© irene waters 2016
I feel as though I have been gone a very long time. Not that I haven’t been having coffee. Probably I’ve been having more coffee than I should. I just haven’t been sharing my coffee with you, having a natter as we sip. Please come in and join me. Tea? Coffee? Something else? I have most things. It is mid morning Saturday here, perhaps you are at the end of your day and would prefer a wine.
If we were having coffee I’d tell you I have just been through one of the most stressful periods of my life but perhaps as the stress is occurring those that have been bad before hand fade into insignificance. I can remember being stressed when my Father died and at the same time my husband was kidnapped as we were in dispute with our business partner in Vanuatu. I can remember saying as legislative changes occurred in rapid succession when we had the shop that I found it more stressful than Vanuatu. Now I find this is the most stressed I have ever been but its over. At least I hope it is and I can feel my positivity returning.
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that finally I can walk again. I think I have done away with the mobility scooter I have been using for dog walks. I have some pain, a lot of swelling but I can walk. Each day it gets easier and I am imagining that I will be back dancing (even if slightly modified) by the end of November. I think at this point that I am imagining that if you have bunions, hammer toes and foot deformities I will be recommending surgery but do it at a time when you aren’t also putting your house on the market.
If we were having coffee I’d be whispering “I think we’ve sold.” We’ve got over all the hurdles other than the purchaser’s finance so there is still a chance it could fall through but we are hopeful. At least it gives us a breather so that we can again look as though we live in our house rather than keeping it as a showroom.
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that we are getting excited about the cruise to New Zealand that we are taking at Christmas and New Year. We wanted to avoid all the festive hype but we are probably just swapping one for another. Even so it is going to be what we need to fully recover as there will be nothing to do other than eat, sleep and relax and take part in the ship’s activities or hide out on the balcony of our cabin.
If we were having coffee I’d tell you I am excited at the essay I had published this week. All the articles in this issue have great interest as they are all about death, dying and the undead. Mine is a personal essay
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that there is also a new Times Past challenge out. This month we are looking at collections – yours or someone elses. Would love to know what collections you know about. Already I have been reminded of so many items that I either had or others I knew had collected.
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that my mother had two friends visit from Sydney. We went out for meals twice whilst they were here and I found it staggering to realise that between the five of us we had over 400 years of life experience. It was fun hearing anecdotes of just portions of that time.
Now if we were having coffee I’d want you to tell me what you have been up to. Have you read any good books lately?, seen any good films? Thanks for dropping in.
Part of the Weekend Coffee Share hosted by Diana.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
You and Roger did pile a lot onto the calendar. So glad to know you’re over the biggest hurdle, and it seems the imminent sale of this house will also allow you to purchase the home you want. As for that surgery, I did wonder about having surgery done on both feet at the same time. Notice I did not put the word “crazy” in that last sentence. LOL
As for stress in my life – the elbow accident has had me begging for a do-over of Sept. 16. Don’t know when I’ll be able to use my arm again and I sometimes worry that “never” might be the correct answer. But I don’t ever want to relive 2015, one of the worst years of my life, and not for anything I could have prevented. And as a mom, there was always great stress in worrying about our kids, especially when I had to work and they sometimes needed me when the boss demanded I stay at the job.
I’m not sure that anyone doesn’t have great stressors in their life, but I’d love a break frankly, and not the kind I have in my arm.
So glad you and Roger will enjoy the winter holidays on a cruise. New Zealand sounds wonderful.
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We never learn. This time perhaps we have but only time will tell. I was crazy having both feet done at once. One has gone really well but the left, like you with your arm, I wonder if it will ever come right. No don’t relive 2015 and you are right. We all have stressors in our lives and it is just a matter of dealing with them appropriately. Like you, I’d like a short break at the moment. Hope you have had some improvement in your arm since we last spoke. I’m sure that given time you will improve even if it never returns to totally normal but fingers crossed for you that it does.
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I’m so pleased you have survived the stress and are starting to walk out the other side. You definitely had some things to contend with. I hope the sale goes through and you get to enjoy your Christmas – New Year cruise. It sounds delightful. Congratulations on your essay. It’s an interesting read. Best wishes for better days and less stress ahead.
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Thanks Norah. One thing is definite, I will come out the other side. It is interesting that sharing makes it so much easier to deal with. Just goes to show the healing properties writing can have.
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Glad things are looking up 🙂
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Thank you Helen.
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I am the one who has been gone a very long time! I didn’t know you had surgery and I am assuming it was foot surgery. I’m considering looking into having bunions removed. They hurt so bad at times it’s barely tolerable. Glad to hear your house has sold and you will be moving soon if all goes well. Another matter I’m thinking of doing…not just there yet. Thank you for the coffee!
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Welcome back Deb. I’ve caught up with you and hope your world straightens out a bit for you. My surgery was bunions and hammer toes and I’d do it when you have the time to put your feet up for probably 12 weeks, certainly at least 6 weeks. I think though that eventually I am going to be really pleased that I took the plunge and did it. Already I can wear shoes (as long as they are wide enough to fit my swollen foot in.) You’ll know when the time is right for you to move. This is the longest we have lived in the same house and I hope the next one will be even longer. I’m a bit over the packing but I’m very excited at the change. Thanks for dropping by. Take care of yourself. Big hugs.
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So sorry about the stress you’ve been through. I, also, have been through a very tough period in my life so I can relate.
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I’m glad you have come out the other side of your stressful time. I hope I’m also coming out. Thanks for visiting.
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Irene…..not totally there yet and the hurt will last a long time. Maybe the rest of my life but I’m learning to go on with my life and live with it. I hope you can do the same and I’m so sorry you have experienced such hurt! I do hope you are coming out the other side!
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I hope the hurt fades for you Rosemary as you live your life. It’s hard to live with scars. I am definitely coming out the other side. Thanks and I hope you get to the other side soon also.
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Thanks for coffee! Stress does take a toll and we all need to break away from it most of the time. It’s always the best choice. Hope everything works out soon. Glad you have something to look forward to for the holidays. I wish it would come sooner, the world needs Christmas now.
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That would be so nice to have Christmas now. I’m sure I will get through my stress. Thanks for visiting.
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I am pleased to learn that you have survived the stress and start walki g again. I hope the sale of your house goes through. It is nice you have trip to look forward to later in the year. Have a pleasant week.
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Thank you. It is always nice to have something to look forward to even if it is just a book we have been wanting to read. I hope your week is good.
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Good luck with your house and that’s great that you’re mobile again! Your trip sounds wonderful – can’t wait to hear about it! 🙂
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Thanks for dropping in Kathleen. I’m sure to let everyone know what the trip was like. I’m really looking forward to it and it will be a good time to relax and get the head back in order.
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So happy you are going on a cruise! Bring on the dancing!
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I hope the feet are up to dancing by then. Should be fun.
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The timing of the cruise sounds perfect to me. You will not have to clean up, put up, or entertain, so you can take it at your own pace. New Zealand must be incredible too. Bon Voyage, and good luck on that sale. Thanks for the cuppa.
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Thanks for dropping by. We chose that time on my husband’s insistence that we have a year when we don’t have to go through all the Christmas hype although I wonder if we are just swapping a lot of partying with people we know with a lot of partying with people that we don’t yet know. I think it will be lot of fun and no cleaning up sounds superb.
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