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Getting rid of stuff--again

1/14/2019

I’ve activated my ‘It’s time to go: letting go of stuff” blog. http://lettingofstuff.blogspot.com/ I started it in 2012 with the intention to get rid of something every day for a year. Well that didn’t happen: I’m just up to day 222/365. Hopefully my new intention isn’t just one of those New Year’s resolutions that fades away.
Last year we decided we’d move out of this old house, so we did a lot in preparation for that—painting rooms and getting rid of stuff. But we changed our minds.
Now we figure we will stay here as long as we are able to go up and down the stairs. Believe me, there is NO way to create a bedroom or a shower on the first floor. Maybe we’ll stay here forever, but in the mean time I’m purging—giving away or boxing stuff we don’t need or use. If nothing else, this resonates with my longing for simplicity.

Response-ability

1/12/2019

Responsibility. A word I sometimes use at whim, fitting it into any situation, sometimes with sincerity, other times as a throw away such as have good day.
Response-ability; the ability to respond. That throws the oneness back on me; I can’t use it a throwaway any more. I must now ask myself if I have the ability to respond to a particular situation. Maybe yes, maybe no. If yes, my commitment begins, be it hard or easy, time consuming or short, joyful or sorrowful. If I take on a responsibility, I’d better do the best joy I can.

Unofficial official New Year's Day

1/7/2019

     The New Year has unofficially officially begun. Usually sometime unofficial comes about before the official time, but not the New Year. Until Epiphany on January 6th, Christmas lingers, and that means last year lingers.
     We didn’t decorate for Christmas, so there is nothing to put away, which is often a sign that the New Year has officially begun. Then there are the New Year’ resolutions. We want to start them on January 1st, but that doesn’t always happen. Who wants to eat raw broccoli without the dip on New Year’s Day?
     I don’t make a long resolution list; I have my usual ones and leave it at that.However, over the past few days a new one, which undoubtedly has to do with my on-going longing for silence, solitude and simplicity, has surfaced. Keep conversations concise…don’t go on and on, and don’t enable others to do so.
Oops, I’d better end this right now!

Reading, 2018

1/1/2019

Here are the most memorable books that I read in 2018: six nonfiction, seven fiction, listed in alphabetical order by author.
    Choosing is not hard. During the year I highlight any book that I think might make the list, and when I gather them together, there they are.
      I didn’t reach my 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge goal of 78 (my age), coming up short by 5. Last year’s goal was 100 and I was 10 over. Why the difference? Maybe I spent more time listening to the news and watching the Red Sox.
     My 79th birthday was two days ago, so I’m picking 80 books to accompany me this year.. I’m not obsessed with reaching the goal, although unlike my age, I do have some control over it.

NONFICTION
• Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court
• Irving, Debby, Waking Up White: Finding Myself in the Story of Race
• Jeffs, Rachel, Breaking Free
• Orlean, Susan, The Library Book
• Smart, Elizabeth, Where There’s Hope
• Stevenson, Bryan, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

FICTION
• Backman, Fredrik, Us Against You
• Carroll, James, The Cloister
• Honeyman, Gail, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
• Olsson, Linda, A Sister in My House
• Picoult, Jodi, Small Great Things
• Shakfak, Elif, Three Daughters of Eve
• Beha, Christopher R., What Happened to Sophie Wilder

2019 Change of Perspective

12/31/2018

On this last day of 2018 I started my walk by turning left instead of my usual right at the end of my driveway. My perspective changed; I felt as if I were walking backwards. I saw new things.
This different viewpoint energized me to consider new ways of looking at my life in 2019. Of course, I want all the good things of the past year to stay the same, while knowing there will be surprises beyond my control. But what new perspectives might I initiate? What changes can I be in charge of? Perhaps I should think of them as New Year’s resolutions.
1. Carry out my usual routines just a little differently.
2. Re-activate my letttinggoofstuff blog, which means that I must let go of stuff.
3. Reach my 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge, which means don’t slack off like I did this year.

Why only 3? When I tell you Number 4, you’ll understand.
4. BE, which means DO less.

Silence, solitude, and silence at Christmas

12/24/2018

For nine years on this blog I have written about silence, solitude and simplicity. Although some of my post may not have appeared to stick to the topic, my longing for the 3Ss has not wavered. This morning I sit in my daughter’s living room sipping coffee as I watch the fire. People are beginning to stir and soon the house will be filled with activity and conversation. Silence, solitude, and simplicity will appear to have disappeared.
Celebrating Christmas is about talking and laughing with others, and about preparing and enjoying food with them--not a simple task to orchestrate. And yet, it is these very days of joyful celebration with friends and family that enable us to tap into the silence, solitude, and simplicity that is part of the secular and sacred Christian message.

Christmas gratitude~

12/19/2018

Back home. Hiatus from posting as I catch up with all that’s going on here before we head to Lancaster on Saturday for Christmas. Tis the season to be grateful even among change and sadness.
      On Monday night my church went caroling to several of the people that I visit regularly; many young children and teenagers brought joy to the elderly who can’t get out anymore. ‘Shut-in’ may not be a PC term, but there’s some truth in it; for sure, however, they opened up their hearts and doors to those of us who can still get out and about.
     I had missed two weeks volunteering at Open Table, our local food pantry. I help on Tuesday, Senior Day. Many said they missed me and asked if I was okay. “Yes, I’m here today,” is all that I said, and then listened to their holiday stories. One woman admitted that the holidays weren’t joyful for her; two of her four adults sons had died of heart attacks during the year and the other two have heart conditions. Someone else admitted, “Christmas isn’t Tra-la-la-la-la for everyone.”
      But there was also joy and gratitude. A food supplier had donated frozen ham, turkey breast, or roast beef, a marvelous choice for each guest.

Sunny day in Siena~

12/12/2018

     A crisp, cold day for yesterday’s trip to Siena. I chose a sunny day because I find the city a little dark and I wanted to experience her in the light. Yes, the buildings along the hilly streets block out the light, but her history is also dark.
     Siena was a city that fought against Florence and never came out on top. In the trecento, the active and vibrant Sienese School produced artistic works by Duccio, his pupil Simone Martini, the brothers Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti and Domenico and Taddeo di Bartolo, Sassetta, and Matteo di Giovanni; Giovanni Pisano was a prolific sculptor; the magnificent cathedral was built. In 1344 the Black Death halted this magnificent development of the city’s art. The Republic of Siena jogged along until the mid 1550s when was annexed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
    Enjoy the light.

Locks of love

12/11/2018

On my early morning walk yesterday I witnessed the start of the demolition of the locks of love from the fence surrounding the bust of Cellini on the Ponte Vecchio. I wondered why they were bothering?

It took all day.

It’s beginning again. Early this morning I counted three new locks. I love the idea of new locks starting the cycle of love all over again.

Early morning observations

12/8/2018

A sunny day is my preference--for picture taking and lightness of mood.

The cost of a cappuccino is slowly rising. My favorite café still charges 1.20 euro, but 1.30 is becoming standard in the bars that attract the locals. Along the tourist route, expect to pay 1.40 or 1.50. The cafe I’m in now, charges 2.00 for its contemporary ambience.

Two years ago I noticed a decline in the number of Africans selling pictures, umbrellas and gadgets. The gypsies begging for money had disappeared. Now they are back in full view. I chose not to photograph.

This morning I passed two raised umbrellas in two different spots along the street. Later when I passed by again, an elderly man was arising after his night’s sleep. Still later someone else was all covered up, I assume sleeping. I chose not to photograph.