Here we are, already on our fourth day of the new year. 

The sky is a tug-of-war between steel formidable grey clouds and cheery bursts of sunshine. It was a fairly even draw between the two. The wind made the cold feel snippy.

Unlike yesterday, today had fine elements of committing to household tasks: cleaning the kitchen and completing two loads of laundry that were each washed, dried, and put away on the same day and not weeks apart.

I decided to wash and put away Bailey’s food dish. It was washed after she refused to eat what would have been her final meal but the dish remained on the kitchen floor in the same spot Bailey had taken her meals these past ten years. It has now been one week and one day since my baby girl passed away. I am still not resigned to the large empty spot she left.

Wednesday was pretty much a washout for accomplishing anything worthwhile.  In fact, I kept myself in bed until 2:30 PM, rising only to feed the pooches or let them outside to potty. I wrestled the entire day, well into the night, with both MS and gut discomfort, the latter being the worst issue. Despite not feeling even half my best, I elected to head to my Chinese buffet and take in the movie, POOR THINGS. Neither was satisfying to me, and I do not believe it was due to not feeling up to 40%.

This morning, I challenged myself to move forward, and move forward, I did.

The Greater Dayton RTA added Route 28 on December 31, 2023, and it takes care of Kettering from west to east and east to west. The elongated loop sandwiches the better part of the city between Stroop Road and Dorothy Lane and from the west side with Kettering Hospital on Southern Blvd. to The Greene on the easternmost side of the city. Two buses are making this loop and it is wonderful.

I was eager to try this new route and set out this morning at 9 AM. Unfortunately, the phone app was not spot on and as I was approaching Dorothy Lane along Shroyer Road, the bus beat me to the stop. Seven minutes later I was on northbound No. 17 to grab a southeastern bound No. 12, which was the former procedure I used before No. 28. I completed my shopping and easily picked up west-bound No. 28 heading west on Dorothy Lane and it let me off just before reaching Shroyer Road. I am quite pleased with this new, very necessary route.

Back at home, I learned a colleague needed coverage for this evening, and I accepted their call. I will repeat it tomorrow evening with full days at Dayton Live through the weekend. I also resume private studio lessons on Sunday.

I am eager to return home to the pooches. Some were sniffing pooch noses around the area where Bailey’s food dish once occupied. The post-it note on the lower cabinet door, to aid Canine Crew where each dog’s food dish goes, remains.

It’s 7:30 PM but I think it is acceptable to encourage us all to make it a great day!