Did I Ask For Your Opinion?

  When I got home Friday afternoon, I called my Dad as promised, to let him know that I had made it home safe and sound. There was no answer, so I left a message. He called me a couple of hours later to tell me he did get my message. He missed my call because he had been sleeping. Turns out they are all sick. Probably just a cold. Greeeeaaaatttt!😬 I mean it's not like I had just spent the last two days with them exchanging hugs and in each other's close personal space.  Oh wait, actually I had.😨 I asked if he had been vaccinated for Covid. Two shots, but no boosters. Add to that, Youngest Child spent Friday with his Friend who did not make it to school yesterday because he was sick. I asked with what and Youngest Child just rolled his eyes at me.😒 Well, not literally, but that was the general vibe I got from his response. Apparently there is a cold going around. But there is also still Covid going around. I found out yesterday that one of our friends currently has it. I hav...

I'm back in Vermont. Back home, with my dog, my family, and all of the other creature comforts of familiarity. As I was driving Youngest Child to school this morning he asked how my blog writing was going. I gave a noncommittal answer somewhere along the lines of "Meh". Then he immediately launched into how I had left the tab open for my blog when I left my lap top behind for him to use so he could keep up with his on-line class while his computer was being fixed. He was upset over my writing about how he is a man child and how he holds the bathroom hostage. I do remember the bathroom complaint, which I still stand by as being completely valid. The other thing though..... I'm too tired both physically and emotionally to reread all of my blog posts to see which one is the culprit. I write about my children because I am often at a loss as to what to write about if not about them. But it turns out there is still a ton of shit from my own child to revisit and sort out. St...

 At the end of day two visiting with my Dad. I did some souvenir and early Christmas shopping done in town this morning before driving to my Dad's house around 11:00 We spent about eight hours together yesterday, from 10:00 ish to 6:00 ish. I was exhausted from the long drive here, not getting enough sleep, and feeling anxious. But it was a good visit. Some crying on both sides. Hugs, and lots of talking and picture viewing. I brought LOTS of pictures. My Dad and step-mother came here to my Air BnB, and after the slow and painful trek from the mini van, up the steps, and to a chair, my Dad gave me the biggest hug. My Dad has been alternately embarrassed and frustrated with his current physical state. It has been shocking to see his utter lack of mobility. Right now I'm mostly focused on packing, and getting ready for the long drive home tomorrow. I'm a little homesick truth be told. I'm sure it will hit me at some point, all of this information and history I've been...

 I'm listening to Cyndi Lauper, trying to drown out the sounds of the dudes just outside my window putting the foundation frames up for the garage. Apparently it involves lots of pounding. Listing more stuff on E-Bay. Getting ready to e-mail Youngest Child's Art teacher back at CCV. She seems super nice and very inclusive of all learning capabilities and levels. A definite plus in our book! After ordering a new phone and being informed that my new (refurbished) phone is on the way, my phone decided to start behaving itself. Because of course it did.😕 Freddi and I have a date with the Vet in a couple of hours to get her nails trimmed. And then since we're already right next to the bike path, a quick walk before we come home.

 I'm starting to feel a little anxious about certain pieces of the puzzle falling into place before I leave next week. Youngest Child's schedule, in the sense that I won't be here to get him to class every day. The dog needs her nails trimmed (we're doing that tomorrow afternoon). Things need to be straightened out with his Art Class at CCV. I can at least remind him long distance to do his homework for that one and even answers questions if need be since I have access to his account. Add to this my phone. Which apparently has decided to have a stroke. I can't think of any other way to describe it, despite my unease with the term after my friend's daughter actually had a stroke almost immediately after graduating from college during the Covid years. However I choose to describe my phone's severe lack of capability now, the bottom line is, this isn't going to work. Even if I weren't to be travelling next week. Soooo, new phone ordered and on the way. ...

 In eight days I am going to get my son off to school just like it's a normal day, and then get in my car to drive to Maine. It will take me approximately six hours to drive to Blue Hill, where I will be spending three nights in a very cozy Air BnB. This is all so that I can visit with my Dad for two days. It is the first time in twenty years that we have seen each other. We have been speaking on the phone about once a week for roughly three weeks now? Maybe four?? And what started out as being a bit surreal and heavily emotional has slowly eased into something more closely resembling normal anticipation of seeing one another again. It will be a bittersweet reunion as his health is failing and we are both lamenting the loss of twenty years due to a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications. Even as I harbor a certain degree of guilt that at least I am being granted this opportunity of a second chance and the ability to reconnect before we have to say good-bye for good. I ha...

  The air had a nip of fall this to it this morning at 6:30 a.m. sharp when Freddi and I hit the  rail trail. No longer can I dilly dally after rolling out of bed with vague plans to start our walk around 8:00 ish. By 8:00 the walking needs to be done and dusted and to have ourselves back home so I can start the process of getting Youngest Child off to class. So, it's taking some adjusting to, this earlier schedule. But so far so good. And I like the feeling that by 12:00ish my duties are done and I can just putter around the house doing the laundry and the dishes without having to keep an eye on the clock.  I had vague hopes that we might run into Freddi's BFF canine friend Rosie maybe towards the end of our walk. Vague enough that I didn't dare mention anything to Freddi.  As luck would have it, we did run into them. Rosie and her person were just starting as we were heading back to the car to leave. But it did give the dogs just enough time to say Hi, which put a ...