Thankful Thursday | Glad to be a leftie
This week, I am thankful:
that I'm left-handed
As I was taking notes on my anatomy and physiology chapter this week, I was thinking how nice it is that I write with my left hand.
I do so much mousing with my right hand, it's nice to give that hand a break and use the other one instead!
for my physical textbook
I am feeling 100% happy with my decision to buy a paper textbook.
So much of college is online these days: assessments, videos, quizzes, and more. So, I really appreciate having some part that doesn't need to happen on a screen.
Also, a physical book is so much easier to flip through when I want to look back at something.
Totally worth the $36 I spent on eBay!
(Judging from the stickers on the front of my book, this used to be an Amazon book. But I really did buy it on eBay.)
that my first exam went well
It wasn't as in-depth as I'd expected, so I sailed on through. Yay!
I always feel a little nervous before the first exam with a new professor because I do not know what to expect. So, from here on out I will have a better idea of what's coming my way.
that I made a friend in my class
She has two cats, so we bonded over our common love of cats.
that cool mornings are a thing
After a brief foray into lovely fall weather, this week we have had a string of days that have reached 90 degrees.
I am not delighted about this (!), but I am thankful that September mornings and evenings are at least cooler than their July versions.
for all the summer peaches I've been eating
I know peach season is winding down soon, which makes me extra appreciative of the peaches I'm eating now.
that fresh produce is so available and affordable
Sometimes when I read books like Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books, I think about just how limited their fresh produce access was, particularly in the winter.
And that makes me realize how blessed we are to have not just basic fresh produce, but really interesting produce (like starfruits) available to us all year.
(Related: it seems rather impressive that the human race even survived all of those produce-lite years! Human bodies are rather resilient.)
for knowledge at my fingertips via the internet
Zoe and I saw an ambulance and fire truck go by as we were driving to an appointment this week, and we both were like, "Why does a fire truck always come along with an ambulance? It seems unnecessary for lots of 911 calls."
I said, "I should google that!" (I have since!), and I was reminded again how easy it is to get information now that we have the internet.
If I'd wondered something like this when I was a kid, it would have been so much more difficult to get an answer. And remembering that makes me really thankful for the ease of googling things now.
1) Thankful for the lovely September weather (cooler in the mornings/evenings, but sunny during the day), with no wildfire smoke. It's a gift, and my favorite time of the year.
2) Thankful that I generally work with people I enjoy. There are really challenging days, but I feel well supported at work.
3) For easier leftovers on a busy day, and also...days without kid activities/driving. Those always feel like a mini evening vacation.
4) For a garden that's slowed down, but it's still producing. We had a delicious cucumber out of the garden last night.
5) That I get to see my sister in a couple of weeks, unexpectedly!
So you write with your left hand but control the mouse with your right? Very interesting. Are you ambidextrous in other ways?? I am right handed all the way and could never "mouse" with my left hand, but I am also VERY left side dominant in other ways. For example, I cannot no matter how hard I try, carry my purse on my right shoulder. I also cannot hold a baby/child on my right side, it's very awkward for me, and I cannot hold a phone to my right ear--always the left. Aren't people interesting??? Happy Thursday!
So, I am a weird mixture of left and right, but I'm not really ambidextrous in anything; I can do things EITHER on my right or my left side, but not well on both.
I always hold babies on my left shoulder; I feel like I will drop them on the other side!
Anyway, for fine motor things like writing or eating, I use my left hand. But for power things, I usually use the right side of my body; I kick with my right leg, I chop with my right hand, I bat right-handed, and so on.
I thought most people moused with their right hand no matter which dominance they have. Mr. FG and Sonia are hard-core left handers and they both mouse with their right hands.
@Kristen, I'm a rightie but I do a lot of things with my left hand--like holding babies--that most righties don't. Weird.
@Jen, I'm right handed but it's like I can't even HEAR the phone if it's placed to my right ear (but my hearing is fine, I assure you). So funny. It must be a thing.
@Jen, I'm strongly leftie so anything that I was ~taught~ I do left-handed. Anything I learned by watching, such as playing pool or dealing cards, I do right-handed. However I made the deliberate choice to mouse with either hand. Partly because I usually work on multiple computers at once and partly to balance out the strain on my hand, back, and shoulders. That said, I am unable to use a track pad or eraserhead with my right hand and - I'm told - it's really funny to watch me try.
@Jen,
I seem to remember reading that the majority of women, regardless of which hand is dominant, hold babies on their left side, although lefties do it less than righties. My mother held babies on the left, and she was a lefty.
