Last Commented Family Blogs (544)

She's perfect, on so many levels. And still pretty, in our age group. We separated over parenting prerogatives, but have become best of friends. Doing some car work for her today, and she watches Bravo while I travel. Other examples of mutual help. But we still struggle with pushing each other's buttons. While taking her to work today, so I could use her car for the maintenance, she forgot her computer at her home. On the way to the auto parts store, she called me, in a minor panic, asking for me to go to her place to get it for her. In her describing where in the house it was, I asked a few times exactly where, just to be sure. Several machines laying about---Goddess forbid bringing in the wrong one. I know her work is stressful, and perhaps this prompted the bark on the third asking. In the past, this might (certainly would) have had me return fire, saturating and for effect, but I didn't, struggling with the impulse to do so. This week, I tried to invite her and the girls to watch a concert by an itinerant lady Classical guitar duo from the PRC. Exam time precluded the girls' coming, but Mom texted her interest in just we two going. I declined, lame excuse beaming. So there. A shot at both feet?

Not many pictures as of now to post. Exhausted. Relieved. One down, three more to go.

Three sisters and a friend. The bride and her maids.
Hindu bride in her first saree.


Hair.


Second saree presented by the groom along with a gold necklace called Thali. The red dot on her forehead and the necklace are the symbols of a married woman.


I didn't know what was happening and what anything meant. I just did what I was asked to do. It was a brand new experience with another religion.

I asked my other daughters not to marry a Hindu nor go with any rituals. I can not handle those. One was more than enough.

But never say never. I am a mother. I will do anything for them if that is what they want.


Giving away the bride.

I'm not referring to a goiter, a urinary tract infection or herpes flare-up. No, I'm talking about the craving I have for a smoke. I average a couple of cigarettes a week or so and I'm currently about 10 days without one but the craving won't die. Maybe the problem is the triggers.

Every cup of coffee, every meal, every midget porn video. The point is that it's hard for me.....like trying get past the 5 minute mark of a Trump speech.

I think I'd have an easier time with sticking my leg in a wood-chipper, having my face torn off and eaten by a wolverine, or plucking my Persian neighbor's back hair.

I know. I know...there's nicotine gum and e-cigs but if I didn't have this to b*tch about, what's left? Politics I suppose, but aren't there already enough a-holes doing that?

I think I need a smoke....

Those that read my blogs may remember that I'm dealing with aging parents. Dad with alzheimers is in a physical therapy rehab, Mom goes three times a week to her physical therapy appointments for her dislocated shoulder and back. Dad is late eighties Mom early eighties. Both are very frail. I'm watching Dad change from a proud Godfather dictator of this Italian family into a pathetic reflection of a "no-one" who can sit in a wheelchair, stair at a wall and be content. It hurts the heart deeply. He is different every day but the latest consensus is he has grown comfortable in the facility and is NOT trying to get stronger to come home, all he wants to do is sleep. A big part of me wishes he would pass peacefully in his sleep but he has good insurance so the doctors will keep him alive like a vegatable.

My very pretty friend in her sixties was diagnosed with Lukemia about 4 weeks ago but she passed last night. Holy smoken shit, that's a harsh toke. So damn fast. A couple of us girlfriends have agreed although too soon this is a blessing in disguise to go so quickly rather than suffer the indignities of trying to cure Lukemia. It too can be a brutal disease.

Here one minute, gone the next. You never know

how about renewing the relationship? Remarrying/reattaching with the same person? Who hasn't heard of this intriguing life maneuver, and perhaps even considered it for themselves? Spend a little time here and elsewhere on the dating scenes, and up pop incentives a plenty. And the miracles of tincture of time and experience can have much to recommend them. In my case, the mom of our twins and I now have a wonderful friendship, a decade after separating, that seems to get better all the time. To be sure, we still can push each other's buttons, and with her being brighter than I am, it often leaves me in a man huff, in the man cave. Bravo gets to watch it all. I hate his knowing doggy smile at these times. But the bad memories must fight it out with the good. WOW!

