Lately, I find myself using things in ways I never did
before. Do you notice that for yourself?
Tonight I needed to open a sandwich I had bought at
Publix. It was cased in what I believe is called a “clamshell” plastic box. I
have bought these types of sandwiches at the deli in Ingles in Hayesville, NC
where I live, and opened them. I don’t remember having any problem opening the
sandwich box.
But tonight, I pulled the little strip of plastic off so
that I could more easily open the box by pulling a flap of plastic. Nothing happened. I pulled again as hard as I could. I turned it and
twisted it, but the plastic would not move. I was getting so mad and upset that
I could not open the sandwich, and then I remembered that I had a pair of small
needle-nosed pliers. I opened them and easily with one hand grabbed the plastic
flap with the tool in my hand. I yanked it and the box fell open as if it had
planned to do that for me but was just waiting until I realized what I needed to
do.
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| My tool kit in Roswell apartment |
Yesterday I held my Zoom, two-hour workshop for the Carl
Sandburg Home Historic Site. It went very well, but up until 11:00 AM, we didn’t
have good Internet connections. I had ordered a booster system for the Internet
already in the house because here in the lower level, my connections were
sketchy. After the booster system was installed last week, I came back to try
it out on my computer. To my dismay, the Internet connection failed continually.
I was worried.
On Monday, Gay and Stu called Best Buy, the Geek Squad,
that installed the new system. They could not come on Monday but came late
morning on Tuesday, the day I was to teach online. What a relief to see those
guys.
With their help and advice, we “forgot” the Att Network,
and made the new system the only network on our computers. Boy, I was relieved!
Yes, I am dealing with many new and challenging things
these days, but it is wonderful to have two people here who will help me when
things get tough.
I had many emails today from the students who were there
last evening. I get a major high knowing I had reached people in ways that are
helpful to them. A well-published author was among those who registered. She
told me she got some great ideas for future stories and especially on how to
write about her mother.
So many new things I need to learn, but I am extremely
grateful that I am able to continue to reach people virtually, on this blog, on
Zoom, and on email. I always enjoyed teaching in classrooms, around a table
that connected us, but I feel sure I can continue to make those connections
online.
I think about the men and women my age in Ukraine who are
struggling just to keep alive, who might be trying to leave that war-torn
country, who have physical disabilities like me. Who is there to help them? Are
they having to stay there because they can’t handle the challenges
ahead?
With all the changes in my life these past two years, I
am so, so grateful that I have friends and family who will do whatever it takes
to be sure I am Okay. No one could ask for more.
Eleanor Roosevelt said this:
"You have to accept whatever comes,
and the only important thing
is that you meet it with the
best you have to give."