My husband bought a lefthanded mouse, as he's lefthanded. He couldn't manage well using his right hand. He also has a left-handed circular saw and my mother had left-handed dressmaker shears. Before she got those, she had to cut with her wrong hand or turn the scissors upside down.
@Jen, Both my husband and I are left handed. I am old enough they tried to change me at school back in the olden days. Didn't work. I have always hated how I smear the ink when I write.
We thought one of our children would be left handed but both are right janded.
Oddly, Mr. FG and I are both left-handed, and only Sonia is a lefty. So strange!
@Kristen, If both parents are lefty, there's a 50% that a child will be also.
Which makes it interesting that 75% of our children are righties!
Then again, Mr. FG and I both have brown eyes, but 50% of our children have blue eyes. Genes are weird.
@Kristen, there would be a 50% chance *with each pregnancy* that a child would be left-handed, in your and Mr. FG's "handedness" situation.
Genes *are* weird! I find genetics fascinating.
Based on my understanding, it seems that left-handedness is a rather complex train to trace genetically, so it's hard to boil down to a simple Punnett square.
This guy (who seems to have geeked out on left handedness!) puts the odds between 20% and 26%: https://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/being-lh/children/chance-lh-child.html
On a different note, my parents (both righties) produced two lefties and two righties.
My son did things equally well with both hands as a small child. Our doctor figured he truly was ambidextrous, as there are many lefties on both sides of the family. His teacher could not figure out how to teach him to write -- he would color with one hand until it was tired and switch to the other -- and requested that he choose a hand for that. He chose his right hand, but he eats and does fine motor control things with his left hand. As he grew, we both thought he would have been better to have chosen the left, but he picked the right because his dad and I are both right-handed.
Although right-handed, I do a lot of things with my left-hand or equally as well with the left as the right. This could be a consequence of growing up with a pack of left-handed older cousins and just doing as they did.
@Jen, I'm a leftie, but mouse with my right hand. That's how I was taught and how it was set up. I don't think using my left hand for it was ever presented as an option. I always cut (with scissors, not knives) with my right hand. It's just too weird to hold them in my left hand and I never had access to left-handed scissors as a kid, so never learned to use them.
I think a lot of left-handers do at least a few things right-handed because we were taught by a right-handed person or things are just set up for it to be easier to use your right hand.
@Kristen, are your parents left or right handed? My grandmother was right-handed and my grandfather was left-handed. My dad is hard-core left-handed, but for my aunt, it depends on which parent taught her. She writes and crochets right-handed, but bats left-handed.
Both my parents are righties!
@Danielle Zecher, same here! Leftie but learned to use the mouse with my right hand simply because it was always set up on the right side of the computer.
My left-handed friend learned how to use chopsticks with his right hand so that he wouldn't bump elbows/arms with his in-laws' family when eating with them.
@Kristen,
I wonder if you might be right about that. I am HARD CORE lefties-do everything with my left, could eat with my right hand if it was forced but it would be MESSY, and I use a mouse with right hand.
@Debbie, that's impressive for a leftie to be able to use chopsticks with their right hand! I don't think I could manage that.
I am an absolute disaster using chopsticks even with my dominant hand. Sonia is amazing at it, though.
1. Our silver sneakers classes started back up again after having none for a year and a half!!!! 2. All our old friends were in class and doing well 3. Cantaloupe were good this summer. 4. Cukes were good also...make a good cuke salad.
I clearly hit a common experience yesterday, based on the comments people wrote about clearing out parents' homes, notably about sorting paperwork. To turn that to the thankful, I am thankful my parents were able to pay their bills and taxes with some left over, to have wonderful friends and family who sent them loving cards and letters, and that they chose to use their resources to make the world around them a better place.
I am thankful for people who enjoy their work helping others when I am the helpless helpee, (specifically the women staffing the national and the local Social Security toll-free helplines. Thank you again!).
I am thankful I was able to grow more annual flowers from seed this year, morning glories, forget-me-nots, and nasturtiums.
@Heidi Louise,
Related to what you mentioned first: my mother had very many picture postcards in store, very likely with people in mind. It was wonderful to be able to send my sister a happy fiftieth from my mother's box of cards, and also wishes for a wedding anniversary to one of her sisters. It felt like I was not only wishing well from myself, but also on her behalf.
I also kep a notebook with her handwriting and a crossword book my father never got to finish. It is so dear to me to see their handwriting now and again!
