The title makes this sound like a post about how when things start out pretty bad, they can only get better...
But actually, "When you can only go UP" was Big A's text that accompanied this forlorn picture of Huck on the family chat. She loves to scamper up the back stairs, but freaks out about the descent because they're floating stairs and she could fall through them. She used to be fine with them last year, but probably had a close call and decided that was enough. Now, she'll just mope until someone notices and carries her downstairs. (She looks so darn adorable peeking through the slats though!)
However, in the things getting better department:
I'm happy to hear that the National Guard will be withdrawn from Chicago (also LA and Portland, but Chicago is where At lives now).
The lights over the dining table have been very flicker-y for a couple of days. We've put in a call to the electrician, but in the meantime, we've been eating our dinners by candlelight. I knew I'd be all over it, but Nu and Big A really enjoy the cosy vibe as well.
I've been doing things... with people again. Earlier this week, I went to a movie with friends. We were supposed to get dinner after, but the movie was Hamnet and I cried for at least 70% of the movie and so I came back home. I got coffee today. I'm getting brunch tomorrow. It's not all walks and bookclubs either.
School starts up on Monday for Nu and me. I can't wait to get back to the three R's--return, routine, and regularity.
18 comments:
yay for the 3 r's! I remember the early days of grief (for me, the whole first year was early days), and you are also living another r-- resilience.
This is an "up"lifting post, apart from poor Huck's dilemma. I understand it -- open steps kind of freak me out too. I think you were profoundly brave to go see Hamnet. Some of the sections of the book near the end are so searing in their writing of grief that they took me back years. But sometimes we need good, purging cries. And I'm glad you are getting out to movies, brunch, and life again. And I have to say dinner by candlelight sounds divine! All wishes for peace this year -- in our world and in your heart.
Poor Huck! Those open stairs would be unnerving but they are also so pretty! Good thing he has humans to rescue him!
I am happy about the national guard news. But things are quite bleak in MSP. A right wing influencer tried to visit a bunch of daycare in diverse areas of our city and said that there is massive fraud because he would be let in, or the daycares were closed. But he visited during the holidays when some daycares close and of course any upstanding daycare would not let a random guy in with a camera crew. So now payments to daycares from the govt are being suspended and some will likely close as a result as daycares are not a high margin business and it will hurt the most socioeconomically challenged residents and gah. I am so so so done with this BS. Sigh.
Ok, something positive to close - I am at my parents and my mom is making a homemade potato soup for lunch. I hate to even mention seeing my mom on the tails of you losing yours, but it is very nice to be cared for by her.
When Barkley was ill, it was so hard for him to go up and down stairs, we had to carry him. It just became normal. Then when we got Rex, we were amazed at how easily he went up and down stairs because he's so huge. We have floating stairs in our house as well and when Jake was recently dog sitting, he brought the dog (Freddie Mercury!) to our house, and she was very nervous to go up and down the stairs. I kind of forgot that not every dog is 100 pounds!
Poor Huck! I love the idea of people coming to her rescue and carrying her up and down--Dog Porters, all of you.
I'm glad to hear that you are feeling sociable and enjoying Out & About time. And that you're homing in on Good Things. Even when we have to look a little harder, they are there. XO
A film about grief is really hard when you’re in the middle of so much grief. It popped up for me a few times. I cried when William said, “My boy!” Which was about Mulder for me. Sigh. Our dog Genevieve almost fell down our stairs a couple of times, and then stopped going up. When I told the vet, she said what a smart dog she was. Not sure that is a comment on Huck though. At least Huck is small enough to carry, so there is an easy solution. Gen was too big for me to carry easily up and down.
I’m glad about the National Guard too. News is very mixed, and WTF with the daycare story Lisa mentioned.
I do imagine it would be hard for you to see that film now (I haven't yet but I loved, loved, loved the book).
Just from casual observation, I think they might be reducing the number of troops in DC, though there's been no official withdrawal.
Oh, poor puppy! Lucy sometimes tries to jump on the couch and misses and then will be unwilling to jump for a few days and it is so sad.
I've only read the book but my goodness, that movie must have been SO SAD.
So happy you're doing things with friends. Best wishes for the return to routine.
Happy New Year
Honestly, I sense that vein in you still, Sarah... Hugs.
Thank you, Jeanie. While, I loved the book a ton too, this was one of the few movies that was better than the book... my companions agreed.
Please, Lisa! Tell me all your mom stories... If anything I'll treasure them extra now <3.
I'd been hearing about all the hullabaloo with the MN DHS defunding, but had no idea this was how it started! Didn't something like this happen at a Planned Parenthood in the oughts?!
Aw, Barkley! Yay, Rexie! And I love Freddie's name... Scout was too big to fall through, but he was terrified of these stairs and preferred the other stairs. We always thought that was a sign of his intelligence, somehow.
Dog Porters :D.
I conveyed this moniker to A, I'm not sure he likes it... :D :D
That movie, J! That moment totally got me, too.
That must have been so difficult with Gen... The not being able to carry her and knowing she was getting older...
I am so glad to hear that about D.C., Steph. I wondered if the court's decisions would have any impact because of tyrannical hold over D.C.
Wasn't that book just amazing? I loved it too. Such an English nerd dream.
Thank you, Allison. For some reason, now I have a reel of Lucy and Huck as buddies doing little doggie things and sharing a nice gossip! Maybe they'll do a podcast!
Thank you! Happy New Year to you!
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