A Season of Change

By their very nature, seasons connote change--whether for good or ill, changes nonetheless.  And of course, human life itself is defined by change...infant, toddler, child, adolescent, and on and on.  So here I am at the onset of autumn -- literally in both the year of 2009 and in my life.  At age 55, I am no longer "middle age" as that would have me living to about the age of 110 - probably not going to happen. 

So as the days grow shorter and the temps grow cooler, so I grow a little slower -- not necessarily physically [although that is definitely noticeable at times] but slower mentally at times..."What was his name?"  "Who wrote that book I JUST read?" and on and on.  I look for glasses perched on my head to be able to read the simplest of recipes or just a phone number or a computer screen.  I have determined the best way to function in a somewhat normal manner AND to contribute to a "greener" world is to make lists.....lots and lots of lists. Grocery lists, to do lists, errands to run lists -- you name it, I list it...How does this make our fine world "greener"?  Not so many trips....Take the list and get everything at ONCE...instead of 4 or 5 or 9 trips. 

Does "listing" improve my plight?  No, but as with everything..AWARENESS is key.  Once you are aware of a handicap, a weakness -- you deal with it.

Just today -- prime example -- I have decided to teach myself to make bread.  I did it once last week with fair success.  It needed more salt, but overall, I was pleased.  It wasn't real tasty, but I was able to determine why and vowed to continue this trek. And so, I tried again today.  Dissolved the yeast, added eggs, added all other ingredients, and placed in a greased bowl to rise............forgot to KNEAD.

Ok, so we get it.  I'm not old, but I'm not young.  I am beginning to compensate for these changes in my "season" of life.  These compensations work until the next "glitch" occurs [like the need for kneading].  My compensation for now is NOT to quit trying for the perfect loaf of bread, but rather to keep the cookbook out on the page and using a "sticky note" to move down the recipe as I go step by step.  It'll work.  I will get it and I will eventually turn out a decent loaf of bread.

Then, another "glitch" will mark my "season" once more.