Rambling About Not Much

33°f/1°C, clear.

The cold is on the way for sure! By the weekend we will see some 20° temps here in tge mid-Ohio Valley, putting an end to this long lively autumn. Yesterday's strong winds really stripped the trees so it's looking very Novemberish out there, although there are still many trees, like the oaks, still clinging to their leaves. 

On my way home yesterday I snapped these from the van. Very moody skies. 

My doctor visit was unrewarding. My shoulders are apparently in good shape, which was great news since they hurt quite often---I guess that's my old friend Arthur-itis talking. But no explanation for the numbness in my hand, except probably carpal tunnel. So, a prescription for physical therapy,  and a referral to a nerve doctor for something called an EMG, because the trouble could be coming from my neck. That appointment is in February because that doctor is so booked up. I may see if I can find another place with an earlier appointment date because this hand/shoulder/neck thing sometimes keeps me awake at night. 

But I don't mean to complain. I know that all things considered I should be grateful for my generally good health at my age. Could be a lot worse!

Other news? There really isn't any! It is my sister Judy's birthday, though. She is closest to me in age and we gave always been close. We both even married West Virginians and moved to this state some 50+ years ago. She is on the other sidd, bordering Virginia (where we grew up), and i am way over here on the Ohio side, 5 hours away from her. 

My most recent photo with my sister Mary and Judy in the center, from 2022.

This one is of all of the sisters, taken in 2010. Both only these photos were taken during family reunions at Lost River State Park, near Mathias, WV. Judy is in front center in this one, and I am hiding in the back.

If you are wondering how I got here where I live, it is because of my ex-husband.  The first time I saw West Virginia I wanted to move here, specifically wanted to move to the eastern side of the state. My ex worked for Xerox at the time and wanted to transfer with that job, and the only opening the company had in West Virginia was in Charleston,  so we settled about 50 miles north of his job. He only stayed with Xerox for 2 more years though, because once we built this house and moved here, it was impossible for him to continue as this place was so remote at the time that we often had to walk a half mile or more on a very muddy, un-maintained road to get here. We had no electricity either (that came 15 years later, after I'd remarried). So he became a carpenter, and we became pretty poor for the rest of our marriage. He went back to northern Virginia, but I stayed here, married Larry, had a fifth son, went to college, etc, etc. 

Sometimes you look back at your life and the choices you made and just wonder what might have been different. Life is like one of those "choose your own adventure" kids' books, isn't it? We take one fork in the road or the other as we go along, never really knowing if our choices were for the best. Larry asked me yesterday if I regretted any of those decisions, and I can't say I do. It just is what it is and once a choice is made we make the best of it, or try to. Mine has been an interesting trail; perhaps i could have done more with my life, made more money, had an easier time of it, but here I am, happily drinking my tea in this room we built from an old log cabin, 3 dogs at my feet, and a nice fire to keep me warm. Seems pretty okay to me.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.