Where’s the line between honest and too honest? Welcome to the conflict of being Jaclynn.
Don’t worry, I’ve given myself a self-diagnosis—nothing glamorous, I assure you. But let’s face it, when it comes to our bodies, glamour isn’t exactly the word that comes to mind. I’ve been dealing with groin pain and occasional pee slips outside of the bathroom, leading to a diagnosis of prolapse. Is it serious? Not really. Is it common? Unfortunately, yes. Since healthcare and saving money don’t exactly go hand in hand in the United States, I’ve chosen to forgo medical treatment this year. If I were in Portugal, I would book an appointment without hesitation, but here, I’ll rely on expert online recommendations and give it six months. If the pain persists, then I’ll take action.
I’ve mentioned Gene, our neighbor at the cabin, before. He’s the long-haired biker guy with a salt and pepper ponytail. We’ve had a few run-ins, but overall, we’ve maintained a good relationship. This morning, we had a brief conversation, and to my surprise, two days ago he got rid of one of his three trailers. He plans to remove another one as well. When I asked him what he was going to do with all that extra space, he simply shrugged. I jokingly suggested he could dance around naked in the moonlight, which elicited a mild chuckle from him.
With two out of three trailers gone, a broken-down, pine needle-collecting Ford truck that may be sold, it’s ironic. How this happened just as we started the Airbnb and had concerns about the property’s appearance. Serendipity has a way of working things out.
An ongoing thought in the back of my mind is how our guests are enjoying the cabin. Will they appreciate the little finishing touches, like the small mushroom stuffed animal placed on the new mushroom sheets? Will they fly kites, play Nintendo, sleep better with the new room darkening curtains, or engage in a game of ladder ball? Only time and their Airbnb reviews will reveal the answer.
I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s video call with Sebastian, my new language partner from Uruguay. It will be incredibly helpful to engage in real-time conversations and have the opportunity to ask questions for better comprehension. We discussed some homework, and one of the tasks was for me to find an interesting article in social science or psychology that we could both enjoy.
My mind’s tied up like a pretzel. Thinking about sweeping the dried leaves and cottonwood leavings out of our three-bay garage increased my blood pressure. Still, seeing the listing for this house the other day (something I do every so often) reminded me that, at one time, the blue epoxy floor shined like a car dealership showroom. Since I can’t do it alone, I stopped typing to recruit Zelda-playing Dave to help. He’s in.
The grand finale of my evening involves indulging in a couple episodes of Love Is Blind. I must admit, I absolutely adore this show. The depth and vulnerability displayed by some of the couples fascinate me. Take, for example, this one woman who confessed that in her regular dating life, she’d have dismissed a man who didn’t have a college degree. However, upon hearing his personal story and understanding the reasons behind his choices, she wholeheartedly trusted and believed in him. It’s moments like these that captivate me and make me appreciate the power of connection and understanding.
Alright, better get to it. Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 