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Deep Blonde Thoughts

~ Emitting thoughts, tongue-in-cheek observations on life and lifestyles

Deep Blonde Thoughts

Tag Archives: family

Home Phone

16 Saturday Jan 2021

Posted by shewrite63 in Health, philosophy, writing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

affordable rental, apartment, cats, communications, COVID-19, family, home phone, landline, pandemic, pets, rental, roots, telephone

I am sure there are statistics somewhere but I wonder what percentage of Canadian residences have such a thing as a landline or “Home Phone” anymore.

One of my goals for 2021 is to move to a cleaner, safer rental setting. Forget affordable; we will have to cut back on guilty pleasures and luxuries. I just want to have our own laundry facilities instead of dealing with inconsiderate, clueless tenants, lazy custodians and petty crime vandals – especially during a pandemic!

A sense of roots

I am debating whether to transfer our home number to a prospective new rental. I am also comparing costs of getting a bundle with major carriers for phone, Internet and TV.

To me, having a home phone number is like having a sense of roots, something that is permanent although transferable, a number where family and friends know they can reach members of your family if you are not roaming out and about. It’s not like we have the freedom to do that these days during a pandemic lock-down anyway!

One of the Millennial youth scoffed at my reference to “home phone” in conversation one day, when I used the term for communication options during logistical arrangements. “What even is a “home phone” anymore?”, he asked. Says he who had to move around the country for school and special training but still carries the same cell phone number.

This current rental is what was the last “family home” they lived in before jumping off to their various independent lives, sharing accommodations with friends or finding a quiet place to themselves. Some returned for short stays in-between engagements and the next phase in their lives.

I have to learn to let go and trust the Universe to protect and guide them. My job is done with providing a sense of family, home and convoluted roots.

watercolour painting tree of life
Tree of Life watercolour 2020 T. Jamone

It could be something deeper for me in that I have a hard time of letting go of them, of missing our small family gatherings for holidays, special meals and celebrations. The COVID-19 pandemic and regional lock-downs since March 2020 seem to have relieved me of that expectation but blessed me with the company of my youngest Millennial for the duration.

It’s time to move on after ten years, to downsize and remove emotional attachments. I have given up on waiting for the fifteen year-old cat to die; she’s going to have to survive the move. Perhaps a new home layout will provide her with more enrichment between her naps, meals and tongue baths.

Geneva Tabby Cat mellowing out on a Friday night

Thanks for dropping by – and keeping a safe distance.

T

Using humour to get through the rough times

12 Saturday Sep 2020

Posted by shewrite63 in education, Health, pets, therapy

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

art therapy, connections, COVIDdoodles, doodles, family, humor, humour, mental health, pandemic, plague, remote work

First, I hope followers and readers are safe and healthy.

I am thinking of folks adapting to pandemic protocols, political uncertainty in the south, forest fires in the west, tornadoes in the middle and hurricanes in the east.

Then there’s the rest of the world where I feel I have little control of events except through donations to humanitarian causes.

Doodle – I accept that I don’t have control of everything

When you’re surrounded by chaos and uncertainty, it helps to take a few minutes a day to sit in quiet, to meditate and if anything, just count the breaths.

I am still grateful to have a job and flexibility to work from home. I am still hopeful for a future career by starting school last week, now as an online course in the part-time program. It’s nice to hear familiar voices, to see familiar faces although pixelated, and to discipline myself into focused learning again.

I am grateful to see one of my offspring in person every few weeks. I feel satisfied to hear and see other loved ones over the phone, video chats and during physically distanced picnics in the park. It has been over a year since I have travelled to visit my grandchildren. Heartbroken, I still compensate by sending them birthday cards and small gifts through the mail. My heart skips a happy beat when their parents send me an email or text message. It seems like so long since I have received a barely legible letter from my oldest granddaughter.

The used bookshop where I would volunteer on weekends has been closed since March. I miss it. I think about the library staff, the regular patrons, the Seniors, the socially and economically challenged who rely on these services.

