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Monday, March 30, 2020

Writing Challenge Day 7

Day 7: List 10 Songs You're Loving Right Now

1.. Fix You - Coldplay

2..Don't Worry Baby - Beach Boys

3..You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand

4..Elton John and Kiki Dee - True Love

5..A Chorus Line Soundtrack (Let Me Dance For You, Nothing, One, etc)

6..The Rose - Bette Midler

7..Last Christmas - Emilia Clarke (from the movie  "Last Christmas"

8..A Million Dreams - Pink

9..Shallow - Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

10..Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - The Platters

 

 

Friday, March 27, 2020

Writing Challenge Day 6

Day 6: Six Ways to Win My Heart

1..An incredible sense of humor (and you are probably sarcastic too)

2..The ability to take the shit I give you, but fling it right back in my face.

3..Cookies, Cookie Dough, Potstickers and Wings!

4..Being compassionate,  supportive, and loving.

5..Indulging my need to plan and be prepared

6..A love of travel but at the same time, a love of spending time at home.    (each of these when it is by my choice)


Thursday, March 26, 2020

Writing Challenge, Day 5

Day 5: Five Places You Want to Visit

Writing Challenge, Day 5
Five Places You Want to Visit

Corona threw a wrench in my plans, but here goes.
Most of these were planned for this year.

1..Go on the cruise I booked and cancelled.

2..Return to London (and possibly Paris) in November 

3..Either Sedona or Arches National Park in September for my Dad’s Anniversary weekend

4..Niagara Falls

5..Disney (California) or Universal (Florida) Trip

6...Back to Hawaii

7..Grand Canyon

8..White Sands 

I don’t travel to many exotic places, and I tend to return to places I like, but I have a great time planning and then executing my travel dreams.






Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Writing Challenge Day 4

Day 4: Write About Someone Who Inspires You

I write a lot about my Dad, but today I am going to write about my Mom.

My Mom inspires me by how she continues to go on since losing my Dad. Right after he died, she was my inspiration to continue going on, myself. We held each other up in those darkest moments.

She inspires me by dealing with her own issues she shows me how to fight back and not give in. There is so much she appears to just let go, I'm kind of envious of that because I take much to heart.

She inspires me because we are both highly empathic and compassionate, and with both of us in the same household, we tend to feed off each other - I can sense when something isn't right with her and vice versa. Her bad mood can affect mine, and vice versa. Yet through it all, there is nothing but love.

She inspires me with her love of travel and the awesome travel companion that she is and will be again when we can travel. She likes the same things I do. She complains that her feet hurt afterwards, but it still doesnt stop her from clocking 20,000 steps in London each day last November. We've gone whale watching and out to breakfast and to a favorite cupcake place in Orange County/Newport...to Ghirardelli for Ice Cream in San Francisco, to Maui, to London..We both travel as a method of dealing with our grief and learning how to go on..and how to distract ourselves. I started her travelling and now I kinda created my own monster LOL. But I love it!

She inspires me because she has a better immune system and seems healthier than I am. She loves sugar just as much as I do, but is able to control it better than I can.

She inspires me, because she is still here by my side 3 years later, and 46 years later, after I am sure I put her through some shit over the years.

I Love You, Mom. 

 

 


Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Writing Challenge Day 3

Day 3: What are your Top 3 pet peeves?

1..Drivers who speed up, and try to cut you off, to make a turn in front of you because they are impatient. Their inability to plan does not constitute a crisis on my part.

2..I will never be able to resolve this, but I have learned to live with it. My ability to not own other's problems/issues and not be able to fix them medically (ie Make my Mom, Dad, or Cousin better, etc)

3..People who are careless, or who do things to make things harder than it has to be, intentionally. I guess we can call this Arrogant, Obnoxious, and uncaring people for anyone other than themselves.
 

Monday, March 23, 2020

Writing Challenge Day 2

Day 2: Write something that someone told you about yourself that you never forgot

I have been a caregiver for my parents for many years. As an only child, on some level I felt it was my duty to take care of them in their later years, just as they took care of me in my earlier ones. I guess I kind of took it for granted in that I expected it of myself, and I figure that others feel the same..even though I realize not everyone does.

Time and time again, as my Dad aged, and I see my response now with with my Mom and what she requires, I did what is needed to keep them healthy, act as chauffeur to doctors appointments and such. When Dad needed to go to Tucson to a Relay Meeting or an event, or whatever, I rearranged my schedule to take him. I didn't see it as an imposition.

I also (and still do this) do my best not to involve others. Only Child and a touch of Martyr Syndrome. I don't want anyone else to feel the pressure I do, so I keep it to myself and just absorb whatever is required as a normal part of my day. I don't mind. It provides me extra time with each of them, and both of them generally work around my work schedule for their appointments.

Anyhow, that's the backstory. A few years ago, in the mail was a card from one of my Dad's (and my) friend after one such time when I had driven him somewhere.  It was a Thank You note, and stated something to the effect of "Thank you for everything you do for your Dad and our group. No one will ever know just how much you do to get him where he needs to be without anyone else knowing how much you went through"

It meant so much, in that moment, and even now..probably 5 years later. I kept the note in with my keepsakes and pictures. Caregiving is so rewarding but so hard at times, and the fact that someone else noticed what I did without me realizing it, and took the time to reach out to me, warmed my heart.  Still does. 

It was, and is, one of those little things that is indeed, a big thing.
 
 

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Writing Challenge Day 1

Day 1: 10 Things That Make You Really Happy

1..Spending Time at Home
2..My Family Happy
3..Evidence of Personal Growth
4..Cookies and Cookie Dough
5..Travelling 
6..Routines and Patterns (I hate change)
7..New Clothes
8..Walking or Working Out
9..My Mom and Cat
10..Writing!