Ordinary/Extraordinary

My life has settled into ordinary, doable, anticipated tasks and tradeoffs –with a scattering of little triumphs here and there. Yes, mine is a pleasant existence, one I am treasuring the more time passes. I tell my friends regularly that I’m loving retirement!

Never bored, my days are filled with online activities (Beginning Charcoal Drawing classes, Older Adults gentle exercise classes such as Beginning Tai Chi and Sit/Stand Yoga), fascinating book club selections (I belong to two clubs), and quilt making (currently working on one for my just-turned-21 grandson).

Three days a week I travel to early-morning Curves circuit training (though now, pre-hip surgery, I only use five machines) where I enjoy friendly interactions with charming women. Up until the season ended, there were weekly baseball practices and games for my youngest grandson. Everyone on his team improved their skills (besides looking nifty in their jerseys!).

Then there’s the almost daily phone conversations with my daughter-in-law who calls me while on her walks, the more-often-than-not Friday noon zoom calls from two former co-workers whose friendships have continued post-employment, and the ongoing texts and calls between myself and my dearest friend who is more like a sister to me. Sprinkle in warm exchanges with my over-the-fence neighbor who recently volunteered to move my garbage/recycle bins to the street on Tuesdays while my landlord is away for a month (since I am temporarily challenged due to left hip issues) and the occasional texts ending with “Love you!” from my two youngest grandsons –and I’m more than good to go!

Like icing on a cake, life continues to serve up things extraordinary as well. Non earth shattering, but heart uplifting to me, such little wonders keep me amazed and smiling. Most recent example: one of my two Tetras (a Cardinal Tetra with a full red strip on its underside) died on a Thursday. The other Tetra (a Neon Tetra with only a half red strip on its underside) looked lonely without its companion, but I didn’t want to spend money to replace it since I am being budget conscientious. The tank was busy with other fish so, though I felt bad, I decided not to.

The next evening on a Facebook Pay Nothing page advertising free items for local pick-up, a neighbor not more than four blocks away from me asked if someone would like any of the three fish her daughter no longer wanted in her tank. You guessed it: one of the fish was a Cardinal Tetra. Arrangements were made and now there are two swimming together again in my tank.