Neuer Gedankengang!

Is it spring yet?

When I posted last month, it was a rainy day, and in the 30 degree range, definitely winter. Today is a rainy day and rumbly, but 60+, and there are daffodils blooming in some places. I sat on the front porch most of the morning, and there is a patch on the edge of the road across from the house - not sure how it got there! I like days like this, but I do have to go out at some point and take care of a few things, so I hope that later the rain lets up. At least it is not as windy as it was earlier.

I wrote a post the Sunday before Valentines Day and talked about what was going through my mind as I thought of that day without David. Somehow I made a mistake in saving the piece, and it went away! I didn't want to rewrite it, so it didn't get posted. But it had provided a healing moment for me, and that was good. Valentines Day itself was pleasant and not especially painful, probably because of what I had written on Sunday.

I am about 6 weeks into my class in Urban Planning, and I am enjoying it a lot. In my previous history studies, I had focused on the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. This reading takes me through the post World War II time, and more in the metropolitan areas than in the small town-rural areas where I lived those years. And the questions raised fit right into the decisions I am faced with making now - after 30 years of living in the country, where do I want to live when I move to the city? What kind of community? Does what I want exist in Little Rock, and if not, why not? This week we are going to ride the bus for an afternoon and take a look at Little Rock close up and personal. That should be fun!

Speaking of moving - I do plan to do it. Last fall I was saying that I hoped to have my house on the market by the end of February. Well - that time is here, and I am no where near doing that! I have taken some of the steps, but there is a lot to do. I am getting some clearing done behind the barn and getting a survey of the property done. I plan to do some minor things to the house, but the real estate agent's advice was not to do larger things because the age of the house will be the critical factor, and I wouldn't get my money back.

The are two main reasons why I am not trying to get this done this spring - one is, I have taken on two history contracts and some other volunteer projects that simply don't leave the time to deal with it. The other reason is, the major task is something I need help with - separating my "stuff." I can do the physical labor, of course, even though it would be slow. But it would go so much more quickly with someone helping, and I just need someone with me to give me encouragement and help me make tough decisions and listen to my stories and let met cry because I have to leave things that were special to me and to David and to us. Perhaps there are some reading this who would be available in July or August to do that! If so, please let me know!

In the next five weeks or so, I will officially become a grandma! Yeah! The first week of April is the target - a nice way to celebrate Easter! I have my plane ticket already for going to visit - I will go June 20 and come back July 2. I am very excited about that!

posted by Shirley Schuette @ 11:54 AM