Feeling Frazzled

There is an awful lot going on in my life right now.

In addition to working and leading the exercise class, there is the normal household business of laundry, dishes, cooking meals, shopping for food, and paying bills on time.

Now that spring has arrived, the yard needs attention. We have a pond that was shut down for the winter. It needs to be opened and that means a couple of days of draining, power washing, refilling, setting up pumps, and trimming (maybe repotting) plants. The pond is beautiful and relaxing once it is up and running, but twice a year (spring and fall) it is a pain in the neck.

Spring is the season for Continuing Education workshops and I'm scheduled for 3 in the next couple of weeks. The first is a 2-day Cataloging & Classification workshop needed for directors in small public libraries in order for them to be certified by the state and for their libraries to be eligible for state grants. The following week, I'm giving 2 half-day programs in Connecticut and the week after that, a full-day program.

On the personal front, my mother died in December of 2014 and my father has not been well since then. My parents were devoted to each other and he was her primary care giver until she entered a nursing home for the last few months. Even then, he was with her every day. Now my father won't be with us much longer. The doctor's prognosis is vague: a few weeks or a few months. I'm trying to manage at least one visit with him very soon. He lives about a 2 1/2 hour drive away and a visit is pretty much an all-day affair. Fortunately, most of my siblings (and there are many) live much closer. They have been keeping an eye on him and communicating with me and each other.

At times like this when life seems beyond my control, mindfullness and meditation can help me stay calm and think clearly. These next few weeks are a time for deep breathing. I know there will always be difficulties, sorrow and loss. I will face them.