Like everyone else, Dan and I bide our time as we wait for the Covid-19 pandemic to end. We look forward to our lives returning to normal, whatever that means.
We have appointments to get our first Covid-19 vaccinations later this month.
On October 27, Dan had an aortic valve replacement.
Then, on February 1, he had spinal surgery, a laminectomy. This procedure is intended to relieve the nerve pressure that caused pain in his back, hips, and legs.
Therefore, Dan has spent much of the winter convalescing.
His back surgery restricted him from heavy lifting, and, until yesterday, I did all the driving.
During our 47-year marriage, Dan has done 99% of the driving when both of us are in the car. I don’t like to drive, and I appreciate Dan’s willingness to take the wheel.
Dan and I have differing approaches to driving. Dan’s goal is to arrive at his destination as quickly as possible. He takes the most direct route, gets angry at traffic lights that slow his progress, and critiques other drivers.
My goal, when I drive, is to arrive at my destination with as little stress as possible. This means I often take non-direct routes to avoid confusing roundabouts and the necessity of making left-hand turns in heavy traffic. I pay little attention to other drivers and don’t mind stopping at red lights. Those pauses give me a chance to put in the next CD in the audiobook I’m enjoying.
When I must act as Dan’s chauffeur, the patience of both of us is tested, but we persevere.
During our long marriage, we have learned to work out differences, work through conflicts, and work with each other, in general.
The operative word in that paragraph is work.
We enjoy watching birds eat from two feeders that hang off our back porch. Cardinals, sparrows, doves, and woodpeckers have entertained us during our forced semi-hibernation.
The birds ate together peacefully until yesterday when a flock of starlings descended upon our backyard. These big birds are aggressive and greedy. All other birds were driven away while these rude pigs of the bird world emptied both feeders before noon.
Today we bought a new feeder designed to discourage starlings. We also bought safflower seed, which starlings supposedly don’t like to eat.
We’ll see.
We haven’t returned to church on the weekends but are happy we can stream services.
I read a daily devotional from Mornings With Jesus. (I regularly get this book as a Christmas gift from my friend, Jan, and give it as a gift too.)
Dan has returned to his old hobby of creating string designs, and I am embroidering.
We read and watch a little television.
I do a bit of writing. (I will have an article published in the Boomers section of The Daily Journal on Saturday, March 6.)
Dan naps and waits for his back to heal.
The highlights of each week are visits from the kids and grandkids.
This is life, as we know it, during the winter of 2020/2021.
The Happy Geranium 
Thank you for sharing a bit of your life. 🙂
Mimi, thank you for following my blog and commenting. I always enjoy reading about what’s up with your family! Stay well!
🙏 for healing for Dan
Gayle, thank you for reading my blog and commenting. Dan is healing well. Thank you for your prayers. Hope you and your family are well and happy!
Glad Dan is healing well. Hope it hasn’t been too hard on him. COVID seems have given some people time to catch up on hobbies and probably start new ones. I love what you two are doing.
The new norms are a much needed change for some and certainly a challenge for others. You guys seem to
be comfortable adapting to change.
Stay safe and keep these wonderful articles coming.
Thank you for your kind comments, Shirley. I hope you are doing well, staying healthy, and keeping busy!
Hope Dan continues to heal. Warren also had a heart valve replacement last March just when Covid was starting up. He also had to have a pacemaker. So I can identify with the changes that brings to your life. I’m a bird watcher too and have always loathed the “dirty birds!” We have had bluebirds this year which is a real treat!
Carol, thanks so much for following my blog and commenting. Getting old is tough! I hope Warren is enjoying better health after his heart procedures. I am amazed at the intricate surgeries that cen be performed through tiny incisions! We are blessed to have access to such wonderful medical care.
Debbie, may Dan continue to heal from his surgeries! Hopefully the forced rest from healing, as it coincides with Covid shutdowns, doesn’t make him feel like he’s missing out. The string art and embroidery are beautiful! I loved the photos you shared! You guys are certainly using time productively. I understand and appreciate the humor in the driving differences. 🙂 Paul and I differ in our laundry philosophies, grocery shopping, and most other tasks that need to be done on a regular basis. Lol We’ve agreed to the work divisions and it’s agreed that whoever does the task gets to do it his/her way without criticism from the other. (He’s very good about not criticizing, and I try hard to remember I agreed to not do it either!)
Pearl, your agreement with Paul that “whoever does the task gets to do it his/her way without criticism from the other” is a wonderful guideline. The challenges to a good marriage are numberless: parenting, managing money, sharing household responsibilities, etc. I hope homeschooling is moving along smoothly for you. At least after you’ve taught the older of your two children, you have good lesson plans in place for the younger one. Tough as it may be, I think homeschooling is a fabulous choice for you! When the next school year begins, all four of our grandchildren will be in a Christian school. I am so thankful for that opportunity.