Your circus sounds primarily cheerful and most of all FUN, Amber.
Hope the little guy behaves well and is nice to be around. Do update!
I'm doing pretty well. Just avoided a bump in the road (metaphorical) that would've derailed me...almost contacted my D because she's been on my mind a lot. Then I reviewed some of her last diatribe emails in which she said I never take any responsibility for anything and I'm responsible for most of what's gone wrong for her, etc etc etc and how she realized "right away" in family counseling that I wouldn't accept responsibility. (She quit after two appointments with two different counselors....ummm....I certainly was present and ready to do or accept ANYTHING to heal our relationship.) Anyhow, all that was triggered by a Hax column about an adult child addict and it hit me how many of D's delusions and denials and pure projections remind me of what that family was going through. She's not an addict, but behaviorally, there's a lot of overlap. I'm desperately sorry for her but that's trumped by knowing I can't trust her or set myself up to be newly vulnerable to her. If she ever accepts my offer of online counseling with the person she chooses, I'd definitely do that. But right now I don't know if she even has shelter or a computer.
Managed to back out of the trail and delete a foolish draft. Whew. I still worry about her, but the way one would about a pet Komodo.
Otherwise, some practical problems: central AC broke. The system's fan burned out so the distorted bearings screeched and so in the middle of all this heat, Pup and I just lie around panting. It's been very uncomfortable despite fans and I sleep (ish) soaked in sweat. We're waiting for the fan-motor vendor to send a quote. The local company that maintains my system would like to sell me a new system. Makes sense, if you have thousands and can afford it, which right now, I can't. Fan first.
Just cancelled a repair to half my kitchen floor from that broken pipe that went undetected. I'm going to buy some colorful rubber puzzle-piece mats to fill in.
Otherwise, with friends, things are going well. Another Zoom with Poet went okay, nothing new or surprising, so I just was supportive and she was cheerful. I didn't dread it and felt a startling boredom listening. So that's where that is. Not worrying.
Met a new friend through the Village pres. yesterday. Quite nice, English, a writer. Eager to make friends so I'm stepping up. (The pres. is her close friend but about to be gone for a month so she was eager to make a connection for her just-moved-here friend.)
Another friend I haven't seen in a while, I'll be visiting tomorrow afternoon. English friend next door is suffering, having a hip replaced next month. And I'm volunteering weekly...next week is a woman who needs help decluttering. I think it's a perfect service to do and maybe I can bring home some of her motivation. She lives in a neighborhood quite close to where my parents did. Their house is so glamorous now, but I feel no nostalgia.
All in all, I'm feeling generally peaceful and forcing myself out of isolation. Most days I don't see anyone, but I do try to put things on the calendar more consistently.
Thanks for checking in, lady. I hope your summer will cool a bit and you can still enjoy your land and your projects. One fun thing: a neighbor came by to ask if she could take blooms from my huge pink crepe myrtle out front and make bouquets that are being sold for a counseling charity at a women's arm-wrestling event. I sicced her on my tree-sized hydrangea, too and she was very happy.
Hope you are too and that things are going better for B.
hugs
Hops
