We are still enjoying the loveliest weather. The sun is just brilliant. Everything seems to gleam. The blue sky is deep and cloudless. A breeze moves through the branches. It is already 70°. Tomorrow will be similar but the rest of the week will fall back to the 60’s. I guess Mother Nature doesn’t want to spoil us.

My house is out to get me, not to the Amityville Horror degree but still noticeable. The front door you know about. It ate my finger last week and sent me crashing to the ground. This morning the shower curtain fell again. I left it on the floor and took my shower anyway, cleanliness being next to Godliness. I’m going to haul my step ladder upstairs and try again. When I walk through the house, I am ever vigilant. Where are the ants, the gnats and the mice? They are either hiding or my attempts to eradicate them are working. Speaking of mice, I saw what I thought was part of a branch on the floor, one of Nala’s trophies. Nope, it was the carcass of a petrified mouse, probably another Nala trophy. I tossed it away from the house.

When I was a kid, I was never a girly girl. I preferred pants and blouses to dresses. I wore sneakers. In the summer, I’d wear clam diggers or shorts. In the winter it was jeans. I reluctantly had to wear a uniform to school and a skirt or dress to church. We had to wear dresses or skirts to drill competitions. It was usually hot so we were often uncomfortable. Ironically, I was posted to Peace Corps Ghana where women, at least back then, did not wear pants. Given the heat, though, dresses were actually cool so I adapted.

My mother made supper every night. It was usually meat, potatoes, usually mashed, and a vegetable. The veggies, except for summer corn, were canned. The food wasn’t elaborate, but it was always tasty. She only served vegetables we’d eat making for a peaceful mealtime. We’d grab cookies for dessert. Oreos were a favorite. We’d usually eat those in front of the TV after dinner. Because I live alone and don’t want to make the effort, I seldom make supper. My friend Elaine has been feeding me. She doesn’t have leftovers. She has supper for me. I’ve enjoyed her cooking and like having elaborate dishes instead of a sandwich or buttered crackers. The other night was an exception. I had a pork tenderloin which had lived in my freezer for a longtime. I had bought 3 pounds of potatoes for 48¢ from the bargain bin. Even though they still had a couple of weeks of life, this seemed the perfect time. I had peas and corn in the freezer so I used them. I cleared out my oven which I use as a cabinet and baked the meat and potatoes. Supper was delicious. I even got to enjoy it again last night, will again tonight and probably tomorrow night.

I have a concert this afternoon and practice tonight. I do need cream and cat food so a grocery stop is also on my dance card. Tomorrow too will be uke busy, but for the rest of the week I have only a dump run. I’m looking forward to doing pretty much nothing.

Today is more May than yesterday. For the concert we sat in the sun on the concrete sidewalk. It was in the mid-70’s. The sun beat me down despite the straw hat and the cold water. The concert though was wonderful as was the audience.They hung around and sang along with The Beach Boy songs. Today will stay in the 60’s. It is clear and sunny with a breeze. While my coffee was brewing, I stood outside for a while and watched the dogs. It was pleasant standing there.

I will continue my cleaning frenzy today. The dining room is next. It is better than the living room was. I can’t write a novel in the dust, only a short story.

When I was a kid, I think May was my favorite month. The air was sweet with flowers. The trees were green and full. Some mornings a sweater was enough. We dawdled a bit on the walk to school. In the afternoons we could play outside longer every day. My bike stayed out of the cellar.

I believed pretty much everything my mother told me. She was the explainer. Carrots helped me see in the dark. Beggars can’t be choosers though I had no idea what that meant until I was older, but it did stop me in my tracks as it was meant to. I had this vision of a lump of gum sitting for years in my stomach. Lying not only made my nose grow but it also turned my tongue black. Santa keeps his eyes on you all year long which is sort of creepy if you think about it. Crossing my eyes and sticking out my tongue could be causes of permanent facial deformation. Drinking coffee would stunt my growth. Eating too much chocolate would cause acne. I never went outside with wet hair as I didn’t want to court a cold. I believed that chocolate milk came from brown cows. When I was older, I realized that my mother believed some of these things she told us like not swimming after eating so we wouldn’t get cramps and drown and not sitting close to the TV so we wouldn’t go blind, but others were lies with good intentions.

My dance card has my weekly uke events but the schedule is a bit weird. On Tuesday I have both a concert and my usual practice while on Wednesday I have my lesson and an afternoon concert. I still need a dump run and a few groceries. Life goes on.