It seems that work consumes my day, and sometimes it might be great to venture out and do something fun. Thus, my computer searched for “fun things to do.” Just reading the list qualified, because it was enjoyable to peruse.

It was suggested that I “make coffee ice cubes” with the understanding that no one likes watery coffee. What an interesting idea! However, coffee is not a preferred beverage of mine, tea fills my coffee cup. Eureka! Diet Coke ice cubes would be great!

The suggestion to “adopt a dream dog” has already fallen flat as my son adopted an unruly pit bulldog that has grown huge in seven months and is full of energy. Actually, he IS a dream dog if nightmares count.

“Playing with Legos” is an interesting challenge. It might be a pursuit which I relish, and a whole Lego city could cover my dining room table. There would only be two problems; the dog can jump up and destroy anything on the table, (Good-bye Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty!) AND all of the money in my savings and the equity in my house would not cover the cost of that many Legos.

“Filming a cooking show” would be quite entertaining. I could smile at the camera and demonstrate making toast with butter and jam, or expertly pop popcorn in the microwave. The last time I was filmed cooking was when I was about ten years old. My parents, brother and I were in the “Badlands” of South Dakota, and my mother was videoing my tomboy self cooking eggs in an iron frying pan over a roaring campfire. As I looked up and smiled a toothy grin, the spatula accidently hit the frying pan, which promptly turned upside down into the fire. A cooking show host is not in my wheelhouse.

“Making a scare crow,” stuffing old clothing and a mask up on a stick to scare both birds AND people away from my house, would not work. Or should I say, we do not need one because the dog already does that.

“Painting rocks” will be fun. A bright yellow smiley face will adorn mine. When finished, I will scatter them around the community. Here is a fun suggestion for readers; if anyone finds one, turn it into the office at the Warwick Beacon and receive a $10 Dunkin Donuts card!

One fun suggestion is to “google oneself.” Did it. It was not fun at all. There were 833 Linda Petersens, making me feel insignificant beside the wealthy and famous women with my moniker. Although it was rewarding that my book, Raising Five Kids with Disabilities and Remaining Sane, made the list.

The fun suggestion to volunteer to “babysit for a friend” struck my heart, although not in a fun way. I encounter people in my work who are caring for very ill loved ones 24/7 without any respite. These are people who need help. They need someone to stay with their family member so they can take a shower, go to the grocery store, go out to lunch with friends, or just sit in their car to listen to a podcast. The loved one will be appreciative because it will be a different friendly face looking back at them as they chat. Just someone different listening to them would be a Godsend.

My own suggestion for having fun would be to help other people. It is exciting to work on projects such as contributing food to the elementary schools that are providing weekend bags for their less fortunate students with food insecurity, knitting hats for the homeless, mowing a neighbor’s lawn, or donating used clothing to the Salvation Army. I am so fortunate that my life raising five children with disabilities to adulthood has been comprised of so many moments of pleasure and joy. My heart might burst if I had any more fun…