I have some rough anniversaries in October and November and don’t feel out of the woods until December starts. So fall is a mixed bag season for me.
Sometimes I get a bit emphatic on my two-way relationship with the season. I enjoy getting ready for winter – cleaning up in my garden, getting my wood stacked, and watching the colors. Then I recall stressful events of the past. My other personal nadir happens in January, but that’s a tale for another day.
I do lots to avoid the potential gloom: long fall walks, family time, and activities. Friends who know me sometimes suggest dinners out, vacations away, and elaborate shopping trips to placate my demons. I fear that not all of those are safe or appropriate:
Dinners out would be nice, but my night shift wife is getting ready to sleep around that time. Somehow I don’t think she’d be happy with a peck on the cheek as I adjust the fit on my tux and say,” night, love! I’m off to Club Zombie with my pals!”
For a similar reason, vacations away are out too, ” Hi honey? Yes, it’s lovely here in Bermuda! I so wish you were here with me!” I love my wife and have no wish to return to a divorce.
OK. Elaborate shopping trips? Needless to say, a woodworker’s life is not complete without the latest doodad from Lee Valley, Rockler, or Woodcraft. So what happens when my darling wife sees me sneaking a large parcel into the shop? ” I’m just doing some early Christmas shopping, dear. What is it? You’ll have to wait till Christmas!”
It’s a struggle to get through these months. You have to get your therapy where you can find it. But in the meantime, I am looking for something the size of a large Lee Valley box that I can give my wife for Christmas.
We all must do what we must to get through these challenging times.
We must indeed Lou. I can understand your frustrations with your pretend excursions without your wife. I like your remedies though. My solution is leave the boxes in the car until your wife has gone to work and then sneak them into the workshop. My therapy would be in the workshop. Thanks for joining in 🙂 🙂
I’m going to remember the advice about leaving the boxes in the car.
It is called retail therapy for a reason and there is no harm if the cost is manageable and the thrill continues long past the purchase. You may need a pressie for your wife though to show your appreciation for her forbearance.
All the best, Lou.
Btw, I think I might like to try some whittling.
Thanks for your suggestion, she’s getting some goodies for the kitchen soon.
BTW – a good place to start in carving is with chip carving – you learn to sharpen correctly, learn good tool control and the projects are doable in a relatively short time. After you get some of that under control you are ready to go pro. Let me know if you need some advice!
Thank you. I will look at YT. I might need some new tools. My husband gets cross when I pinch our beautiful small kitchen knives for my mosaics.
I’m neither a carver or a craftsperson, but I love Lee Valley! My husband used to get the catalogue, and we visited a Lee Valley store. I am fascinated by their tools, loved the images and the descriptions. Always made me want to take up a craft or two.
It’s been a long while since I’ve done any imagination shopping at Lee Valley. I should check out their website.
And, yes, we need ways to get through certain seasons, and sneak “persents for ourselves into the house.
Thanks for sharing.
I’m still chuckling over your last line. I have the same problem with my Christmas shopping ‘fibs’. Best wishes for a comfortable Autumn.