Life happens

I have had 3 people I knew well die this week. I am trying to finish editing a book for a friend. My daughter is sick . So.....I will get back to blogging after Tuesday 11/4 , which happens to be election day.

Halloween scene

When I was a kid, I loved Halloween for the candy and being out at night in the neighborhood- not the "being scared" part. When I was a little older, I loved creating costumes and dressing up as a different personality or fantasy. I was really into having a meticulous outfit and makeup for the evening.Then I would enjoy making costumes for Adam and Gina.I fondly remember, too, all the beautifully carved pumpkins Adam would make every year for us! Now, I just enjoy handing candy out to the young kids and seeing how adorable they look, although I still put out a few decorations. My mom told me I would get to this point, and she was right. Been there, done that, a lot! Happy Halloween, whatever you do - or don't do. I will probably have a glass of wine and watch "Nightmare Before Christmas" ( the movie is already over 20 years old).

We are all mortal.

I know the older I get, I will be dealing with the deaths of people I care about deeply. It is so difficult to say goodbye and forge ahead. Grief is weird. You're supposed to move on after a "reasonable" time, but that is such a relative idea. I miss my mom and dad every day. I think about my brothers, my grandma, other relatives and friends as well. I have three dear friends, currently, who are coping with cancer. It overwhelms and saddens me, and I feel helpless, because they live far away from me. I pray for them, of course. I want for them a cure, a miracle, another chance. I hope they will get that.

Emmaus and Chrysalis

Back in 1998, I experienced the "Emmaus" walk as a pilgrim, and Kate Morris sponsored me. I then sponsored my dear friend,Loretta Yike. Subsequently, I have served on only one walk, but Loretta has worked many, many walks, and will probably be a lay director some day. She has also been very active with Chrysalis (for teenagers), so I have decided to serve on the Chrysalis walk with her Jan 1 -4.What a great way to start the new year! I will be the cook, so that is both exciting and challenging, because I will be preparing food for over 100 people. For those of you who don't know what Emmaus or Chrysalis walks are, they are spiritual retreats. I know that I will be blessed and meet many wonderful women. I don't know how many weekends I 'll do like this in the future, but I love working with Ms.Loretta, and if she ever is called to be a lay director, I will serve with her in a microsecond. I admire her servant's heart, and we are kindred spirits. I am blessed that she is my sista.

VOTE

I vote every time there is an election. I have been proudly voting since I was 18, and I don't understand people who do no make time to be informed nor take time to vote. I vote on local issues, state issues and nationally. I do not always vote for one party, but I tend to prefer Republicans. Georgia's politicians must win 51% of the vote, so we will probably have a run off in January, because the individual senatorial candidates do not appear to have a clear win majority. I hope Georgia will not be the deciding factor for which party controls the Senate,however, because if so, it will be a real circus down here- media feeding frenzy, PAC contributions and a deluge of negative ads, etc. I am a political junkie and watch the national polls and races. Btw, I rarely vote early , and I will probably vote on Nov 4- I'm kind of old school that way. Just make sure to vote!

My husband

I have been with Alfredo over 40 years. We have grown up together and have been through good and bad, thick and thin. He is honest, kind,frugal, hard-working,compassionate, silly at times, clean, pragmatic, realistic, cynical, cat man(really,he mainly takes care of CJ), yard man, gym man, and all around good guy, provider and sidekick. Gina takes advantage of him, and I can drive him crazy.He is not self- centered and is self- sacrificing, in fact, and because he is loyal to a fault, he would do pretty much anything he can to help his family and close friends, sometimes to his detriment. We argue, make up, argue some more, and don't see eye-to-eye about a lot of things especially our daughter who is very challenging. Through it all though, I have always loved him, trusted him, prayed for him and am proud he is my husband and the wonderful father of our children. I am lucky to be his wife and I don't say that enough.

Daydreaming

Sometimes I imagine that Al and I have all the money we will ever possibly need, so that we can travel when and where we want, as often as we want. This, of course, is not the case, and I have fantasized that, yes, it would be great to get a windfall or win the lottery or hit it big at blackjack. Although, if this were the case this is what I (and Al , too,I think) would do , and honestly, who in the working or middle classes hasn't daydreamed just a little about a life without financial concerns?First,Al could retire! We would pay off all our debts- mortgages, student loans, etc. in one fell swoop,, and set up trust funds for the children and pad all our savings vehicles.Naturally, I would tithe to our church. Next we would fix up everything in the house and sell it. We would like to move in a few years into a condo, with no outside maintenance. We would pay cash for it! Al could get the car of his dreams, and I and the kids could have new cars too. Then I would invite everybody we love - wherever they live- to take a two week cruise with us, all expenses paid,all inclusive. I would donate thousands of dollars to "wounded warriors" and " make a wish " foundation.Alfredo could go to Colombia twice a year, and we could go to MI twice a year as well. We could set up a state-of-the -art music studio for Adam and a house for Gina. Distance and money would no longer be factors in decisions to see my sister, family, and closest friends! Of course, health is always the big question mark, but it's my fantasy, and so we will all be well.

Missing Michigan folk already.

I'm feeling a little weepy today. Having spent time in Michigan with family and friends recently, I always get sad when I realize I won't see them again until I get back up there.The whirlwind pace exhausted me this time, but if I don't go to MI, I won't see some significant people in my life. Most of them won't make the trip to Georgia, which can be rather one sided for me, but my friends and family always treat me exceedingly well and are tremendous hosts. I just wish the distance wasn't such a large factor. I do not want to move back to MI because of the winters,but I sure wish I could get up there more often. I would have stayed longer, but I went by myself, and I have too many pulls here- namely my husband and children. They never seem to be able to go with me. I'm retired; they aren't. Hopefully, Al will retire in four years( at 66), and then there will be fewer time constraints. I will hold on to that thought.

Back in the saddle, so to speak

I haven 't been writing, blogging, or editing for over a month because of a busy time traveling to NYC, cruising to Bermuda, and visiting family and friends in Michigan.I loved the trips but am exhausted from the frenetic pace I had; I'm no spring chicken anymore. Meanwhile, my 17 year old cat had pancreatitis and now he is doing better. My son, under his music name Feverkin, released a couple of very good songs he composed.My husband, has been swamped with his work.My daughter, who has gotten her GED, is looking for a job. I plan to get back into my routine of writing now and to get busy with editing a friend's book. It will be good to be blogging again.