But the topic is a sensitive one for me and I'm not ready to spill my blood and guts on these pages just yet so here's a little something I whipped up in the meantime.

Having a great family support system makes it fairly easy to deal with what my aging parents are going through. I'm glad I have no need to throw a pity party and can find things to be grateful for. What a jolt I got yesterday when my neighbor called to say one of our friends who hasn't been feeling well got some test results back showing she has Lukemia.

Lukemia? Crap with a captial C.

This is a very pretty woman in her sixties, very nice. I only met her two years ago, she walks her dog by my place twice a day. She lives about five homes down and walks to her 91 yr. old blind Mum's home everyday to fix food or give some care. The mom lives alone and does fairly well, not sure what is now in her future. I often send extra food I made with her to give Mum.

I don't know much about Lukemia nor do I know what to say. I asked my neighbor who has been friends with her for many years how she handled the news. The neighbor said that until she wraps her head around it, she doesn't much feel like talking about it.

I was thinking how awful her situation was until I heard the news of the shootings in New Zealand and how many families are going through agony. I was listening to a country music station when that news report went through. I almost wish I hadn't heard it because now I'm filled with sadness for so many.

I count my blessings and they are many.

I had my DNA done by 23andMe and the results came as a surprise. I am 46.2% British & Irish, 15.8% French & German, and 18.7% Ashkenazi Jewish.

I have found my Maternal birth family but still have no idea who my birth father is or who his family might be. This is why I am searching.

So according to the results, I better get sized for a skull cap.

It's almost been a year now since I semi retired and moved a hundred miles to Tampa where my elderly folks live. I've talked for many years about my intentions to move here in retirement to help them but I never actually considered retireing.

The way life played out was a home went up for sale suddenly in my old neighborhood near my folks. One of my BFFs from 40 years ago called me in Orlando and said the place next to her went up for sale and it was going to move fast. Someone died in it though, of course she neglected to tell me that at first. Anyways I drove up, couldn't resist the deal and bought it for a place to retire to. It sat empty for a couple of years while I used it as a vacation home when I visited Tampa. My boss encouraged me to make a plan for retirement, which was to take two years to phase me out. Next month it becomes final. First time in a long time I didn't work my buns off keeping with clients and their taxes from Jan to April.

Oh but destiny decided I wasn't going to have a drama free tax season. You may remember at the beginning of Jan. I mentioned Mom falling at a doctor's office fracturing and dislocating her shoulder along with a back and leg injury. Up until her fall, I wasn't much use to my foks because Mom had Dad under control doing everything. Until she fell, all us four kids worked together and being the only retired one, I got to really help. Well Dad' Alzeimers flared during Mom's down time. He has ended up falling five times since her injury and is now in a physical rehab center. Everyone speaks spanish there except Mom and I. Dad can't remember his spanish. He also has an awful time staying awake. I think he sleeps 22 hours a day.

Today he looked good and was lucid but yesterday as I sat there I thought I was just watching him die. On one hand I almost wish he would pass peacefully in his sleep but on the other hand I hope he recovers enough to come home for Mom's sake.

I can't imagine being an only child and taking all this on alone so I'm thankful for both brothers and baby sister who by the way has Lupas. She should be nearing retirement but she too is in love with a job she is married to so who knows if she will or not.

Anyways, I write all this as therapy for me. I was putting on a pair of shorts awhile ago because it is so hot then I realized I haven't heard any news in weeks so I don't know if it is cold still anywhere or any other dangers going on.

I'm sure glad my home fell into my lap because I think it is one of the best places I've ever lived. I'm loving the living even if everything feels like it's going to hell in a hand basket on one hand yet on the other I'm blessed beyond my wildest dreams to still have my folks and all siblings.

For those who sent prayers for my son for his successful scholarship Examination. THANK YOU ALL
Though the result is not released yet.
Except math which since his young age, it's never been his favourite subject, other than that, he got no worries, though an exam is an exam, until the result be released that's the time I could say he made it. Again thank you guys... ::teddybear: