EDLM June 4, 2025
I woke at 6:30am, immediately scrolled through Facebook. Usually upon waking, I feel a surge of nervousness about my day, so I often grab my phone and distract myself from whatever is disturbing me. Do I think this is super healthy? No, but in the moment, it’s like fight or flight, and I’m fleeing for just a few minutes.
I usually stop scrolling on a 70s/80s music video to enjoy before I get up. Today, it happened to be the Osmond Brothers. The video made me smile and remember that this September, I’m flying with a friend to Las Vegas to see Donny Osmond perform with an AI version of his teenaged self at Harrah’s. Isn’t that bizarre? Never would I think I’d be buying those tickets or flying to Las Vegas, a place I don’t even like, to see my Puppy Love. But my friend was adamant that, “Hey, we’re not getting any younger; we should go, and hey, as long as we’re going that far, we should buy the VIP tickets and meet the legend.” So, dear reader, I spent a ton of money and set myself up for future anxiety because this is the “Summer of Adventures” for me. What will I say to Donny Osmond when I meet him? Oh good heavens, I have no idea. I don’t even feel comfortable talking to people at church.
This summer, I’ll also be riding along on a family trip to Michigan (nervous on interstates) and flying to the Grand Canyon (nervous in airports and in the air) in October. So basically, I’ve set myself up for needing a lot of distraction this summer.
One stressful event I have out of the way is accompanying my granddaughter on a field trip to Chicago a couple of weeks ago. I survived a bus trip, an adolescent pushing me out of our hotel bed with her foal-like legs, the unnerving “Ledge experience” (Skydeck) of Willis Tower and the architectural boat tour on “The Sea Dog.” I should be invincible at this point, nerves of steel.
I picked up the house a bit; yesterday we had our 3 granddaughters in the afternoon which meant opening our little pool for them. We are getting back into the routine of summer, including picking up pool toys and towels. Welcome, Summer.
I texted the photographer I have booked in a couple of weeks who is going to take a large family photo of the twelve of us. We are scheduled to do this in Morrow’s Meadow on the exact day of our 40th wedding anniversary. I think that’s pretty special. One vivid memory I have of our wedding day is the priest blessing us, mentioning a blessing for any children we would have in the future. I remember something sort of coming alive inside me in that moment, a notion and excitement that we would indeed become a family. I can’t explain it; it was just a “knowing” that it was going to happen, like a confirmation. It seemed to come from somewhere outside of the moment we were in. So I’m grateful for my kids and their families. The last time we had a group photo taken was about 10 years ago. Since then, we have added three more grandchildren and one son-in-law. I hope the weather cooperates on the day.
It certainly was beautiful on that day 40 years ago when I grabbed up my big, white gown at my sides and made my way down the sidewalk and up the stairs leading to the main doors of St. Lawrence Church. I remember that it seemed surreal that I was out there in that gown by myself getting myself into that church like Scarlett O’Hara scurrying up steps in her hoop gown. Right inside the doors, my dad was there for me, and of course, at the end of the aisle, my groom awaited.
After the photographer text, I studied my Bible verses that I’m memorizing (Colossians). I do it for spiritual edification but also to keep my memory sharp.
I also restarted piano lessons after FIFTY-TWO years as a mental exercise and to enjoy playing again. I’ve been having a great time downloading sheet music to tunes from my era, along with revisiting classical pieces. Right now I’m working on Journey’s “Open Arms.” It’s so much fun.
So after I practiced piano today, I went to our workout room and lifted weights for about an hour. I watch old seasons of Survivor or Chopped when I work out.
Tomorrow I’ll be running a 6mi progressive run as part of an app program I’m using to train. By the way, In May I ran in a women’s race in Indy and came in 3rd in my age bracket. It was my best 5k time in all of my years of running. I’m currently training for a half marathon. I registered for the Indy Mini next year because it’s the 50th running of the race.
I ate a giant salad for lunch and returned clothing to Kohl’s and TJ Maxx. Then I turned right around and bought a couple of summer pieces at TJ Maxx. That store is my downfall.
When I came home, I had an early dinner. I try to finish eating by 5:00pm.
I watered all of my flowers inside and outside. That took quite a while.
And now we’re pretty caught up on my day. I’d like to relax the rest of the evening, maybe sit outside and enjoy this glorious weather. All of my life, June was my favorite month. When I was young, June signified the definitive beginning of summer break from school, the anticipation of the county fair and the challenges of four-square in the street. As a young adult, I planned my wedding for June. Then my eldest chose a June date for her wedding. But in 2013, my dad was gravely ill in June and passed July 11. And then three years ago, my mother passed on June 17. So June is bittersweet for me now, replete with memories of carefree youth, celebrations and now grief.
I’m grateful for many things, the opportunity to participate in EDLM being one.