At 9:42 last night, I got two phone calls and a text from the same number. The text said, "I want to f***(spelled out) you. Call me." I called the police to ask if I should be concerned. The officer said it was probably either a wrong number or a prank. I managed to calm down a get a good night's sleep. The call had a Tallahassee, FL, area code. That doesn't mean the caller was in Florida. Many people in Hawaii have area codes from where they used to live. I changed my number after I had lived here for several years.
I watched an Esther Gokhale video on walking this morning. She reminded me to use my glutes to push myself forward. In the last few days, I made a point of walking on the outside of my left foot. I had a podiatrist tell me the importance of that when I was nine. Everything old becomes new again.
I was expecting the Sears Maintenance service today. I wiped down the store top and countertops. Mike and I would always say, "Where are guests when you really need them?" That served as our motivation for doing a thorough cleaning. I also cleaned the library coffee table in preparation for Sandor's visit either tonight or tomorrow.
While I was cleaning up, I came across a picture of Mike. He could be so sweet. He had moments of childlike goodwill, innocence, and joy. I sat there looking at his picture and said, "You were so sweet! So sweet!" There was nothing childish about Mike, but he did have some childlike qualities. They were delicious. They brought a big smile to my face. I could feel my cheek muscles and realized I hadn't smiled that way in a while. Damon, his son, has similar qualities. My mother, who was often a pain in the ass, had a capacity for childlike enthusiasm and joy. It is a wonderful trait.
Fortunately for me, the Sears man needed to use the bathroom. I warned him that the guest bathroom hadn't been used in a while. I couldn't guarantee it. He came out to tell me there was a leak. There was water on the floor. I could see that the water was coming from inside the cabinet under the sink. When I opened the cabinet under the sink, I could feel that the base was wet, and the plywood had buckled.
I texted Scott and B. to ask if either of them thought they could help me with this or if they could recommend a plumber. Scott said he had a doctor's appointment but would stop by after that. B. also called. He was on his way over to Hilo to visit his grandkids.
Scott got here around noon. The Sears man arrived just in time. The water from the leak was heading to the newly laid carpeting in the guest bedroom. Scott said he thought he just had to tighten something. He went to his car and got a wrench. After tightening it, he concluded that the tubing was corroded by hard water. I would have to buy new tubing from Home Depot. When I do, I will pick up two new ceiling fans, a solar attic fan, and a bottle of ammonia.
I called August next. It was his birthday. Seventeen!!! Seventeen!! How did this happen? I sang my much-appreciated version of the Ross Happy Birthday song. August thanked me. I suggested that I had a professional career possibility. He went along and proposed a site where I could advertise to sing for the beloveds of others for a price. He is turning into someone who can stand a conversation with me. Lovely.
While I was on the phone with him, Jean R. called. I called her back immediately. I don't usually call her. She is always busy or napping, so I wait for her to call me unless I'm desperate for contact. She proposed that the two of us call August together and sing Happy Birthday. No, not the Ross version, even though her last name is Ross, too. She kept her name from when she was married to Mike. She wanted me to join her even though I had already done my song. I took a few tries before we got a conference call set up. Jean counted, "One, two, three . . .." and we let loose. It was wonderful singing together with her. I love my connection with her. I wonder how it makes August feel having his grandmother, Nana, and step-grandmother, me, Oma, sing harmoniously. It made me feel great.
I am getting fed up with most of what I have to watch on TV. I did find a film called "Quartet," starring Maggie Smith. It takes place in an elegant retirement home for retired musicians. It combines incredible music and an old age romance. Ah! Just what my nerves needed. Dustin Hoffman is the director, although the cast is all English. There must have been 20 to 30 people in the cast who were over sixty and residents of the retirement home. There were about four people under the age of forty. We need more about old people's lives.
I had called Dorothy earlier in the day and left a message. She finally got back to me. She was busy taking care of business after a few days without electricity. She had to go to her friend's house to retrieve her frozen food. She had to clean water out from the floor of her refrigerator, the result of melted ice she had bought to try to keep some food fresh.
I had called her because speaking to her is comforting and because I had finally figured out an accurate description of what made The Hidden Face of God special. This is a book that spends more time talking about all we don't know. Most science books emphasize what we do know; What we don't know is truly impressive. For the author, the unknown is unknowable and is evidence of the intelligence of God. I can live with simply not knowing; maybe there is a God and perhaps not. This has nothing to do with what I believe. I choose to believe in God because it brings great comfort to me, and I don't believe it does harm to others. I hope not. (I see many people's beliefs resulting in conflict with other people's beliefs – and often harm. )
Today, I ate the plum I bought yesterday. Wow! I love the sweet and sour combination.
Today, I call the company that Sandor told me that his father-in-law got the acoustical material from. I was asking about a soundproofing system that is used between floors in high-end condos. When I told this guy what I was interested in, he gave me information on what they had available. Confused, I asked him if they provided the materials for work on high-end condos. He repeated what he had said before. He clearly had no idea what I was talking about. I thanked him and hung up.
Sandor stopped by as promised to drop off the book request lists from the seminary. He had marked every book he took that would no longer be available from the seminary request list. His taking books helps me out, less for me to pack and mail. He promised to come by tomorrow to pick up the books he wanted and help me find some of the books on the list for shipping.
I started watching The Balloon Academy last night. I had no idea what it was about beforehand. It's a superhero story, sci-fi fantasy. However, it stars Ellen Paige. I don't seek out superhero stories, so I don't know if this one is different from the others, but it seems to have more depth. Maybe they all do. Whatever, it is fantasy and seems to be less stressful.
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Musings:
Those who listen get praise for being caring. Those who talk are criticized for being all about themselves. I used to be a constant talker. It was easier to talk than listen. I think it was simply easier to be doing than not doing.
Nowadays, I'm both a listener and a talker. Sometimes listening is just easier than talking, sometimes it's more interesting than hearing my own thoughts, sometimes it's more comforting than just hearing my own thoughts. Whether I listen or talk, it means connection.
One factor in my conversion from a constant talker to a mixed listener/talker was a surprise. It happened after I made my audio file with 90 minutes of phonemic transcription. I concluded that making the audio file enhanced my auditory perception. The physical impact of speech sounds on my nervous system became more satisfying.
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