I had my whole day planned out yesterday. The 2 mile run, some job searching stuff, then off to the grocery store for Aunt V, deliver the groceries to her and visit a bit, then on to donate my old cell phone to a woman’s shelter, then maybe a bit of shopping just for fun. But you know what they say about the best laid plans.
I got the 2 mile run in, and completed a job application for a library job nearby. I was crabby because I had suffered a lack of sleep the night before. I was hanging onto my plan somewhat desperately – all I really wanted to do was head back to bed – when the phone rang and husband said it was my Ann Arbor Aunt. For a moment I thought “DRATS! I can’t fit anything else into my overly planned day!”
And it’s true she DID want to get together to do something. In the beginning I wasn’t feeling very gracious, but reason overcame my illogical crabbiness. She wanted to meet me and Katie down at our favorite park, which is halfway between where we both live. And it was sunny out! AND I’d been thinking I should take Katie to that park someday soon, it’s so beautiful in the spring. So I revamped the plan and agreed to meet her.
I packed up Katie and all her stuff (you know the drill; water, bowl, leashes, treat bag, poop bag) and me and the camera and off we went. I could feel the morning’s tension seeping away. Especially when we crested a hill and I noticed the beautiful clouds. I just had to stop and capture them. Good thing I left the house early for our 2:00 p.m. meeting…lots of time for pictures!
Then about half way to the park I realized I had forgotten the poop bag! And Katie ALWAYS does her job almost as soon as we start our walks in the park. It’s like she saves it up for a public place. SIGH. So I did a little U-turn and stopped at the bank to get some cash, then a bit later on we stopped in at Colsanti’s, a little grocery store. It’s kind of a plant nursery, gourmet groceries and produce market complete with a bird aviary. I’d been there once before a long time ago. My plan was to find something to buy that I actually needed and which would require them to give me a plastic grocery bag. Which I could use as a poop bag. Good thing I left home early….lots of time for grocery shopping!
As I was contemplating purchasing white potatoes or strawberries I heard a strange sound directly overhead. I glanced up and saw a large toy train chugging along on a suspended track. Strange I thought, but then as I looked around, the whole place was quite eclectic. Mounds of fruit and vegetables, a gift store with cute little things, pots of plants, a wonderful deli, and a train circling overhead.
I bought some potatoes, a few scones and some crunchy cheese sticks and headed back to the car and Katie. As I stepped outside something made a terrible screeching sound. The noise was coming from a huge outdoor bird aviary. Peacocks! Dropping off the groceries, checking on Katie who was waiting patiently in her crate in the car, I grabbed the camera and went to investigate the birds.
They were beautiful! Several blue peacocks, and a giant white peacock who was showing off. Plus some turkeys all puffed up. I watched them for a few minutes then realized I needed to get to the park! Good thing I left early…
When Katie and I arrived at the designated meeting place deep in the park (at exactly 1:59) my Aunt was already there, and soon Katie, she and I were off on a walk. The place was beautiful, swans out on the water, wildflowers tucked into the trees, dogwoods in bloom, the redbuds were splashes of bright fuchsia among the lime green new leaves of the larger trees, huge patches of wild purple violets smudging the ground. Gorgeous. You won’t see pictures of this because the camera battery died right about then. So you’ll have to imagine it yourself, which in reality is sometimes better anyway!
We walked 2.4 miles, and Katie did really well. And that poop bag that I went so far out of my way to acquire? We never needed it. Of course.
So the lesson learned is this. When you’re crabby, when you feel like you need to get certain stuff done, when you’re not feeling creative or adventurous, let it go, take the road presented to you, keep your eyes open and I bet you’ll see some beautiful stuff.
When you’re least expecting it.
GOTCHA!!
Yesterday was our first day of normal life in quite some time. I’d been out of town for three weeks, home for one day and then involved in our Aunt’s medical crisis for more than two more weeks. Yesterday we didn’t have to be anywhere, though husband did stop by the Aunt’s just to see how her first night alone in almost three weeks went. Thankfully, she did fine and I’m sure she’s just as happy as we are to have us off her living room sofa.
I’ve been staying with Aunt V these past few days. She’s not steady enough on her feet to be alone. But today I had jury duty, and had to be in “business attire” at the court by 8:30 in the morning. I didn’t think I could get ready at her apartment without disturbing her routine, so my husband stayed with her last night, and I got to hug Katie at home all night. I’m not sure Katie really appreciated that, but she will when she’s older!
Today is my last day here in this tiny piece of northern bliss. As I was talking to my sister, watching the turquoise and navy lake bounce along in the sunshine the bald eagle made his second appearance of my stay. He casually sailed south down the beach, out just beyond the ridge. I got to watch him for a good long moment, so happy to see him once again before I leave.
Change Is Hard 