Journey to 1000 Paper Cranes

Day 24:  Today I focused on folding,  I put away the stickers and folded my little heart out.  I did take a nap.  I had a sweet conversation with a dear friends.   I joined the public for a bit but mostly I was home, snug in my pajamas with my dogs.  It has been nice as I've made a point of reaching out to friends this week.  I've needed them and they've been a great comfort.  Back to work today, I'm looking forward to the routine of it.  While I didn't quite beat my daily best I got within 2 with 62 paper cranes completed by the end of the day.  (793/1000)

Day 23: Woke up really early, I think it was 3:50am.  Felt a little queasy all day and wondering if it was the ice cream from the day before mixed with not sleeping more.  Don't eat ice cream all that much and by the end of the day I was feeling better.  I managed to get two naps in during the day, watched two Robin Williams Movies (Man of the Year and Patch Adams), folded paper cranes, and did some more stickers by numbers.  Midday I got an envelope of beads from one of my friends (thank you Michelle A!) so by evening I was sorting those.  Getting really excited about stringing the cranes with the beads.  Just trying to figure out if I am going to try any patterns color wise with the cranes themselves.  What would you do?  By the end of the day I had folded 16 paper cranes.  (731/1000)

Day 22: I had not realized until the previous day that my husband to work on Friday.  He's a game reviewer and has three deadlines on Monday, so it makes sense.  Not that I had had any plans in particular. So I spent from just before 9am until 1pm running errands. Returning bottles for my friend whose battling cancer, dropping off a package and picking up mail from my USPS mailbox, going to the bank, returning items at the UPS Store, as well as picking up a prescription at the pharmacy.  Came home briefly to put air in two of the tires, picked up the new crate that was delivered for our pup that we just put down so I could return it, and then started the second half of my errands which included returning the crate, getting an oil change, picking up a few groceries, and getting gas.  I knew it was Black Friday but totally forgot the grocery store I go to (which also has apparel, furniture, a garden department, and more) would also be slammed with people.  I reall...

Day 21:  We woke up at 6:30am, our first day without Ming.   On this morning I was going through a box of dog toys/supplies and found his baby collar.  This was a comfort and I am saving it because a bought a black stuffed dog that should arrive today that will get to wear this.  A quiet morning but sweet time with the other three boys.  I got chores done and asked Jeremy when we should start making our Thanksgiving meal.  He was open to anything.  After about an hour he asked if I had decided, I looked over and said - well I'm hungry now.  So off I went to start cooking probably a little past 9:30am.  We were eating by 11:00am and boy was it tasty!  The rest of the day was folding cranes, doing my new stickers by numbers workbook, playing with the dogs, playing games, checking in with family and a couple of friends, and watching shows.  Night time was hard, right before Ming's bed time routine the tears just started flowing....

  Day 20:  This day was tough and that is an understatement.  Our rescue dog Ming has been struggling and waking up in the middle of the night so our day started at 3:30am and we didn't get back to sleep.  I only worked until a little past one because we had scheduled to put him down at 2pm.  Felt honored to be with my guy until the end.  That part was easier than I anticipated.  The hard part was coming home.  Not doing our regular medication routine, not having him under foot, not hearing him growl protecting his bone or talk about how he wants another one with more peanut butter.  The silence is deafening.  I thought I would sleep good last night because I had been up so early, had cried, and was exhausted.  Didn't fall asleep until abou1 11:30pm.  Decided to fold 12 cranes, for the 12 great years he gave us.  Blessed to have been his mom.  (679/1000)

Day 19:  This day I was scheduled to have 8 clients, the max I will meet in a day.  This means little time to chart and making sure I keep sessions punctual.  The first client of the day forgot she had an appointment, not our regular day because of Thanksgiving so we did a partial session via phone.  My next client didn't wake up in time.  As he was checking in via text another client told me she would be unable to make her time due to babies not going down for a nap as expected.  I'm actually not that bothered because I have a days worth of charting from the previous day and some extra paperwork as a couple doctors offices had requested records.  The client who was texting me wrote something like the universe knew what I needed for the day.  After I got caught up, had lunch I actually was able to take a short nap before my afternoon sessions began.  By the end of the day I had one more cancellation due to car trouble so an 8 client day ended...

