Alone!

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I watched myself to see what I would do first when niece Chrissie left. She had come to help David move out, finding a place for him to stay in Asheville, and to be with me for the transition. She caught a ride to the airport with neighbors Cindy and Jim. It was most fortuitous that Cindy was flying the same day. I was now officially living alone, having never done that in 81 years. On coming back into the house, I went to the main bathroom and turned off the towel warmer. That was a logical thing for a miser to do. Kacey was dancing around, so the second thing was taking her outside and untangling her tether.

Being with Chrissie was a marvelous gift. We took photos of the last days she was here. We enjoyed a Burger King picnic at Richland Creek. There was a constant parade of dog walkers, one offering to take our picture.

Stephanie, Chrissie’s coworker and friend, came to have lunch with us. We made a quick stop in Mast General Store, a place I love to take visitors. The floors creak, just like old stores of my youth, and they sell lots of fun things.

On one of our last days, we went to my favorite waterfall and on to the Blue Ridge Parkway. What a lovely day it was to walk a few steps on a trail and take photos of the mountains!

Joyce invited us for dinner. She is one who prepares amazingly delicious food that is also beautiful on the plate. It was marvelous to have plenty of time to visit.

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Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

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47 thoughts on “Alone!”

  1. So Kacey is staying with you? Being alone takes getting used to but I don’t mind it. Or I should say I didn’t when I was younger. I haven’t been alone for decades so I’m not so sure now.

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    1. I am loving the peace and quiet now. David didn’t want the dog, and we are having difficulty rehoming her. I can’t walk her, because she would pull me down. She’s a lovely dog, needing to be with an active family.

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        1. She was David’s dog, and I have her by default. Kacey is kind to me. Chrissie noticed that she is careful not to knock me down. She needs a lot of love, and I enjoy petting her. She needs a lot more exercise than I can safely provide.

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    1. Yes! I am enjoying the first dull day of living alone. I have my neighbors, church friends, family and my dear blog friends — listed in order of distance from my house.

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  5. I agree that you will be fine and your neighbors will keep you company. You also always have blogger buds and friends like me you can always call or email! I bet you don’t ever “feel” alone! I will check on you often!! 😊

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  6. Praying for you to find some gifts in the alone time, knowing that God is with you and dog is with you too! The first time I was ever alone was when I sent to seminary. it was really odd. i don’t always do alone well but I think there can be a hidden blessing, or a gift to be found. One good thing since you blog so much about daily life you will have a way to process it. You still have my email address. Blessings to you, Grace to you and peace. Michele

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  7. You don’t be feel alone. I will check on you often. Always God with you. Kacey will take good care of you. And your neighbours are good company.
    God bless you. Tack care,Friend. ✉️!

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  8. Aww I’m so sorry that after my trip I caught a horrific virus! Sorry I missed visiting with you Chrissie , but I guarantee you, neither of you would want this. Still very sick and it has been a week!!

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    1. Yes, I got an update from Bob when he drove over to speak to Kacey and me. Chrissie and I felt so sorry for you. She will come again, and we’ll make up for lost time. Hope you feel better quickly now.

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  10. I’m sure your wonderful neighbours and friends will gather round to prevent loneliness setting in.
    Having Kacey will help too. But, with all the great memories you have to recall, loneliness is a very real thing. Keep as busy as you can and especially don’t let your time with friends on the internet falter, if you have skype use it to ensure face to face conversations can be held. Many will reach out to you as you are well loved. Now might also be a good time to start jotting down your life and it’s events to create a memory book you might publish one day. The Hugest of Hugs to you as always.

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    1. Thank you for your words of wisdom, David. This is going to be a very special time of my life. I FaceTime daughter Lise in Denmark, chat with family, and have friends like you all around the world. How blessed I am! Thousands of hugs to you.

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  12. I am so glad you know your neighbors. The widow next door counts on us and the other neighbors for company, help and general acknowledgement that she exists! She misses her husband every day but is so glad she never moved to an age segregated community in Florida!

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    1. I’m glad to know about your neighbor. The subject of older communities came up recently, because Chrissie knows someone who refused to go when there was a vacancy. She would have a hard time adjusting now and will probably be taken care of by family.

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        1. If I didn’t have the world’s best neighbors, I would consider moving to a continuing care community. I’m still alert enough to make new friends, and my family members are far, far away.

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  14. Lovely pics, Anne! Hi again, Chrissie! 😀
    Alone for the first time? Wow, you’ll discover (after the first shock?!) that it’s nice to make your own schedule, do stuff that only you want to do, whenever you want to do it. Munch on chocklits a la Forrest Gump all day if you like! We can get used to just about anything, us humans… And it doesn’t mean you’ll be lonely – you have so many friends/neighbours in your life! xoxo

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  15. When I was first alone it was very strange. But now I relish the fact that I don’t have to recognise anyone else’s needs. I can do as I please and when I please. You have good neighbours and many friends both in real life and in the blogosphere. We are here for you.

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    1. Living alone has been fun for over 24 hours, and I expect that to continue. I’m glad you mentioned the things you like. I’m thrilled I don’t have to be quiet in my bathroom, which shares a wall with another bedroom.

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  16. Anne, what a special time with Chrissie and I love the photos of you both on your outings. You have a great eye, and ear, for detail and yes, those creaking old floors in some shops are very nostalgic! Wishing you all all well as you adjust to your new life, living on your own but never really alone. Take care. Xx

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    1. I loved your comment, especially about never being really alone. I have been surrounded by loving friends all around the world. Day two of living alone was marvelous, filled with chats with family and avoidance of things I told myself I ought to do. This is fun!!

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  17. How nice that Chrissie and you spent some quality time together. That is incredible to think it is the first time you were alone in 81 years, but you are surrounded by neighbors and friends, faraway family just a “click” away and all of us, so you will never be truly alone. I have now been alone since February 1, 2010 and that was for the first time in 54 years for me.

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  18. Sweet Anne, , I will miss David, myself! I know it is the nature of things and so understandable, I wish him well and you too. I hope Ashville is not far from you. I have never lived alone either. love, Michele

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    2. Waynesville is a nice town with plenty of shops and things to do. I’m content to be here, and there are people who would take me to town if I needed to go. I can also book a bus ride anywhere in the county for $6. That is the way I get to medical appointments. It is lovely to be independent.

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