I wear boots, often several pairs of boots, each day. Here are the boots that I wore each day during the past week.

Saturday 7 June

Awoke at 0430, pulled on jeans, t-shirt, and my Chippewa Hikers and walked 10 miles with my senior walking pal. In 02:05, this was a new record.

When I got home, I showered and changed into another pair of jeans, t-shirt, and my Chippewa rugged cowboy/work boots, thinking that my spouse and I were going to a nursery to get some annuals.

Unfortunately, after breakfast, my spouse had to go to bed. His disease symptoms had recurred and he wasn’t feeling well. He was okay; I could leave him alone. He just needed to sleep.

I decided then to ride to my local Harley dealer and pick up a new motorcycle seat that I ordered last week. Sweet seat — who woulda thunk that they could make a seat with replaceable gel inserts? Makes the seat lower yet more comfortable. I decided to wear my light brown White’s Nomad engineer boots for that ride.

When I arrived home, my spouse was sound asleep. I decided to pick up some senior pals and take them to the grocery store. I changed boots again — this time, I decided to wear Lucchese Classic cognac cowboy boots.

After the fun of shopping with LOLITS was over, I returned home, unloaded our groceries, and checked on my spouse. He was feeling a little better. He got up and I prepared lunch for both of us.

After lunch, I switched to Timberland work boots and mowed the lawn.

When the thrill of lawn mowing was complete, I checked on my spouse again — he was okay — so I switched boots again to black Boulet harness boots, mounted my Harley, and rode to a senior pal’s house to do a quick repair.

Back home for dinner, then a quite evening at home. Showered, changed to sweats, and socks… to bed by the usual 2030.

Sunday 8 June

Awoke again at the usual 0430, but waited until 0530 before going on a relatively short walk (only 4 miles) with my senior walking pal. As usual, I wore my Chippewa hikers.

Home by 0630, showered and changed to navy breeches and lug-soled Chippewa hi-shine boots. Went on a police-escorted motorcycle ride.

I returned home early, by noon, because my spouse’s health had taken a significant turn for the worse. I changed to shorts and t-shirt, and padded around quietly for the remainder of the day in socks while caring for him. To bed early by 2000.

Monday 9 June

To work by the usual oh-dark-30. Had to drive the truck due to predicted strong storms. Wore khakis, blue dress shirt, tie, and black ostrich cowboy boots. Several meetings and last-minute preparations for a huge conference this week.

Home by the usual 1545. Changed to jeans, t-shirt, and Dan post belly-cut python cowboy boots. Prepared dinner for our tadpoles in the pond, and then a slightly different meal for my spouse and me. Stayed at home for the rest of the night. To bed by 0830.

Tuesday 10 June

Arrived at work at the usual oh-dark-30. Did some of my own work before joining the first day of a three-day major conference being hosted on the campus of the agency where I work. I drove my truck because it was threatening rain. Wore dress blue slacks, dark blue shirt, no tie (dress code was “business casual,” which meant no ties), and Lucchese “El-Santo” hand-tooled cowboy boots. Greeted colleagues, took notes, presented, facilitated, and otherwise worked all day ’til 1800.

When I arrived at home, I immediately prepared dinner for myself and my spouse. I then changed to shorts, t-shirt, and socks. Worked on community stuff on my laptop while my spouse watched drivel on TV. To bed by 2030.

Wednesday 11 June

Arrived at work at the usual oh-dark-30. Did some of my own work, then joined the second day of that conference at my agency. Drove the truck again because it was raining. Wore black slacks, grey checked shirt, no tie, and Lucchese grey ostrich cowboy boots. Took notes, facilitated some breakout sessions, and stayed again until 1800.

Home, pooped. Prepared dinner for my spouse and me, then again — shorts, t-shirt, socks. Zoned out while the spouse was watching drivel on TV. To bed by 2020.

Thursday 12 June

Arrived at work before the usual oh-dark 30. More rain, rain, rain. Wore khakis, long-sleeved blue logo shirt, and black cherry Lucchese smooth ostrich ropers.

Did three hours of my own work, met with the boss, and then went to the conference. Facilitated a breakout group most of the day. The group’s resulting culminating presentation won first place compared with seven other group’s presentations. The prize? Picture on the front page of the agency’s next newsletter. Oh boy!

Met 30 of my colleagues for dinner at a brew pub in the downtown of my hometown. I enjoyed seeing them and building stronger bonds of friendship.

Home by 2115… met my spouse in the family room and we both went to bed.

Friday 13 June

Rain predicted again… sheesh… six inches of rain this week! Time to build an ark! Had to drive the truck again… in the office wearing jeans, Double H gel ice boots, and a non-animal polo shirt. Worked a half-day due to putting in so many hours earlier in the week.

Thought I would be happy to get off work early, only to find the battery had died in my truck. Had to wait two hours for AAA to come and all I needed was a jump start. Oh well, at least I was able to drive home. (Hmmm… Friday the 13th???)

When I arrived at home, my spouse needed attention. I stayed home for the rest of the day/night to take care of him. His health condition was displaying its awful symptoms again. No family dinner tonight — I’ll see the fam tomorrow.

To bed by 2000. We both were really tired.

Saturday 14 June

Awoke before sunrise, tied on my Chippewa Hikers and went for a long walk with my senior walking pal.

When I arrived home, I showered and crawled into bed with my spouse. He still isn’t feeling well. We snuggled and I held him… just held him… thinking to myself what was coming up today and strong concern about leaving him alone.

At 0800, I called a senior pal who is a retired nurse. “Would you mind coming over to stay for the day? I have made promises to support a major motorcycle ride for my club, and I also want to visit my great niece and give her a present for her high school graduation at a party her parents are having for her.”

Thankfully, my Sr. Pal came right over. I got everything organized for my spouse, tearfully leaving him, but knowing that I needed a break from the intensity of caregiving.

I wore jeans, a t-shirt, and my White’s Nomad dark brown engineer boots. Rode sweep on a ride for several hours. It was great to get out on a bright, sunny day. I still remained worried and concerned. I called home several times when I could. All was quiet.

I rode over to my niece’s house, saw my family for a little while, gave my great niece her present, then rode home.

I thanked my sr. pal immensely. My spouse was stable, and had gotten up and had eaten several meals. The worst of the current symptoms seem to have abated.

I changed to Timberland work boots and mowed the lawn. Showered, and changed to shorts, t-shirt, and just socks. I prepared a potato-based pizza for my spouse. He loved it! I ate a few leftover meatballs. I really wasn’t hungry.

After dinner, I did laundry and some housecleaning.

Since my spouse had slept most of the day, he wasn’t tired. We sat in our basement leisure room and listened to some soft music, snuggling closely.

We awoke at 1am… yep, we had fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

Life is short: wear boots, work hard, and show those you love how you love them.