@Heidi Louise, I felt like it was a double blessing to go through my mom's cards (and emails that had been printed off when she was in a rehab unit). When they were first sent, it made my mom feel loved .... when I read it, I felt gratitude for so many people who reached out to her.
You will never have problems making friends. You are a kind warm person.
I am so proud of you for stretching yourself with college classes. I TOO LOOOVE PHYSICAL TEXTBOOKS!
I have 2 left-handed people in my household--hubby and youngest son. My daughter is right-handed, but always played sports left-handed. My brother and one grandson is also left-handed.
On the ambulance/firetruck combo - my SIL is on our local volunteer fire, and also an emt for our local squad. Fire often gets called to assist patients out of houses, etc. Doesn't always have to do with fire or accidents.
@Ohio Farmwife, Another part of the answer is that many cities have more fire stations than they need, thanks to improvements in building design and installed fire suppression systems. Since fire crews have EMTs, they're often called out as EMTs rather than as firefighters.
Thankful for...
1. the weather! I wouldn't mind a few more rainy days, but it's been very enjoyable to go for a walk at lunch and not sweat through my work clothes!
2. Friends. We had friends over for dinner last night, and I was reminded again how much of a blessing it is to have a friend living literally across the street.
3. A dryer! Our dryer died a few weeks ago, and I've been air-drying all our clothes (can't put them outside because of the pollen, couldn't take them to my friend's house, though she offered, because my daughter was on a Covid quarantine and we were being extra-careful since my friend is a preschool teacher). Our new dryer arrived last Friday, and I've been reveling in soft non-crunchy towels ever since.
4. Cooking skills. I'm leaving my job in 2 months to be a stay-at-home parent again, and I'm really, really grateful that I have a lot of the skills necessary to make eating from home on a limited budget not just feasible, but tasty, too!
5. The opportunity to leave my job. So many people in my life don't have this option (single parents, financially strapped to having a 2-working-parent household, etc.) that I have a lot of complicated feelings about *choosing* to walk away from a position whose gross income is above $75,000. But for our family, and especially for me, this is definitely the right choice. And I'm so grateful to have a spouse who has been supportive about all of the different ways of living our life together - single income, single-plus-part-time, 2-full-time working parents, etc.
@EngineerMom,
Easy to say, but you should never feel guilty about setting your priorities (stay at home). I'm not a stay-at-home mom, but I work part-time by choice. 3 days a week, sometimes 4. This is very good for family balance, the fact that I can do chores/errand/appointments during those 2 days so we can all enjoy more relax nights and weekends (both kids are in school). Plus, when I work full-time I become a miserable human being to be around and that sucks for my family! (and myself). I struggled with this for years and years, feeling like I ``should`` be able to work full-time, like my colleagues. Well, I can't. I tried and it was not good. I'm ok with it now, I don't feel like I have to justify it anymore. This is freeing.
@EngineerMom, I’m also an engineer that “retired” early to stay home with my kids. 🙂 I have to say, Working with things in engineering is way easier than working with my kids all day.
@isa, Nope, no guilt, just complicated feelings.
My mom worked for almost my entire childhood - she was a stay-at-home mom during my first year, and HATED it, and then later she stayed home for 2 years during my senior year of high school and freshman year of college (which, by the way, are excellent years to stay home! I really needed her during that transition). So the model I grew up with was a woman to whom her working job was a dearly-loved passion (nurse with a PhD who taught at the college level). I never felt neglected or like I was missing something, especially since as a college professor she usually had the same school year breaks as us kids. But it's always a bit jarring to choose a life that doesn't match the life modeled by your family of origin, or by most of your extended family either.
I also believe very strongly that there is nothing uniquely heroic or virtuous about choosing to be a stay-at-home parent. I think that's a societal attempt to get women to continue contributing their unpaid labor to uphold a cultural dynamic that frankly doesn't respect that labor at all. Between childcare, eldercare, and volunteer work, even stay-at-home parents end up "working" a LOT. It's the same "teachers don't do it for the money!" crap - just because you're passionate about the job you do for pay doesn't mean you don't deserve to get compensated fairly for it!
If society valued childcare, eldercare, and the kind of work that ends up being performed by volunteers, we wouldn't be paying minimum wage to childcare workers and nursing assistants, we would have paid maternity and paternity leave for all parents, and we'd have reasonable sick day policies that make taking care of sick children possible for working adults.
