FJ, My kidney problems, compounded by caregiving, forced me to start drawing Social Security at age 65 -- although I have kept working on a limited basis ever since. I love retirement. I can read for pleasure! For so many years I couldn't find time to do so.
Warren, too, is an avid reader. Hours go by without our speaking to one another. LOL.
Sounds like a perfect marriage to me. I too find much comfort in the silences. I hope the two of you have a happy Christmas/ New Year's holidays. My MiL is coming down to Maryland from NY to stay at my daughter's new house. We look forward to spending the Christmas holidays with her (she's 90), and other family members (we usually go north).
Warren's brother and Warren's son and daughter-in-law are coming over for Christmas Eve dinner. Mr. AOW's sister and family may be coming after Christmas.
Just lovely. So happy to see you posting. I have never paid attention to this carol until you lighted it. Highly recommend looking up the lyrics. BAYSIDER
Baysider, From the first time I ever heard "The Holly and the Ivy" (I must have been in my teens), I was captivated by it, particularly, at that time, captivated by the melody. The melody dates back to the early 1900s, but the lyrics have been traced back to medieval times. Furthermore, clearly the melody was intentionally medieval-sounding.
Like most of the Christmas carols we know today, the point way back whey was to be doctrinally sound so as to teach doctrine to the early Christians, many of whom could not read and write.
The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a blossom, As white as the lily flower, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, To be our sweet Saviour. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a berry, As red as any blood, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ For to do us sinners good. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a prickle, As sharp as any thorn, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ On Christmas Day in the morn. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a bark, As bitter as any gall, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ For to redeem us all. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
Notice the teaching of Christian doctrine in the above words.
SF, Well, I haven't been exactly hiding. Recently, I've been making blog rounds and occasionally commenting. This has happened recently because I've finally retired (except for teaching one girl one hour a week). I consented to teach her because she begged me -- on the grounds that I had taught all five of her older siblings. She didn't want to miss her chance. LOL. Her oldest sister, one of the best students I've ever had, serves as my teacher's aide; that makes is easy as pie to edit the essay submitted once a week.
I retired because my doctor gave me a strict talking to: "Time for you to slow down." Indeed, after several weeks of slowing down, I started feeling much better. What a joy to read hours a day for pleasure!
I hope you can find some non-stressful topics to blog about in the new year.
Even if I do post stressful topics, I have to be able to let the stress of running a political blog roll off my back. If I can't ignore the stress, I won't be able to do political blogging! Furthermore, I will not babysit my blog. It becomes obsessive!
Bunkerville, I, too, just love the sound of a harp! For me, the harp in this rendition of "The Holly and the Ivy" is the icint on the cake. Makes the song glorious!
The cumulative stress builds up deep in the body's tissues -- and the brain and every other organ where damage from a high cortisol life begin to eat away at strength, energy, health and a positive disposition. From the day the bell rang with Mr. AOW's stroke we all know you have been under siege. Pivoting to teach online (missing most of the classroom experience that gets a teacher's juices going), a traumatic (as in totally leaving a former life behind) move, re-marriage ... and watching your beloved country go down the tubes. No stress here!!
I have seen people respond on the massage table with an "unwind" of a lot of shaking which was really shaking open wound up tissues that were holding in big stresses. Much as an animal might do when are finally safe from being chased by a predator out to kill them. They literally "shake it off." I've had a similar recent experience in one HUGH volcanic explosion of 7 years of unbearable life briefly unwinding layer by layer until I lost the pain and tightness in my chest.
Personally, I'm a little envious, but would not have wanted to walk your road to get there. I am so glad you have actual "time" to not rush from one high-strung epoch to another and salute you for taking care of yourself. We all hope to see more of your insights and experience in the new year. BAYSIDER
Those who haven't done what Warren and I (and you) have done -- that is, long-term caregiving of a spouse -- may understand in their heads, but, typically, not in their hearts. Sure, caregiving a parent is stressful, but not nearly as stressful as caregiving a spouse. I know that you fully understand what Warren and I have been through.
My grief has been compounded by the loss of The Merry Widow, who was my "backup." Thank God that we found each other online and became online friends some years before Mr. AOW's stroke! Without my asking her, she came from Florida to help Mr. AOW and me several weeks after he came home from the nursing facility. Back then, I was having as many as five bed changes a night! The Merry Widow stayed until she trained him to continence.
The Merry Widow went Home on March 29, 2020. Suddenly, with no warning, shortly before she was going to make another trip to Northern Virginia.
