Celebrating Little Things – Part 4

I am finding it increasingly more difficult to remain positive through this third wave of Covid. Maybe because I had so much other crap going on that I was trying to work through, during the first and second waves, that I didn’t find it as hard.  Or maybe not realizing how long this was going to continue, even though we were warned about a second and third wave, made it easier.  Now I find myself wondering if we will ever see loved ones again, ever be able to hug people, ever say a proper goodbye to those who are no longer here, ever be able to go to a live music event, ever be able to travel to Ireland or anywhere again, ever have some kind of normalcy.  In the meantime, I will focus on the positives, the little things, that mean so much. 

• When Mom received her first dose of Pfizer, friends checked in on her during the afternoon after I went back to work.  It’s comforting to have people in our lives that do these little things.  

• Receiving my first dose of the vaccine, even if it was AstraZeneca.  I have not even second guessed my decision to get the first vaccine that was available, even though I have no idea what the second vaccine is going to be.  

• I have had two Covid tests.  One was the more in depth (no pun intended) test, in Antigonish, in which the results arrived via email about 18 hours later.  Thankfully I was negative.  The second was a rapid test at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre.  Because I do not own a cellphone, I had to remain at the site to receive my test results.  After 15 minutes a lovely lady came out and asked the two people who were waiting what our names were.  I knew since I was the first to have my test done that she was likely looking for me.  When I said my name she very cautiously approached me, with a bit of a serious look on her face.  My heart started racing.  She leaned towards me and in a very hushed voice she said ‘you’re negative.  You may leave now’.  Phew.  Thank goodness.  

• I recently suffered a sprained neck and was in great agony for several days.  I had to call a friend to take me to the hospital and then to town for a prescription.  She had also picked me up a neck brace prior to taking me to the hospital. Knowing I have special people in my life, that I can depend on in times of need, means so much.  Thank you Donna.  

• I bought an Amaryllis, on sale, in February.  It provided so much pleasure, as I watched it grow and bloom.  There is something about an Amaryllis blossom that just makes me so happy.  And the fact it was about 1/4 the original price.

•  I stored LilyAnna, my Canna Lily, last fall in hopes that I could plant a few offspring from it this spring.  It survived wonderfully and when I planted the tubers I had 10 plants, all with sprouts starting.  I very successfully now have 9 pots and although some are VERY slow to grow, others have taken off mightily. 

• As a knitter there is nothing that makes me happier than reaching into the centre of the ball and pulling out the inside thread end.  Oh happy day when that happens.  

• Speaking of  yarn, I have a tree that I decorate with knitted mini socks.  It remains up year round and I light it when I need an extra boost of happiness.  The mini socks are made from leftover yarn of socks I’ve knit for myself or others.  At the top of the tree are two socks using the leftovers from socks I made for two special people; my cousin Norma and my friend Alayne.  Also at the top of the tree, is an angel my friend Judy made and gave me.  

• On Easter weekend, while I was eating my dinner, the phone rang.  I didn’t recognize the number but answered anyway.  Here is the conversation:

Me:  Hello

Them:  Hi.  How are you?

Me:  Fine.  How are you?

Them: Fine.  What are you doing?

Me:  Not much.  Just eating dinner.

Them: Oh.  I think I have the wrong number.

Me:  Oh, that’s okay.  

Them:  Well, Happy Easter.  Enjoy your day.

Me:  Happy Easter to you too. Nice chatting.

Such a nice conversation with someone I didn’t know.  Something about this made me feel so happy. 

• I can always find joy when I go outside and connect with nature. Trees budding, flowers popping through the ground, apple blossoms, eagles calling early in the morning, but one of the most hauntingly beautiful sounds is the call of the loon.  I don’t hear it too often but when I do, I stop whatever I’m doing and just listen.  Incredible.  (Now to try and get a picture of a loon.)

• I just finished an online writing course.  I was quite reluctant to sign up but because it was taught by a friend, and someone I’d taken in person courses from previously, I decided to give it a go.  What a surprise!  It was for 4 weeks, every Saturday from 1-3:30pm.  There were 12 participants and our teacher, leader, mentor, friend, Marjorie Simmins.  Everyone offered so much to the weekly sessions.  My rural internet didn’t let me down, so that was a bonus as well.  I discovered new authors and I’ve purchased way too many books, but I suppose there are worse things I could be spending my money on.  I’m so glad I came out of my comfort zone and took part in this workshop.  And the best part is, I’m writing.  I’m not writing anything that will likely ever be published, but that isn’t always the reason for writing.  I’m writing as a form of healing.  It’s difficult but it’s satisfying.  

• I was recently cooking dinner and put on one of my favourite CD’s while doing the prep work.  I used the shuffle mode and the first two songs that came up were two of my all-time favourites.  Thank you Kevin Evans for writing Shine on Brighter and The Orchard.  It would have been a trifecta had The Highwaymaid been number three, but that’s on another CD.  I knew I’d have a good day after this occurrence.  

• It’s never easy saying goodbye to longtime neighbours, so I had mixed emotions when I heard Annie had sold her house.  I was happy for her, knowing she was moving to a more accessible home, with less stairs, but sad to see her leave as she was the perfect neighbour.  Knowing she will be in St. Peter’s, and not that far away, makes it easier.  Once she is settled, and we are under less strict Covid concerns, we can visit.  We have been blessed to have been surrounded by wonderful neighbours for so long.  

• With Annie’s departure we welcome new neighbours, Krista and Mike, and their two feline fir kids, Miella and Gus.  They have settled into their new home nicely, and although we can’t visit, we do have deck visits sometimes.  Krista makes wicked baked goods and I don’t mind being a taste tester.  Our luck of having wonderful neighbours continues. Welcome to Dundee. Welcome home.  

• While mowing recently, some friends stopped for a drive by visit.  So nice to actually see people during these strange times.  And even better when it was one of my favourite school teacher’s, Marc Stone, (he paid me to say that) along with his wife Nancy and Nancy’s mom, Patsy.  Patsy asked if my Dad was Bert MacDougall.  When I said yes, she said ‘Oh I knew Bertie in Stirling’.  Well, this just made my day.  There likely aren’t a lot of people left that would remember my Dad from his Stirling days.  My heart was overjoyed. 

Sometimes it’s just the little things……

PS – All photos taken by yours truly.