Time to Make the Doughnuts....

overcast, cool, temps 13

chilly day. Laid the fire in the hearth, but haven't yet had time to light it and sit there. A whole bunch of details that need to be taken care of before we leave. Happily everyone we called said, 'We'll be right over.' So got the water system at the guest cottage taken care of, got the TV's in the main home taken care of. And have spent the morning sorting, throwing out, and packing up clothing.

Wow! Does it ever feel great to go through the drawers and closets and realize how many clothes I no longer wear, and haven't for a long time. The ones in good shape we'll clean and donate...the rest get chucked. And, there're all these clothes I'd forgotten I had!! And love. It's like going shopping, without having to leave home or spend money.

Do you do the same thing? I really should be more disciplined about sorting. So this is a real godsend.

But we need more plastic containers!!! I've used them all - and there's none for Michael. But we'll be in Montreal tomorrow so can pick some more up. Have even decided....how's this for brains?...to sort the boxes into Summer and Winter. so that when we return I can just pull out the winter stuff.

And did an interview for one of the French papers.

Spoke to Louise last night and again this morning. She's very funny. Said that for the past year, when jacques health took a nose-dive, she got used to doing various things...a routine. That grew more and more exhausting. Til at the end she said she'd get out of bed, drag herself down the hall murmuring to herself, 'Time to make the doughnuts. Time to make the doughnuts.'

A reference to an old TV commercial about a doughnut maker who got up at the crack of dawn and like a zombie went about his work. 'Time to make the doughnuts.'

Everyday, for weeks and months, that was how she felt, and that was what she mumbled to herself.

Until yesterday. She said one of the hardest things was not going to the hospital. She actually drove by it...slowing down. But didn't stop.

Mostly, though, she's decided to not run away from the pain in frantic activity. Or even in television. But to sit quietly, and feel it completely. And then, one day, to feel it ease. She knows the only way to really let something go is to own it first. And she has the courage to do that. At least for today.

Thank you SO much for all your beautiful comments about Jacques and David. And Louise and McKenna. Sent off a card to McKenna - and will see her, I hope, in a few weeks.

Off to Montreal tomorrow. But just a brief visit. Will try to blog tomorrow. Thanks for being with us through this. By the way, I'll be blogging for The Lipstick Chronicles this Friday.