Get busy Chilling

And the slow creep of the year is upon us. Temperatures have dropped. Yardmasters changed out the master valve under the bushes, so the yard water is done for the year. Working on using the rain barrel water, then time to put those away. Next Wednesday the swamp cooler gets buttoned up for the season. Slowly putting away the yard decor. Got the beautiful glass solar cattails out, put up the autumn stars and compass rose, hung the autumn windsocks. Today I have begun putting away the summer silks, then will put up the fall flowers in the kitchen. After that is the autumn leaf vase and bowl, and the pumpkin tea set. I used to push and do it all in a day, but three or four is fine too.

Over on r/widowers, there’s been some discussion about the quote from Shawshank Redemption, “Get busy living or get busy dying”. Most take it as time to move forward, to find new life, specifically by dating and finding a new love. Fine. Good. But is happiness and “living” defined by couplehood? What if I don’t WANT to be part of a couple now? What if I don’t give two hot damns about a new love? I’ve been through a lot, had a lot of hot sex, and spent half a life with MyLarry in mostly joyful bliss. Who says I cannot just settle back and enjoy what is? I have decided, I am dating myself. Me. I love me now. I’m not the greatest catch, physically I am in shambles and I can get flaky, but dammit, I’m financially okay, witty at times, creative, and I don’t talk during movies.