Oct 27, 2024

Living in Unconditional Love (190)

 

“Love flows from God to humans without effort:

As a bird glides through the air without moving its wings-

Thus, they go wherever they wish united in body and soul,

Yet separate in form.”

–Mechtild of Magdeburg

 

My wife Eileen died from esophageal cancer in February 2020 one year after being diagnosed, 60 years after we met on Long Island. Then my brother Tom became ill (not COVID), and I spent a total of six weeks being with him in Ohio, but he died in October 2020. My sister-in-law Sue Mahoney died from Covid-19 in January 2021. On top of it all stood the pandemic, locking everyone down almost two years. Covid has proved to be a persistent problem, and many of the long-term effects are quite serious, and it has proven much more serious than flu.

10/27/2024                                                    I had a killing frost (or freeze) Friday morning, as the temperature was just below freezing close to the house when I arose around seven. I still had some roses blooming by the front porch, a beautiful pink climbing rose that is one of my most beautiful roses I have. This freeze will cause them to shut down for the year, and it is one of latest times I have had for a hard freeze. The garden has not been cleared for the winter, but that will happen soon, I am sure. The garden has been weeded for the winter, but the stakes are still there, and a few large plants require burlap covering to prevent the deer from munching on them when the snows cover things.

I use my AC unit in heat pump mode to keep the main floor warm, and it can hold the temperature above 70 even when the outside temperature falls well below zero. I turned the furnace on last week as the basement was below 60, and I prefer it to be around 65 when I am home. The blood pressure meds I take have reduced my resting heart rate greatly, from the 80’s to around 53, and I need the temperature a but warmer inside to feel comfortable.

In preparation for the cooler weather, I have pulled my winter clothes out and will be wearing them for the next six months or so. The biggest change is that I will be wearing lined pants for the extra warmth they provide. I have warmer sweaters I could go to as the weather cools further and the snow season begins.

I am still remembering with joy the fun time at the wedding last weekend, but I do wish they would not play the music as loud as they did. In order to talk to another, I had to put my mouth close to their ear and then they had to do likewise to me to answer. Since these events are one of the few times that I see all, I would like to have the ability to exchange thoughts but that proved difficult if not impossible most of the time. But I did see all the nieces and nephews at various times outside the noisy floor, and brief exchanges were made, and it was indeed a delightful time.

Plus, I truly enjoyed the time with my daughter Barbara just chatting about life, and the tour of the aircraft museum on Saturday.

I realize how lucky I am to have reached the age I am without any major health problems. I see so many who have continuous pain, and I have none; even though my stability is not as good as it used to be. I can still walk around the museum with only a cane to for stability and have no aches afterwards. I can still drive for a few hours without falling asleep and feel comfortable afterwards.

I watered my bonsai (which are still outside) on Saturday and had no problem walking around checking all. All the deciduous ones have gone into hibernation, and I will be bringing them inside for storage in my “bonsai room” that has a mild temperature control (it turns a space heater on when the room temperature reaches 35 degrees or so) to prevent freezing which can damage the pots.

Meditation

Gentle One, I am constantly amazed at the love I feel flowing over me as I age. I can do all I have to do without problems and am grateful for all the friends I have that check on me at various times. I have had a beautiful life and have been especially blessed by Eileen at my side for so many years.