A Good Day
I will be 68 years old next month – on the 28th to be exact. This is the first time in my entire life I will celebrate on July 28. This is the first time since the year 2000 – 20 years ago – that I know when my birthday really is, and that my name is really Allison Suzanne. It’s lovely, don’t you think? Softly, my name comforts me.
Today, June 23, 2020, has been extraordinary. I accomplished so much today personally and professionally. Let me just take you through some highlights of this ordinary but special day.
Once again, I was awakened at 3:33. I got up, went downstairs for a drink of water and came back to bed. Sleeping soundly, I had very vivid dreams of my lovely niece, whose company I will be blessed to share this weekend. I so want to get to know her better!
I was a little tired when I woke up again around 6:30, but I got up and started my routine. My siddur meditations were in Technicolor…I could almost hear a dramatic soundtrack behind my prayers. https://youtu.be/rpNFL3dgB4s
My coffee was delicious, the birds were beautiful, the morning was bright.
My home-office workday started a bit earlier due to meetings that were scheduled. We are entering a busy phase, and I have again been helping create QuickStarter sites, our $99 one page template sites. I enjoyed the one I worked on today, cartercapital.com.au, an Australian real estate investment site. I also worked several hours on a .psd comp for a general contractor in Mendocino, California. When I created the loom video, I actually had decent voice power! That’s pretty special as those who know my voice would agree.
As a very great departure from the usual routine, I took my passport renewal application to the Post Office in my village. My first visit there! Yes, even under my current circumstances, I am taking the plunge to renew it, now that I have established permanent residency here. I want to be ready if I ever have the chance to make alyiah and go “home” to Israel. Or to travel to exotic locales should opportunity arise.
Upon returning to the office, I worked on edits for an eBook I am creating for my department, one of three that I am currently working on. Lately, this has been the most satisfying task I get to do at work.
I enjoyed my lunch, and had a great day overall. I had plenty of energy.
After Work
After I clocked out I worked on my little garden, mostly feeding the plants with fish emulsion and watering heavily. The soil really dries out quickly here!
When I was getting ready to come in the house to wash up, around 7:00, I looked at my little car – it was so very dirty, and the birds had done a lot of pooping on it since I had parked it under the big gum tree where they hang out. So — (drumroll here)—- for the first time since 2011, I washed my car by hand with bucket and hose!!!
When I married the last time, I never washed my car by hand – just to prevent a scene. I would just drive it through the automatic wash at Ingles Market in Brevard. When I escaped, I never lived in a place where I could wash it – I lived either in a condo or an apartment from 2014 – 2020. Now I have everything I need. I enjoyed that simple act so very much – to be out there in the waning light of day was sheer delight. It’s just so delicious to have the freedom to do this simple task – one that I have been deprived of for many years.
Most of all, it is wonderful to know who I am, when I was born, and to have a loving family. Much gratitude to all of my dear ones, especially Chris, the best son in the world, and Bridget, my dear sister. Much love and gratitude to my mother and the rest of my new family as well. I hope we can all be together soon.
These are strange times, and I am guessing that we are near catastrophe, as illustrated by another special thing that happened today – the second M7.4 earthquake within a week. The world is cracking up, figuratively and literally. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfdVyZpGhVE
I have faith and trust that no matter what happens, I will be in my Father’s loving arms, as my dear son David said minutes before he left us. My years of getting to know my Creator gives me even more assurance that everything Is in His hands. And I am safe. And blessed to have my family, my home and my work.
I hope you feel safe as well. Safety is in that secret place within. Blessings and peace to all who read this.
note: The photos are views of Jerusalem, taken in 2012. When I was there, I knew I was home. I feel so much at home here in Delaware, too. It’s almost like Jerusalem to me here.
