As I sat in front of the TV last night I began to wonder what I had accomplished during the past few hours. What is a day like in the life of an 81 year old widower?
I got up around 7:30 a.m., dressed, went to the kitchen and took my pre-breakfast pills. Then it was a half-hour spent reading the comics and looking at the obituary page. At this age one does have a tendency to check on one’s friends. Then it was time to get breakfast (a bowl of shredded wheat with banana and coffee), and finish reading the paper. By this time one can check to see how the financial markets are doing, check the weather channel, and then get some cleaning up done. Like, run the sweeper. Nothing like a little exercise. I Then remembered that there was laundry to be done. I went to the basement, made my bed and did two loads of laundry. My usual pattern is to make sure that I am around when the dryer stops so that the clothes can be folded and put away with a minimum of wrinkles. Ironing is not my thing so most of the shirts, etc. are permanent press. Since the computer is in the basement there is time to check a couple of out-of-town newspapers, e-mail, and some financial records. Then it is time to get my lunch and take a short nap. The mail came with the latest copy of my news magazine so time is spent reading that, then checking the market close. That is 2 p.m. local time. Time fritters away. I check my mutual funds at 4 pm and then watch Lou Dobbs for a while. By this time it is time to begin thinking about supper. In the past Betty took care of that while I watched the local and national news programs. We sat down for supper in front of the TV and watched Jeopardy together. Last night I watched the news and during commercial breaks prepared a broccoli soup from a mix. When it was nearly done I added some frozen broccoli spears. A couple of large bowls of that and some ice cream and a cookie filled me up. The rest of the evening was spent watching the aforementioned TV. Actually I usually skip Tuesday night TV until Boston Legal comes on.
When I stopped to think about it the day wasn’t all that different from most days in the past few years. For a long time now Betty and I have gotten our own breakfasts and lunches, and done our own laundry. It just worked out that way. And it certainly was no big deal. I (along with my siblings) grew up doing laundry and house keeping. We had a wise mother who made sure that her sons would be “good” husbands.
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2 comments:
Sounds like most of my weekends. Sometimes on weekends we don't say anything much to each other until dinnertime. But you sure notice the difference of one of us is out of the house, or not their at bedtime. Always in the mind and heart whether doing something together or not,I guess.
It sounds like a great day to me. I hope my next vacation day is as nice. I carry Paul with me wherever I am. I don't know what I would do without him.
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