With COVID, Mr. AOW and I couldn't get any home care. My stress load increased. He went Home on March 4, 2021. Heavy care for the last several months of his life and early mourning because we knew that he had terminal kidney disease. Warren did come to Virginia in December 2020 to give me a break. I was to the point of collapse! But after those two weeks' visit, he had to return home to Indiana to his job. I was on my own again. Totally on my own.
In Mr. AOW's last weeks, both of us felt as if we were in a race as to which one of us would die first. I had aged and couldn't keep up the way that I did when I was 10 years younger.
A bit later, Warren and I realized that we were in love. We married in Northern Virginia on August 28, 2021, in a lovely garden wedding at a property I owned (not the family homestead since 1947, which I sold), and I moved to Indiana on September 10. Another stress because moving is stressful in and of itself.
Enough of all that!
I'm not sure what I will do about blogging. I simply will not allow blogging to run my life! As my doctor told me, "You need to slow down."
"I know that you fully understand." I surely do. And I remember the Merry Widow, her sudden death, your tribute to her, the picture of her standing out on your walk with a broom (I believe) in snow with a happy warrior look on her face. Such a friend. To leave Florida for a Virginia winter. I wish there were a way back to continence in our situation. We started with a new medical team this week because there is a fixable big issue in this basket of disease that could improve the misery index considerably. I've had a bad cold, but the caretaking, the cleaning up pee in the middle of the night, the cries to "help me up" (he's losing mobility) do not stop just because I am barely functional. I would be over this cold by now if I had gotten any sleep. So I TRULY wish you and Warren every blessing that is so richly yours to enjoy not just for Christmas but in the coming year. BAYSIDER
We welcome civil dialogue at Always on Watch. Comments that include any of the following are subject to deletion: 1. Any use of profanity or abusive language 2. Off topic comments and spam 3. Use of personal invective
:)
ReplyDeleteFJ.
DeleteHello, my friend!
BTW, I heard from "Jason Pappas" a few weeks ago. He is loving retirement life.
I'm happy for him. I'm looking to retire this coming September myself once I hit the Devil's full retirement age of 66 and 6 months... :)
DeleteThat was me, above. -FJ
DeleteFJ, My kidney problems, compounded by caregiving, forced me to start drawing Social Security at age 65 -- although I have kept working on a limited basis ever since.
DeleteI love retirement. I can read for pleasure! For so many years I couldn't find time to do so.
Warren, too, is an avid reader. Hours go by without our speaking to one another. LOL.
Sounds like a perfect marriage to me. I too find much comfort in the silences. I hope the two of you have a happy Christmas/ New Year's holidays. My MiL is coming down to Maryland from NY to stay at my daughter's new house. We look forward to spending the Christmas holidays with her (she's 90), and other family members (we usually go north).
DeleteWarren's brother and Warren's son and daughter-in-law are coming over for Christmas Eve dinner. Mr. AOW's sister and family may be coming after Christmas.
DeleteSounds like a wonderful holiday. All my best to you and yours this Christmas season from us and ours in Maryland!
DeleteJust lovely. So happy to see you posting. I have never paid attention to this carol until you lighted it. Highly recommend looking up the lyrics.
ReplyDeleteBAYSIDER
Baysider,
DeleteFrom the first time I ever heard "The Holly and the Ivy" (I must have been in my teens), I was captivated by it, particularly, at that time, captivated by the melody. The melody dates back to the early 1900s, but the lyrics have been traced back to medieval times. Furthermore, clearly the melody was intentionally medieval-sounding.
Like most of the Christmas carols we know today, the point way back whey was to be doctrinally sound so as to teach doctrine to the early Christians, many of whom could not read and write.
I will post the lyrics below.
Lyrics:
DeleteThe holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a blossom,
As white as the lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our sweet Saviour.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to do us sinners good.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a bark,
As bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
Notice the teaching of Christian doctrine in the above words.
Thank you for coming out of hiding ;-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find some non-stressful topics to blog about in the new year.
All the regulars are waiting for the coffee shop to reopen.
SF,
DeleteWell, I haven't been exactly hiding. Recently, I've been making blog rounds and occasionally commenting. This has happened recently because I've finally retired (except for teaching one girl one hour a week). I consented to teach her because she begged me -- on the grounds that I had taught all five of her older siblings. She didn't want to miss her chance. LOL. Her oldest sister, one of the best students I've ever had, serves as my teacher's aide; that makes is easy as pie to edit the essay submitted once a week.
