Hal Borland, Author
and New York Times journalist once said:
“Summer is a promissory note signed in
June,
Its long days spent and gone before you
know it,
and due to be repaid next January.”
With the temperatures in the single digits and the flu
knocking on our door, I wished I had bottled the blue skies and warm
temperatures of last year’s June and saved it for this year’s January. A friend posted on Facebook that she wasn't leaving her house until the temperature exceeded her age. I responded that I would see her in May.
The last
time I ventured out in the bitter cold was to take my late bloomer husband to “urgent
care” and then to the drugstore to stand in line for our doses of Tamiflu. He's sick but I am taking the anti-viral as preventative medication. After all somebody has to make the Chicken Soup.
January is normally one of my favorite months of
the year. The short-cold days are really a blessing enabling me to
concentrate on my ought-to-do list. After the busyness of the holidays, I like
to regroup and organize my dysfunctional house. The pantry, drawers, and
closets are badly in need of being cleaned out. The problem is deciding what
comes first. There is so much to do, I am easily distracted and flit from one
project to another. As a result nothing gets done completely—just enough that I
can call it quits and live with the mess a while longer.
One of my biggest chores is organizing our 2014 bills and
paperwork so that we can begin estimating our quarterly taxes. I’d rather get a
root canal and the cost wouldn't be much different. Then I get to shred a box
full of papers containing personal information. My office will look like it snowed
in there by the time I’m done.
My foremost desire for 2015 involves two more rhyming words: "Quills" and "Stills." I want to pick up my “Quill”
and finish writing my latest book, then organize the boxes of “Stills” begging
to be put into scrapbooks and digitized.
But first I shall turn on the fireplace, fix a cup of hot tea, and enjoy
the “Thrill” of having a warm house and the good health to enjoy all the
blessings of January.
Reading your writings give me a good idea of how life is on your side of the Equator. Thank you for sharing and making it so interesting, Frieda dear. Carleen
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading this today & can't believe it's almost the middle of this month. I always want to "regroup" and find myself "flitting" from project to project also. Maybe it runs in the family; however, I am also very thankful for a warm house & a new day. Smiled a lot at this blog, also hoping Charles is better!
ReplyDeleteFrieda, I am having all the same thoughts. The cup of tea and a blanket and good book are always a nice distraction if you want to procrastinate a little longer. I am a good influence I can see. Happy New Year. Sit by the fire an hour longer than you planned. Miss you.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Frieda!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your tax plight so much. Taxes were a huge headache for me for years. For the last few years, I've found it helpful to organize financial paperwork right away. So, as soon as I get a financially related document, statement or receipt, I place it in the appropriate place. Makes taxes a breeze later on.
ReplyDeleteLouisa Coppinger @ U.S. HealthWorks Kent