I was up and out of bed at 7 am even though I didn't have to leave the house until 9:30 when I went to church. I was so distracted by my feelings that I didn't think I did my usual long Sunday morning walk with Elsa. I did, however, remember to take a garbage bag with me. I shared my feelings when Judy and Paulette picked me up for church. It always helps to know someone cares about my point of view. I don't feel so isolated.
When I got home, I contacted Ken Kilkuski, our over-the-top fantastic contractor who worked on our house for several years. The work started in 2012 while Mike and I lived in Ohio. We discussed our plans with Ken and then left him to it. He did work on the flooring in the two other bedrooms and the library and completely renovated the master bathroom, enlarging it and putting in a glass door to the back garden. When we told people he had our credit card, we heard gasps. The man was wholly trustworthy, and his work surpassed our expectations. I had a plaque made for him when he finally finished our kitchen renovation after we moved in. "Designed and Built by Ken Kilkuskie 2015" and presented it to him at a dinner at our house with his family present. He found a place to put it up in our kitchen. He said it was a joy to work with us. The feeling was mutual.
I wanted to run my ideas past him for the sound insulation between our floors and Yvette and Josh's ceiling. They could hear every sound. She said she was good with my sounds and Mike's, but she had difficulty when other people lived there. I can understand that, but I don't want to live alone for the rest of my life. I need domestic companionship, someone who hangs out in the same space as I do: two animals sharing a barn stall. Something fundamental. It's a lot of what I shared with Mike. He was someone I was completely comfortable with. It was a pleasure living on one floor. He always felt nearby, even in the library, and I was on the lanai, the equivalent of being at opposite ends of the house.
Ken recommended that I not start with what I had in mind, ripping down their ceiling, installing expensive acoustical tile, replacing the drywall, and painting it. He recommended that I start with the upstairs flooring. The room over their bedroom has a laminate, which creaks. Not good. Ken sent me information on what I could use to insulate that flooring. It would be cheaper and less disruptive for Yvette and Josh to do it that way. I would have to do that eventually. Starting with the flooring would be better all around.
I lay on my love seat/antigravity chair sofa, read some of last week's NY Times, and fell asleep for a long, deeply restful nap. When I woke up, I read some more. I finally got up to finish the cleanup project I had started earlier that morning. The other day, I had complained about some materials a workman had left at the front of my house. I have also been negligent about letting stuff accumulate there myself. The beach chairs and sand toys are still there from when Shivani visited months ago. I had put a few things away, but the larger objects had to be moved into the shed. I got those put away.
I came inside and read some more. As the sun was setting, I went out to walk Elsa. Josh was in the driveway, and we had a chat. It started drizzling. You never know when what begins as a drizzle will turn into a downpour or stay a heavy dew. Elsa and I made it out and back without getting soaked, only slightly damp.
I sat down to work on the blog. Yvette came home and stopped to visit. She said she had gone to the movies to see "The Joker?." From everything I had heard about it, I knew it was not a movie for me. She said it was not disturbing because it was unrealistic.
I recalled when I had done a paper for a Children's Literature course for my Master's in reading. The assignment was to compare various versions of a fairy tale. I chose "The Three Little Pigs." I noticed that the more realistic the portrayal of the pigs, the less violence, and vice versa; the less realistic the portrayal, the more violence. I love seeing things like that for myself. I love seeing patterns, particularly when they are not obvious. What can I tell you? We all have our own idea of what's fun.
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Musings:
Every religion talks about how to treat others, but I am beginning to believe that Christianity is different in its perspective. At every mass, there is something about God's love for one and all, even the rejected or those from a foreign land.
Buddhism advocates respect for the life of every living thing, making no distinction between humans, all humans, and the most humble animal. The problem with this perspective is it is too abstract. Making it all living things dilutes the message of dealing with other humans, regardless of their group membership or status within a group.
I am not an expert on Judaism or Islam, but I suspect that while they emphasize moral behavior, their concern is for those within the tribe. This is where Christianity differs. It may be an accident of circumstances. Since the Jews refused to accept Jesus's message, his emissaries had to reach beyond the intended group and realize the value of people of other backgrounds—or maybe it was God's will that forced their hand.
I know that both Islam and Judaism have a message about treating others well, but I don't believe it is the constant theme as it is in Christianity. If anyone knows something different, please let me know.
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