Hope in my heart

Monday 15th February, 2021

Sadly although there is a thaw the snow on the pavements makes it dangerous to walk without real care. The paths through the local parks are still almost lethal. Thus I am not getting the exercise I want and need nor am I continuing with my mission to help keep litter under control. Yet I had to walk to the local pharmacy as my blood pressure pills were very low. So at 11.15am I set out. Not many cars were about so walking in the road was possible. I came across scenes of snow clearing as well as sights of shoppers gingerly stepping to the shops. Most of the shoppers had walking sticks and it was lovely to see an octogenarian threatening a car driver with her stick and yelling some thing about hoodlums and yobs! The driver looked surprised and looked older than the octogenarian. Oh, life can be such fun.

It was hard going up a steep hill to the pharmacy. At one point the refuse collecting truck had a backlog of vehicles as it crawled up the incline emptying the dustbins. One driver looked scared and frightened of being on a stop start journey up the icy incline. She managed for when I came out of the pharmacy she had disappeared.

The pharmacy were helpful but seemed to have lost my pills. In fact there was a new pharmacist I did not know and the attendant got muddled. In the end with much apology I got my drugs. I told them that no apology was needed as they had done a superb and generous job staying open through out the pandemic.

Walking back I came across an Amazon delivery truck stuck on a downhill road. Five cars had built up behind. With some help I pushed the van and it started off again...the second such action in as many days. I popped in to the local Coop shop and bought bread as well as two Dundee pies reduced to 60p which I had for lunch. There was an intrepid lady there with a large shopping bag and a stick. 'Isn't it all such fun', she gushed, 'and to think my husband and I have built a snow man with a carrot and two pieces of coke. I feel so young again!'

Back home I returned to my daily activities of reading, watching television catch up and checking emails etc. Sadly a friend who has a glorious little rescue dog sent bad news. The dog has had problems with her eyes and I was informed that one eye would have to be removed. As I write so I await to hear how the operation has gone.

Life really is a roller coaster and although we try to make it smooth events overtake us and come up on the blind side. What is the antidote to the anxiety and suffering? I do not have an answer. I do however have a spiritual heritage which makes me trust, believe, hope and accept. I try in this vein to live life fully, accept the hellish times, rejoice in the good ones and attempt to pursue what is most loving. I flounder, at times I curse, I doubt and feel anger yet I also marvel at so much also. One little marvel today was watching a wren in the garden popping about from shrub to ivy to bush to the ground and ever looking busy and intent.

Tomorrow I hope I will be on my walks again with my litter grabber for I have seen much detritus littering the streets. Back to work and with, as the song goes, 'hope in my heart'.

As the lady said 'such fun'.