I bought these cute little boots in November of 2020.
I was out and about, just dinking around – meandering in and out of shops; casually snooping around unfamiliar towns, meeting new people, and generally wasting as much time as possible out-of-house before returning home to eat supper and fall into bed.
This is my chosen solo lobo habit, when weather permits. I’ve never before had so much free time on my hands; and after the initial shock of finding so much time on my hands, I’m finding that I rather enjoy it 😉
I remember the town I was in. I remember the store I was browsing through. When these cheetah print boots snagged my peripheral vision, I backtracked. I held them in my hands contemplatingly; weighing the pros and cons of walking out of the store with them.
I liked them. I wanted them. But, would the purchase be practical?
Then I laughed – I am sure people around me were wondering why I was standing in the aisle laughing. I didn’t care: ((((I)))) knew why I laughed as I held those boots. When I exited the store, those boots were with me.
When Bob retired in 2012, the kids and grandkids immediately asked Bob if he was going to start wearing sweat pants all the time … and if I was going to start wearing animal print clothing. Bob and I laughed, and assured them that if we left the house – we’d be suitably attired; so as not to embarrass them 😉
When I was talking with my granddaughter yesterday afternoon, I mentioned to her that I was thinking about changing my life as much as I can: a total redo, sans change of name, or address (I won’t go that far). Elohim made it clear to me that Longview is to be my home (and Bob wanted that, too, before he stepped off earth). And I like my Name. My birth name is hard for people to pronounce, so I don’t mind agreeable replacements … but, ditching the name Bob gave me August 27th, 1974, is not optional.
Alyna was supportive of my decision. She understands my reasons. I was thankful. Then I told her about the cheetah boots, and we both laughed. She said she’d noticed that I am starting to wear makeup and nail polish – all of her life, she’d never seen me wear makeup or nail polish. When I explained why, again she understood. She also said that if wearing some makeup, nail polish, and cheetah boots, make me feel lively again; she’s happy for me. I am thankful 😊
These are small things; but they are things that buoy my spirit, now that Bob is no longer here – they cannot replace Bob, but they help stave off the missingness.
Practicality is an individual concept.
Every time I get out those cheetah boots, I chuckle. I laugh out loud when I think about the eye glasses in the dresser drawer (the funky glasses Bob inadvertently ‘chose’ for me 4 years ago), and the bits of jewelry I’ve collected, too.
Though I do not have a wardrobe full of animal print clothing – my limit is the boots and a light cardigan sweater – the image of cher’s Laverne character dances through my thoughts when I pair thoughts of boots, cardigan, glasses, and jewelry together. I do not wear all of it together … but the image does dance through my thoughts making me laugh out loud.
Add to the mix that I live in a Mobile Home Park – and I’m practically howling with irony at the twists and turns my life has taken since buying the house in 2017. The laughter has a bittersweet sound, but at least I am laughing again without bursting into tears.
I think I’ll slip those cheetah boots on to visit the post office downtown today; that should add a little dash to the foyer … and give the long line of people waiting, something to talk about later on.
Laughter is good medicine 😊
Flowers are good to lift spirits, too.
I planted some pots of flower bulbs in the Fall: some have started to make a showing already, and that will brighten the gray gloomy days of early spring before the sun pushes the cloud layer back.
A life redo forging ahead.
Peppy cheetah boots to add a dash of wild confidence.
Flowers to please the eye, and brighten days.
That’s a pretty good start already to the unfolding
of whatever 2022 holds.
