one of these days

It was getting colder. Winter was back. As it was, the snow was to the north and moving east. Perhaps it would be a mild winter. Not like last January when there was snow on the ground and wind chills below zero. Still, as far as Betty could sum it up, everyone was going to hell in a handbag these days.

If wasn't the thought of war, it was wildfires, earthquakes and other disasters just waiting to happen, especially what was happening in China. Still, Betty was certain she was safe in her warm home, even if it hadn't always been that way. She felt lucky now.

After all, she was a married woman, a grandma in fact. What else could she want?

"Well, a cruise would be nice," Ed smiled at her before he sipped his black coffee. "Even Florida would do."

"Yeah, well," they didn't have her friend to stay with. It wasn't like they were exactly rich. Her best friend Doris wasn't going this year. She'd had a setback and was staying with her son and his family in Iowa. Betty shivered, thinking Doris was the best friend she ever had. They didn't travel all that much together, but it was good conversation and maybe some cooking or crocheting, even a jigsaw puzzle kept them busy.

She'd learned a lot about her friend over the years. Of course, she'd envied her a lot too, until she realized what an unhappy life Doris had spent with an unfaithful husband who was now in a home for his dementia.

Just thinking of Doris' husband made Betty feel she might be coming down with something. She remembered the strokes he'd been through. It made her restless to think it could happen to herself.

She took a sip of her creamed coffee. Next thing, she went and dumped it in the sink.

"What's the matter?" Ed wanted to know, looking over the newspaper at the dining table.

"Nothing." Betty put her hands on her hip. Yes, it was January. It would be a dry January she decided. No sugar. No flour. Christmas was over. It was time to have more vegetables in their meals. It was definitely time to turn over a new leaf.