Mornings With Faith & My Heart Beat

The weather is in the low 60's to low 70's when Faith and I go for our morning walks. And yes, we're walking these days, not hiking. No, Faith is running -- I'm walking. 

My heart rate is still bothering me as it  beats too fast when I walk. More like I'm running some kind of race. 

I had my last heart test, a calcium score, this past Monday.

The various heart tests have been spread out over the summer months so I'm not overly concerned. I just want some solution/medicine -- I don't know a thing about heart disease, no one in my family had heart problems. Errol's mom suffered from heart failure, but that was very different from what's going on with me. 

So I don't know what to expect, but I'm pretty sure it won't be too bad. 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Canyon View

Swedish Death Cleaning

Some of the books that I kept with the Tiffany clock I got from the University of California when I retired, and an owl with a book, no idea where it came from.

I've always been pretty good about cleaning out my bookcases and closets, donating what I no longer want or need to the library and thrift stores in town. Not sure I would call it death cleaning, but I guess if you keep up with the cleaning, you will be safe just in case.

Not until I heard about the book Swedish Death Cleaning, by Margareta Magnusson, did I realize it was a part of my DNA. 

Apparently, frequently going through stuff, keeping only what we love and need, is a part of Swedish culture. 

Recently, I became more serious about this. At my age, leaving very little behind becomes a more serious concern, as does the need to face up to the very real possibility of needing to move. To our town or, depending on how well I will hold up, or not, to an assisted living facility. 

I started with my books. It was easy to go through them and take those I wanted to donate to a thrift store in town. 

Another shelf of books I kept with two cards from Jane, an American Flag card from the Wounded Warrior Project, and a small van I found in the shed.  

I smiled as I looked at the few books that were left. They are the ones I love and will treasure for the rest of my life. 

I have another bookcase in my bedroom where I keep some of my most favorite books, including those written by my friends. I will probably keep most of those books. 

More later about all my clean up projects.

Sunday Morning Reflections ~ A Poem

 

This morning, I'm posting my favorite poem here. 

I was about 15 years old when I first read this poem and copied it on a yellow piece of paper. I still have that paper. Later, I learned that the poet, Rabindranath Tagore, 1861 - 1941, had written about 50 volumes of poetry, Gitanjali (Song Offerings) 1910, is the one I'm most familiar with. 

In 1913, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. 

I don't know the name of this poem, I neglected to note it when I copied it so many years ago. 

I have since read many of his poems about love and love lost and been touched by them, but this remains my favorite. 

I walked along a path overgrown with grass when suddenly I heard from someone behind, "See if you know me?"

I turned round and looked at her and said, "I cannot remember your name."

She said, "I am that first great sorrow whom you met when you were young."

Her eyes looked like a morning whose dew is still in the air. 

I stood silent for some time til I said, "Have you lost all the great burden of your tears?"

She smiled and said nothing.

I felt that her tears had had time to learn the language of smiles.

"Once you said," she whispered,"that you would cherish your grief forever."

I blushed and said, "Yes, but years have passed and I forget."

Then I took her hand in mine and said, "But you have changed."

"What was sorrow once has now become peace," she said. 

R. Tagore

Yellow Land

It's very dry here now, I can't remember when it last rained. This is not unusual, on the average it rains one day each month in June, July and August, but I don't remember any rain this summer.   

 The average is two days for September and October, so hopefully, some rain will come soon.

I'm sure those few days help vegetation and animals a lot. 

And when it doesn't rain as expected, both suffer. 

While waiting for the rain, I will see how well Mark fixed the water leak from my outdoor pump, maybe it can be unfixed a little so some water drips out. 

Faith and I Discuss Our Blog

 

Me:  So Faith, do you think our new blog is ready to take off  now?

Faith: I don't know, I'm no blog expert.

Me: Me neither.

Faith mumbles: You can say that again.

Me: I didn't hear that, what did you say?

Faith: Nothing important.

Me: If you look at me when you talk to me, maybe I could hear you better.

Faith: Is this better?

Me: Much better. Now, what do you think about the new blog, will I keep it up?

Faith: I don't know, you just have to keep at it, writing away, telling stories, posting pictures. I think the more you write, the happier you will be. And then others will be happy to visit us here.

Me: Such wise words, my dear sweet friend.  I don't know why I'm so hesitant. 

Faith: I don't know either, us dogs aren't exactly known for being hesitant. Full speed ahead for us.

Me: So true, I can learn from you.

Faith: You already learn so much from me, every day, you just don't know.

Blogging

When I started my first blog in 2009, the one where the comments disappeared and no one was able to comment anymore, I was 69 years old. My husband was alive, we had four dogs, we hiked all the time, we took trips, we were really alive and enjoying our lives. 

So I had fun things to post about. 

While I'm happy with my life now, I feel a bit insecure about returning to blogging -- what will I write about now -- after all, some days, I seem to do nothing much at all. 

So I want to thank you for your comments on my last post, a while ago now, welcoming me back. It made a difference and now I will just write whatever comes to mind and enjoy myself doing that, as well as reading your blogs.