@EngineerMom, I agree with your sentiments entirely. Notice that all those low-paid important jobs are caring jobs and thus traditionally done by women. There's also the trend that when jobs go from being a male role to a female one, wages decrease. That happened with typewriters (the person, not the machine) and clerks toward the end of the 19th century and it's happening with animal vets now.
@EngineerMom, Wow!! I agree 100%
@EngineerMom, Yes to all of this!!
1. For my husband's great outcome from his surgery last week. He has one ear smaller than the other but both doctors did a fantastic job and he is healing well.
2. For the pathology results that came back showing no spread of cancer. YAY!
3. For several days of soft rain this week which means that I don't have to water the garden and my newly planted seeds will grow well and be nurtured.
4. For all of the seeds that were planted in the garden and the fact that they have germinated and are growing so well.
5. For access to great medical care, good food, good shelter, & clean water - things that we often overlook or take for granted.
Have a great weekend!
Your number two!!!
@Angie, so glad to hear of this positive outcome!
I am able to do everything with my left hand because I taught myself to when I was a kid, but I have a strong preference for using my right. For instance, most people will carry items in their non-dominant hand in order to keep their dominant hand free to open doors, shake hands, etc. I always carry things using my right side and then do an awkward shuffling of all the bags, books, etc. when I come to a door in order to free up my right hand. So inefficient, but what my body prefers!
Thankfulness:
My ability to learn quickly is helping me keep my head above water with my new job.
My coworkers are nice and helpful.
I'm very good at adapting to changing conditions, which I'm so thankful for as a teacher right now. Constant adaptation is the new normal!
My immediate family is still healthy.
My house has gone up in value quite a bit since I bought it as a foreclosure eleven years ago, and although it still needs lots of work, none of it is urgent so we are able to tread water on house repairs until my youngest can be vaccinated.
I am able to speak the first language of almost all of my students, and even though my job is to teach them English, I recognize how important it can be to use your native language when you are in crisis, so I am very grateful I can help lower my students' anxiety levels by them just knowing I can understand them if they need to code switch. This year, more than ever, kids need to feel heard and understood.
I'm also grateful that today is a no school day because it is Yom Kippur so I get some extra reflection time mid week.
Really interesting. My husband says he’s ambidextrous and can use both hands. Mostly because he had an accident when he was young and was forced to use his right hand when his left arm was in a cast.
I’m Thankful for …
1) All 3 of my girls. My youngest’s smiles and cuddles. She’s definitely like a bright ray of sunshine. My middle’s willingness and determination. And my oldest’s encouragement and helpfulness.
2) Picnics at the playground and scenic areas near the river and lakes. Gives my family an opportunity to slow down and enjoy our time together and the beauty of nature around us.
3) Sleep. Been really enjoying catching up on my sleep. After a good night’s sleep, I’m energized and feel like I can tackle my day.
4) That the leaves started changing colors. It’s just a few leaves so kind of like a sneak peek into what’s to come. Really excited that fall’s here and looking forward to seeing more bright colors!
5) Sunshine. Since we’ve had a lot of cloudy days lately, it makes any day feel a bit better.
Peaches are on my list this week, too! This week I'm thankful:
* that peaches were on sale at Meijer. We may go back tomorrow to get another bag full since we plowed through the first one really fast.
* for how much fun I had helping with AWANA last night! It's my first year helping and I was a little nervous. I originally wanted to help with the preschoolers, but they got too many preschool helpers and asked me to move to early elementary. I had a blast with my kindergarten group! Now I'm really glad that I get to be with the elementary kiddos. It seems like a good fit.
* for the chance to exercise again. It's only twice a week right now, but they're both good workouts and I'm thankful that I can work on building my strength and endurance back up!
* that I have a couple of friends that love to talk about books.
I really need this exercise today. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and sad about the state of the world. Since so much is out of my control, it’s good to focus on the positive.
• I am very thankful that I adopted Rescue Pup. I am home alone this week, but I never feel lonely with her nearby.
• I am grateful for the seabreeze. It makes the warm days a bit cooler and enjoyable.
• I am thankful for good friends and family. I will lunch today with a dear friend and dinner with my sister. Love is the most special gift of all.
• I am grateful for the positive applications of technology. They make life easier and keep us connected with one another. My middle son who lives 3000 miles away needed help with something today. We connected via cell phone and I took care of his problem within minutes. There is a great big world out there!
• I am thankful that my new microwave Finally arrived and was installed. I didn’t think I used it much until I went six weeks without it.
Btw - why do ambulances and fire trucks always travel together.
