Gardening and Yard Work
April 6th, 2008With all the things that have been going on in my life right now, it felt good to just do some simple chores around the house.
There’s something about mowing the lawn and doing some gardening that calms me down. It IS a form of meditation that was much needed.
Caregiving for the terminally ill patient who was staying with us was very hard. It was an around-the-clock sort of thing. I had to adjust my schedule. And I couldn’t do all the things I usually do.
On friday, the day after the patient left to go home to the Philippines, I was utterly exhausted. I slept in and was pretty much catatonic for most of the day. Though, the following day I had to put things back in order around the house. My sister-in-law didn’t want her bed back, so I was stuck with having to get rid of a bed I didn’t want. This frustrated me further, because it’s not my bed. It should’ve been her responsibility to get rid of the bed. It’s hers. But, I just put the bed outside in the front yard with a sign that said “FREE”. And soon enough, some Mexican laborers rang my doorbell and asked for it politely. I was glad and said, “sure!” And they loaded the bed on their truck and drove off.
Today, I was trying to take it easy. But, I needed to work on my much neglected garden, and mow the lawn and do other things in the yard. There is so much work to do now. I need to take it a step at a time. This is my workout. This is my meditation. And for now I embrace it.
My wife is in the Philippines right now and things are definitely not the same without her.
I miss her…
April 7th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Great photo Carlos!! I am having a similar issue with a quiet house, my youngest daughter is visiting her aunt this week, and the other two are out, so it’s just my wife and I for two nights, I can’t remember (except vacation in Bora Bora) the two of us being alone like this!!
April 8th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Re: photo - Thanks. This was taken in the backyard. Some ranunculas flowers. And I was surprised that the lighting came out really nice, because it was a bit overcast and later in the afternoon. So I have to remember that the subdued lighting is good.
Yes, it feels pretty lonely and empty when everyone’s not around, eh? ;o)
April 8th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Hospice care has got to be one of the hardest things to do and it sounds like you gave it your best. And thank you for giving away that bed! That must have been such a blessing for someone who really needed it!
Separation from loved ones can be lonely but it can also be a time to truly appreciate the relationship and, perhaps, express your emotions for her in a song? (Sorry if that was too presumptuous of me. I know you are a musician. An old friend once wrote a song for me and it is still so precious to me, even 20 years later.)