Day 18:  This day started tough as we decided to put our 12 year old rescue down, scheduled for this Wednesday.  Reached out to my supports for comfort, had some tears and gave him some extra love.  Not much crane folding happened today but 7 done by evening.  I'm thankful to have this project to focus on. (640/1000)

Day 17:  The previous day I had made a blue bead request of my friends because my inventory was short.  I plan to string a series of beads at the top of a string, maybe 2-3 inches worth then will start stringing paper cranes with maybe three beads between each crane.  My friend Leslie found a great peace of wood, looks like a walking stick from my childhood Camp Myrtlewood.  She's going to be drilling 50 holes in that and I am going to hang it via a curtain rod holder.  Leslie had told me she had beads, I should not have doubted the amount whatsoever! She gave me a large stash to choose from that I sorted through last night. I love organizing things, not everything mind you but certain things.  Beads are one of those things.  After going through them all I set aside a group of beads, which will certainly be more than I need.  Also have a couple friends who might add to these, it makes it more special adding touches of people who are dear to me....

Day 16:  Enjoyed the day with errands, check ins with some family, chores, stickers, cranes, and making decisions about how I am going to display my 1000 paper cranes.  My friend is coming up with a dowel for me and will be putting holes in it for me to string 50 strings of 20 cranes with beads.  I've decided to use blue thread. Blue is my favorite color.  I will be using blue beads, with a series of beads at the top and bottom of the string and a few beads between each paper crane.  However I found out I love blue so much I have very little left in terms of beads.  I used to make beaded lanyards for work and I've made some jewelry in the past.  Ended up dismantling one lanyard that had some of my favorite beads because I don't need lanyards anymore.  Well I use one at work to string the key for the bathroom.  So my friend is coming up with beads for me but if anyone else has some to donate to this project I would appreciate it.  Willing...

Day 15:  Finally had a good night's sleep and was pleased to leave work before 6pm!  Today I took my origami paper to work so I was able to get a little extra paper folding done.  I have been having some right wrist pain and I am wondering if this is the cause....at the least probably doesn't help.  Today I got a sticker by numbers notebook, it is so much fun!  I spent a good part of my evening doing this, it is going to be competing with my paper crane folding I can tell :) Getting really excited about my four day weekend next weekend.  Nothing in particular special is happening but I haven't had four days off in a row since maybe February?  Yeah, too long ago.  Weird to think about taking time off without going some where.  Often I would be planning a few long weekends to see my aunt and cousins near Portland.  One of them actually has a beautiful framed shadow box of paper cranes he folded for the birth of one of his daughters.  ...

Day 14:  One of the unexpected things that brought me a smile was that a good friend and former co-worker sent me a photo of the crane I sent her sitting on her desk.  She let me know it was helping spread peace.  Andrea was one of two who had guess correctly on how many minutes it took me to fold 10 paper cranes (see previous posts).  She also sent me this photo. I was pretty tired this day as I have been waking up with one of our dogs every night for almost a week now.  We're thinking he's experiencing the early signs of dementia as his sleep schedule is totally off and he wakes up and then is barking until one of us is with him.  Previously we thought he was experiencing more pain because he has severe hip dysplasia as well as a progressive neurological disorder.  We are going to start him on a new medication to address cognition.  Fingers crossed we find something that works.  This day I also practiced stringing my first paper crane....

Day 13:  Today I looked up how to string paper cranes and found a good YouTube video.  I've decided to use a lighter blue thread and will be going through my beads to pick out blue ones.  Blue is my favorite color.  I need to figure out the length of string I will use as well as the number of cranes I will string in one line.  I have a great space at my office.  Two walls are brick and the longer of the two I've strung up some positive news stories. I'm thinking the dowel of cranes will take the place of these and I'll move these to the opposite wall or figure out a different way to display them.   Felt really good today, even though I was really tired from a middle of the night wake up from one of our dogs as well as an early rise by him.  I was able to get all caught up on my charting, which I've been consistently behind since I started this blog due to that weekend training.  Also I got to see one of my favorite people Hillary at Hello Bea...