Wishing everyone peace and good health.
So, what I read said that they like to err on the side of having more resources than less on a call, particularly when it comes to manpower. Maybe there are other reasons too, but that's the explanation I came across.
@Kristen, As a nurse, I can tell you that the manpower thing is right. If you go into a code (CPR) situation, two are required, one to drive the ambulance, and one left over to drive the firetruck.
Thankfulness - swimming issue.
I am grateful for the lovely people I go outdoor swimming with every morning. They are so kind, and they are so interested in the outdoors. We find ourselves googling plants, animals behaviour and natural phenomena like cloud patterns and well water. Also discussing water temperature and recipes, obviously!
That it is still warm enough to bike to the pond in shorts. We change at the bank, and the closer a garment fits, the more time it takes to get dressed. Shorts are definitely more convenient than jeans or sweatpants.
For being fit and strong and able to enjoy this activity.
For the way my morning swim boosts my mood and focus.
For the way I am greeted by our cats when I return. It is a funny thing to see them on the lookout!
1. Finally seeing my sister in person after two years. It was nice to catch up without using Zoom.
2. Summer weather is almost over. I do not like the heat or humidity.
3. Quality clothing made to last. In a previous post you mentioned Bombas socks. I invested in some knee highs a few years ago and they are still in great shape. Usually knee highs stretch out and sag, these haven't. I hate when knee socks sag and slide into my boots. Worth the price!
4. My Wahl hair clippers and a patient spouse. Hubby does a great job cutting my hair super short the way I like it. Saves quite a bit on hairdresser bills too.
5. Yardley lavender soap. Smells so good and calming!
This Thankful Thursday will have a lot to do with my car:
1. I'm very thankful today that the loud BANG coming from under my hood, which disabled my car yesterday when I was miles from work delivering paperwork to a city office, turned out to be the battery only (it exploded). I have roadside assistance with my insurance, so they had my car towed and my boss came and picked me up to take me back to work. A co-worker took me back to my car today after the shop had checked it out and installed the new battery. Yesterday my kids, one who lives in the town where I work and one who lives in the town where I live, played relay with me to get me home. We met in the middle.
2. I'm thankful we had bought a dependable used truck to get my husband and his scooter around, as I was able to drive it to work today while my car was in the shop. Now my only problem is that I'm 55 miles from home and have both of our vehicles with me. My daughter and son-in-law will help me work that out.
3. I'm thankful for the four different men who came to see if I was okay and if they could help. The first two had been chatting near my car in the parking garage when the bang went off, and they went into a defensive crouch, as the noise sounded like a gun shot, but they quickly came to check on me and see if I was alright and looked under my hood. Another gave me suggestions of things to check and to see if I had a tow coming, and the fourth tried jumping my battery to see if it was dead.
4. I'm thankful that I bring my lunch to work so faithfully, because it was almost 2:00 when I got to eat lunch yesterday, and I was in no mood to have to wait on delivery. I was hungry; I eat breakfast quite early, and it had worn off.
5. I'm grateful that my bosses said it's time to order two new shirts for everyone, so my work wardrobe is about to expand again with Lands End shirts that I get to pick out for myself.
@JD, wow, scary story about the exploding battery! Glad that you're OK and that you had your kids and other people to help.
I’m grateful that someone wanted our crib and toddler bed. I’d posted them for free on my buy nothing group and another local parents group and no one wanted them. I was worried we’d have to pay for a bulky item pickup, plus it seemed like such a waste since they are in good condition and someone might need them. I decided to try putting them for free on Facebook marketplace and the crib got picked up right away and the toddler bed is getting picked up this weekend! So glad they’ll be useful to someone else and out of our garage!
I’m grateful for my coworkers, they’re all really lovely to work with and make work so much better, especially since the work itself is kind of stressful right now.
Grateful for my cooking skills, even on the busiest days, I’m usually able to cook something because I have the skills and can make something very quickly now. Yesterday our blue apron box wasn’t delivered and I’d counted on that for dinner so I hadn’t defrosted anything else. I was able to throw together a quick dinner though without too much trouble!
Grateful for my daily meditation and gratitude practices, they really have changed the way I think and improved my life immeasurably!
It is SUPER fulfilling to give something away to someone who needs it! I feel you there.
@Kristen, Another benefit is that you don't need to haul the things away.
Thankful for:
1. A quiet morning at work, during which I took some required training instead of shuffling it off to the end of the year to do in a panic before the deadline.
