Hello my friends.
I'm so sorry I've been away for so long. Life has been....life, and unfortunately, journaling has temporarily fallen by the way side. I have been catching up with all of you through your postings, although I haven't always been able to comment on your entries. When my stress levels are high, it's comforting to read your words and know that you all are still there sharing yourselves with me, even if I can't always reciprocate. I'm on my way back however, so please don't give up on me yet.
I'll try to catch you up on the last few months.
My mother-in-law (MD) has been in and out of hospitals, and rehab facilities over the past year. The good news is, her health is improving on a grand scale. The doctors were finally victorious over a chronic bacterial infection and that is making all the difference.
The bad news is, we lost her brother (GF) a couple of weeks ago. As is most often the case, his transition was both a blessing and a curse to those of us left behind. The best way to describe GF is this: He was well and truly loved. That man had no regrets. I know that I'm not alone is saying that he will be dearly missed. The blessing? His cancer returned with a vengeance, and he was in unimaginable pain. Luckily, he didn't linger in that pain for more than a handful of days. In those days, he was able to say good-bye to almost all of his family in person.
My family is trudging along with teasing and laughter, as is their way.
Mama and Daddy (AJC and JEC) are finally finishing the clean up and repair of their rental property. The last tenants were not good people, much less good tenants. They did some real damage and left 'in a hurry'. It's taken a lot of money and months of labor, but they are finally ready to rent again. I'm so glad they have hired someone to screen potential renters this time. They are due for a break.
My nephew (CZ) is back in school and doing much better this time. He opted to move back up north to take advantage of in-state tuition discounts. He takes after me in the fact that he has to do things himself to truly learn them, and being so far away from his parents (they moved back to our home town after his high school graduation), is the best thing for him right now.
DD and I are entering a time of major change. I am trying to go back to school. It's going to be difficult, with a full time job, but it has to be done. I've taken my current career as far as I can, and it's time to move on.
My current career is not one I ever really aspired, although it has been good to me over the years. The industry is changing, and morphing into something I really don't want to be a part of. These changes, and the fact that I turned 40 in January have forced me to reevaluate my professional life, and I realized, I spend 40 hours a week doing things for other people, simply because they don't want to do it themselves. While I'm incredibly thankful to have a job, and very aware that we've come through the recent economical hardships with superficial wounds for the most part, I don't want to do this for the rest of my life. I want to provide a service that some one actually needs. Hopefully, these classes will get me where I need to be.
Needless to say, I've been thinking a lot about my future and, as with anything in the balance of nature, this has lead me to think a lot about my past. There are events in my life I've been unable to move past. Mistakes I've made, lessons undefined; those sorts of things, and now feels like the time to address them and put them to rest. It is my intention to work through them here with you, in future postings. It is my hope that you will not only bear witness to my progress, but offer advice and guidence based on your own unique and varied life experiences.
I hope to hear from you often and soon.
~t