Day 12:  This was a long day at work with clients starting at 9:30am and going until 7:00pm.  My lunch break was my own counseling appointment while eating lunch.  Was very grateful for that because he provides me consultation to brainstorm when I have questions about clients and what might be best for them.  He gave me a lot to ponder.  I got home pretty tired, well I started out pretty tired.  One of our dogs has really been struggling with sleep lately often waking up once or twice in the night barking.  We've started a new medication for him to address pain and I made another call to see what might help get him to sleep through the night.  He's already taking an anxiety medication.  I contemplated not folding any cranes but then thought, why not just one?  And so the lone ranger was folded and I felt really good about that.  I'm glad I thought to take care of me.  Today I had a little fun taking a photo of a photo I've take...

Day 11:  I got home to some packages.  The last package I opened had a anti blue screen protector for a laptop I don't own and an adjustable pregnancy car seat belt.   Peculiar as I didn't know such seat belts existed!  I offered the seat belt to two close friends I know who are expecting and found a new home for it.  I reached past the half way mark with over 500 cranes folded.  It's time for a new paper bag. Last night I folded 24 paper cranes.  (513/1000)

Day 10:  I spent part of my morning cleaning the bathroom and the sink has a drain with no cover (well it does now).  This means occasionally something falls down the drain, usually my vitamins for the day.  However a week ago the cover to my toothbrush took a dive.  So I get under the sink and unhook a couple of the pipes.  What do I find?  Well about 4 years-ish ago I lost a Fitbit watch.  What do you know, it is there with metal band along with the toothbrush cover and a hair elastic.  The sink is now draining with gusto!  Random story I know and has nothing to do with paper cranes.  What I'm appreciating about this 1000 paper crane making process is my attention to the present moment, the sharing of gratitude and the being open to be curious about the what this might mean as I continue to fold these cranes (I'm still curious what wish the gods will grant me).  One of my friends from high school asked what I would be doing with t...

  Day 9:  This day is my high school sweetheart's birthday.  I met Jon my senior year in weigh lifting class.  I developed a crush and on Valentines Day the school had some project where you could by a rose and have it delivered to someone.  My best friend and I made a plan, not too long after that we dated and this lasted through my first year in college.  I'd wanted to marry Jon, he was easy to get close to.  He was really silly and goofy and he made you feel like you mattered in  a huge way.  Many years later, when I found out he took his life it was like losing him all over again.  Boy I do miss him.  So today he'd be 42 and I decided 42 cranes needed to be folded, just for him.  And then I couldn't stop at 42 and by the end of the day 100 paper cranes were completed, my record high!   (410/1000, almost half way there)

Day 8:  This day was fun because I posted the previous day's question of how many minutes does it take me to fold 10 paper cranes?  Answers varied from 6 minutes to 3 days.  It took me 15 minutes.  I'll probably do this again towards the end of this project to see if I get any faster.  Although I'm not always racing to fold, it can me nice to take the time to make the folds just so and to line everything up.  Both people who guessed the correct time were offered paper cranes and one of them has a baby, so I am sending her a mama and baby crane duo.  Friday the 13th was a rainy and particularly windy day.  So many leaves blowing about and by the time I was driving home it was 45 F degrees out.  Very grateful to be entering the weekend after my seven day work stretch last week this week felt like a lot of catching up.  Clients varied in how they were doing but I've noticed an added heaviness as the holidays enter and people reflects on tho...

Day 7: One week I've been doing this and it has gone by fast.  Worked really late this day so I sat bleary eyed at my desk, having only folded 4 in the morning I was determined to do 10 so that I at least beat my record low of 12.  I really should have got into bed so I made it fun and decided to time how long it took for me to fold 10 paper cranes.  If you guess right I'll send you one!  The first thing that stuck out to me was taking a walk in the brisk cold air, getting outside felt good and I really needed that second cup of coffee.  When I get to the convenience store they are out of the hazelnut coffee that I'd prefer and so I go for a dark blend which also ends up being out.  The cashier has just come over to start brewing the hazelnut and she offers to make whatever I want letting me know it won't take long at all.  I stand in line behind two people, pay for my items and notice she's pregnant.  She's letting me know that even though the co...

