I'm a big fan of November. I love when it feels fully fall. I didn't ever feel like I got the entire month without air conditioning or heating in the house, but that's ok. I'm trending toward more comfort and less stingy.
It's been a busy couple weeks. The Husband's haircut was great. He's almost ready for another one, but we really like the place and I like the woman who did his hair. Then after a couple weeks it was my turn. Finding a new hair person is as troublesome as finding a new doctor. I was so nervous upon arrival I was ready to toss my cookies. But - she was kind, pleasant, listened and actually expressed a plan. I'm anxious to see how it goes. My hair is w-a-y too thin and fine to change it much, but I've long desired a bit more hair around my ears and a slightly different shape. The guy that's been doing it for 25 years did ok, but mostly went on auto pilot. Any ideas I had for change were mostly ignored. The best part: I felt pampered. And felt like it was not only ok to be pampered but actually kind of mandatory. I haven't had anyone wash my hair in decades, got a little neck massage in the process and walked away full of hope. It is taking some time to figure out how to use the large brush / hair dryer, but I'm getting there. It's only been a few days. Might have to get some new "product" but so far, it's not too bad and I've even had a couple people say my hair looks cute. Mostly the same, but slightly different.
I'm loving my new purse. Even had a couple compliments on it, also. It feels odd, but oddly fun to have someone express "like" for something on or about me. The new purse is almost perfect (size, proportions, quality, pretty much everything). Best one I've had in ages. And yes, it's a crossbody. Social media aside (and I'm not really into most of it, I really dislike so many aspects / consequences of it) I'm 75 years old and don't care that a crossbody "ages" me, don't care about the trends. At this point I'm w-a-y more interested in comfort and practicality and if I can get it, cute. I consider this purse a win for me. The picture makes it look way more purple than it is, I'm loving the color.
We went to Springville to celebrate our youngest grandson's birthday. He's such a fine fellow that we love so much. We love all our grandchildren (though most of them are full adults now). Wish we had been allowed to know some of them more. One is getting married in Hawaii in January, and of course we won't be able to go. Regrets, yeah, I have a lot of them.
My friend that I've ministered to / visit taught for years and years is on hospice. She's looking a bit worse every time I see her, even if it has only been a few days between visits. Her mind still seems pretty good, but her body is failing. When she told me how little time she has left I cried. Then Sunday night, my good friend from the Bishop's Storehouse called, we had a three way conversation. She has cancer in the liver. A secondary cancer they believe started in her lungs. It's lots of places in her body. She's at least ten years younger than I am so it feels young to me for her to be so ill. I'm weary of people I care about having such issues.
And it's into the holiday season. I splurged on some half price "wreaths" for the front door. The door is glass so that means I have to have two. They are gussied up twig stars and I love the way they look. I love Christmas and the celebration of Jesus Christ. I kind of loathe all the expectations / gifts / stress that this season brings. They're already announcing the ward Christmas party and I won't want to go. It would be so good for The Husband and I never want to limit him but these social things are nearly always truly more than I can bear. For Christmas I never know what to give people - there are so many obligations. And often the things we give (in spite of the thought and effort and concern I've put into them) are immediately tosssed or given away. And now that we are trying so hard to be so careful with our funds, it's even more difficult. Our daughters are great, and they never have expectations or complaints or criticism or anything negative. They are such a blessing to us.
Our walk this morning ended up in the light - Daylight Saving time should just go away, IMO. And today is beautiful. My heart aches for those who are in the midst of flooding. We have needed the rain so, so much. But they've had too much all at once. It makes me sad.
I have lots more thoughts, it's been too long since I put them here. I began a weekly email check-in to each of my children and somehow that has taken the place of my blog, though I try much harder to be less verbose in those emails than here where I just go "stream-of-consciousness". So I should just wrap things up for today. I try to always be grateful but I think it's really beneficial to actually put in writing things I'm grateful for. I'm grateful for our home. It's a burden - and an expensive one at that - but the thoughts of living somewhere else fill me with dread. I'm grateful that the shirts that seem to be my sort of uniform through the winter aren't completely threadbare. Though the cuffs and collars are constantly needing threads trimmed. I've looked and haven't found affordable replacements. Eventually some will go on sale where I like to buy from and I'll get one or two then. I'm so grateful for good books to read. And a cupboard that still has food. I'm grateful for my hope in the Savior who will make right all that is wrong. For everyone.
p.s. I've tried to get a picture of my new purse on here multiple times but they've changed something yet again and it is beyond my capability. Hopefully I'll figure it out soon. Pictures are completely necessary.
