Thursday, November 24, 2022

Did you see that?

I put Marcus out at 5:30.  Realizing I needed to add hot water to the outside dog water bucket, I decided to walk out on the porch to retrieve it without getting my robe first.  The porch can be seen from the road and by my neighbors, but it was dark, predawn on a holiday.  I stepped out the door and the motion sensor lights on the garage immediately lit up.  Suddenly I was on stage.  The same damn lights I regularly wave my arms in front of to no avail when I actually need light.  And, of course, a car shows up on the road.  I complete my trip, a few seconds of exposing my fish belly white glory to the world or at least that lone driver.  I got my robe while the bucket filled and put the bucket back out on the porch.  About 10 minutes later I notice a car slowing in front of the house.  Looking out the window I see a police car just past my house on the side of the road, blue lights flashing.  I go back to bed.  In bed I see the blue lights now right in front of my driveway, and an officer gets out with a flashlight and is looking around in my driveway.  OMFG did someone see and report my naked ass as an intruder (or mad woman since it was below freezing)!  Did the Puritan spirit of the holidays leave them horrified by fully visible boobs?  I start to laugh and stay in bed.  About 30 minutes later I get up and there are still police around, walking up and down the road looking towards my yard and house.  Now I'm really wondering, but seriously if they thought there was an intruder they would likely have knocked.

Turns out someone had come rocketing by the house around 4AM, scraped along the guard rail on the curve before my house, over the curb when the rail ended, then taken out a construction sign, road sign, and my entire mailbox including post.  My mailbox was 50 feet away in my neighbor's yard.  Oy!  It is a 25 mph speed limit.  I called the police and found they'd caught the guy, report written, criminal charges filed, insurance information documented, and I can pickup the report Monday morning to get my mailbox paid for.  Talk about professional and efficient.

Still chuckling, but thinking I'll try to remember to grab the robe on the way out of the bedroom.

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Good Hands

The doctor showed me the x-rays,
not arthritis, maybe a sprain, 
when my hands caught a fall
We can start with physical therapy, and a brace
I like that, tools to take care of my hands

These are good hands, broad and strong
When I was young I wished for long slender hands,
not knowing the worth of strength
These hands have caught many falls,
held firm the reins of galloping horses,
powered hammers, lifted heavy loads,
crimped tiny ridges of rock to take me up cliffs,
managed the paddle that powered me through rapids,
caressed loved ones, lifted my elderly mother, 
and written the words of my life.

These are good hands

©Maria Amodei  2022