How About NO?

I said NO- 2026 was NOT going to be a repeat of 2025....but then......it hasn't started off well at all

Yesterday my sister's home burned to the ground. 

She was on her way to her oncologist appointment when she got the call that her house was on fire, so she turned around and rushed home to find the entire property fully engulfed with all the departments on site....Fire, Police- Medics..... the whole shebang.

She lost everything- all five buildings, her two fur babies (Bit-Bit and Pita), her clothes, her meds, sentimental items-everything!!! She wasnt able to afford insurance on her place with the majority of her pay going to Doctor visits and meds. 

At least her two eldest kids(adults) weren't staying with her when it happened. I don't think she could have taken losing her kids with everything else piled on top of what's going on in her life.

This is the same sister who has Stage 4 Kidney cancer and a couple months ago was hit head-on by an idiot driver who wasnt paying attention and swerved into HER lane as she was driving to a patients home.....Tee is a Hospice CNA. 

This woman just can't catch a break in life- well, she can- but it usually comes with a cast attached to them. 

I just don't know how much more she can take before she gives up- I probably would have given up a couple of years ago had it been me- but not Tee- she just keeps hanging on to her faith and goes about her business regardless.. She is one of the strongest women I have ever known. 

I just wanted to ask y'all pray for her- we all are because we don't know what else to do right now other than offer her a place to stay until she gets back on her feet and decides what direction she wants to go in or what is and what isn't possible or achievable for her at this point in her life.

If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times- a Family Compound of Tiny Houses is looking more and more logical and sensible at this point.

Seriously y'all, thank you for all your prayers. They are so appreciated. xx

Dazed & Confused...

 I'm in a quandary right now. I have several situations ongoing and try as I might I haven't gotten a clue where to go from here.

One person has taken on a project I'm absolutely a thousand percent sure they can't handle. Yet it's their hearts desire and they've done it- completely ignoring the fact that they themselves had said a hundred times before that they couldn't ever do it again. Someone else is going to be expected to pick up the pieces of their life when they ultimately fail in this little venture. 

Another person is doing things that will ultimately harm their health in the future but only slightly affects them in the moment. No- it isn't drug related in case you are wondering. I try to insist they NOT do it- and try to steer them in a different direction, not constantly, but in my presence and enough so I KNOW I've done my part to circumvent the issue until they are old enough to take charge of their own life choices. I love this person dearly and it hurts my heart that the person who needs to back me up in this issue would rather lead a quiet life than do what's best for person 1.

Another person is thinking about going into a past situation and I'm worried about then getting too involved and in over their head.

I think I might be worrying too much about other peoples problems and just making myself miserable in the process. But that's what you do when you care about someone, isn't it? 

Isn't it? IJDK anymore....

Testing, Testing...One Two Three... Testing.....

 The Universe is testing my patience this year already.

Car insurance went up twenty dollars a month. 

On the way to work this morning had fiver drivers turn in front of me or almost sideswiped me- FIVE.

My best friend lost both her Fiancée and her dad on this date 7 and 5 years ago, respectively.  She would be absolutely devastated to lose me on this date too- and I say that humbly and respectfully. Our friendship/sisterhood has endure everything life has thrown at us for the past 59 years. And I daresay I don't think we would have made it through the disasters and catastrophes without each others shoulder to lean on. Our sisterhood has endured more and better than all my marriages combined.

I'm so annoyed & aggravated right now- my B/P is sky high, my heart is racing, I feel nauseated, in a daze and I am shaking like a leaf.  This small bit of a post has taken me almost 40 minutes to type out because I've had to go back and correct so many mistakes.......

I honestly think I'm on the verge of a panic attack. 

Going to do a walkabout and some deep breathing to try to calm down. 

At least if I'm on the floor with other people, if I collapse there will be someone there to  call for help instead of me being stuck in an office where someone might possibly see me after a couple of hours.

See, there's a silver lining to every scenario!

My Favorite Abode...

I’ve lived in over 60 different homes in my lifetime, and the one I hold most dearly in my heart is a spacious two bedroom duplex apartment on Oak Vale Street in South Carolina. 

I moved there by myself, then shortly after my youngest son and his best friend moved in with me.

Then shortly after that(all within the space of a month) events occurred that saw my eldest son, and his little family of three AND my daughter and her son move in with us. We were packed in like sardines, but it was, to ask any of us, the happiest times of our lives. We were all adults(except for the two under two year olds) and somehow, we just automatically made the necessary compromises and made it work for about a year and a half. It was like a party every weekend combined with a family reunion. We had a basketball hoop and a horseshoe set out back and a perfect sized yard for all of us to be entertained in.

We were so blessed to have had that time together before my youngest son passed a couple of years later, and if I ever get the opportunity buy that duplex, I will do so in a heartbeat with no hesitation.

Do you have a favorite home you think of as fondly? I'd love to hear about it!!

Nothing Changes

 Well,  I worked as usual on all the holidays. Good thing(time and a half) Bad thing(missed being with my family making memories).

S'ok- it will get better. It always does. Then another rough patch hits and we have to talk and claw our way thru it until an upswing happens again.

Well, without the downsides- we couldn't appreciate the upsides nearly so much, now would we?

On another note, we are still looking for another place to move to in the near future. And stuff is moving forward.

2026 is going to be a year. ...And that's all I have to say about that.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday and 2026 brings you all your hearts desires!!!

NY Resolutions, anyone?

 Not me- I do have a couple of goals for the new year- continued from the previous year or two- Finish losing the last few pounds of the excess weight I need to get rid of- not really NEED to- but WANT to- I think I looked and felt my best at 145 lbs.- and I'm trying to lose the last bit to get back there now. So continuing on is one goal. 

The other is to get settled in a place that isn't making me and my girls sick. I love the Anderson House, but I cant let us get any more sick.... our only obstacle is nowhere wants to rent to us because of our 4 cats. And I'm not a person who adopts a pet and then rehomes it because it's inconvenient... Commitments....

The only goal for me in reality- is to be better than I was last year. 

Happy Birthday In Heaven...

Clayton, My Darling Baby Boy.......You are missed- never forgotten. Happy Birthday in Heaven, my precious son.

Love a million bazillion,

Mama xoxo