Our hollyhock is continuing to produce flowers. My history with hollyhocks has not been great, so I'm glad it seems happy again this year. We have another one at the side of the house but it's still in its first year of growth, so it won't bloom until next summer.
I'm blogging from the back garden, sitting on our bench, and I just looked up to find myself face to face with a strange cat, staring me down from across the lawn. It might have been Tabby, who you may remember from my wildlife videos, but it's hard to tell in daytime. I got a little primal jolt from looking up and seeing a predator's eyes fixed on me! Then it ran off.
Yesterday I came to the realization that my life has been in a process of subtraction for a while now. First Olga, then my stepmother, then my job, then my photography (or at least the main tools of it). Is it any wonder I feel a little shell-shocked?
Time to get out and make some additions. I started with the smallest thing -- my AirPods. I decided to walk up to Brent Cross, to the Apple Store, and get some new ones. That walk would both get me out of the house and help restore some of my routines (since I can't listen to podcasts or music without AirPods, unless I want to annoy everyone around me).
I also hoped to return a useless unopened cable I purchased about six months ago, but learned upon arriving at the store that they don't accept returns after 14 days. That seems a little stingy to me, for a multibillion-dollar corporation like Apple, but whatever. I got my AirPods, brought them home and paired them up with my devices, and now I have my podcasts back for my walks.
And of course, as previously mentioned, Dave is doing an initial survey of available dogs -- another pending addition.
After I posted yesterday's video of the wasp gnawing the wood on our garden bench, some of you expressed concern that we might fall through it! You are not wrong. The bench is in sad shape these days. We bought it ten years ago, which seems astonishing to me now, and even though I refinished it once during the early days of the pandemic -- when we all had lots of time on our hands -- it has lived its life. It's missing slats and many of the joints are rotten.
So I've ordered a new one which should arrive in the next week or so. It's rust-proof metal, which I'm hoping lasts better than the wood. We shall see.
As I was walking back from Brent Cross I found this hammer-and-sickle graffiti. For some reason it immediatelty brought to mind Gil Scott-Heron's song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." Granted, that's more about black liberation than worker uprisings, but anyway I had to listen to the song right away because I love it so much. Power to the people!
I'm only just now catching up on news from the last few weeks, and I saw that Randolph Mantooth died. Remember him, from "Emergency!" back in the '70s? He was the hottie paramedic, while Kevin Tighe played the capable one. (Well, I guess they were both capable, but Mantooth had hotness in his corner too.) Anyway, I remember going in high school with some fellow drama students to see a production of "Kiss Me, Kate" in Pinellas County -- I believe at the now defunct Showboat Dinner Theater -- and Randolph Mantooth was in it. I was so star-struck to see someone from HOLLYWOOD near my sleepy corner of suburban Florida! I think I even got his autograph. He might have been the first "famous" actor I ever saw in person.
Hollyhocks are flowers from my youth. My aunt lived up the street and she had tons of them that would bloom profusely every year. I don't really see them here in Virginia.
ReplyDeleteYou sure have had a lot of subtractions, but hopefully soon some new additions. Getting a dog is a big decision, and it sounds as if you and Dave are ready to take the plunge!
So many people associate hollyhocks with aunts and grandmothers!
DeleteSteve, you might consider me a blog lurker in that I after seeing your comments on fellow bloggers posts, I spent time reading many of your recent and older posts. I enjoyed reading about and seeing the sights on your recent travels. Sorry about the camera loss. Congratulations on your retirement and that gives you more time for the slide project, neighborhood walks and your very lovely garden.
ReplyDeleteHi Beatrice -- thanks for your comment and your kind words! I think you've commented here a handful of times, no? Or maybe I've seen you on other blogs. In any event, I'm glad you enjoyed my recent posts, despite the camera trauma!
DeleteI never saw Emergency so I missed Mr. Mantooth.
ReplyDeleteReally? That show was ubiquitous when I was a kid. I think it went into reruns as "Emergency One."
DeleteYou are a rarity these days. Most seem to want the entire world to be forced to listen to what they are playing on their phone. I have never understood it.
ReplyDeleteMe neither!
DeleteThat is a lot of subtractions, Steve. But they've opened up space in your life for the additions on the horizon. xx
ReplyDeleteThat is true -- setting aside the job especially. Onward and upward, as my old blog pal Reya says!
DeleteSet a new routine and allow time to settle into it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, once Dave starts work again and I'm home alone I will need to develop some healthy daily patterns.
DeleteI think we sometimes forget (and society doesn't always allow) how losses impact us over time and too many in a short period of time can leave us reeling. We're too often asked to move on quickly, both figuratively and emotionally, as folks aren't comfortable dealing with others sorrow. So take your time to process. Listen to your podcasts. Take your walks and give yourself time to think through all you've been through this past year. The best gift you can give yourself. All the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary. Wise words. I know from the outside it seems silly that I should take the loss of the camera so hard, but that has been a real blow to me, and it kind of reawakened all the grief I felt after losing Olga.