I spend my lonely nights watching TV, movies and doodling. I seek out comedies to help with the release of belly laughs.

COVIDdoodle One Day at a Time

Hop on over to the Tabby Cat’s blog to see some doodles I did to get me through the blur of days and weeks in the past six months.

Pushing for Friday

I invite you to read this quickly sketched comic, a humorous depiction of a typical day working from home.

Humour: Going through the motions of remote work during isolation

Thanks for dropping by. What are you doing to cope during these trying times?

COVIDdoodle – This too shall pass

Otherwise, stay safe. Take care of yourself and each other.

T

Maintaining calm during uncertain times

25 Wednesday Mar 2020

Posted by shewrite63 in community, Health, pets, therapy, Warm fuzzy, writing

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

COVID-19, family, health, isolation, kindness, pandemic, sanity, self-care

I dusted off and opened my New Testament bible to a section referred to by the Pope in one of his Sunday Tweets.

Like you, I am looking for solace and comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic while practicing physical distancing and frequent hand-washing. I look for simple ways to keep my body active with gentle exercise. I remind myself to eat healthy and replenish bodily fluids throughout the day.

My employer made arrangements for us to work remotely two weeks ago. I was so relieved and happy to avoid the daily stresses of public transit. I embraced the opportunity for performing my work from home, to take little breaks to stretch, do housework and maintain contact with family and friends.

I was happy to be alone in my home with a stocked pantry and contented Tabby Cat. I promised myself to keep the news watching to a minimum and only with trusted sources.

bored tabby cat

The Tabby Cat is either meditating or bored

Thursday night, a dark cloud descended when I received a call from one of my adult offspring, heart broken and just tired of all the hurdles thrown in front of his path. My Motherly instincts immediately caused me to invite him back home. I moved my computer equipment from the guest room desk to the dining table before his arrival.

I adapted for someone I love.

PC screen with soup cans and cell phone

My gentle weights for frequent stretches and workouts

I found ways to maintain my physical and mental health with gentle exercise reminders and ten-minute meditation breaks through the day.

I was not able to perform my weekend volunteer activity due to the public libraries and used bookshops being closed for a few weeks during the pandemic. This affected my sense of purpose as I was missing the social interaction with staff and patrons.

On the Sunday, I invited another adult offspring to join us for the isolation period. I gave up my bedroom for him and fashioned a desk setup for his computer and other devices. I found ways to accommodate his smoking habit.

He helped me pull out of storage, a smaller bed –  the shikibuton (a roll-up futon mattress) so I could set up my sleeping area in the living room.

I adapted for someone I love.

Yesterday, we agreed on a list of provisions to obtain “out there”. I coached him on procedures, safety measures to follow when venturing out for groceries. Upon arriving home, he laid the bags down, used the hand sanitizer at the front door, and proceeded to wash his hands. As far as I know, we were successful with preventative measures. I don’t want to obsess over the what-ifs.

We now have ample fresh produce, meat and dairy for the next few days.

This morning, I woke before the Zen Alarm clock. I kept with the basic morning routine of saying a prayer of thanks, having my instant coffee, checking email from family, feeding and administering Insulin to the diabetic cat.

I showered then rolled out the dusty yoga mat with plans for stretches and salute to the sun my daughter taught me years ago. I found space in the small living room of our crowded but love-filled apartment.

The cat joined me, more as an attention-starved hindrance than motivation.

Tabby Cat on my yoga mat

Practicing patience, tolerating the Tabby before Salute to the Sun

I allowed a few seconds to adapt for someone I love, then started to roll up the towel to make her move. She was not pleased, grumbling as she stomped away. I succeeded in performing about 20 minutes of uninterrupted stretches and breathing. I feel better for it.

During a lull from IT support requests, I decided to satisfy my desire to write, to express my feelings during this challenging time.

I feel better for it and hope that I reached blog followers who can relate plus agree to keep on keeping on with self care and kindness to others.

Thanks for dropping by and maintaining “physical distance”.

Namaste

T

 

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