Hot Coffee and Optimism
Ahhh...Saturday. What is it about waking up sans alarm clock that makes sleep so much more satisfying? That’s what happened to me this morning. My eyes opened up about 7:30 and I rolled over to see a cup of hot coffee steaming on the bedside table. Bill was already out sweeping the sidewalk or watering plants or whatever it is he does in the morning when I’m not paying attention. I scooted up in bed and drank my morning brew thinking optimistically to myself, "All’s right with the world."
Of course, not everything is right. That’s why I was so tired that I slept past six. My neighbor came by late last night. She’s a widow lady of later years, living on a secretary’s pension and social security. She’s been trying to help her struggling children. Her daughter’s husband has had his hours cut back at work, and with two in high school, they’re having a hard time. It’s one of those truisms that when family needs money, you have to help as best you can. But when you do, you can be sure it’s going to come back to bite you in the butt.
Her butt biting was last night. After an argument with her daughter, she just needed to vent. I was glad I could be there. It certainly is no burden to listen and nod as someone sorts out her feelings and gets calm enough to move on.
But it does take time, so I got to bed about midnight. That is not horribly late and if that were the end of it, no big deal. But at 1:40 a.m. I was awakened by what sounded like construction work on my ceiling. But no, even in San Antonio, contractors don’t show up for work that early. A raccoon was trying to make his way into our attic. His plan was to destroy our attic vent. This is not a task he could accomplish quietly.
Bill and I both got up and he, wearing only his scanty skivvies, went out on the back deck and shined a flashlight in the critter’s eyes until he got annoyed enough to wander away.
This raccoon has been living in the eaves above the carport for a least a few weeks. Animal control brought us a trap, complete with tuna bait, which we left nearby hoping to capture him. He, apparently, turned his nose up at the tuna. But the neighborhood cats found it to be delightful.
I have been googling today to try to figure out what to do next. Ammonia rags? Moth balls? A blaring radio? More lighting? I suspect that we will take what measures we can. And when the critter is good and ready, he’ll wander off to bother someone else.
I guess the problems with the economy are like that, too. We just have to get by as best we can. Make the best choices we know how to make. And wait it out. Sooner or later these hard times will wander off as inexplicably as they wandered in.
Of course, not everything is right. That’s why I was so tired that I slept past six. My neighbor came by late last night. She’s a widow lady of later years, living on a secretary’s pension and social security. She’s been trying to help her struggling children. Her daughter’s husband has had his hours cut back at work, and with two in high school, they’re having a hard time. It’s one of those truisms that when family needs money, you have to help as best you can. But when you do, you can be sure it’s going to come back to bite you in the butt.
Her butt biting was last night. After an argument with her daughter, she just needed to vent. I was glad I could be there. It certainly is no burden to listen and nod as someone sorts out her feelings and gets calm enough to move on.
But it does take time, so I got to bed about midnight. That is not horribly late and if that were the end of it, no big deal. But at 1:40 a.m. I was awakened by what sounded like construction work on my ceiling. But no, even in San Antonio, contractors don’t show up for work that early. A raccoon was trying to make his way into our attic. His plan was to destroy our attic vent. This is not a task he could accomplish quietly.
Bill and I both got up and he, wearing only his scanty skivvies, went out on the back deck and shined a flashlight in the critter’s eyes until he got annoyed enough to wander away.
This raccoon has been living in the eaves above the carport for a least a few weeks. Animal control brought us a trap, complete with tuna bait, which we left nearby hoping to capture him. He, apparently, turned his nose up at the tuna. But the neighborhood cats found it to be delightful.
I have been googling today to try to figure out what to do next. Ammonia rags? Moth balls? A blaring radio? More lighting? I suspect that we will take what measures we can. And when the critter is good and ready, he’ll wander off to bother someone else.
I guess the problems with the economy are like that, too. We just have to get by as best we can. Make the best choices we know how to make. And wait it out. Sooner or later these hard times will wander off as inexplicably as they wandered in.
posted by Pamela Morsi | 3:00 PM
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1 Comments