DeleteThe stuff and the people disappearing from our lives (because, let's face it, we get older) are continuosly replaced by new ones, keep your eyes open and you'll see.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a dog, what better new addition!
Have you watched "One battle after another?" - amazing movie and the Gil Scott Heron song plays a big part in it. I can recommend it.
There is of course no question mark in the film title, just poor concentration on my part.
DeleteYes, I love "One Battle After Another"! Perfidia Beverly Hills!
DeleteI think you are making some wonderful additions. Your subtractions are all pretty big ones. In fact, I'd say the huge kind. A grief counselor would pick up on the loss right away. So gently adding in is good. I learned a long time ago you can't really "replace" certain things, just pocket them away in your heart and add new things to your world. Sounds like you're doing just the right thing. (Don't worry -- the cat won't eat you. It would if bigger, but you're safe!)
ReplyDeleteHa! I didn't feel personally at risk from the cat, but there is a primal moment of shock when you look up and unexpectedly find another creature's eyes fixed on you. I could probably use a grief counselor, TBH.
DeleteHollyhocks strike me as one of those old fashioned flowers. You don't see them around here, too hot I guess though I did google it and they can be grown in zone 9.
ReplyDeleteI think that's natural, to undergo 'subtractions' as you age. Though, maybe it's not subtraction, it's more like changes. My life is totally different now than it was 20 and 30 years ago.
Hollyhocks grow quite well in hot Australia.
DeleteI don't think heat should put them off. In the midwest many people grow them against sunny walls, where they prosper. Maybe they just don't get planted as much these days. I think they are (wrongly!) seen as a sort of old-fashioned flower.
DeleteSomehow, Randolph Mantooth never crossed my radar. I may have been in baby-having, child-raising mode which took up a lot of my time, not to mention the fact that our TV reception then was limited to two major stations and PBS and thank goodness for that because what in the world would I have done without Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street?
ReplyDeleteYou HAVE been in subtraction mode. I hadn't thought about it that way but you have indeed had losses. Major ones. Not all of them bad, of course, but the brain doesn't always take that into consideration. Or perhaps it's the heart. I'm glad you got your new pods. If I lost mine I'd have to replace them within seconds as I listen continuously to audio books and podcasts. I am addicted and I know it.
Has Dave come up with any possibilities yet? I think our blog community is very eager to have a new puppy to love.
We have applied for a dog, actually, and we're waiting to hear back. Fingers crossed!
DeleteThat's an interesting observation about the subtractions in your life. A few additions should be very much worth the effort. I'm sure that cat must have been thinking 'what is this man doing in my territory'.
ReplyDeleteHa! I'm sure the cat WAS thinking that!
DeleteGlad you are looking forward to the good things you can add to your life.
ReplyDeleteI am indeed. It is time!
DeleteYour deep plum colored Hollyhock is beautiful. I've had no luck growing them.
ReplyDeleteAdding a dog to your life sounds ideal. Hopefully Dave has found a few for you to meet.
You've had a few unfortunate subtractions but recognize it and are taking action to rebuild. All is good!
Everybody says hollyhocks are so easy! What are we doing wrong?!
DeleteYou caught me off guard with the mention of Gil Scott-Heron. It immediately made me play the only song of his I know while I read the rest of your post. (New York is Killing Me) Now I'm off to listen to the one you linked to. I don't know if I'll recognize it or not!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting song. I'm not sure I've heard that one before! New York definitely DOES occasionally give a person that feeling. LOL
DeleteGood luck re your additions, especially the dog!
ReplyDeleteThanks, E! Glad to see you here!
DeleteThat is fascinating, your subtraction concept, but it makes perfect sense. I am in a addition phase and it is a very rich and rewarding time.
ReplyDeleteI hope I'm about to enter one of those phases myself!
DeleteIt does sound like you have lota to do right now. I found retirement to be a very busy time.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I will grow into it, as we all do.
DeleteThat yellow fence is a happy colour. I have no idea who Randolph Mantooth was. I don't recall any show called Emergency being shown here. Can you sell that unused cable locally? With a note in a store window? I love the hollyhock!
ReplyDeleteMaybe "Emergency!" didn't make it to Australia. In the USA it was one of the first shows about modern paramedics, bringing that career to public consciousness. I don't think the cable is worth that much trouble. I'll just hang onto it for now and maybe we'll find a use for it.
DeleteGorgeous hollyhock color! I look forward to the new bench (and no wasps in the framework). Subtraction is a fascinating way to describe your recent life. Wishing you new growth! Thanks for Gil Scott-Heron! I forgot how good this song was. Randolph Mantooth never did it for me but I remember being embarrassed by his name. I was a bit repressed.
ReplyDeleteThe shadow shot is splendid. I wish you luck and joy in your search for 'additions.'
ReplyDeleteThis post just showed up for me, Sunday! So I'm here to say I now understand better your upset over the camera. It brought back other losses and you got overwhelmed. I agree that maybe a session or two with a grief counselor might help process what feels like a cascade of losses?
ReplyDelete