New Friends and Catching Fish

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Ah, the summer is within reach now. We have had warm weather through this past couple of weeks and it has been fulfilling my wish for that heat. Rain and cold has been around long enough!

I don't really care for heat, per se, but love to wake up, put on a pair of shorts, and then live my life with a bit of freedom from shivering or from heavier clothing. Terry loves to don his warmer clothing as well, in shorts and t-shirts. It makes life nice. I don't know. There's just something about the freedom to move through your day without living in the cold. 

Well, last night I got a call from Mallory. Nothing unusual, but this time the call included information about something new in her life. It was happening. She went to the store and happened upon a man who had a black lab beside him. Being an animal lover, she asked if she could pet him and found herself immersed in the unparalleled connection between human and beast. 

After a moment of being in a blissful state of petting fur and puppy kisses, Mallory found herself in the midst of a conversation about becoming a dog-walking friend with this man. That led to chatting later and now a date tonight with this man, at a restaurant. She was nervous and asked if she could come over to help keep her calm. 

Once here, Terry and I asked more about this new man, this interest in her life. She told us his background, at least as much as she knew thus far. There was texting between the two until about one in the morning, and then the date was coming in a few hours. She left a bit later, ready to go home and prepare for the big moment. At least she can say he's not a catfish, as he's not someone who has been hooked online. 😊😀😏😕🎣🐟🐠

If you follow the blog, you know Mallory did what Terry and I did to connect with each other. We found our happiness on Plenty of Fish, the dating site. Both of us had our fair share (and then some) of catfish, not so pleasant people, and even men who wanted to invite me to the woods to have sex (can anyone say, "Creepy?"), and women who did not meet Terry's idea of what type of woman he wanted. The day I met Terry, I was actually on there to cancel my profile. I had given up hope. Fortunately, he had read a message I had sent a few days earlier and chose to reply. We began to message each other and the rest is history. 

Mallory tried the same platform and did find a nice guy. His name was John and he had a daughter the same age as Mallory's son, Hayden. Now this all sounds great and was for a while. Time passed, finding the two not quite so compatible. There were small issues that Mallory felt she could not contend with as a good mother, so that was that. She offered to remain friends and he suggested the same, but she has never heard from him again. Obviously it was not meant to be. 

This was a more organic meeting of people. The new person was someone she saw first, in person, and without the influence of it being a dating site, adding pressure to the eye-to-eye meet up. This was enhanced by chance, by the universe, bringing the two together. While we don't know the outcome of the future, who knows? She may have just found her soulmate. If not, quite possibly a great friend to hang out with. She told me his dog was adorable, so maybe she has a pair of friends in the dog and owner. 

Terry and I turned on our favorite show, The Resident, and absorbed another episode of the show. But one is seldom enough. We munched as we binge-watched one more episode before slumber. 

Sunday, May 19, 2024

This morning led me into a couple of paths I didn't expect. A few days ago, I found a woman on Facebook whose name I recognized as a friend of mine from many years ago. I used to spend the night with her and her family. She was the oldest in a family of five girls, all of their names beginning with 'S'. Later her family moved and she disappeared from my life, as we often see in childhood friendships. 

Today I wrote to her, reminding her who I was. She wrote back quickly, but I was shocked by her reply. She had no idea who I was and had never lived in Eugene. Never having any siblings, it blew the idea of her being the friend of long ago that I was once close to.  

As we talked, I found she was married. Her husband was deaf and was renowned for his skills in helping deaf children in his life. Her son was also deaf and cannot speak. What an amazing story these three people have to describe their lives. 

Anyway, I do not feel right in giving details when I do not know this woman, but we have talked about being friends anyway. She lives across the country from me, but it's always nice to have friends, and especially those who you have respect for. Their struggles as a family that they endured for so long led them into a life of helping others. How can you not have respect for people like that? So then there's that. 

A new friend and a joy in having friends that may be farther away from you, but in the end you know it's a good thing. There is always friendship via heart connection, sharing the laughs and not-so-good times across the miles. In today's world, with all the technology, we have made that a pretty simple task. 

Today we have nothing. I mean, absolutely nothing planned. Without an event or an outing or adventure, it makes it relaxing, yet without material for a post. We just returned from Walmart and driving through the VA cemetery again, wanting to see the deer. Once again, nothing. No deer. No does. No bucks. No fawns. Nothing besides more geese. Those guys are breeding like there's no tomorrow in sight, but no deer. 

I have even made an attempt at looking up why there are no more deer in the area, but to no avail. I will pose that question in my Roseburg area group to see if someone may know, but until then, I guess our photography trips through the cemetery have come to an end. 

We returned home. I began to write where I left off upon leaving. With a new friend and my daughter having a nice dinner with a good looking gentleman, and my sweet man being himself, the week has been good. 

Terry and I begin our workweek again tomorrow, as does most of America. Not bad, but it does mean work again. Between work this week, I believe I will be cleaning house and taking care of some things. 

Terry still has his heart monitor for about 11 more days and I am still without my boot, cast, or wheelchair. I do still rely on the walker once in a while, if I know we will be out walking for a while. 

The right leg is the one that was injured and while it does turn purple in color still, the swelling is going down. I am walking, but with a limp still, at least until I convince my brain I am able to walk with full weight on that foot again. Learning to walk normally again is quite the challenge. I never thought it would be as difficult as it has proven to be, but I am quite happy in the improvement over the past couple of weeks. 

Terry tells me how proud he is of me and I do believe I'm proud of myself as well, for making it through this experience. There were times I thought I was kaput in the good mood department when it came to wheelchairs or walking with casts or not being able to walk at all. But we have made it through. I'm at the finish line now. A couple more weeks and I can even drive again! Now, if I can only sleep without feeling the metal rod and screws in my leg again ... or having nightmares about the fall and how the ankle slipping out of place and breaking my lower leg in three places felt and sounded. Once I remove myself from those images and feelings, I will be 100% healed. 

I have been so blessed through all of this. Friends and family have been there with encouraging words and displays of love. I love you all and thank you for sharing kindness with me. My pain level was zilch and that surprised all of us, including the doctors and therapists. The medical and therapeutic team had chemicals at hand, ready to stop the pain before it hit the hardest. But that pain never came. 

It does shoot pain, swell, and turn pretty colors now, but nothing as bad as I thought would keep me down. My mind went to the scenario of writhing in pain until I could not sleep. But I have been so blessed. 

Until our next blog post, take care of yourselves. Shine your light! Stop and count your blessings. Thank you all for reading!