Keeping score

sign of spring: hostas?

I've walked 5 1/2 miles so far today. That's one way I keep score. Yay for me! In my head, there are pluses and minuses. I bet everyone keeps score, but I wonder what it will look like if I write it down. I have a FitBit (gift from my spouse) to keep track of how much I walk, but there are lots of other things I keep in my head.

Today is Mother's Day. I have two children and they both remembered me today. They seem genuinely fond of me and glad to have me for their Mom, so that goes in the plus column for sure.

I walked today for Peace. It was somewhat hard for me, not a natural athlete, but nothing that will scar me for life. Many of the people walking had lost someone to violence. I know people who have been killed needlessly, but they were not close family members. My mother is gone now and I miss her, but she died peacefully at age 83. How would I feel if someone had killed her, in a grocery store parking lot, for money, when I was young? It's hard to imagine. One young man was killed on his way to a meeting about reducing violence. It's hard to believe in God after that, depending on your idea of God.

I did not go to church today and did not sing in choir. So that is a minus, although I don't know if walking for peace cancels that out.

Things I am planning to do probably don't count. I am starting to make a couple loaves of bread...a yummy treat, but also a good thing. Not using commercial products, right?

How about things I didn't do (yet)? If I was going to clean my apartment this weekend (not a huge task), but didn't, is that a minus? Or a potential plus?

I think of myself as a good person, but I know there are "better" and "worse" people. I'm not sure you can even compare. There are lots of "worse" people environmentally speaking, but some of them are busy with several jobs and children, not believing they have time. Does that make them worse than me? Some things are easier for me than other people. For instance, I like to bake, so making bread is not really hard. Should that count the same for me as for someone to whom it is a challenge?

Molli and I bought local (expensive) produce, cheese, and fish at the Public Market in Boston. Does that make me a good person? I would add another plus, and I think it is tastier and better for me. But I could buy the cheapest, live more cheaply, and give the difference to people who have less than me.

My husband (bless his heart, as they say in the South) is busily clearing the rest of our possessions, accumulated over almost 40 years of marriage, from our beloved home in Georgia. He is pretty much down to the trash, several truckloads. Unfortunately, the dump is not open today, Sunday. Fortunately, several of our many dear friends are helping him right now. Everything left in the basement (I think that's the only place) will be moved to the garage. I have felt awful that I am not there helping, although I did some last weekend. Thanks to the magic of the internet, I found and called a service called Junk South, which will be there with a big truck tomorrow morning. They will load it all on and take it away...for a small fee, which is well worth it! So, I helped. Another plus? A couple other women will be trying to put away our things in his kitchen and bathroom, so that he will finally be able to sleep in his new home tonight...or tomorrow. He is in a tizzy, not able to find anything and not knowing where it will all go. We got rid of tons of things and another friend is keeping a lot in her basement, but there is still more than he can fit in his little 2 bedroom rental. I am sure he will be months digging out. We paid movers and cleaners and still there is more to do. Take heed, all of you, and start now to downsize, simplify and get rid of what you don't need.