The Caregiver’s Tales

Tiny essays on life, nature, grief and other things that catch my fancy in the Texas Hill Country. Here’s how it all got started.

Select a category from the drop down menu:

John W Wilson 10/31/21 John W Wilson 10/31/21

Spirits

It will be a good day. No matter what. I stepped outside for my winter morning ritual, the soul cleansing dip into cold air. It was there.

John W Wilson 10/30/21 John W Wilson 10/30/21

Solo

In the world of discoveries this is probably a modest one, but I discovered something about myself in the process of rebuilding my shattered life after the death of my wife last year.

John W Wilson 10/29/21 John W Wilson 10/29/21

Looking Ahead

The Yellow Bells is putting on a show again this year. It is soaring to outstanding heights and putting out some fabulous yellow blooms.

John W Wilson 10/28/21 John W Wilson 10/28/21

Plans

I think I need to add a nice thermometer to supplement my nice new rain gauge. I want to know, when I walk outside in the morning, what it is I’m feeling, outside of my emotions, which is another subject entirely.

John W Wilson 10/27/21 John W Wilson 10/27/21

Blue Skies

Well. It’s late afternoon. My typical writing time is early morning. But here I am, just back from Houston where I visited my dermatologist.

John W Wilson 10/26/21 John W Wilson 10/26/21

At Rest

Inertia. That’s me. The tendency of a body to stay at rest. As a human it is probably a pretty good trait.

John W Wilson 10/25/21 John W Wilson 10/25/21

Here He Comes

Not much doing in the old garden at the moment. We’re in that long slide toward winter.

John W Wilson 10/24/21 John W Wilson 10/24/21

Uncertainty

Got back from Houston yesterday and the house was clean. It used to mean one of the kids had a party while we were gone.

John W Wilson 10/23/21 John W Wilson 10/23/21

The City

Ah, Houston. Moved there in 1962. Left in 2009. Sort of. I still went back to work, for a while. Eventually, however, I came to call the Hill Country home. But I doubt it will ever outshine the bayou city.

John W Wilson 10/22/21 John W Wilson 10/22/21

A Gathering

Had dinner with a group of local friends last night. Met someone new.

John W Wilson 10/21/21 John W Wilson 10/21/21

What I Say

Deer. They certainly have minds of their own. Several weeks ago, I had a little lost deer in the yard. She’s gone now. Found her way out. Her replacement is a fair-sized buck with one antler.

John W Wilson 10/20/21 John W Wilson 10/20/21

Still Life

Got a massage and played golf yesterday. Good combo. Ate lunch at the course.

John W Wilson 10/19/21 John W Wilson 10/19/21

Garden Lesson

I was out for my pre-dawn walk about, saying goodbye to the night, when a thought came to me. I enjoy walking under the outstretched limbs of my trees.

John W Wilson 10/18/21 John W Wilson 10/18/21

Moonlit Pasture

It is fine to see the neighbor’s pasture at night under the light of the moon, even at a glance.

John W Wilson 10/17/21 John W Wilson 10/17/21

Garden News

45. The temperature this morning at my house. This seems right. Winter is coming. To Texas. It feels good.

John W Wilson 10/16/21 John W Wilson 10/16/21

Wanted

I had a good day yesterday. The elephant in the room, my new spouseless life, went with me.

John W Wilson 10/15/21 John W Wilson 10/15/21

Something Good

It’s easy, as I stare at a blank screen, to think I have writer’s block. But upon further examination, the case is usually more mundane. Generally, it boils down to this.

John W Wilson 10/14/21 John W Wilson 10/14/21

The Sweet Bit

They’re stringing the lights in the trees at the courtyard of the headquarters of the Pedernales Electric Co-op.

John W Wilson 10/12/21 John W Wilson 10/12/21

The Card

Hint you might not be focused: A debit card arrives from a bank you don’t know. Slight panic. I’ve been hacked.

John W Wilson 10/11/21 John W Wilson 10/11/21

Good Day

It’s a new day, but aren’t they all? Last week was sort of weepy for me.