Rocking Chair Journey: Looking Back

Rocking Chair Journey: Looking Back: This past year was not near what I expected. I know it wasn't, although I can’t remember what I expected.   I’ve forgotten a lot of...

Looking Back

This past year was not near what I expected. I know it wasn't, although I can’t remember what I expected.  I’ve forgotten a lot of things, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t expect to break my hip. Nor did I expect to have to learn to walk again. I’ve always heard that if you do it right the first time, you won’t have to do it over. I’d tended to that little walking project eighty-six years ago and I must have done it right because I’ve certainly walked a lot over the years. I guess a person can’t put a lot of faith in some of these old sayings.

Anyway, I’ve learned to walk, and like the first time, it’s taken me almost a year.

Almost as important, I’ve finished two of the manuscripts that I was positive I had finished five times before. This time I’m positively positive that the job is done. I know this because I do not intend to read them again.

So I’m moving on with my writing, I’m now reworking my third story

which is actually my first, but it gets a little complicated at this point, so I’ll spare you any explanations and move on.

In the back of my mind there is a niggling thought that I should be thinking about doing something with these stories other than storing them in my computer files. However, I don’t multitask as well as well as I once did, so instead, I’m continuing to work this third story,
which is really my first.

 Nowadays, I like to finish a project before I go to the next, and I'm

beginning to realized there is a huge problem with this way of doing things. With ten more chapter to revise in this third novel and a sequel under way, I'm looking at two more years before I reach a stopping point. No way, is this acceptable!

Okay, I’ll work on this hitch in my mode of operations tomorrow–or the day after…I may need to make a list of my plans. Or, maybe I need to plan to make a list. That fits my schedule much better.

I'm flexible–this past year proved that. That nice, because I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm stuck in old habits. Of course, most of the changes of this past year were forced upon me, but I never protested, never complained…uh, lets skip this part of the past year.

Anyway, There's been a lot of changing going on, and a few were voluntarily undertaken. This year, for the first time in my life, I went through Christmas without a tree. My choice. I enjoy decorating a tree. Removing those decorations is not on my list of fun things to do. Since removing the decorations is tiresome, and living all year with a fully decorated tree might cause a few people question my state of mind, I chose to do without a tree. I’ve missed it, though.   I guess making this cone "tree" decorated with old junk jewelry could be called a minor  accomplishment of the year. I've intended to make it–or something similar– for years. Finally did it.

One more major time consuming accomplishment for the year is the disposal of over four hundred pieces of the decorative aluminum ware that was filling my closets and shelves. Did the same with some dishes and other odds and ends. Took pictures, measured and wrote descriptions, Wrapped, weighed and mailed each thing. The trouble is, I don’t feel I’ve accomplished anything with this project. The empty shelves have not become a reality. Neither has the hoped for tidy workroom. Instead, more unneeded junk has appeared, and has resisted all my efforts to create an orderly household. The battle continues–me, against all the things accumulated in sixty-nine years of keeping things that might come in handy someday. The keepsakes, our parents’ belongings, and the ‘good stuff’ that came from flea markets and garage sales, because it was priced so low we couldn’t pass it by.

I should do something about this accumulation.  I guess I can throw away the old valentines from the second grade, but what if I wanted to look at them again. What if I can’t remember the name of t                  hat boy that chased me with a little grass snake? No, the valentines are keepers. So is the third grade spelling prize, and that little memory book that everyone wrote icky poems in and told you what a wonderful person you are.

I guess I’d better leave all those things alone and get serious about selling on eBay and see if I can clear out the junk in the garage before it sneaks back into the house. But this is all really good stuff.  It might come in handy some day. There’s a 5-gallon crock jug with a hole in it–actually it may hold eight or 10 gallons. I can’t measure its volume on account of that hole, and there’s a McClellan army saddle and…wait a minute…surely I don’t need that.

Now, I hope no one gets the idea that I’m confused. When I get old I expect I’ll have moments of confusion, but for now, my thinking is as clear as a Texas sky (never you mind that Texas skies get a little hazy at times). Maybe I should say my thinking is as clear as the ding of a bell– no that brings to mind the word dingy. Besides, some bells tinkle, some bong, and some clang, so let's forget about how clear my thinking is and move on to what this post is all about–accomplishments and plans.

Except for rearranging the contents of closets and cabinets time and time again, hoping to find some arrange more suitable for my changed lifestyle, and stocking some extra batteries in preparation for the next power outage, I fear I've covered the year. In writing, it looks a bit short on accomplishments–but I've just remembered, two months of 2013 were spent away from home as a hospital guest and having a grand ole time in learning to stand on one leg, stomp my feet, and play brain games during the required recuperation time in a couple of therapy facilities. I'd much preferred to toss beanbags and practice opening cabinet doors while at home, but then I would have missed those weeks of 4:30 AM meds and all that broccoli and pasta.

Anyway,  I know exactly how I’m going to spend today. First I’ll take a nap, then I’ll hunt a pen that will still write (I have a box full of ones that no longer make a mark but except for that, they look almost new and ought to be good for something)  then I’ll get a sheet of paper–no little notebook with dozens of pages, this time. Just one sheet of paper and a pen that will write, and I’ll start jotting down all that I can remember of those plans I was planning to make.

Oh my goodness! Here I’m already thirteen days into 2014 and this was supposed to have been posted ten days ago. That's what happens when you don't have a list of your plans. I once had a list, but it got longer instead of shorter so I tore it to shreds.

I’m a little concerned that I’ve put off posting this account of my 2013 achievements. I think I had plans to add a few goals for 2014. I'd better get cracking or February will soon be here and I'll still be sitting here wondering what I’m supposed to be doing.

As always, your on on the ball, well organized, sane and happy blogger.

Dannie