Challenges and Changes

Lately, I find myself using things in ways I never did before. Do you notice that for yourself?

Tonight I needed to open a sandwich I had bought at Publix. It was cased in what I believe is called a “clamshell” plastic box. I have bought these types of sandwiches at the deli in Ingles in Hayesville, NC where I live, and opened them. I don’t remember having any problem opening the sandwich box.

But tonight, I pulled the little strip of plastic off so that I could more easily open the box by pulling a flap of plastic. Nothing happened. I pulled again as hard as I could. I turned it and twisted it, but the plastic would not move. I was getting so mad and upset that I could not open the sandwich, and then I remembered that I had a pair of small needle-nosed pliers. I opened them and easily with one hand grabbed the plastic flap with the tool in my hand. I yanked it and the box fell open as if it had planned to do that for me but was just waiting until I realized what I needed to do.  

My tool kit in Roswell apartment

Sometimes it is the little things that surprise us or frustrate us. As I continue to live in my apartment in Roswell, GA, I face more and more challenges learning what I can do and what I can’t do.

Yesterday I held my Zoom, two-hour workshop for the Carl Sandburg Home Historic Site. It went very well, but up until 11:00 AM, we didn’t have good Internet connections. I had ordered a booster system for the Internet already in the house because here in the lower level, my connections were sketchy. After the booster system was installed last week, I came back to try it out on my computer. To my dismay, the Internet connection failed continually. I was worried.

On Monday, Gay and Stu called Best Buy, the Geek Squad, that installed the new system. They could not come on Monday but came late morning on Tuesday, the day I was to teach online. What a relief to see those guys.

With their help and advice, we “forgot” the Att Network, and made the new system the only network on our computers. Boy, I was relieved!

Yes, I am dealing with many new and challenging things these days, but it is wonderful to have two people here who will help me when things get tough.

I had many emails today from the students who were there last evening. I get a major high knowing I had reached people in ways that are helpful to them. A well-published author was among those who registered. She told me she got some great ideas for future stories and especially on how to write about her mother.

So many new things I need to learn, but I am extremely grateful that I am able to continue to reach people virtually, on this blog, on Zoom, and on email. I always enjoyed teaching in classrooms, around a table that connected us, but I feel sure I can continue to make those connections online.

I think about the men and women my age in Ukraine who are struggling just to keep alive, who might be trying to leave that war-torn country, who have physical disabilities like me. Who is there to help them? Are they having to stay there because they can’t handle the challenges ahead?

With all the changes in my life these past two years, I am so, so grateful that I have friends and family who will do whatever it takes to be sure I am Okay. No one could ask for more.

Eleanor Roosevelt said this:

"You have to accept whatever comes,

and the only important thing 

is that you meet it with the 

best you have to give."