  Day 6: Started my morning off folding a handful of cranes.  Veteran's Day always reminds me of Jon, my high school sweetheart who also has a birthday this week.  Sad thing is, he's no longer living to celebrate with.  I'd like to think he'd be teasing me about my 1000 paper crane project.  Because he really liked to make people laugh.  Had an average day at work with five clients and catching up on charting, which still is a work in progress with last week's training I got behind.  Mornings in Oregon have been chilly, a few resulting in needing to defrost the car.  With the time change I've really noticed my dark evenings.  I miss having a couple hours of sunlight after work.  Today I realized I've reached my 25% complete mark!  33 paper cranes folded today.  (277/1000)

Day 5:  Ran quite a few errands today after a dentist appointment in the morning.  Some days I really love errands, this was one of those days.  I think it is the act of checking things off of a to do list that brings a sense of satisfaction.  Also I scheduled a phone call chat with one of my close friends, we'd realized it had been awhile when our goal has been to check in at least once a month.  The fires in Oregon probably had something to do with that and we just hadn't put anything on the calendar.  Recently I bought a new dresser that I had still not put together so a good part of my day was moving the old one and putting the new one together.  This task wasn't completed until about 9:30pm last night.  There were a couple breaks in the day once I started that project, one of which was to get a massage.  I tried a new place that is just a few blocks from my office.  The colors of the building stand out (in a good way) as does the na...

Day 4:  Yesterday I ran several errands that I quite enjoyed.  Recently I bought a 6 minute Diary and in this diary it asks each day, what good deed did you do?  I've appreciated this because it has subtly reminded me to watch out for others.  While this might seem odd since I am a counselor by profession, each day is about watching out for others.  But this somehow seems just as important; to remind myself in my every day to pay attention to those around me and perhaps do something just a little out of the ordinary.  On this day I went to St. Vincent de Paul to donate some items.  As I was getting ready to leave a young man approached me making a sound to catch my attention.  He held a cardboard sign that read, I am deaf, can you spare some change?  I immediately was grateful I had stuck some extra protein bars in my car which I added to the dollar bill I gave him.  He made another sound, which I knew was thank you.  After picking ...

Day 3:  My final day of training is happening on this day.  I'm excited because I have the next two days off since I worked the entire weekend.  Really enjoyed getting to know my fellow therapists and my group leader.  At the end of class we each got to share what we took away from this weekend as well as what we'd like to leave behind.  What hit home for me is that all of these folks dedicated time and money towards this new therapy approach (EMDR) that is well known for helping people heal from trauma.  Knowing we are just a small portions of the many who already know this approach and the fact that we all are in the world aiming to support those suffering from the deep pains of their lives really stuck out in my mind.  This was quite comforting to think about, in contrast to the chaos that is this year including the COVID-19 pandemic, riots over police brutality, fires spreading through too much of our land, and a presidential election that mattered...

  Day Two: On my second to last day of training (EMDR, see previous entry) I decide to take my origami paper with me so I can fold during the lecture section.  Generally we had about three hours of lecture and then would break up in to smaller groups and then even smaller practice groups.  Lecture time seemed to be a great time to fold and on this day I didn't need to use the template, I had the folds memorized!  At some point early morning I had a thought that it would be fun to blog during this project, a way to stay present with what is going on around me.  It reminded me of a time I was taking one picture a day and posting it to a blog.  It had become a practice I had created while in a 9 month Women's Empowerment class.  I both love to write as well as take pictures.  This seemed like another great way to utilize those.  2020 has definitely been a year of doing things differently; some things as a result of things out of our control and ...

  Day One:  Friday night I got home after a full day of training.  I'm in the process of completing the final weekend of my Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) training.  I've purchased some two sided origami paper from Amazon and was thinking about folding paper cranes. After browsing DIY paper crane projects on Pinterest I ran in to the ancient Japanese legend that says the person who folds 1000 paper cranes is granted one wish by the gods.  Not really sure what wish I'd like granted but it seems after this last year it could use a good wish.  After finding a template with folding directions (only to find if I had looked a little further instructions came with the paper I purchased) I spent the better part of that evening folding 48 paper cranes.