Chilly and sunny, still

Two babes and two beers

I spent a wonderful afternoon with my friend Lily on Sunday this past weekend. It is her last day off for a couple of weeks, so I was very happy she decided to spend it with me. She asked me where I wanted to have lunch, and since it had been a long time since I went to Greene's Corner, she agreed. The important part (for me) was the opportunity to have a good craft beer. She likes porter, which she enjoyed, and I had a Hazy IPA, which I also enjoyed. After we had our beer and pizza, we went out for a walk at Boulevard Park, where I had walked the previous day with Steve. 

It was still very cold, and that continues today. After so many days of sunshine and clear weather, I am ready to return to our usual overcast skies and much warmer temperatures. I think by the end of the week, we will be returning to warmth and rain. I hope I can remember to keep myself upright if it gets slippery. I'll be carrying my shoe spikes, which do no good at all in my pack, but they are there if I need them. I am able to walk and do my exercises much easier these days. It's been almost a year now since that disastrous fall on the ice, and I tend to slow way down when I think it might be slippery at all.

I have a favorite beer that I keep stocked here at home, and I am no longer feeling bad about having a single 12-ounce beer every day. That is one aspect of growing older; what is wrong with enjoying something like that, if it gives me pleasure (it does). My numbers are good, quite good for an elderly person, and I have already lived a full life and deserve to enjoy a bit of the bubbly, right?

Yesterday I got my chills and thrills by driving less than a mile from my home to the home of my hairdresser. It has been a long time since I felt confident enough to drive that far, and it reminded me of the days when I was a skydiver, and I'd be excited and a little scared as I drove to the Drop Zone, knowing I'd be jumping out of airplanes soon. Now, just getting behind the wheel of a car and driving somewhere gives me quite a thrill. I am safe and slow and feel a little sorry for any drivers who get behind me, because I am driving well below the speed limit, scanning to the left and right and making sense of what I am seeing. It must be sunny and clear, with minimal traffic, for me to venture out. I did forget about the sun setting so early, but I made it home without having to deal with the brilliant sunshine in my eyes as it sets. 

I will take a yoga class again tomorrow, but I will get there and home via bus. At some point in the near future, I will be giving up my car, hopefully without any incidents making that day come earlier than I am ready for. I am feeling pretty confident, as I watch my sweet partner recover from his elbow injury and spend his days going to places using the Para-Transit system. Then Thursday and Friday I will enjoy my volunteer duties (now that I am no longer employed). They seem to come around way faster. Hope you're having good weather wherever you are and whatever that means to you.

(smile)