Don't Worry, Be Happy

Several years ago our apartment complex moved from a grassy yard to a rock yard.  No more daily watering was the thought.  Tons of rocks were spread across the areas where the grass once grew.  The workmen planted an extensive number of drought-hardy plants.  As the men were working, one noticed a patch of daylilies and a patch of Stella D'ora lilies.  The young man smiled and me and nodded.  Pointing at the plants, he let me know he was leaving them.    

           

Unfortunately, the manager of the complex did not know the first thing about gardening.  Instead of continuing to water the new plants, she stopped the watering.  The plants were never able to establish roots that would allow them to survive the hot, dry Texas summers.  There were a few hardy types that did survive in the shaded areas.  Mostly now the yards are a sea of rocks.  That's not bad as it still conserves the precious water supply.

Recently I have allowed concerns to develop into full-fledged worries.  Sister #1 continues to suffer increased pain.  More pain pills are needed.  There is absolutely nothing I can do about this except post funnies for her to laugh at.  I did enjoy a good visit with her last weekend.  I have lost count of the number of friends and cousins we have lost to mostly the ravages of old age.  This is if you call a 67-year-old person an old person.  Only two friends passed from covid.  

In addition to these things that were on my mind, it appears our apartment rent will be increasing up close to $250 a month at the next lease renewal.  That is a budget buster.  My car needs shocks.  Another $800 most likely.  The car is 8 years old and has 80,000 + miles.  We have always driven our cars until they have at least 150,000.  Some over 200,000 miles.  I did a bit of simple math and figured in about 8 years we will need to be replacing our Icie hybrid.  It hit me that I would be 83 and Hubby would be 90.  A replacement car may not happen in this lifetime.  Yep, worried.

If you know me, you know I am a person of faith.  I have made vain attempts to not worry about all the above-mentioned things.  I would give the worry to the Creator but I take it back.  I looked out my window this morning and saw the daylilies in bloom.  

From the book of Matthew:

…28 And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. 30 If that is how The Creator clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will The Creator not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?…

Berean Study Bible

Peace,

Janice

sparrows

Feeding the birds at our apartment building after the whole rat visiting the feeder incidents was suspended last year.  Yep, not a fan of rats.  But a few weeks ago I decided to try it again to see how it goes.  I bought mealy worm cakes and suet.  The doves loved the mealy worms and the sparrows engorged on the suet.  The suet was gone in about 48 hours.  The mealy worms are still around the edges of the hanger feeder I bought in Door County last year.

Over the weekend I bought more suet and patio bird food.  PBF is waste free nuts and grains.  No shells, not husks makes for waste free.  I took the hanging feeder out to the oak tree outside our apartment.  Thinking Hoping this location keeps the rats away from us should the vermin decide to try to eat the food.  I really want it to be birds not rats.

Earlier today I sat in my easy chair enjoying the flurry of birds enjoying the food outside the patio door.  Nothing exotic, just sparrows.  About 15 or 20 flitting around the feeders.  Others feasting on bits that had fallen onto the patio.  They seemed happy though a couple were a little greedy trying to chase the others away.  That eventually stopped, too.

Wish we humans could move on that easily.  Birds and flowers do not worry.  Humans, well, we worry.  We worry about being 'on time' for appointments by showing up 30 minutes ahead of time.  We worry about how often to shampoo our hair (guilty as charged).  We worry about scaly skin, graying hair, cellulite, endangered species, how old the earth is, ad infinitum.  I worry about my husband when he is away more than an hour and a half without checking in.  As he is right now...

Think I'll put another cake of suet out for the non worrying sparrows.  Sweep the patio.  May send a text to Hubby.  Then it will be time for another cup of java as I wait for Hubby to check back to me.  Cause I am a wife not a sparrow.

PS:  He just walked in the door!  Now, can you find the gecko in this photo?  It visits my patio regularly.

+ 6 weeks - 16 days

Today's meditation focused on letting go of worry.  My Dad was not a worrier.  Mom made up for it.  "Mary, why are you worrying about ...", Daddy said many times.  It was usually followed with, "Piss on ...." whatever the worry of the moment was.  They counter balanced each other for over 70 years of courtship and marriage.

The moments of quiet reflections left me wondering what I worry about these days.  Daddy left his mark on me in that I am not much of a worrier.  Surely there are concerns but few lead to a state of deep worry.  More an assess a challenge, plan a solution, then execute and believe in the best of outcomes is my type of personality.  It has not always worked out for the best.  Many failures are in the wake of my life.  And my relations with people are where many of the failures lie.  Not a people person but I no longer worry about this.

It could, also, be that I leave the worrying to others.  While a detail person on things I am tasked to perform, I am glad to just be a go-for when others are in charge.  There is one exception about all the worry, traffic.  I worry in traffic, especially when a passenger.  All the potential ways an accident could happen will engulf my thoughts.  It is the source of contention with my Hubby on almost a daily basis.  But sitting in the living room in our easy chairs, things run pretty smoothly, now.

As for the upcoming trip I was quite concerned about recouping in order to enjoy.  After consults with PT and doctors, we will do what we can and just take care of ourselves.  Because Hubby tires easily, too.  And the to do list is being cut down daily.  The list is simple to work on with things like copies of all travel documents.  So no need to worry cause we have a plan and are acting on it daily.

Wednesday Worries

Not really worries, just commitments and co ordination efforts that must be made concerning the two major and one semi major projects.

The Strike Out Hunger mission blitz on April 20 is about 300 people short on volunteers for packing 120,000 meals.  The food for both overseas and locally.  As I will be leading a different portion of the blitz focus on the same day, I cannot be one of the 300 unless I suddenly can clone myself.  Geeze, no, the world does not need two of me.  I will be organizing the spa for the single moms of Caring People and the abuse and violence sheltered women.  A second individual will be leading the portion of this that serves breakfast and lunch and entertains the children during the spa time for moms.

Fiesta De La Primavera is our women's mission spring celebration this year.  We will have Latin American food, a South American speaker and a Cuban dancer.  In addition the local volunteers who have gone to the Nicaragua, Honduras and Cuba work areas will be at the luncheon tables.  Displays, videos and decorations will complete the feel of a fiesta hopefully.  Gonna be a long week prior to May 4.

Lastly on May 16 the UMW Sunday is looming in our minds.  As the worship team has final approval of our part of the service there is a meeting tomorrow for that with the associate pastor, the UMW president and me.  I can tell it is time for me to step back for a year or so and get a second wind on this portion of my commitments as my idea well is running dry.

Throw in Gene is being a mentor so he is a little stressed trying to make all the meetings.  He finds it rewarding to be around the young adolescents.  Sort of the same shot of energy I get from being with the toddlers.

One day at a time.  I think I will just mentally drift back to New Orleans' Frenchmen Street for some jazz.  Or maybe put on a vinyl of Pete Fountain!  That will take care of any worries I might still have.