Until about a few minutes ago I was set on writing only about the water bill my neighbor is going to get but now I’ve changed my mind. I have something else to write on. Welcome to my life and Happy New Year!
First, that water situation. Three days ago I thought I heard rain. After two days of snow I’d dug out a path and shoveled some snow but resisted the urge to build a little snowman. So when I heard rain I checked my weather app, saw ‘snow showers’ and thought of the missed chance to build a snowman. It likely would have looked more like a monster but isn’t it funny how we miss things (and people) when they are gone yet sometimes take them for granted when they are here. Later when I went to make dinner I still heard the rain but then I noticed a strange noise and that’s when I knew something was wrong.
The rest of that story has me thinking about the sort of neighbor I am. I’ve never met this neighbor and don’t think anyone actually lives there though I’m sure there are things inside. It turns out that the cold from the days of snow (or some such explanation – I don’t speak the language here well enough) caused some pipes to burst. This one seems connected to the water heater box thing outside. After trying to call around for help, including to someone in charge of housing and even an interpreter I know, I finally called my immediate supervisor who made some calls. In short, no, I don’t want to touch those pipes. They are old and cold and me even looking too hard at them could cause more issues. And no, I don’t want to pay the charges and have my neighbor reimburse me later. I’ve never seen or heard the neighbor. Me agreeing to pay seems like the only way to get the relevant company out to fix things. Genuinely sorry, but no, so that ‘rain’ is still falling and I feel badly.
It may be this situation that’s adding to my feeling or maybe it’s simply being home for many days and realizing that although I want to change some things in my life, it’s not yet time. So how do I make proper and productive use of this meantime that I’m in? A few minutes ago when I decided to write I had been dealing with a thought or rather a memory. You see, about eight or nine years ago I had been offered a clear vacancy job which I don’t think anyone understood why I declined. It was this memory that came back and had me wondering where I’d be today had I taken it. I think I’d have gone the predictable route of work, church, home and perhaps even family and home ownership. I doubt I would be right here today.
You see, back then, life was mapped out a certain way. People in my surroundings did high school then college or university, worked then got married, got a mortgage, and had a child or two. Even before I left, people were beginning to look at me and ask if I wasn’t going to get married. Even when I went back to visit I got asked if I hadn’t found anyone. Can you see now why even though I think it’s almost time to return there and to resurrect some of my dreams I’d be uncomfortable to do so? I’m fine the way I am. I’m not being picky or even hiding, just learning about myself and doing my best to live life the best I can. I think I had to get away to learn and grow and become better and more appreciative of the person I am.
I have no idea what the future holds for me. And I don’t have any clear plans – as yet. I know though that I’ll be all right in time. There are still so many things I don’t know and places I’ll never see but I came here and now I can see better. I may not be the wonderful neighbor I am to be or even be walking in my fullest potential but each day you’ll see me putting one foot in front of the other and getting up when I fall. I know God’s got me. He’s got you too. Best wishes for the new year and thanks for reading!!
UPDATE:
The water situation has been dealt with, thank God 🙏 and I had nothing to do with it. 😀
Let’s talk life. 