The forgotten recycling

I forgot to set out the recycling bins today.  Where I live we have to pay for someone to come by and pick them up.  They come every other Tuesday.  I have it marked on the calendar but it is the hardest thing to remember!  The recycling is my responsibility because my husband just won't do it.  He's not a earth hater or anything; he just doesn't want to be bothered with it.  Sometimes he will throw a milk carton in the trash I am sure just to bug me.  I will run over and retrieve it and put it over into the blue recycling bin.

I hate it when I forget stuff.  I know everyone does but its really frustrating.  If I could have a super power, I think it would be to have the power to turn back time.  Today, I would have moved it back to 11:15 a.m. so that I could have put out the recycling bins before the truck got there at 11:17 a.m. since that is when the "sorry we missed you" hanger said they were here.  It would be an awesome power to have.  I would have turned back time on September 22nd the year my friend's son was killed.  I would say, "Now, Gregg, go put on your helmet before you get on your motorcycle even if you are going 500 yards to your grandfather's store."  But no one has that kind of power and its a good thing.  We have to learn to be responsible for our actions however trival or careless they may be.

So, it is really no big deal.  I will just smash the cans and papers down a little harder to make more room.  If we accidentially throw away a milk carton, it won't be the end of the earth as we know it.  We can manage another two weeks.  We have done it before.  I will just make myself a big note to not forget again.

How thankful I am

It's been a difficult summer.  It's kind of been a difficult year actually.  But through the problems of life, there are things for which to be thankful.  My mom has a rare form of dementia called Lewy Body Dementia.  It is sort of like Alzheimer's except the person has some short-term memory and knows something is wrong.  Her reality is all mixed up with her dreams and hallucinations.  She falls often and has broken three bones in the last year.  She does know us and that is a blessing.  Her health has deteriorated at an alarming rate this year and we are well aware that our time with her is short.  I am thankful for time.

Our youngest daughter was laid off from her job last December.  Considering how talented she is, we assumed she would have another job in no time but that was not the case.  As summer came, it was apparent that she was not going to be able to pay her mortgage.  Luckily, she was able to move in with her cousin  and rent her home.  She went on numerous interviews and second interviews.  How many times can a person be the runner up?  Last Friday she got a new job.  A wonderful new job.  I am thankful for work.

Our oldest daughter and her family moved to East Tennessee in August.  For my daughter and son-in-law it was going "home" to where they grew up.  No longer having them close by has been difficult.  I realize now I took them being close for granted.  I should have spent more time with my daughter.  I should have spent more quality time with all of them.  I see my past being relived.  I see my parents making trips back and forth on I-40 to East Tennessee.  I see our young family making numerous trips to Nashville.  I know now how my mother felt then.  So, I will focus on making some memories when we are together.  I am thankful for family.

It has been a difficult year but it seems they get more difficult as the years go by.  Maybe the problems seems harder and the situations more difficult because of my age.  Maybe it is the reality that the good years are behind me instead of ahead of me.  When we sat down for our Thanksgiving dinner at my parent's house, my father would have everyone say one thing for which they were thankful.  It is a nice tradition that we have continued even after his death and our mother's illness.  I think it was a way for him to be reminded of all the wonderful things we have to be thankful for even when life gets difficult.  God has blessed me in so many ways.  I really have no reason to complain.  I am thankful.