I saw a short clip of Kevin Bacon singing this song the other day, after he had just turned 64. The gist of the clip was 64 isn’t nearly as old as we used to think it was…or at least it doesn’t seem as old anymore! It does seem weird to be at an age that was considered to be ancient when I was young. I read an original poem the other day (written by a cousin of mine) that dealt with the paradox of aging. We see an old person in the mirror, but we don’t identify with that image. Our minds and hearts still think we are young. Anyway, guess how old I am now!
July has been a beast! The temps have been around 105 degrees (or more) most days. It is
supposed to be in the 110’s most of this week. It is dry. The big fire
northwest of here was finally contained, but smaller fires keep popping up
regularly. Dennis and I (plus a lot of other people) have been struggling with
covid. I’m ready for fall!
We did enjoy a short vacation at the beginning of the month.
We went to Canyon to the meeting for a couple of nights. We really enjoyed
visiting with everyone who was there (although we haven’t enjoyed the
“souvenir” that we picked up). We went from there to Russellville for a
few nights. Dennis started feeling bad the first day in Arkansas, while we were
visiting with Ricky’s family.. That night at services at Clarksville, we
learned that we had been exposed to covid while at the meeting. Sure ‘nough,
Dennis tested positive the next morning; but I tested negative. I explained the
situation to Rick and Amber, and they said the weren’t worry about being
exposed…they had already had the virus more than once. I had promised to
babysit Archer Thursday morning, and they still wanted me to come over, so I
kept him while Amber went to get her hair done. (They never got sick,
thankfully!) We had so much fun! Archer was really good! He has gotten SO much
more social since the last time we visited. I’m very thankful that I had that
special time alone with him.
Dennis spent the remainder of our trip in our hotel room,
resting. We left for home early Friday morning, with me doing all the driving.
After we got home, unpacked, and I got the laundry done, I started running
fever and feeling bad. We stayed in and just rested for several days. Dennis
was feeling much better by the end of the weekend, so he actually spent Monday
mowing the grass. (He’d just do a little at a time, so as not to overtax
himself.) I ran fever up until Monday night, then gradually started to feel
better. Towards the end of the week, we were both still struggling, so a got my
doctor to call me in some antibiotics for a sinus infection. Dennis had to make
an appointment to see his ENT. Friday morning, before leaving to head to FW, he
decided to test again for covid to make sure he wasn’t still contagious. He
tested positive again, so he had to cancel his appointment. I also tested
positive, so more quarantine for us! I am still having quite a bit of head/sinus
congestion (along with some brain fog), although I haven’t run fever in a week.
I decided to retest this morning and am STILL positive! Dennis plans to wait
until tomorrow or Wednesday to test. His last test was very faint, so he
expects his to be negative this time.
Dennis only lost his sense of smell/taste for a couple of
days. Mine has been gone for a week. This morning I finally started detecting
the slightest smell of very strong odors (such as vinegar or bleach). Dennis
offered to go get takeout for me for lunch, so I ordered Kung Pao Chicken. I
wanted to get some very strong flavors to try. I could detect a little bit of
saltiness and heat. I can also get a mild taste of sweet from anything that has
sugar or sweeteners in it. I’m really hoping my senses return soon. I have a coupon
for my free steak dinner that I have to use before the end of the month. I am
REALLY looking forward to having and tasting that!
I had promised myself awhile back that when I had lost 60
pounds, I would celebrate with a cinnamon roll from the donut shop (even though
I always end up getting sick when I do). By the end of June I had lost right at
59 pounds. I had seen a travel show where a guy had been in Sweden and raved
about their Swedish Cinnamon Buns. I decided to find a recipe and try them out
(instead of eating a greasy cinnamon roll). They were SO good! I’m definitely
going to be making them again! I may eventually go ahead and buy one of my old
favorite cinnamon rolls, but I think I’ll be quite satisfied with these in the
meantime…and they don’t make me sick!
I’m still working on Shepherd’s quilt. I’ve gotten 2/3 of it
finished and am really liking the way it is turning out. While I was sewing on
it last night, my 45+ year old machine froze up and died. We decided to order a
replacement as my birthday present. It is supposed to be here tomorrow. It is a
much nicer machine than my old one, with a lot of decorative stitches. I’m
looking forward to trying it out and getting back to work!
Haven’t accomplished much in the remodel, since Dennis has
been sick and quarantined. He did get my closet door painted and rehung. I’ve
gotten us “moved” into the hall bathroom and gotten myself moved into the guest
room. (My allergies can’t tolerate sleeping in a construction zone.) As soon as
I feel well enough, I plan to completely reorganize the guest room closets and
figure out how I’m going to arrange all of my crafting supplies, sentimental
mementos, and miscellaneous stuff that I need to store. Up until now, we’ve
just been stashing stuff away where we could find space with little thought or
design. Now that all of our storage space is completed, I need to finally
assign a place for everything. Right now my brain isn’t functioning well enough
to put the thought into it that it requires! Brain fog (from covid) is real!
I hope that all of the rest of you that contracted covid are
recovering nicely. Stay safe, stay cool, and be kind!
Isa 25:1, 4 O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will
praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are
faithfulness and truth…For You have been a strength to the poor, A strength to
the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, A shade from the heat; For
the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. (NKJV)
