As if there haven't been enough changes with Mumsy passing on, we've had to alter our living space. This is a split-level house. The main part was built in 1955 & later another bedroom, work shop & a huge living space over a 2 car garage was added. When moving Mumsy in, we took out a wall between two smaller bedrooms & made her a huge living space. We always joked that she lived in the East wing of the house. With too much space for only 2 people, we moved from the upstairs space into the East wing — that was strange for the first few months to say the least. The upstairs space was made into a rental unit. I hated giving up that space ... it has a fireplace! But with foot problems it was getting difficult for me to go up & down the stairs. Plus, finances were tight since Big Daddy still hadn't found work after being laid off January 13, 2010. Even being 6 miles or so from the city, we didn't have any trouble getting a tenant in there. It's still a work in progress but they are content so that's a good thing. Now if I could just get him to stop bumming rides from me to the store! At least it's to the smaller town only 2 miles away.
It took me the entire year to pull myself up by the bootstraps & forge onward. In September I took a trip up to spend a week with NJ. We had a pretty good time — horse races, German food & beer, riverboat cruise to watch fireworks for Labor Day. Even BJ took a couple days off & went with us to check out the old train terminal. And we were able to connect with cousins we had not seen in quite a few years. Ah, but then I returned about a week before Mumsy's birthday and BAM! It all hit me again.
Of course I knew Christmas was going to be different; but at least — I thought — it would be here & there would be good memories of the few before. Not so. Punkin' wanted to have it at their house. So maybe it was time for a new tradition, & it was good, just — different.
There was a company who told Big Daddy they were going to hire him this month, then the next month, then that month; but it never happened. They did, however, hand his application over to another company located within their same building; & they said they'd put him to work after the Christmas holidays. I wasn't holding my breath given the way the other company had put him off for half the year. But when they had him come down & do all the paperwork & required testing, then I breathed easier. As 2010 drew to a close, I can say it felt as if a weight lifted from my shoulders.
And he has been working ... but not here; in a town about 2 hours away. He comes home most weekends — when they don't have him working, or I've gone there a couple of times. But in a few weeks they'll be sending him to a place 7 hours away and work 3 weeks then off 4 days. He'll spend half a day driving here & half a day driving back! Doesn't leave us a lot of time. Of course, I'll go there when I can — but with gas as high as it is, it will have to be carefully planned. Man! If only I could ride the Harley but still have to re-learn how to ride a bike.
So I just take baby steps every day. I don't try to get ahead of myself. I don't plan too far down the road. But it sure does get lonesome around here sometimes & Prissy and Fonzee can only BE so much company. Guess I'll have to just push myself out the door more often. Like later today. I am taking Punkin' to an eye appointment & afterwards bringing back 2 of the grandkids. My plans are hot dogs & watching the Chihuahua movies with BINGO Thursday before I take them home. Which means I really should be in bed asleep, but I was feeling a bit too lonesome. So I read a few emails from some good friends & am feeling better.
I do have a job now of sorts. There are two women who live in that town 2 miles away that I drive to the city once a week. We have lunch, sometimes they have appointments or other errands (like last week was an oil change) & always shopping! There's even BINGO sometimes. Joyce is the same age as Mumsy and Jana in her mid 20's is like a baby sister. We do have fun & I am thankful for their friendship. I believe it has helped me more than I realized until now writing about it.
I've reconnected with some friends from high school. I stopped off in Oklahoma for a couple of days on my way back from NJ's & we went to the Hard Rock Casino. I walked away with $80 more than I went in with AND that was on a penny machine! I've also reconnected with some friends from later days than school. I have a small group of friends that I get together with Mondays for dinner & poker. I also delivered flowers for Valentine's day, which was a lot of work but also a lot of fun.
So I've not shut myself off from the world. It's just baby steps — and that works.
