The Things I Took for Granted

I don't think I ever took my husband for granted, but since his death, I've realized that I did take for granted many of the things he did for me, especially after he retired. Nearly every week I discover something new he did that is now my responsibility. The list is endless: he took care of the pool and did all those chores that are unique to Florida—like power washing the lanai, outdoor furniture and other places that are prone to developing mold; he washed the windows on a regular basis; he took care of my car, making sure the oil was changed, tires rotated, and the insurance and licensing was up to date; he changed the air filters in the air-conditioning system and arranged for the yearly inspections; he handled the finances and paid the taxes; he took out the garbage; he opened jars that were sealed too tightly, got things down from high places, did the heavy lifting…And he always, ALWAYS, put up the Christmas tree. He took it down too and put everything away—neatly, in special storage boxes. That alone made me the envy of all my women friends.

On a bad day, I'd say there's not much to envy about me now. But on a good day, I realize how much I've learned about living alone and dealing with the everyday issues that I never even thought about before, because Art took care of them. I've learned a great deal about myself too. During this past year, I've found an inner strength that I never knew I had. I guess that's something to celebrate.