The Lost (Misplaced) Keys

 Last Monday, one week ago today, I lost my keyring that held ALL my keys--house, programmed car key, mailbox key, and key for access to community center for workout room and package pickup. However, I didn't realize they were not in the one place, next to the front door, where I normally, and should always, keep them, until Tuesday morning, many hours having passed with much incumbent forgetfulness accompanying  the time lapse.

I immediately set about 'looking everywhere' for the missing openers. "What did I wear yesterday morning? Where did I go?  When was the last time I used them?" And I checked waste paper baskets, drawers, cupboards, shelves, bed, chairs, closets, pockets.  You name it, I looked there!

I live in a two-bedroom apartment; it's not a mansion.  There's only one entry from without, save for a second story deck that can only be accessed from within the abode.  I checked all outdoor and indoor plants, moving leaves to visualize around the base of each potted plant, etc., etc., etc.

Tuesday passed into Wednesday, which arrived after a night of tossing, turning, and dreaming of lost keys.  As time passed my memory of activities of 'days ago' became less crisp, cloudier.  Though I felt they had to be nearby, I was reminded that there's always the possibility of having 'accidentally' thrown them away with refuse into one of the huge garbage bins provided by management across the drive in front of my building.

I began asking neighbors if they'd seen any keys on walkways, management if any lost keys had been turned in.  My locked car in the carport was a likely suspect, though I hesitated to call AAA for two reasons; first, because I have a checkered reputation for locking keys in my car and even AAA will get tired of my absentmindedness, and, second, because I was confident that I'd used the keys to access the mailbox after the last time I'd used the car.  I even Googled FINDING LOST KEYS and followed the suggestions of the World Wide Web, once again, sometimes for the fourth or fifth time, checked pockets,  inside the dryer, took drawers apart once again, etc.

By Wednesday, though I'd prayed for clarity, I'd not actually asked Saint Anthony, the patron saint of lost items, for his intercession. (Whether one believes or not, this mindful meditation does usually bring about thoughts and ideas I'd not, to this point, been aware of).  Oh, and friends, relatives, and neighbors, as they listened to my lamentations, offered their own fool-proof tools for finding lost valuables. A childish wish not to bother God or Saint Anthony (my neighbor Suzann has suggested I call him Tony!), I limited myself to praying only that I become enlightened, accepting suggestions from everywhere.

On Wednesday I began contacting locksmiths and the Toyota dealership's service department to learn that replacement for the programmable key to my 2009 Toyota Scion would cost over $400!  Yikes, just having returned from a month in Europe a little over a week before this calamity, I am conscientiously watching my pennies in order to refill the coffers for a new adventure, whatever it may be--but not to buy one car key! I had a spare house key and the apartment management can replace lost keys for a price, about $50 each, another $100!

I was exasperated, to say the least as I'd had to ask for assistance to fulfill various commitments, rides, groceries, deliveries; I consider myself an independent soul, unused to begging help in my activities of daily living.  It was becoming evident that I'd have to reconcile this miasma of negativity soon; this couldn't go on indefinitely. 

Oh, but I just didn't want to admit defeat, though I was simultaneously chastising myself again and again for almost everything I could think of.  How could I have come to this place of misery and helplessness?  Thursday and Friday I took to prayer, not actually asking that I find those keys, but that I at least locate the spare valet key that should have been in its accustomed location in the kitchen 'junk drawer,' but wasn't!

Friday evening, as I was attempting to fall into the now accustomed tossing and turning slumber, I decided that I'd not do anything drastically expensive over the weekend but that, on Monday morning, I'd call the Toyota Service Department, order a replacement key, then, when it arrived, I'd have the car towed to the dealership where the new key would be 'programmed,' most likely leaving me without a car for a week, or more, more!

