Almost too much sunshine

Ships in the harbor and blossoms

I did say "almost," didn't I? We have not seen such wonderful warm weather in months, but these past few days have been incredibly beautiful (64°F or 17°C). We are actually experiencing warmer-than-normal temperatures, after months of below-normal stuff. I am loving it, but if it were to get much warmer, I think I might be needing to pull out my summer duds. See the beginning blossoms on that branch? First of the season!

We had a fine day yesterday walking around Squalicum Harbor, getting our steps in and looking forward to visiting the final winter Farmers' Market after our walk. In two weeks, the first day of the regular market will begin; Saturdays filled with a chance to peruse the market. I of course bought myself a scone from The Scone Lady, a local bakery that makes scones as fluffy as a cloud. Melanie introduced me to them, but she doesn't get them herself anymore since they have dairy in them and she's staying away. All the wonderful goodies she makes are gluten free and sometimes vegan.

On Friday I had my final interview with Rainier Hearing to get a final adjustment to my hearing aids and find out how I'm doing with them. One thing I had noticed is that traffic sounds had a hollow sound to them, and while I sat in her office, she adjusted them until now if I didn't know better, I'd swear I wasn't even using them!  But I can still hear all the fabulous birdsong and wonder when I stopped hearing the chickadee calls; now I hear them incessantly and they always bring a smile to my face. I am so happy I made the leap to the hearing aids, even if it wasn't an easy process, or cheap. 

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. —Joseph Addison

Although I am a neophyte octogenarian of only a few months, I am finding myself enjoying life quite a lot and have stopped thinking morose thoughts about how little time I have left in life. At first it was a bit of a shock, to realize that I am now eighty and that most people think of that time as our final years, since only a few people make it much longer than this. My body is still working well (letting me do much of what gives me pleasure) and my mental processes still seem mostly sharp and functional. However much time I still have left is unknown, but I have reached that time of life when one usually ponders about the meaning of it all. At least that's how it has worked out for me.

Today is an odd Sunday, one where I will not be going to breakfast with John. He went to a late-night party and decided to cancel our usual schedule. I ended up sleeping a little later than usual, but it doesn't matter, since once I finish this post, I am able to decide when and where I'll get my morning coffee. That's the one thing I usually need every morning: coffee to start things off in the right direction. And I mean good coffee, not warm brown water like some places serve. We have a French press coffee maker here at home, and we sometimes use it, but I actually have become somewhat of a coffee snob and prefer tasty espresso to start the day.

I have had my friend down in Seattle on my mind, Linda Reeder, who is in recovery from another hip replacement. I'm not sure at all how many surgeries she's endured recently, but I cannot help but put myself in her place and think of how hard it is to get over major operations like that. I know my own ancient knee surgery in 1994 was very hard work, getting back into shape enough to resume my activities. And it was only an ACL replacement using my own patella tendon. It took many months of hard work, but it was worth it. However, I don't think I'll be needing any major joint replacements between now and when I won't need this body anymore.

I dreamed about Linda last night. I was at her home in Seattle (which I have never actually visited) and she and her husband Tom showed me around the place, which I feel I know quite well from all her wonderful blog posts over the years. It was a technicolor dream, everything bright and sunny, but now I've lost the thread of the dream. I think I was there to help somehow, but now I've forgotten it. No need to try and recapture the dream, because it's now gone back to wherever they emerge from.

Tomorrow is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and the first day of fall south of the equator. It still astounds me that the world is so huge that we don't all have the same climate system at once, when the instant connection we have through the news media makes it feel like a pretty small place. But it's not, and if you really want to have your mind expanded, take a look at the Astronomy Picture of the Day to really get a sense of one's own insignificance. I visit it every morning when I sit propped up in bed, like I am doing right now, writing a post (Sunday) or visiting the news cycle and seeing what's going on in the lives of my fellow bloggers. I usually get out of bed at 6:00am, but on Sunday I only need to be ready for John's arrival at 7:15. Today I am unmoored, cut free from any schedule at all, once this post is written.

There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. —Douglas Adams

Whatever. I am feeling pretty good this morning, and I intend to open up my book about quantum mechanics again today, since I seem to have unlimited time to do whatever pleases me. In actuality, I do that almost daily anyway. I love schedules and deadlines to keep me on track, but today is special and I'll find some way to appreciate it. As I climb out of bed with my bionic ears, my eagle eyes (with glasses), I will enjoy whatever comes. Spring is here!

Taken on yesterday's walk

So, dear friends, with that I will call this post finished, and will decide where to get coffee. I do hope today and the coming days will be filled with love, light and happiness, and that all sentient beings will be free from pain and suffering and enjoy robust good health. Until we meet again next week, I wish you all good things.