I Am Now Officially OLD

Had cereal for SUPPER.  I am now officially OLD.  In 44 years of marriage we have never had cold cereal for SUPPER.  A FIRST.  We've had BREAKFAST eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes for SUPPER before, but never cold cereal.  It was actually good.  Satisfying.  When my boys were growing up they use to have cereal before going to bed as an bedtime snack.  Affordable and easy to access.

We had leftover Pot 

roast with tender 

potatoes and carrots for 

LUNCH earlier in the 

day as he worked on 

painting the Living 

room.  I was too tired to fix a meal for SUPPER and HUSBAND was agreeable.   

I went through a storage box filled with old papers that needed thinned out.  Not filed yet.  In piles waiting for additional handling.  Four hours I put into this one cardboard box.  Almost weary by handling hundreds of pieces of paper.  Reminding myself that I am closer to being more organized than the hour before.  

I came across an old picture of me being in a classroom of sixth graders back at Liberal, Kansas McKinley Elementary School in 1966-67 with Mr. Compton being the teacher.  I was way across the room smiling with my bushy blonde hairdo being held into place with a white hairband.  Wearing glasses and a dress.  I was all of eleven years old at the time this classroom photograph was taken in March 1967.  I don't remember much about the sixth grade.  It is a faded memory of days gone by.  The classroom was on the second floor of an old building that was torn down long ago.  The classrooms were well lit with natural sunlight streaming into the rooms where there was space to move about.  We sat at our sturdy desk studious and alert.  Smile.  The camera will capture us.  At sixty three years of age, I hesitate to think I am OLD, but I am.  Fifty two years ago I smiled for the camera thinking CHEESEY THOUGHTS.  I had prepared for the day knowing pictures would be taken.      

Finding more pictures in the box hidden in envelopes were smiles of my young children, grands, and other family members.  Old cancelled checks and printed Bank statements from way back when were at my disposal.  Artwork.  Crumpled inside the box were religious articles and newsletters written by Christians now deceased.  Business cards and a two dollar bill.  Birthday invitations and birth announcements.  Old letters and cards from loved ones.  Receipt after receipt and manuals of appliances.  Checks and outdated calendars.  So much is out of order due to the house fire.  Once upon a time I had order, but the fire disrupted that.  Downsizing continues.  Getting orderly continues.  It will be a long haul getting back into shape.  Time consuming.

Thinking that four hours went into this one box makes me shutter because there are more boxes.  Many more.  

Tomorrow I will make vegetable soup from the Pot roast leftovers.  Using up the soft potatoes slices by adding other vegetables.  Corn, green beans, peas, stewed tomatoes and whatever else is in the pantry that will suit my fancy.  Shall see.  Should be good for an old woman.

Prairie blessings,
d