2. Our sweet rescue dogs, who were alone in the house most of the day yesterday for the first time in two years and were perfectly behaved in all ways. I came home to clean rugs, dry floors, and three wee girl doggies s0 very glad to see me. 🙂
3. Delicious leftovers, as my brown bag lunches have been especially good this week.
4. For our wonderful veterinarian, who has our elderly cat feeling much better.
5. Time to read: I plowed through Alice Hoffman's new novel "Magic Lessons" in one very long evening. Highly recommended.
@Ruby, There are few things that fill my heart with joy like the greeting from my Rescue Pup. She makes me feel like the most important person in the world. I can’t imagine it x3.
1. I’m thankful for turmeric. It is helping my back pain from arthritis plus I just feel better (more cheerful). I have to be careful though because it will thin your blood and I’m already on a blood thinner.
2. Thankful for our home and that our living room wall is all windows and faces the woods behind us. We love watching the deer, raccoons and their babies each year.
3. For our neighbors down the road past us. We have a family of 6 different households and one of the brothers died recently. We will miss him. He was a kind man and brought us fresh veggies from his garden this summer. I’m thankful we knew him.
4. Thankful that we’ve gradually changed our way of cooking/eating since we retired several years ago. We simplified our breakfast and dinner menus. Lunch varies but we always make a meal that lasts at least two days. It’s so much easier and we hardly ever eat out now. We used to eat out at least 3 times a week and now I don’t even have that desire, plus our favorite restaurant closed and our little town has mostly fast food.
5. Thankful for God’s faithfulness and our devotion to each other during this time of life.
So Thankful for ….
A new book
Aromatherapy
My asthma inhaler
A Fall Capsule Wardrobe
Two rambunctious little boys who bring me joy
A trip to Tennessee to see Fall foliage end of October
1 - Thankful to be in a house and out of a hotel. 90+ days was Wabash too many.
2 - Thankful for the mess in said house right now. Every time I unpack, it's a flood of memories
3 - For my dh and him allowing me to unpack the boxes on my time and not in three days, which was always what we did before his stroke and sextuple bypass. Since I'm the only one, he is very understanding.
4 - For a routine. Being unsettled is tough and I like structure.
5 - That ds happened to be visiting his girlfriend when she fell, hit her head and had to go to the hospital. She was diagnosed with a concussion and could do nothing more than lay on her bed in darkness and silence for the first few days. She is better, but still can't read or drive or deal with much sound. He will stay with her and take care of her until she is medically cleared. 5B - That we raised him to be so kind and caring.
1) All my kids being back in school as of last week - I love my kids with a passion, and also it's really nice being able to get stuff done (or even just enjoy silence) while they learn and get social time.
2) That we were able to quickly and easily refinance our house without going back up in term. (Seriously, 2.5 weeks from when I called to ask about rates until we closed on it, dropping 1.2% and 7 months off the term!) 13 years and we'll be DONE with a mortgage - the end is in sight! I did the math and our kids will all be 18-23 which is astonishing, but that's for another day.
3) For fall sunshine. It's warmer than I'd prefer (90*ish), but it's sunny and nice to be outside - walks with friends, yard work, all the things. AND, it's cool overnight, so we get to sleep with the windows open and listen to the crickets and night sounds ... my favorite.
4) That we have saved well. We just did a check-in with our finance guy, and while we've still got work to do (especially with kid college ...), we're on a good path toward retirement, and that makes me feel very relieved.
5) Volunteers are allowed (masked) back into our school system this year, and it's SO fun being able to engage in that way. I'm coordinating volunteers for the school library this year, and it's a mix of moms, grandparents, retirees from the community, and everyone is just so excited to be there.
TT, Circle of Support Edition: Thankful for...
The RN ward supervisor on DH's nursing home unit, who trusted her instincts and called me yesterday after DH had been refusing to get out of bed or eat for the past 18 hours. I got over there pronto and, after DH didn't respond immediately to my voice or touch, called Dr. Bestest Neighbor for his input. (He's the other of DH's two officially designated visitors.) However, DH must have had a delayed reaction to my arrival, because by the time Dr. BN got there and I'd walked him down to the unit, DH was dressed and sitting up in a chair. I persuaded him to eat about half his lunch, and he's been improving rapidly since then. Furthermore, the supervisor has relaxed the strict limits on visitation for the time being ("Just call ahead first"). Bless her.
Dr. BN, of course, yet again. Bless him too.
