so I let go of that plan and now drift in the current.  I am not fighting to get upstream or to a different channel.  I let go.

And I find beneath me a foundation different from the structure of a dwelling, the foundation of relationships I've built over the years, such as these two boys - ages 13 and 10.  They have been angels to me this summer.  I asked their mom for them to spend their last summer weekend with me, both as a thank you to her for letting me stay with them this summer, and also as an easing in to living alone.

Today we started out with a 3 mile bike ride to play a little tennis. Then when we got back we took turns selecting activities.  They picked games, but enthusiastically shifted gears when I selected watercolor painting for my first turn and taking a walk on my 2nd.  

We found a short wooded trail I didn't know about on the walk which ended at a playground.  We played tetherball there, something I don't recall doing since I was a child. Then I learned the youngest is quite competitive and persistent when they did timed races to climb up a slide.

Before bed I read Alberic the Wise to them by Norton Juster (author of The Phantom Tollbooth) which I also read to myself last night before bed.  Both days a different nugget of wisdom jumped out.

The power went out briefly during a storm, for just a minute tonight, which was a bit scary in a new place.  But I have lights from my father plugged into a few outlets.  They have batteries that turn on when the power goes off.  So those lights appeared, and that was reassuring.

 (My helpers at work yesterday.)

Third Time is a Charm

When I moved my stuff into storage back in May, my brother was going to pick up the truck with me and help drive.  He tested positive for Co-Vid that morning.  Luckily one of my friends was willing to jump in his place and did all the driving. (I could drive the truck but it's not appealing to me).

Then when I was going to move the stuff out of storage a couple weeks ago I had Co-Vid.

Tomorrow is the move reschedule, and the friend who originally helped drive the truck was going to again, but he just called and tested positive for Co-Vid today.

#1 - I was just thinking earlier that I probably had more help than I needed, but based on the previous attempts that was probably a good thing, and obviously it is.

#2 - This time, my brother will fill in for my friend instead of vice versa.

#3 - Both times I planned to have my friend, and my brother help me for the full move and then a few other friends help for half of it.  One of the friends who is just helping for a half asked if I wanted additional help because of the Co-Vid situation.

#4 - I am going to music tonight - a band I am unfamiliar with (Cloud Cult) at a place I've never been.  I listened to some of the music online and didn't really resonate, but somehow I still felt drawn to go. This friend has always said yes when I've organized events in the past - so part of it was just being glad to be invited by her to something.

#5 - The opener is Superior Siren - also someone I'm familiar with, but with an interesting description -

"Superior Siren is an eerie folk project from Duluth, Minnesota. The music is inspired by Lake Superior and Siren mythology, and combines alluring vocals with haunting melodies."

 I just looked it up on YouTube and the song that came up is Trying Too Hard..

"The music video is intended to honor empowerment and resilience by celebrating feminine energy and promoting healing. The song was originally written about the turbulence of intimate relationships, feeling underestimated by others, and breaking free from limitations. Alison Peluso plays three different characters: the main being a young woman tapping into her inner wisdom, contemplating matters of the heart, and connecting with her familial history; the second character is an oppressed ancestor, unable to stand up for herself; and the third character represents the divine feminine energy and goddess within."

Positive This Time

Well after numerous negative tests and one inconclusive test in June, I got a positive Co-Vid test result today.  I'm grateful to have access to easy free testing.  The home test I took on my first day of symptoms was negative, so I'm glad I went in for a test too. I suppose I may not have done that if I didn't have such great access.

So far my symptoms are already improving and not serious.  Since I'm not living with anyone at the moment, my friend and her family are on vacation, that helps with not exposing others. I did definitely expose people earlier this week which I feel bad about.

I was going to move my stuff that is in storage to the condo on Saturday but that will have to wait. Luckily

A. My helpers sound like they'll be available on a later date.

B. There is no urgency for me to move.

As far as having "good timing" to get Co-Vid, this is pretty good I'd say, I don't have any plans in the next week that can't be postponed.