During August, as I enjoy some travel time, I’m sharing some of my favorite and your favorite posts from the past year. I’ll look forward to seeing you again in September. ~Lisa
Today’s post was originally run on 6/13/12
We have a skunk family living under the house behind us. It’s so fun to watch them scrabbling around in the garden with their little tails stuck in the air, all attitude. I’m not foolish enough to get close, but from a distant, they’re terribly cute…
…until they dug up my vegetable garden.
I came out the other day to find my pepper plants all felled, my tomatoes tunneled under, and skunk-sized holes among my Swiss chard. There was dirt and seedlings flung far and wide.
Trying to maintain a good attitude, I am grateful that I even have a garden in my urban environment, and that there are critters that get to share this space. But, as it’s Whiny Wednesday, I’m dropping the Pollyanna act for today. Grrr.
What are you muttering about between gritted teeth today?
My whine for the day is that my husband had a small heart attack last week (at 52 years old). He looks like he’s 30 and is extremely fit so it was a huge shock. It appears to have been caused by a too strenuous workout at the gym, so his doctor thinks he will be fine. However, it was really scary. When I got home from the hospital at 11 pm the first day, not knowing if he would be okay, I sat in our empty house and thought this is what it would be like if he died and it was awful. My next thought was I was glad we did not have children because raising them alone would make the situation worse because I wouldn’t be able to fall apart, I would need to take care of them and help them while they were falling apart. It has given me a whole new perspective on my childessness. The door of trying again at my age is permanently shut and that’s fine with me.
Wow, Maria – that’s scary! It reminds us to appreciate every day. It also reminds me of a friend who lost her husband a few years ago (no kids) and the stupid things people would say – like “well – at least they don’t have kids”. As if the pain was diminished because she didn’t have children!!! It bothered me so much to hear someone say that. I really hope your husband is doing well. Take care!
Thanks J. It is a reminder to appreciate every day. It made me think how much time I wasted feeling down about not having children, when I could have been enjoying my life with my husband. Maybe it was the kick in the pants I needed to let it go. He’s doing really well and I’m grateful for the wake up call.
Maria, so glad to hear that he is doing better!!! I hope if was just a freak thing, but make sure that he gets a few opinions and that the matter is thoroughly investigated. And yes indeed, things like this are wake up calls that we need to be present in each moment and move past regrets from the past and fears of the future.
Maria — so scary!! Glad he is doing better! (((hugs)))