“This summer is kind of a bust,” I said to my husband this morning. I was limping around our kitchen on my very arthritic knee that has deteriorated over the past month until some days I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to get up off our couch again.
Being able to believe that your team might make it to the post season is a luxury the Cubs are not affording me this year.
BUT HARK!
There is Za’atar spice waiting to be delivered to you! And the jalapeño plants you gave me are beginning to produce fruit, so salsa and various other delectable things are on deck!
The beautiful thing about baseball is that it's a very long season. We were where you are, in the basement of the division, just a few weeks ago. And you're only half a game behind us. Anything is still possible. We're not even to the All-Star Break!
Glad your jalapeno plant is producing and thanks for the za'atar!
Thanks so much, Don. Yes, great minds think alike. I read a post somewhere else the other day—why does everyone after 40 start paying attention to birds?
Um, because birds are awesome. And fascinating. It’s called wisdom.
Oh I do know. Just in the last three weeks the last of the tightness down the back of my hamstring disappeared. It's been 2 years. Most of the pain was gone a year and a half ago and I only felt it at night, but it ended up taking its own sweet time to disappear. Not even sure it was anything I "did". I guess it just needed time. I hope yours is much faster.
Glad you did heal, even if it was slow. I know how frustrating it is when you’re being kept from doing the thing that’s so important to you—walking your trails and taking your gorgeous pictures. Walking around our town is such a core part of who I am, it’s hard not to be able to do it.
I love reading your newsletters. I almost always find myself overcome with emotion with all the little details that speak to my soul. It's a nice reminder I'm not alone & that sometimes the little things are all we've got, and that's okay. :)
I love the present, “today-ness” of this, Robyn. I can also relate! Heat, languishing plants, languishing summer plans, hugs from a partner who works from home (I love those hugs!), the joy of finding a good solution to an editing dilemma. Thanks for sharing all these daily, human details.
Maybe hormones. Maybe just something in the air. I think a lot of people are having a bleh sort of week, which is good to know. It’s not just me or you.
This is beautiful, Robyn. I particularly love, "We stop what we’re doing in the kitchen and step into each other’s arms. To have that affection on-call at any moment of the day is one of the greatest blessings of my life, one of those things I never knew how much I needed until it was there." Really captured a moment there. And thanks for the reminder to look for the very tiny berries.
Thanks so much, Linda! Not surprisingly, my family of origin is not very physically affectionate. And they made fun of couples who were physically affectionate (still do). The first time my husband held my hand, I was so bothered. I’d been taught that it was a weakness to need or want touch. Thank god I un-learned that bullshit.
Being able to believe that your team might make it to the post season is a luxury the Cubs are not affording me this year.
BUT HARK!
There is Za’atar spice waiting to be delivered to you! And the jalapeño plants you gave me are beginning to produce fruit, so salsa and various other delectable things are on deck!
The beautiful thing about baseball is that it's a very long season. We were where you are, in the basement of the division, just a few weeks ago. And you're only half a game behind us. Anything is still possible. We're not even to the All-Star Break!
Glad your jalapeno plant is producing and thanks for the za'atar!
I can relate to so much of this, Robyn; the hugs, the pleasure of editing, the bird song. I think we have similar appreciative minds! 💚
Really good writing, too! Very engaging and pleasant to read. Thank you!
Thanks so much, Don. Yes, great minds think alike. I read a post somewhere else the other day—why does everyone after 40 start paying attention to birds?
Um, because birds are awesome. And fascinating. It’s called wisdom.
Sending love that you find some ways to work through the challenges. Raspberries are picky. Blackberries are much easier!
Thanks, Karen. I believe my knee will get better, but as you know, being patient with the time it takes to heal is a struggle.
I’ve thought about blackberries, but I love raspberries so much!
Oh I do know. Just in the last three weeks the last of the tightness down the back of my hamstring disappeared. It's been 2 years. Most of the pain was gone a year and a half ago and I only felt it at night, but it ended up taking its own sweet time to disappear. Not even sure it was anything I "did". I guess it just needed time. I hope yours is much faster.
Glad you did heal, even if it was slow. I know how frustrating it is when you’re being kept from doing the thing that’s so important to you—walking your trails and taking your gorgeous pictures. Walking around our town is such a core part of who I am, it’s hard not to be able to do it.
I love reading your newsletters. I almost always find myself overcome with emotion with all the little details that speak to my soul. It's a nice reminder I'm not alone & that sometimes the little things are all we've got, and that's okay. :)
That means the world to me, Ellee. The small things add up, hour by hour, day by day, year by year. Love you so much. ❤️
A beautiful post, Robyn. Thank you.
Thanks so much, Kathy! And thanks for the restack.
I love the present, “today-ness” of this, Robyn. I can also relate! Heat, languishing plants, languishing summer plans, hugs from a partner who works from home (I love those hugs!), the joy of finding a good solution to an editing dilemma. Thanks for sharing all these daily, human details.
You’re so very welcome, Emily. Some days, it’s hard to make enough space to see all the good things along with the rest.
Yes!
This is beautiful! Thank you for this!
You’re so welcome, Leah!
maybe I'm just hormonal today but that bit about the raspberries getting smaller and smaller just really got me 😭
Maybe hormones. Maybe just something in the air. I think a lot of people are having a bleh sort of week, which is good to know. It’s not just me or you.
I don't know, this sounds like a...really nice summer? ❤️
Lol, it’s all a matter of perspective, isn’t it? There are so many good moments if we just pay close enough attention.
This is beautiful, Robyn. I particularly love, "We stop what we’re doing in the kitchen and step into each other’s arms. To have that affection on-call at any moment of the day is one of the greatest blessings of my life, one of those things I never knew how much I needed until it was there." Really captured a moment there. And thanks for the reminder to look for the very tiny berries.
Thanks so much, Linda! Not surprisingly, my family of origin is not very physically affectionate. And they made fun of couples who were physically affectionate (still do). The first time my husband held my hand, I was so bothered. I’d been taught that it was a weakness to need or want touch. Thank god I un-learned that bullshit.
Sending well wishes for your knee and for the summer!
Thank you so much! That’s so kind of you.