An Uninvited

Until my beloved died, I had never lived alone.

I didn’t think too much about it, but when it happened, I learned to adjust.

And like most other things in this complicated life, there were pros and cons.

The obvious con, of course, was loneliness, and while there are many well quoted antidotes, few of them truly help.

Loneliness is a condition to be endured rather than embraced. It is a time to grieve and learn the validity of sorrow. And it does ebb and flow.

However, the compensations while few are equally valid.

Anyone living alone does not worry about frivolous responsibilities.

Nor do they quake with guilt if indulging in a forgotten treat, i.e. a bologna sandwich on white bread with yes, butter.

And nobody need know.

Nor must they maintain the precision of former neatness.

I cannot deny that.

At the moment there are two pairs of shoes waiting to be returned to the overcrowded closet.

And while they will be put away, not at the moment.

However, apparently, suddenly I have a uninvited roommate. One not only with a conscience but one who subtly expresses tacit disapproval.

When Alexa was gifted, I learned to be welcoming to a point.

I routinely invite her (he or it) to join me in my Apple music selections, and of course, constantly ask her the time.

Alexa has not been neglected.

Apparently, that was not sufficient for her comfort zone.

Yesterday she reminded me a package had been delivered.

I was well aware that it remained unopened, but for a valid reason. It was going to be returned.

Need I explain to Alexa?

Apparently, it is expected because today there was another reminder,

and then a third one about my beauty salon appointment.

At that point in time I was dressed and heading for the elevator and quite resentful of the inference that I had forgotten.

Eviction is not quite the remedy for this problem, but Alexa needs to be controlled, and I am not quite certain how to do that.

But I intend to learn asap.