Daily writing prompt

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

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The first one is, “Why aren’t you married?” My standard answer is, “I’ve never met anyone who could convince me that it’s a good idea.” That shuts them up really quickly.

The second question I hate is, “Why don’t you have children?” Again, I reply with, “I’ve never met anyone who could convince me that it’s a good idea.” Again, silence.

It’s my standard answer. It’s flippant and sarcastic and intentional. Come at me with questions that are none of your business, and I’m going to come at you with something you have no response to.

We know nothing of lost opportunities, missed chances, wrong time, wrong place, right person, wrong time, wrong person, right time. we know nothing of desire – or lack of desire – for marriage or children. And there’s a reason why we don’t know anything: because these are personal issues.

Last week, one of the cashiers in the grocery store told me I looked really fashionable. She said she always loves to see what outfit I’m wearing. This particular trip I had on my plaid black and white fedora, with my houndstooth belted coat and matching houndstooth gloves. Finished off with tall black boots. She asked, “You’re not married are you?” Immediately, my defenses went up, but I asked with a smile, “Why do you say that?” And she said, “Because you look so put together and cute. You’re a cutie pie and you take time with your outfits and always look adorable.” I thanked her and put my defenses down. (I’m not sure what that had to do with being married or unmarried, but it was said, from a place of kindness.)

I like those kinds of people. Not because she complimented me, but because she didn’t ask me a personal question to be nosy or critical. She had no ulterior motive.

We don’t know what people go through, what battles they are waging on the inside. We should always strive to be kind and never assume anything.

And never assume a void means lack of hopes, dreams or wishes.

I helped my neighbor out yesterday by clearing out trash and debris in her front yard. and by disposing of a dirty, vacant cardboard box that once housed a neighborhood cat, possibly a stray, but I doubt it.

My neighbor was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis early last year. I took care of taking out and returning her trash cans each week and getting her mail every day until she recovered enough to be able to do these things. She had a benchmark birthday in August and was looking forward to this upcoming year. I am claircognizant, and so when she said this, there was a twinge inside of me and I kept quiet. She was finally got her strength back from being hospitalized for the RA. I surely wasn’t going to ruin that.

In November I started noticing a lot of cars at her house. One day around Christmas I saw her relative outside. I asked the woman if my neighbor was OK. She told me my neighbor had been diagnosed with leukemia and was in the hospital, and that she would likely be there for quite a while. In January, I asked again how my neighbor was, and was told that she caught Covid while in the hospital. There was someone staying at her house, and it became a bit untidy. Trust me when I tell you that “untidy” is an understatement..

I found out a month ago that my neighbor was cured of leukemia and survived Covid. She went to a nursing rehabilitation facility to gain strength. She returned home earlier this week. She is very weak and has to build strength to be able to get back to walking. She told me that Covid almost killed her. I have no reason to doubt it. I consider it a miracle that she is alive. And I am so thankful that she is.

I woke this morning with a bad headache, probably a migraine type, with my usual dizziness. But I am awake, I am alive. My neighbor is alive. I will once again take up my duty as trashcan coordinator and mail distributor. And I will do it gladly, for as long as it takes. I’m sure my neighbor will recover and be able to take her dog for walks again. Maybe as spring turns to summer, and the days are a little warmer, I’ll see her out there being walked by her dog. Yes, I’m sure of it.