This morning has been a busy one already. That’s what I get for waking up earlier than usual. I got dressed and hurried to the post office to mail my Valentine’s cards and candy. The post office wasn’t open yet so I decided to get coffee, but the line of cars at the Dunkin’ drive up window was so long I gave up and went back to the post office where I parked in the lot. I figured I’d pass the time by reading my papers, but I couldn’t. I hadn’t put on my glasses. After 15 minutes or so, I finally got inside the post office. I first addressed the padded envelopes then got in line. I was number 8. When I left, the line behind me was even longer.

Today is cold, 28˚, but at least the day is sunny with a mostly blue sky. Henry loves the cold and is outside a long time, several times during the day. His fur is always cold as are his ears.

Today is laundry day. I can procrastinate no longer. My mother would say it was growing legs.

I haven’t a to do list, laundry maybe but nothing else. I am free to do whatever I want. Despite evidence to the contrary, I am not fond of to do lists. They make me feel obligated, but I’m slowly getting passed that. I used to cross each completed item off with a bit of a celebration, a clap maybe or hands in the air, but now I am just as happy to do nothing.

When I was in Ghana, I had a routine. I taught 20 hours a week. When I was the tutor on duty for the week (once every couple of months or so), I had to check the dorms to make sure the students had cleaned them and made their beds, wander the cafeteria during breakfast, break, lunch and dinner to make sure students were using forks, not their fingers. I never understood that one. It was contrary to the culture. Ghanaians always eat with their right hand. I had to patrol during evening study time, and, finally, I had to make sure lights were out on time. Afternoons I coached during the volleyball and track seasons. That was it for obligations. The rest of the time was mine, and it was a lot of time.

I went into town on market days. I always visited my tomato and egg ladies and wandered around serendipitously. Once I found a watermelon. Sometimes at night, my friend Bill and I went into town to buy snacks, not what you might think of snacks but the Ghanaian sort. We bought yam or plantain chips, toasted coconut balls, chin chin, a sort of pastry, kabobs and Bofrot, my favorite, a sort of Ghanaian donut.

It’s getting late.

Gee, what a surprise! It is raining yet again. I’m thinking we now have an official rainy season. I always looked forward to the return of the rain when I was in Ghana. The difference here is it’s still cold. It never got cold in Ghana.

My wash has made it to the cellar. it is getting closer to the washing machine, but there is no urgency in washing my clothes so I just leave the laundry sitting in the basket. Should I start running out of underwear, I’ll have to break down and do the laundry.

When I traveled in Africa, I always packed toilet paper. Most public toilets had holes in the floor and no toilet paper. I was an expert at aiming and finding the hole, a strange talent and not one I advertise. When I traveled with my parents, I always packed a cribbage board and playing cards. My father and I played just about every night. My mother did her crossword puzzles. My mother always packed snacks like crackers and cheese. We’d eat them at night during our marathon cribbage tournaments. When I traveled with friends in Europe, I backpacked. I’d always include a few first aid items, especially bandaids. I’d also pack a couple of books. They were easily traded items at hostels. In Ghana, besides toilet paper, I packed a book for the long bus rides and clothes, always dresses as that was what social convention demanded I wear.

On my recent visits to Ghana, I still packed anti-malarial pills and antidiarrheal pills. They are still a necessity. I also packed my iPad filled with books. My clothes this time were mostly pants and shirts. I did pack one dress just in case I needed it. I didn’t. My friend Peg packed coffee bags and Nutella. She shared each. I packed Oreos and a few other snacks. I packed toilet paper, a habit hard to break, and you never know when it might just be needed. It usually is.