Just a Life Post and Reminiscing

     

Photo by cottonbro studio:

     The warmer temps are melting the big March 5th snow and things are soggy out there. No, it's pure mudd again. Trying to keep the house clean with the dogs is a challenge. I laugh at the big dog, who reluctantly lets me get his paws cleaned, but looks at me like he's wounded. Pup displays his angry old man persona as I try and wipe him down, giving him a few treats while he sits on the Muddy Paws rug that I hope is doing it's magic drawing in the dirt and wetness. I can have a clean house in my next life I guess because this one is literally for the pets.

She's not a mudd maker, but a cuddler. 

     My brother, I fear, is on a continued decline, though being back home has done wonders for his spirits. How long it might take to see if his latest treatment will do any good is unknown. We of course want to have hope, but it's also hard to see him in pain. My other brother decided he'd spend a few weeks here now, get some quality time with family. My sister-in-law is a rock. She's never not been family, having dated my brother since I was very young. I'm just trying to be helpful if I can, but not intrusive. I honestly don't know what's easier or harder with losing a life partner- no warning or any signs like I lost my husband, or the seeing and caring for them in illness. I just know it sucks, and yes, I know death is part of life, but it still sucks. 

     I'll have several visitations in the coming week as friends have lost parents. The first was a former 6th grade teacher and classmates dad. He had a part time job as the night manager at the grocery store where I worked my last year's of highschool and start of college. I got to know him as not just teacher and B's dad. That's when I first really understood that teachers don't make a lot of money and most had second jobs of some sort, and yet convinced me teaching is a noble career. As I was going into education, he was a good reference for me for years. 

     The other funeral is for a childhood neighbor friends mom. They've just put the house on the market after finally convincing her dad that the house and rural property was just too much. They built the home 52 years ago. I met C when as part of the neighborhood kids being nosy, her family came to check on progress at the build site. Her dad yelled at us to stay off the site (Dangerous but he was scary.) Ironically, two years later, my sister and I weren't there, C with other kids were at another house building site and she apparently was pushed into the dug hole and broke her leg. She started 5th grade in a cast and in crutches. That was the same school year I had the deep fryer accident on Christmas break, coming back bandaged, in crutches, to school after suffering 2nd degree and a few 3rd degree burns over my feet. One foot healed enough that I could stand on it, but the other took months to heal.

      Anyway, her mom called us over to the car to have us introduce ourselves. Their kids were 8-C, 7-T, 6-J and a baby-J and she saw that her kids would have instant friends, which turned out to be true. C and I drifted apart in junior high in friends circles, but stayed friendly. She was one of my apartment roommates in college for a year, after she  transferred to the University from Community College. She had a crappy first marriage, but later met P, and they have a daughter the same age as my youngest. Occasionally she and her husband join trivia. She's been there for me the last few years. 

     The data system person is hired, but not starting until Friday, March 21. With essentially my last working day being the 27th, and no Mondays or Fridays, it'll be a lot to transfer in a short period of time. They're a transfer from another division, so at least they'll have all security and training required already to be eligible to access the IT systems. I'm trying to think ahead to what other access can be set up in advance to prevent any other delays. I'll be flexible the week of March 31, but not giving up the week completely. 

     I think I've reminisced and rambled enough. What's been going on in your lives?