And Now, A Word From Our Sponsors
Warning: This post turned into a "Christmas Letter" I - didn't-even-write kinda thing, Read at your own risk!
I've been purposeful of late. Projects include more determined weeding, boxing, and mailing of all deceased family belongings I don't need and or want. I mean this in both the physical and emotional realms. I am reclaiming my home, my emotions, and my brain to suit myself It's slow work due to my physical limitations, & that can be frustrating.
In the last 10 years, I have lost:
My mom & stepdad in a car wreck
My only sister (Kate) to myasthenia gravis
My true love/husband (Michael) to renal disease
Then I broke my hip..... (I already live with a failed back surgery & 6 herniated disks plus a permanently destroyed shoulder)...
My 1st husband (Warren's dad) to lung cancer
My dad to lung & brain cancer
1 of my closest friends since high school as well as my neighbor(DeeDee) to carcinoid cancer
Kate had inherited all the mom/stepdad stuff, so I got a triple delivery for that job. And sometimes I am angry as I sift through the mountain of their accumulated belongings. I am a person that gets overwhelmed easily, so I've been learning how to prioritize, segment, & organize projects and myself, the hard way!
All of this in addition to 2 separate, life threatening illnesses of my own. Both still require daily & monthly medical attention, and my participation in health maintenance (even when I don't give a rat's ass). On a more upbeat trail, I've finally been awarded my permanent disability with back pay......thank you very much. While I feel so blessed, I wish that Kate, Michael, and DeeDee were here to help celebrate.
Healthwise, my calendar is full. I'm in the process of getting dentures. Meaning, all of my remaining teeth/roots have to be pulled. The work is scheduled in 4 phases; recovery from the 1st quarter is almost complete. It was beyond hell. I had been harboring low-grade infection from gum disease for several years & I can already tell there is improvement in my energy & stamina. I'll bite the bullet *pun intended* & schedule phase 2 within the next few weeks. Why do I suddenly feel like an open house in a new subdivision???
I've also been busy working with an artist in FL. She will be making dichromatic glass pendants & incorporating some of Michael's ashes into them. Joni actually began by doing pet memorials and then expanded to people. I believe that Michael is quite delighted & is laughing about the dog crematorium connection. Her work produces beautifully distinctive jewelry & you wouldn't know it's 'memorial' stuff. It looks like ole hippie, blown glass on a leather thong or silver chain, which sooooo suits Michael's style. Each of us gets to choose the colors, shape, and chain for our necklace. Michael's surviving family includes myself, his daughter, a son & daughter in law, 5 granddaughters, and one grandson. While I plan to occasionally wear my pendant, some of us will also hang them on reariew mirrors in our cars or boats. If anyone wants to see these memorials & Joni's rainbow bridge website, I'll be happy to post links here.
After all my dental extractions are complete & I'm off the antibiotics, I can have my 2 separate cataract operations. Did you know that I'm legally blind?? I can only perceive light/dark with my right eye, which truly effs with depth perception, & explains my fall with a side of hip fracture & subsequent surgery. To go, please.
The tendency to stumble, run into objects, and drop things has been lifelong ;>) but has steadily worsened. Since cataract surgery is fairly painless, other than IV's to go off to gooberland, I am truly excited about my upcoming life. I'll be able to: read, drive, take a walk, and not bruise so easily. I envision *pun intended* a future so bright I gotta wear shades.
Must dash, as Gus is demanding quality kitty laptime. It is wonderful to be so needed. Still crazy after all these years,
Sus
I've been purposeful of late. Projects include more determined weeding, boxing, and mailing of all deceased family belongings I don't need and or want. I mean this in both the physical and emotional realms. I am reclaiming my home, my emotions, and my brain to suit myself It's slow work due to my physical limitations, & that can be frustrating.
In the last 10 years, I have lost:
My mom & stepdad in a car wreck
My only sister (Kate) to myasthenia gravis
My true love/husband (Michael) to renal disease
Then I broke my hip..... (I already live with a failed back surgery & 6 herniated disks plus a permanently destroyed shoulder)...
My 1st husband (Warren's dad) to lung cancer
My dad to lung & brain cancer
1 of my closest friends since high school as well as my neighbor(DeeDee) to carcinoid cancer
Kate had inherited all the mom/stepdad stuff, so I got a triple delivery for that job. And sometimes I am angry as I sift through the mountain of their accumulated belongings. I am a person that gets overwhelmed easily, so I've been learning how to prioritize, segment, & organize projects and myself, the hard way!
All of this in addition to 2 separate, life threatening illnesses of my own. Both still require daily & monthly medical attention, and my participation in health maintenance (even when I don't give a rat's ass). On a more upbeat trail, I've finally been awarded my permanent disability with back pay......thank you very much. While I feel so blessed, I wish that Kate, Michael, and DeeDee were here to help celebrate.
Healthwise, my calendar is full. I'm in the process of getting dentures. Meaning, all of my remaining teeth/roots have to be pulled. The work is scheduled in 4 phases; recovery from the 1st quarter is almost complete. It was beyond hell. I had been harboring low-grade infection from gum disease for several years & I can already tell there is improvement in my energy & stamina. I'll bite the bullet *pun intended* & schedule phase 2 within the next few weeks. Why do I suddenly feel like an open house in a new subdivision???
I've also been busy working with an artist in FL. She will be making dichromatic glass pendants & incorporating some of Michael's ashes into them. Joni actually began by doing pet memorials and then expanded to people. I believe that Michael is quite delighted & is laughing about the dog crematorium connection. Her work produces beautifully distinctive jewelry & you wouldn't know it's 'memorial' stuff. It looks like ole hippie, blown glass on a leather thong or silver chain, which sooooo suits Michael's style. Each of us gets to choose the colors, shape, and chain for our necklace. Michael's surviving family includes myself, his daughter, a son & daughter in law, 5 granddaughters, and one grandson. While I plan to occasionally wear my pendant, some of us will also hang them on reariew mirrors in our cars or boats. If anyone wants to see these memorials & Joni's rainbow bridge website, I'll be happy to post links here.
After all my dental extractions are complete & I'm off the antibiotics, I can have my 2 separate cataract operations. Did you know that I'm legally blind?? I can only perceive light/dark with my right eye, which truly effs with depth perception, & explains my fall with a side of hip fracture & subsequent surgery. To go, please.
The tendency to stumble, run into objects, and drop things has been lifelong ;>) but has steadily worsened. Since cataract surgery is fairly painless, other than IV's to go off to gooberland, I am truly excited about my upcoming life. I'll be able to: read, drive, take a walk, and not bruise so easily. I envision *pun intended* a future so bright I gotta wear shades.
Must dash, as Gus is demanding quality kitty laptime. It is wonderful to be so needed. Still crazy after all these years,
Sus