"THE SWEET LUXURY OF TIME"
"How are the days going for you?", Michaela asked her sisters.
The responses give a nice synopsis of our days right now, and I want to preserve the memory.
On Thu, Jul 25, 2024 at 12:08 AM Michaela Cottle <michaelacottle@gmail.com> wrote:
How are the days going for you?
The last few days I have more consciously realized the sweet luxury of time. Being able to work on something without worries of can I get it done? what has to be given up? how quickly can it be done? or when can I plan that in?
Days are full without doing anything earth shattering.
Sewing: has taken up considerable time lately, especially making things up as one proceeds requires more time, I find.
Apricots: picking, cleaning, sorting, preparing for drying racks, drying; and making apricot jam.
And eating apricots.
Cleaning up everything.
Cooking & cleaning up: today, for example, making crepes (KA and kids were coming over; everyone likes to eat); then made marble Gugelhupf for Branch pres. whose mother (94) died Friday (and delivered it). He’s perhaps more affected as he’s divorced and 2 kids are grown and have their own lives. Then helped Lucas prepare salmon & rice.
Two walks along the mtn.
School prep: had to get schedule and supply list off to assistant principal.
Grocery shopping with Madel: in this extreme heat and without a car, I feel it’s extra challenging for Madel to get groceries, so I try to help.
Some exercises. Very random. Am at 2min 6 sec plank; next goal is 2.30 minutes.
Have been I’m often surprised by how things fill the days.
Watched an understated movie (2024) last night you all may like, with Harry Connick Jr., Find Me Falling.
Thu 7/25/2024 3:49 PM
MC
Curious, isn’t it, how entrenched driving habits are and how difficult to change. And how irritating other people’s driving habits can be. And making one’s sentiments known does not seem to sway the needle. Does not even seem to register. Maybe three+ reckless driving tickets would help sway the trend? I gather there haven’t been any? You may need to elicit the aid of the police to set up strategic patrols on the projected route! Not sure that’s a thing, however. I am very sorry. That’s a difficult conflict.
Your summer days sound enchanting; you will mot want them to end. Fortunately the summer is yet young. It’s satisfying that all the yard garden labor is paying off reaping the results of your labors with enjoyable days.
I will save you some jam, Urs. I actually had to set a daily goal to stop eating 60+ apricots every day. It’s an addiction. I have not yet made it through a day apricots-free, however, I am controlling it by not eating any till about 7pm.
Re retirement, I keep wondering if time would feel like such a luxury without the opposite, the rarity of time? One obviously can get used to it. Hélène, among others, always tells me how great it is not to have a work schedule.
On Jul 25, 2024, at 8:08 AM, U Voss <urvoss@gmail.com> wrote:
You're getting into the swing of retirement! Not so hard to fill your days with fun things, "sweet luxury of time", it's fantastic. And I know what you mean re. sewing taking big amounts of time.
And the apricots! You're lucky. I used to adore Uli's apricot jam (in fact all those ladies, Frauke too, make delicious and aromatic Marillenmarmelade).
We've been having just a very enjoyable summer. The garden is really beautiful this year, we go to the Yacht Club for swimming and/or dinner, there have been many parties at the Egyptian people's houses (some of which we try to avoid, they're too often).
But in the last few days there has been tension between Nabil and me on account of his driving. He speeds and is reckless, making me tense and nervous, but sees absolutely nothing wrong with it. Aside from the fact that it's dangerous (although he's technically an excellent driver), he absolutely refuses to reflect on his driving behaviour. What's hard for me is that he refuses to reflect on that it's not logical - he speeds and passes everybody even though we're not in a rush. He gets angry and impatient, instead of relaxing a bit. Maybe it's just part of his "type A" personality, always being in control (he absolutely has to be the first passenger on the plane, he always thinks ahead, doesn't want to be caught by surprise). I guess I have to accept the fact that you can't change people, trying is like banging your head against the wall....
MC
Michaela Cottle<michaelacottle@gmail.com>
Thu 7/25/2024 8:24 PM
Urs attends Egyptian parties, sits in the garden, swims and eats at the Yacht club, and goes for irritating car outings ...
Angie admires the new structure, picks ... (something) from the garden, muses on trip & wedding planning ...
Please add and embellish what your days look like ☺️🦊
angelikacharles@gmail.com
Fri 7/26/2024 9:58 AM
The sweet luxury of time. That comment struck Urs, and it struck me too! Very true.
And Mich does luxuriate in it especially because her regular days are super busy, so there is the contrast.
Contrast does tend to make one appreciate things more.
And apricots! I am so jealous. They are my favorite fruit. It's interesting that all three of us love apricots. Sadly, they don't grow here at all.
Urs's summer sounds luxurious and relaxed, wonderful and as a summer should be. I guess a 'yacht club' is like a country club, but instead of golf, there's boating?
It must be right on the St. Lawrence? Is the pool inside or outside?
Angie picks juicy blackberries from the fruitful vines of neighbors who are on vacation and asked that we look after their garden.
She muses on trip and wedding planning, communicates about timetables and plans, and tries on clothes at various stores including in Bowling Green.
Living in the country means shopping has to include driving , which she does not like to do (neither shopping nor driving). But it must be done, since her closet is now in very poor shape.
She does not like the current fashions, but did find a dress that will work, and some cute shorts and a blouse.
And there is church work, preparing her Sunday school lesson for the teenagers in Sulphur Well ward, and ministering in T-ville, which is rewarding.
She is also reading quite a bit these days. This week it's "Finding Freedom" by Erin French. Fascinating account about cooking and healing by a woman who overcame terrible divorce, loss, addictions through her passion for cooking and her love for her child, and now has a famous little restaurant in her home village of Freedom, Maine.