All the relatives, friends, and neighbors who have expressed concern. I'm truly fortunate not to have had more than one or two "Ick! Is it contagious?" sorts of reactions to DH's Alzheimer's among our circle over the years. As I know from the caregiver forums on alzconnected.org, a lot of folks find themselves wondering where all their friends went after a while.
Being able to give most of DH's camera equipment a few days ago to a friend who (a) is a very talented photographer and (b) was furloughed from her job at the start of the pandemic. DH would have been delighted that this friend got the stuff, and I certainly am.
So wonderful that you have people rallying around you during this journey. I am so glad for this mercy for you!
@A. Marie, I think of you often. It is truly a blessing that you and DH are surrounded by loving and compassionate people. Wishing you strength and peace.
Thankful for a day off from teaching, the start of the new year is intense and it's great to have a breather.
Thankful for a supportive partner, helpful and understanding, he is my rock.
Thankful for September weather and the feeling of a new year, a fresh start.
Thankful for funny, friendly and sincere work colleagues, they inspire me to do better.
Thankful for my daughter finishing her graduate degree, through tough times and good times, she is persevering and that is a good thing.
Thankful for coffee and espresso.
Congrats on your pursuing your dream of a degree in the nursing profession. How lucky your community will be to have you as their nurse, you will be such a compassionate healer.
That we came back from vacation safely! And the others that met us at the end of our vacation (daughter's family and niece) also arrived home safely. We drove from Florida to Pennsylvania and back.
That at 60 years old, I was able to enjoy a week of bike riding with my husband on the Great Allegheny Passage Rail Trail. We ended up with a total of 144 miles in 4 days. He shared his joy of biking with me 5 years ago for his 60th birthday. Only 1 day was very difficult. And I did fall 1 day (my fault); luckily only bruises on my legs and nothing serious. But they are pretty ugly!
Unfortunately, we spent too much money on our vacation, but we are fortunate enough to have money to pay for it. Thankful that we both are still working that we can afford vacations. Now back to saving for the next one.
Thankful that I made a friend at work and that she has made the difficult decision to make her life less stressful by going to work at her husband's expanding company and leave corporate America. She will be missed, but that is me being selfish. I will still talk to her though.
Thankful for wonderful neighbors! We always seem to find the nicest neighbors. These neighbors love to "borrow" our dog. We don't like to take advantage, but if my husband is working, she will come over and take my dog for a walk; he now waits by the door for her. If I need to be away from the house for a whole day, they will take him for a few hours so that everyone enjoys each other's company. It's a win/win for both!
Oh, I'm so glad that your biking trip was enjoyable!
I’m a rightie and had some trying-to-figure it-out issues when trying to teach hard leftie niece to cook/bake and sew!!
It's thin scrapings this week because we got the official word - as opposed to mere likelihood - that my mother's cancer will be fatal, almost certainly within the next 6 months. It's hard news, even though she's lived a long life on her terms (not always peacefully but family is family) and with her family.
There are two things rattling in my brain right now:
1. I'm glad that my parents have good health care and no financial concerns.
2. As my friend and co-worker pointed out to me, we're a close family and so we will never have to regret not spending enough time together.
Oh, I am so very, very sorry to hear this. Much love to you and your family.
@WilliamB, solidarity forever--and good thoughts to your folks, especially your mother.
@WilliamB, I am very sorry to hear this. My family has experienced several similar losses and it helped us to be close and be with one another. I will be sending loving-kindness to you and your family when I meditate this evening.
@WilliamB, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. My mom died in March and she was placed in hospice care about a year ago, so I can relate to what you are saying. Thinking of you. Keep us posted on how you are doing.
@WilliamB, I am so sorry for such bad news. Your closeness will really help. Prayers for u all
@WilliamB, So very sorry to hear about your mom.
@WilliamB, I am so sorry. Sending you and your family prayers of strength, peace and hope on through difficult time.
@WilliamB, I am so sorry; that's hard news no matter how long you've had together.
@WilliamB, sending lots of prayers your way.
@WilliamB, prayers for you and your family…I’m so sorry.
@WilliamB, I'm so sorry that you've received this hard news. I will be thinking of your mother, you and your family on this new journey.
I'm a rightie but play pool left-handed. It just seems more natural!
I am thankful for a huge improvement in air quality over the last week. After weeks and weeks of smoky skies and falling ash, the western wildfires in my area are finally under control. Today is hazy but its so much better than it has been.
I am grateful for my new HVAC system (heating AND cooling) that was installed this week. Quite a big financial bite, but I won't worry about it my 27 year old unit dying in the middle of winter this year.