I retired because my doctor gave me a strict talking to: "Time for you to slow down." Indeed, after several weeks of slowing down, I started feeling much better. What a joy to read hours a day for pleasure!
I hope you can find some non-stressful topics to blog about in the new year.
Even if I do post stressful topics, I have to be able to let the stress of running a political blog roll off my back. If I can't ignore the stress, I won't be able to do political blogging! Furthermore, I will not babysit my blog. It becomes obsessive!
So nice to see you out and about.... I echo SF's comment! A lovely choice and nothing like a harp.
ReplyDeleteBunkerville,
DeleteI, too, just love the sound of a harp! For me, the harp in this rendition of "The Holly and the Ivy" is the icint on the cake. Makes the song glorious!
The cumulative stress builds up deep in the body's tissues -- and the brain and every other organ where damage from a high cortisol life begin to eat away at strength, energy, health and a positive disposition. From the day the bell rang with Mr. AOW's stroke we all know you have been under siege. Pivoting to teach online (missing most of the classroom experience that gets a teacher's juices going), a traumatic (as in totally leaving a former life behind) move, re-marriage ... and watching your beloved country go down the tubes. No stress here!!
ReplyDeleteI have seen people respond on the massage table with an "unwind" of a lot of shaking which was really shaking open wound up tissues that were holding in big stresses. Much as an animal might do when are finally safe from being chased by a predator out to kill them. They literally "shake it off." I've had a similar recent experience in one HUGH volcanic explosion of 7 years of unbearable life briefly unwinding layer by layer until I lost the pain and tightness in my chest.
Personally, I'm a little envious, but would not have wanted to walk your road to get there. I am so glad you have actual "time" to not rush from one high-strung epoch to another and salute you for taking care of yourself. We all hope to see more of your insights and experience in the new year.
BAYSIDER
Thank you, Baysider.
DeleteThose who haven't done what Warren and I (and you) have done -- that is, long-term caregiving of a spouse -- may understand in their heads, but, typically, not in their hearts. Sure, caregiving a parent is stressful, but not nearly as stressful as caregiving a spouse. I know that you fully understand what Warren and I have been through.
My grief has been compounded by the loss of The Merry Widow, who was my "backup." Thank God that we found each other online and became online friends some years before Mr. AOW's stroke! Without my asking her, she came from Florida to help Mr. AOW and me several weeks after he came home from the nursing facility. Back then, I was having as many as five bed changes a night! The Merry Widow stayed until she trained him to continence.
The Merry Widow went Home on March 29, 2020. Suddenly, with no warning, shortly before she was going to make another trip to Northern Virginia.
With COVID, Mr. AOW and I couldn't get any home care. My stress load increased. He went Home on March 4, 2021. Heavy care for the last several months of his life and early mourning because we knew that he had terminal kidney disease. Warren did come to Virginia in December 2020 to give me a break. I was to the point of collapse! But after those two weeks' visit, he had to return home to Indiana to his job. I was on my own again. Totally on my own.
In Mr. AOW's last weeks, both of us felt as if we were in a race as to which one of us would die first. I had aged and couldn't keep up the way that I did when I was 10 years younger.
A bit later, Warren and I realized that we were in love. We married in Northern Virginia on August 28, 2021, in a lovely garden wedding at a property I owned (not the family homestead since 1947, which I sold), and I moved to Indiana on September 10. Another stress because moving is stressful in and of itself.
Enough of all that!
I'm not sure what I will do about blogging. I simply will not allow blogging to run my life! As my doctor told me, "You need to slow down."
PS to Baysider:
Deletewatching your beloved country go down the tubes
A huge stress factor!
"I know that you fully understand." I surely do. And I remember the Merry Widow, her sudden death, your tribute to her, the picture of her standing out on your walk with a broom (I believe) in snow with a happy warrior look on her face. Such a friend. To leave Florida for a Virginia winter. I wish there were a way back to continence in our situation. We started with a new medical team this week because there is a fixable big issue in this basket of disease that could improve the misery index considerably. I've had a bad cold, but the caretaking, the cleaning up pee in the middle of the night, the cries to "help me up" (he's losing mobility) do not stop just because I am barely functional. I would be over this cold by now if I had gotten any sleep. So I TRULY wish you and Warren every blessing that is so richly yours to enjoy not just for Christmas but in the coming year.
DeleteBAYSIDER
Baysider,
DeleteI am so sorry that your situation is what it is. I've been there, done that -- as you know (although not an identical process).
Glad you decided to blog again. 🙂
ReplyDeleteI'm blogging a bit for now. We'll see if I continue in 2023.
Delete