Saturday morning, after a fitful night, but more rested than I'd been in days, though resigned to my fate, I did get myself up and completely tore apart all kitchen, bathroom, and furniture drawers once again, this time actually cleaning the dusty bottoms with a sponge and rearranging and throwing away excess. [Resolution:  I'm going to maintain neatness more successfully in the future!]  That took up hours, during which time I found things I didn't even know were missing!  All closets, cupboards, drawers, shelves, boxes, furniture, et al are in pristine order as I write!  

Into the afternoon I worked, during which time I simultaneously asked my Higher Power to enlighten me in what's really important in this life of mine.  One more pass through the bin I keep on the top shelf of my bedroom closet, a convenient plastic storage container chock full of those niggling accessories the traveler has need of while adventuring around the world.  I'd perused its contents several times during the week, even though I'd diligently deposited the valued travel accoutrements right after I'd returned from my latest adventure, now almost two weeks ago.

As I reached above my head to bring the bin down from on high, the fanny pack that I love to use for traveling slid off the top of the overstuffed receptacle; reaching down to pick it up off the floor I grabbed it in such a way that I noticed there was a bulge deep in the belly of the largest of the small sections of the black bag.  Had I used the fanny pack since I'd been home?  I didn't have any recollection of having done so.

I dropped it on the bed to inspect contents; there, lying peacefully in the fanny pack was my key ring, all four keys and my Weight Watchers Lifetime Member charm there resting as if nothing of note had transpired in this house these last SIX DAYS!  Falling to my knees I thanked God, Saint Anthony, the powers that be for the rediscovery of those necessities of life in this day and age.

Journal post Saturday evening:

FOUND MY KEYS - lessons learned:

* Look to God but pray only for His will, not mine

* Be persistent

* Be patient

* Look for alternatives

* Google search informs that los items are most often found within a couple of feet of where they belong, or were lat used

* Accept suggestions from others

* Plan behavior modification - and follow through with it!

* Make more spares - and insure that it will be possible to access them!

* Make meditation a component of daily life

* BE GRATEFUL!

PS:  Kari and David were kind, loving, and helpful, not only with suggestions and questions for me to contemplate, but by actually coming over and participating in the search.  Thank You God for my daughter and son-in-law!

PPS:  David and Kari treated me to dinner at Fat's Sunday evening, a celebration of lost keys, Christmas treat, and farewell after their extended El Dorado Hills visit from Arizona.  After a delicious dinner we headed to Best Buy where they bought me an early Christmas gift:  an Apple Air Tag key chain.  I am so grateful.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

Thought For Today from Thomas Merton

'Tis the season to begin thinking of New Year's Resolutions, well, soon it will be. 

 I'm unaware of when this was written, as Thomas Merton died in 1968, but these words of wisdom continue to resonate today:

From Come Into the Silence by Thomas Merton:

If I were to make any resolutions, it would be 

the same old ones--

no need to make them--it doesn't take much concentration

to see how I keep them.  I struggle along.

It's useless to break your head over the same

 old details week after week

and year after year, pruning the same ten 

twigs off the top of the tree.

Get at the root . . .

Albert Einstein Wisdom

In Thomas Friedman's insightful book, The World is Flat written way back in 2005 with updates in 2006 and 2007, I found these Albert Einstein words of wisdom:

"Out of clutter, find simplicity.

Out of discord, find harmony.

In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity."

and

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

Oh, so true!

What's Working - Faith, Health, and Exercise

 Finally beginning to see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel of COVID-19, I'm taking a few minutes to commend  how things are for me now.

At the beginning of the now-over-a-year-old pandemic, I found it necessary to pull myself in, like so many others, to leave the gym and my almost-daily exercise - mostly on the treadmill, leave Holy Trinity in-person worship and participation in study and charitable groups, pull away from social and family activities, and cease all travel that I so-look-forward-to throughout the year.  Those first weeks were life-altering and confusing.  I followed the science, Dr. Fauchi became my number one health guru, further alienating me from the presidential administration of Donald Trump.  Life suddenly became complicated while at the same time SLOW. My New Year's resolution for 2020 echoed that of 2019:  To read as many books as I could and that resolve felt like a positive determination to do something that I thoroughly enjoy to assure positive reinforcement of my precipitous removal from life as I'd known it.

