Thursday, August 5, 2021

Better Get Your Skates On

A friend said something that I can't quite get out of my mind. 'Better get your skates on.' 

Bush Babe came to the States with her family just after Christmas, back in 2010. It was a surprise. She'd contacted my kids and pulled it all together. 

It was lovely, even though I was so shocked by it all, and then got awkward and didn't know what to say, and, well, *mumble, mumble* by the time that I recovered, the day was over. 

I felt as if I'd missed an opportunity. A big one. 

Some friends of mine are moving. Mark gave one of his paintings to Tim. Karen gave me a still life of lemons that she had painted, because, she said, 'you always turn lemons into lemonade.'

Do I? 

In exchange, we gave them a nice bottle of champagne to open in their new home, and as we chatted, once again there was that feeling that I'd missed an opportunity. 

I guess that I find myself always believing that nothing is going to change, that yes, I'm busy now, but there will be time to catch up when the busyness is done. Except that it doesn't. At least not in my life. Tim was building a business, and there was always another renovation. 

Surely, once we got that done...

But then came another house. 

And now I'm working long days, but it's only a temporary job, and retirement's just next spring, and surely things will settle down. 

Well, just as soon as we knock out this one last renovation,..

Then, of course we will begin building our own retirement house ..

Amanda was talking about her mother who's been having some difficulties. I said, "Well, I haven't met her yet! She has to stay put until I get there..." And Amanda said, "Well, you better get your skates on. She's 83." 

Amanda's mother has had two bouts with breast cancer and was a great help to me when I was dealing with my own hard time. I have wine glasses. Amanda, her sister Sophie, their mother and me were supposed to share a bottle of wine when I got there. 

Except that I haven't. 

I feel like there is another opportunity trickling through my fingers. 

Our first priority, when we are once again free to travel, is to see Cara, who I have not seen in 2 1/2 years, but I think that instead of that 12 day transatlantic cruise, we need to continue on to Australia when we are done. 

I just need to finish this temporary job.

And I can't tell you how much I hated typing that. 


12 comments:

  1. Has it really been ten years since Amanda and her family were here? I think of all that has happened in that span of time. Yes. It will make a wonderful trip and you'll get SO many blog posts out of it! A plus for us!

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  2. "I love it when a plan comes together."

    I think it's only when we write things down that our future plans actually materialize.

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  3. Life just keeps getting in the way of our plans doesn't it.

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  4. Your life is busy right now. I don't know how you find the time and energy to post.

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  5. Bush Babe? Amanda? Ok, I know but I had no idea you met her. I remember some of her US travels. Did she write about you?

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  6. I've reached the point where I quit saying I need to do something at a future date and start putting it to dates on my calendar. I still miss things but not as many than just an open ended wish.

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  7. Can't really plan for anything until we know how this covid is going to shake out.

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  8. It's amazing how quickly time and opportunities can slip past. Carpe diem!

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  9. Can't wait until you visit either Debby!! (and she isn't 83 for another 10 days :D )

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  10. Haha... yes, it's easy to let it all slide. We all do it! I do have a certain genetic that makes me push til my dreams become realised (or dashed). We would so love to see you if/when travel becomes 'normal' again. What's that other saying: 'Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans'!

    And yes, Andrew, here is the blog post about it: https://bushbabeofoz.com/2011/04/21/hows-them-apples-ch-8/

    Ahhhh... those were the day! (My co-conspirator was the one and only Cara - with some help from Dylan :-) )
    xxxx

    ReplyDelete

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