I am grateful for my mechanic, who has been graciously providing both free parts and labor to try and fix an ongoing problem.
I am grateful for coworkers who have been driving me to and from work while my car is in the shop.
I am thankful for a niece that I email with most days. We do text but emailing seems almost old fashioned (and still has it's place).
I am thankful that another niece seems to have found her place in the world, at a culinary school. It is highly regarded, in a beautiful location, and she has the support of her long time boyfriend (he is able to telework).
I am thankful for friends. They really are important to keeping your sanity. Yesterday I had lunch with two old friends to celebrate our September birthdays.
I am thankful for family. Not only the family I was born into but the family that comes with marriages (mine and other family members). I have a lot of great in-laws.
I am thankful for somewhat cooler weather.
I am thankful for modern medicine, both the diagnostic and treatments tools available today.
I am thankful for my husband. He really cares about me.
I am thankful for smartphones. The ease of texting, sharing photos, getting directions, etc.
I didn't know you were a fellow leftie! I know a lot of people think it's a bad thing, but I enjoy being left-handed.
I'm not sure what answer you found to your fire truck/ambulance question, but in a lot of places, the firefighters are trained EMTs. In our county, the fire department has a much faster response time than EMS, so they always go to medical calls since they get there first and can do most of the things are time critical. Here, they're also the ones who cut people out of vehicles, so they go to wrecks for that, the medical stuff, and to help with traffic control. My husband is a volunteer firefighter and spends a lot more time on classes/training to keep up with the medical side than the fire side.
This week I'm thankful:
That my husband isn't grossed out by medical stuff. Our dog has a sore on his leg that has to be cleaned and bandaged daily. I'm very happy to be in charge of feeding him cheese to keep him distracted while my husband does the cleaning and bandaging.
That we probably only have about another month and a half left of weekly grass cutting before we get a break for the fall/winter.
1. For a trip to the beach with my husband and some of his surfer friends this week. I have been dealing with a depressive episode and it helped me to be somewhere lovely and be able to find some peace.
2. That my mother-in-law happily said “Sure!” when we asked her a few months ago if she would stay with our kids this week for us to go on this trip.
3. For delicious meals on the trip: I had to go back to one place twice for their fish tacos because they were so good.
4. For things that made me happy this week: being able to read uninterrupted, looking for seashells on the beach, having my coffee looking out at the ocean, game nights with our group.
5. That although I lost a childhood friend last week I was able to spend some time with her during her last days and that I will have those memories to keep.
@Toni, I am sorry to hear of your struggles and your friend. I'm glad that you are able to find happiness during this time.
@MB in MN, Thank you for your kind words.
* Cooler weather. I run 3x/week at 5h30 am, and it`s much more comfortable now.
* Medication
* My kids and husband
* Books
* A paid-for house
So fun to find out you are a leftie too! I write with my left, but I also too, use the mouse with my right hand. I play most sports right-side dominant. I put this down to being shown the right-hand way of doing most things and following. I just had a tattoo done on my left wrist to honour my beloved Grandpa, who was the only other left-handed member in our families. Yay for lefties! So very grateful for the sunshine in our region in BC today-I have loved running after work by Okanagan Lake in the beautiful temps of late, without the thick smoke that was very present for most of the summer. Also so thankful for beautiful local grown apples, healthy adult kids, and a job I absolute love! And my hubby is super great to come home too 🙂 Love your blog-been following you from Canada for almost a decade.
I am thankful that the cooler weather is staying with us at present. I severely dislike our hot and sticky summers and it will be here soon.
I am thankful for two little granddaughters who lill my days with love and giggles.
I am thankful for mandarins..They are my food obsession.
I am thankful for sleep and wish I coudl have a little more of the stuff.
I am thankful for a washing machine as it makes a long and devious chore so easy.
So nice to hear I have a fellow left-handed blogger! (Yes, I'm 'that,' too.)
Ironically, two of my longest friends in Colorado are both left-handed, as well. Almost unheard-of.
Thankful for the September weather. It really is marvelous.
Thankful for my son’s school and teacher. He seems to really like it.
Thankful for more vacation time for my husband. He’s gotten to take some days off to go golfing and some days off to be home with us and I’m grateful he has more weeks of vacation time now than he did when we first started working.
Thankful for my parents watching our kids when I work. They are such wonderful grandparents.
Thankful we live close to school and can walk. It would really be awful to have to sit in that car line every day instead of enjoying the fresh air.