This and That

[lighter]

Three people on my street are dealing with cancer.  One just finished chemo.  One neighbor is on it.  One begins chemo next week, and he's elderly, 88yo. 

I roast chickens for them, and the 88yo neighbor gifted a lovely candle holder in thanks.  It's a burl wood knot he found in the forest, and it's lovely. 

I took a container of carrot ginger soup to them, and received a tour of the woodworking shop, which was amazing.  He also loves to work in stone, and we connected on a creative level. 

They understand inflammation, and appreciate the soups as chemo approaches..... I brought 2 more containers, Broccoli and kale chicken soup, along with food list for more and less choices. 

These are post op days, and he's doing really well.  I'm happy to plan projects with them.  Nice.

Lighter

[lighter]

I'm re reading your post on installing a stone path, Amber.  Maybe soon I can tackle it.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

You must have milder weather than I do, Lighter. We're solidly in the "clean up & put the gardens to bed" season here now. IF my buildings arrive next week, then I need to begin thinking about food garden design... fence... paths... etc.

I also need to get with my hunters and see about harvesting some of the dead ash trees on the new property. Wood is a year-round chore around here.

[lighter]

Youngest DD15 finally has her first crush, and he's adorable.  So nice.  Very dear to her, and Uber kind, which she's been commenting on for weeks. 

He sent her an unexpected message this afternoon.  She responded....she likes him too. 

Now she's waiting to hear back, but he's uninstalled his Instagram account out of nerves.  Something he said he intended to do in his anxiety over her not feeling the same way perhaps.  They're both very......humble. 

I'm struck by the different advice my mother gave me when I was that age, and the advice coming out of my mouth. 

This is such a happy time for DD 15: )

Lighter

[Hopalong]

You are a Good Neighbor, Lighter.

Happy for your DD15 and hope it goes harmlessly!

Hops

[lighter]

Ack, I worry her cheeky charasmatic friend (a boy) sent the message as a joke.  He's completely capable of that. Why won't thus bit respond?!?


Lighter

[Hopalong]

I hear that.
Stories I hear, watch and read about young ones tell me that social media is weaponized.

But hopefully he's as sweet as he seems.

I am scared of social media. Just don't do it.
I'll text with girlfriends, but tell guys I don't like to build relationship that way...rather talk on the phone or meet.

I have no idea what adolescents are facing but worry from a distance.

Holding DD in the light as she treads this new territory, and hope it's happy for her. It may well be! You've taught her a strong sense of self. It's just the world and the weight of what they're all absorbing, good and ill.

Hops

[Twoapenny]

So kind of you helping out your neighbours with food like that, Lighter.  So important to eat well when you're ill, and yet the hardest thing to manage for yourself when you're poorly.  A good friend of mine had cancer a few years ago and was living two hundred miles away, too far for me to do anything other than phone and send little gifts   I think food gifts are such a blessing when you're not well - that and the care that goes with them means so much.

I hope it is the nice guy and not the friend playing a joke!  Teenagers don't always realise how tender those feelings can be when they prank each other xx

[lighter]

The boy sent the message, and is very nice.  DD's friends are being somewhat controlled with their teasing.

Turns out DD and the boy are the only ones surprised by this mutual crush, as the friends have been "shipping" them for a while.

I'm going to enjoy this with DD, which means I'll resist worrying about the kids exchanging family histories. 

Lighter

[Twoapenny]

The boy sent the message, and is very nice.  DD's friends are being somewhat controlled with their teasing.

Turns out DD and the boy are the only ones surprised by this mutual crush, as the friends have been "shipping" them for a while.

I'm going to enjoy this with DD, which means I'll resist worrying about the kids exchanging family histories. 

Lighter

Sounds like a good plan, Lighter!  It is an interesting phase when people start swopping family stories.  My sister's father-in-law died recently - when they went to the funeral she said to her kids "okay, this is how normal families behave".  They'd not experienced it before xx

[lighter]

This boy waits outside DD's classes for her.  Yesterday she wanted to slip away and practice singing Santa Baby for her chorus class beforehand.  The boy tagged along, and sang the song to DD' s delight.

He delights her.
:: nodding::.

She's still shy around him, so she didn't practice her song, which didn't surprise me.  What did surprise me is DD agreed to sing a duet with him next open mike night at the school.  He plays guitar and she plays ukulele....they both have nice voices.  They're adorable. 

Lighter

[Twoapenny]

This boy waits outside DD's classes for her.  Yesterday she wanted to slip away and practice singing Santa Baby for her chorus class beforehand.  The boy tagged along, and sang the song to DD' s delight.

He delights her.
:: nodding::.

She's still shy around him, so she didn't practice her song, which didn't surprise me.  What did surprise me is DD agreed to sing a duet with him next open mike night at the school.  He plays guitar and she plays ukulele....they both have nice voices.  They're adorable. 

Lighter

Aw, Lighter, I love the sound of him!  What a sweetheart   Those early romances are so sweet and open.  I would love to experience that with someone again

[lighter]

These days, when I dream of romance, which is rare......
Maybe twice in 10 years and a few years ago, it's that kind of sweet romance.  I'm teenaged, the young stranger is teenaged.   It's a sweet peck on the cheek, shy affection. 

I'm not attracted to what , in my family is termed, " skinny little boys".  I think it's longing for simple, unencumbered weightless being without games, or guile.  Without danger or risk of any kind.  Just before, kwim?  When anything was possible,and I didn't know about PD's, or being trapped in relationship, miserably, left feeling afflicted,and harmed.  Left cemented in protective mama bear mode where inviting more difficulty, even smallish difficulty was unthinkable.

I have felt attraction to ex military, competent, tool weilding men close to my age, though very rarely.   That means I could invite someone appropriate in, I suppose, though the idea of marriage makes me want to raise my fists, and put up my guard.  My entire body is left guard forward says my chiropractor friend.  I drive that way.  Walk that way.  It's set in my skeleton.  I don't know how that lives in my brain, but it makes me......


Want to leave it far far behind.

:: nodding::.

[lighter]

It's wet and warm ish this morning.  I'm goin into the yard to plant moss.

:: nodding::

Because I want to.

Lighter

[Hopalong]

You and moss have a mystical relationship, Lighter.
Makes me happy that you're grounding yourself in a favorite
earthy beauty today!

As to a future man materializing one day, I hope he is pure
of heart and has unmistakable affection for his mother.
You deserve a man who doesn't hold artificial women on a
fake pedestal, but who has an affectionate and open-hearted attitude
toward mother, sisters, etc.

I hear it's a good hint anyway. Spotting someone who genuinely likes
and champions women. Who supports and respects their own strength.

xo
Hops