This one appeared two years ago. I updated it slightly to reflect my new age. (laughing emoticon here!)
ONE OF THOSE DAYS
What do I need? First of all, to explain, I am feeling my age and today is one of depressing thoughts and grim outlooks. So, I have reverted to playing with the macabre. A defense mechanism no doubt. Just the same it works and if it works, use it.
Here is what I need. (I know, I know. Wants and needs are totally different.)
- A conversation with Nina.
- A secretary.
- A dog.
- Someone to take good care of the dog.
- Three of more skilled workers to fix the septic drain line, do the dishes, mow the last part of the lawn I couldn’t get to for the past few days, paint the trim in the newly renovated bedroom, move my bed from the living room to the newly renovated bedroom.
- Someone to cut down a few small trees that have sprung up overnight, it seems.
- An able-bodied gang of brutes to carry away my old workshop and its contents for free.
- A consultant to help me decide whether or not to have my favorite recliner repaired or replaced. (This sentence is similar to a complex riddle or octal coded binary or something. There are two decisions on two separate scenarios. I’m too confused to go any further with it.)
- A happy individual to happily wash the dishes. There are only a few; no biggie. A repeat, I know.
- An administrative assistant to let me know when I repeat myself.
- A pharmacologist to prescribe a medication that will help me drain my bladder properly but will not lower my blood pressure to dangerous levels.
- A writers’ group which meets hourly to discuss what we love.
- A person with a pleasing voice to visit and sit on my tiny deck and drink scotch with me. Then switch to Irish whiskey. Limitless topics of conversation.
- A family therapist to fix my shitty attitude toward my family members. This alone would cure a lot of my resentment-filled hours.
- A cure for my son’s recent diagnosis.
- Someone to help me write the most effective apology for me to read to my other son. Some day I will stop apologizing him.
- A better deal for my friend Grace who has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
- A clue to where I put the retainer hinges for the back seat to my antique SAAB. The seat is still sitting in the living room where I put it last year after I removed it to gain bed space for traveling.
- Someone to make some trellises for the long-caned roses that have been resurrected and are growing quickly.
That’s about it. Not an overly selfish list I hope. Whining is a skill of mine. Almost a super-power. Long live whining.
G. M. Goodwin
June 24, 2018
Playing Fair and Being Kind 
One of the best things I ever did for myself these past couple of years was to hire a cleaner who comes every fourth week to clean my apartment. I can usually keep up with daily stuff, make the bed, wash the dishes, wipe down the counters and table, take out the trash, and keep up with laundry.
My cleaner vacuums, dusts furniture, cleans and sanitizes the bathroom, wipes down walls, doors, and baseboards, sanitizes doorknobs, faucets and light switches, mops the kitchen floor, deep cleans the stove burners, and washes the windows. It’s such a help, and the price is right.
Good to hear from you Lynne. Stay healthy!