I apologize to my blogging buddies who have been worried about me. Some of you have “checked in” periodically, and my heart has been so touched when I have been able to take the time to read your notes to me. Thank you so much!
I have been in Texas for over two months dealing with my 80-year-old mother’s recovery from shoulder replacement surgery complicated by other physical problems, emotional and mental stress due to my 83-year-old father’s rapidly progressed dementia requiring placement in an Alzheimer’s nursing home, and the move Mother was forced to make to a new apartment because of the financial issues involved in all of this.
I am finally back home in Oklahoma, but I am now dealing with issues at home while still dealing with issues in Texas: cell phone dying the day I got back to Oklahoma (lost my contacts and everything else), paperwork, Mom’s ongoing care, paperwork, Dad’s roommate in the nursing home bullying him, paperwork, staff at nursing home refusing to do what they say they’re going to – and what they should be doing, paperwork, catching up on care for my kitties, paperwork, ongoing restructuring of my job, paperwork, mounds of back mail that I must read and handle, paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. . .
I’m still breathing. At least, I think I am.
Breathe in. . . Breathe out. . . Breathe in. . . Breathe out. . .
Grandawn - Aging Semi-Gracefully 
You are overdue for another update Dawn…worrying about you girl.
Hi, granny – Thank you so much for thinking of me and letting me know. You’re right – I was overdue. Now I’m going to try to update more often.
Still worrying gently about you.
So sorry to hear of the burdens you have now, but so glad to be back in touch with you. Many, many prayers are going on your behalf. Enjoy the grandchildren every time you can, it seems to balance the insanity that life throws at us during different periods of our life…….and…..be confident that if you need to blow off steam, just pick up the phone and call. Much love to you and your family. Looking forward to talking over coffee one of these times when I am breezing through town.
Hang in there! I know this is a really difficult time for you. Please update again soon and let us all know how you’re doing 🙂
Thank you!
I’m so glad to see you back Grandawn. Just take things one at a time and try not to let yourself get overwhelmed – I know it’s not as easy as it sounds. We have all been thinking of you… One general blog every so often instead of individual comments will suffice until things aren’t as hectic… We will understand.
*phew!*
If I wasn’t so glad to see that you are OK I would fly over there just to bite your ankles… 🙂
Take the problems one at a time and if they threaten to overwhelm you – blog and we will teach you some nice Afrikaans Swearwords you can use to blow off some steam.
So glad to see that you are back but very sorry that you are going through all of this now… BIG WAVE FROM CAPE TOWN!
Phew…am so glad to hear you are ok…stressed but ok.
Put all the paperwork in a box…only attend to something when someone asks…amazing how much of the stuff is unnecessary.
NOW…after me….ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
God bless you – I ache for you, but with confidence in God’s overarching goodness, I pray that you may have peace of mind, calmness of spirit, and joy in your heart. We can’t be happy about everything, but we can be joyful in all circumstances. There was a reason that Paul advised us to “Rejoice in the Lord always…” Mainly because finding reasons to rejoice in and sometimes in spite of circumstances, helps us to live in the moment, and not to borrow troubles from tomorrow. Today has cares enough of its own!
So, keep up that steady breathing – in and out (is there another way?), relax when possible, and even sometimes when it seems impossible, take whatever help is offered, and know that you are thought of and prayed for with love!
Paula (soon – very soon – to be “Granny!”)
Thanks for the update.
Sorry that things haven’t smoothed out a bit more since your last post.
Keep breathing.
oops… just read my post… should have said the main “thing”… not “this”… didn’t have my fingers in gear with my brain… or maybe the other way around!!!
I feel your pain. Johnny and I have been the “care persons” for his dad, my mom, and my aunt… so I’ve “been there, done that” as is said. I wish I had some easy answers, but, there really are none. And, as you say, often the care facilities are some of the biggest problems.
The main this I can say is to just do what you feel is best, avoid “guilt” over what you can’t do or make better or make right, and try to keep yourself healthy… if you don’t you certainly can’t be of any help.
I will say, all the experience we had is the reason we selected to move to a retirement community long before we really “needed” to be here. Hopefully, this will be of some help to our family.
Will be thinking of you as you make this journey.