In April last year I was gifted a used treadmill by my friends, Bob and Debbie Buckles, which I immediately put into active use, in my living room, no less.  I found it possible to  throw on exercise clothes and jump on almost every single day, usually for at least thirty or forty minutes.  Being an elderly treadmill, it had a couple of foibles, most noticed by me was the fact that it was forever and unalterably in a position of several degrees of elevation that necessitated my slowing my accustomed pace to accommodate the increased respiratory effort the elevated status required.  I looked forward to returning to my Weight Watcher's goal weight of 140 pounds, lickety-split from my then-current weight of 145.  [Doesn't sound like much but my experience has been that the last five pounds are the most difficult to shed].  I'd fooled around with Weight Watchers on and off for several years; my most recent success had been over a year before when I set a quite-realistic goal, with input and support from my primary care physician, and reached goal early in 2019.

Self-isolated in my lovely apartment, with faithful Lacy and my rescue kitty, I learned to thoroughly embrace my new life.  I talked with relatives and friends on the phone and online, but literally days and weeks went by without so much as an in-person hug.  Boy, did I read, 2020 eclipsed my record of 2019, which I'd felt was impressive for me.  I have varied reading interests: fiction, non-fiction, health science and medicine, political theory and current national politics, philosophy and religion, economics and investing,  world history and world affairs.  As the pandemic escalated, plateaued, and escalated again, I continued to maintain my newly-formed lifestyle and found that I actually loved it.  

After having passed much of my life in service to marriage, family, and career, I had guilt-free time to  simply pass each day not having to impress anyone but myself.  Daily showers and makeup application weren't a priority; it was fine to walk the dog without lipstick!  I did continue to cook for myself and bake, sharing sweet treats with my immediate neighbors on the condition that they would critique my creations honestly so I could continue to improve my baking skills.

I don't own a television, if it's not on my computer, iPad, or iPhone, I do see it.  Neighbors John and Suzanne Koogle gave me access to their Hulu account last summer, which in turn provided me with lots of TV and movie options; that, with Netflix and Amazon Prime and I am set with so many viewing options that I'll never catch up.

So, what's happening now?  How is my life working?  What do I need?  Am I where I want to be?

Well, the treadmill worked, but with all the cooking and baking I am now faced with "pandemic weight gain," which I've recently decided I need to seriously address.  For a year I've relatively faithfully maintained good eating habits during the day and then overloaded with sugar-filled treats every night as I finish off the day with dramatic TV series and The Great British Baking Show episodes before turning off the light. Sunday morning Mass is still livestream, in bed in PJs with morning coffee at bedside, followed by Fareed Zakaria's GPS.  Normal daily dressing time remains a little before or around noon.  

 As 2020 progressed into 2021, I continued to gain weight, a little here, a little there, to top out at 155 pounds, unable to fit into about 95% of my clothes.  Not venturing out into public I  haven't had to worry about what to wear, but life is beginning to get back to some type of normal and I will want to  again be able to wear the clothes I already own.  So, about six weeks ago I resumed "going" to Weight Watchers with Zoom meetings every Saturday morning, though I can't say the results have been particularly successful up until this week. The Weight Watchers coach who  leads the group on Saturdays has been helping us to develop the idea that life is a series of habits, some good and some not.  Let's try to make small alterations that encourage little changes that can develop into positive healthy habits promoting and increasingly healthy life, physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually.  

I'm not sure who originally said this, but I love it:

If at first you don't succeed, lower your expectations!

And, her's mine:

Baby steps, make baby changes that can become little habits that have the ability to make big improvements

With help from my Zoom Weight Watchers coach, Alicia, I've identified three things I want to change:

1)  Increase the amount of water I drink everyday

2)  Increase the amount of time I use the treadmill or walk outside everyday

3)  Decrease the amount of sweet snacks I consume every night

She suggested that we make little efforts, not giant ones, so I've done these three things:

I've placed a water glass by the kitchen and bathroom sink; each time I stand before the sink, I drink some water, not a certain amount, just some. I don't often feel thirsty, but I want to consume more water regardless.

I get on the treadmill and walk, whether I'm "dressed" for it or not.  I'd always thought I had to be in exercise clothes wearing proper footwear; now I exercise in PJs, sandals, whatever I happen to be wearing.  Since I perspire I may need to change clothes after, but not before and after!

I can have something sweet whenever I want it, within reason, but after dinner, before bed, I eat only fresh vegetables and / or fruit.  

As of today, I have made in onto the treadmill everyday for at least 25 minutes for 10 days in a row and this morning I weigh 148.8 pounds.  I'm on my way.

In my third year of New Year's reading resolution, I have no problem; let's see how my little changes will encourage good habits for a healthier and happier physical and emotional life!

Pandiculation!

 Pandiculation:  the act of stretching oneself, especially on waking.

Every so often I come upon a new, to me, English vocabulary word that strikes my fancy.  Pandiculation is certainly apropos after yesterday's One Poem a Day, in which I was  prompted  to scrutinize a bit of my childhood activities in comparison with an animal, I chose a  domesticated cat.  And, heaven knows, cats are masterful in their ability and success at pandiculation!

A little more on the subject of pandiculation from Eyal Lederman, Therapeutic Stretching:                                           Toward a functional approach, 2014:"There's a shared animal and human behavior of "having a stretch" ad yawning called pandiculation.  It is often a combination of elongating, shortening and stiffening of muscles throughout the body."

And, this from Leon Gilbert, "The Delights of Sneezing," in the Sidney Morning Herald, July 17, 1949:   "I had hoped to deal, here, with two other minor emotional luxuries that have been hitherto hidden in obscurity.  They are oscillation (yawning) and pandiculation (stretching) which may be practiced separately or together.

Pandiculation, "stretching (as when waking up), comes to us via French pandiculation, from the latin verb pandiculari "to stretch, grimace."  Pandiculari is a derivative of pandere "to spread out, extend."

Pandiculation entered English in the early 17th century.

One moment please . . . while I pandiculate!

Poetry Writing Days Three and Four

 Day Three:

Prompt:  Consider your best quality and choose an animal to symbolize it.  Write a poem celebrating this animal within you.

Hmmm?  Jostled this prompt around in my head off and on during the day; the CAT kept popping into my mind.  

Here goes:

I'm inquisitive and adventurous, a little like a cat.

As a child . . . 

Playing, exploring, adventuring outside

    Four-leaf-clover searching

    Orchard trail-blazing, traipsing, hiding

    Flora and fauna investigating

    Camping and stargazing

And, indoors

 Saturday matinee - fascination, imagination, and Hershey bar enthrallment 

    Post-motion picture fantasies with grooming and costuming

    Utilizing Mom's assortment of fabrics stored in Dad's military trunk

    Mostly brightly patterned and colored chicken-feed sacks

Oh, the exploits I'd have.

Day four prompt:  Describe an everyday object in a way that makes it sound compelling, and make it come alive in your poem.

It lies, just waiting, in a small, white tray in my bathroom drawer

Bristles at the ready, rinsed and dry after faithful duty last eve

Such an insignificant necessity for a twice-daily activity

But, oh my, how irritating and uncomfortable when absent.

That long-awaited trip out of town

Oh, I forgot to pack my toothbrush.

I'm miserable, in an all alone, private manner

Not at all valuable to others, not even noticeable

But, to me and almost all-consuming, physical, intellectual, emotional travesty

    

Poetry Writing, Day Two

From "One Poem a Day," my Day Two prompt reads: Write a rhyming poem about the ocean using any or all of the words provided: tide hide inside sail prevail. Here goes: Life is akin to an ocean tide Ebbing, flowing, to and fro. On my life's ride, I've endeavored to hide Many foibles I've mastered throughout the journey Way deep down . . .in my secret inside.