Here it is New Year's Eve and it is hard to believe another year has gone by. This one seems to have sped up and went way too fast. But in one way, I'm glad it is behind me as it wasn't the best for me.
In January, Melanie and I had to make an emergency trip to Iowa to take care of my mother and got her safely settled into the nursing home where we knew she would receive the care she needed.
We also received a record snowfall after we returned and for a week were housebound, literally. My car was in a 2 foot snowbank for almost a week as the cold temps wouldn't melt the snow. Mail service was suspended for 4 days due to bad road conditions and Melanie and Zach were unable to get to work as the roads were closed. We just aren't prepared for weather like that so it just crippled the whole area. We received a total of 27 inches which was a record for a short time period as we got it over the span of 24 hours.
In February, there was chaos at the beginning of the month and controversy about the care my mother was receiving by her youngest daughter. She was removed from the home after lies were told and promises made to her and then I received the sad news that she had passed away in March. It was a blow that my brother and I were not expecting and has caused us both a lot of heartache but it has brought us closer together. I think the hardest part is the Sunday phone calls between my mom and me. It was our day to chat and for a long time I wanted to pick up the phone to call her and there are still times when something happens that I think I should call her. I do miss her terribly.
I was glad to see spring come but Melanie's job grew precarious when they made some rather sudden and extreme changes so she began to think about moving back to Tulsa and when she found a job, she sold the trailer and packed up to move there. It was rather lonely at first but I talk with her daily and she's been back to visit.
Then summer arrived and believe me, we thought we had it bad in the winter but summer showed us just how hot we can get too. With temps of 100+ for 27 days and some days we saw 114 or 115 on the thermometer, it was HOT! The yards died and we had the threats of fire so it wasn't an enjoyable summer but I think I appreciated it more than the cold and snow we'd had earlier.
The only nice thing about the summer and the heat, I didn't have to mow my yard each week. LOL! But when the heat cycle broke and the rains came, it became a chore as I'd have to try to mow between the rainy days and hope the grass was dry enough to cut.
In August, my friend Betty, suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. We all knew she was having problems with her memory and suspected Dementia. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Alzheimer's and once she was stabilized from the heart attack she went to a nursing home. But the first of November she was moved back to the house and home health service came daily to tend to her plus Spike took care of her the rest of the time. I would go sit with her so he could go to the store or Dr. appointments and it was so sad watching my friend slowly slip away to a world only she was aware of.
She was hospitalized after the first of December when she developed bed sores. Even though she was being turned, she still had some and with her diabetes, they got worse so the doctor finally admitted her and they did surgery but the said the diabetes was affecting the healing and she grew steadily worse. She had also become incapable of swallowing so had to have a feeding tube inserted. But the week before Christmas, the doctors told the family that it was hopeless and they removed the tube and called in Hospice to take care of her. Sadly my friend passed away peacefully on Christmas morning. I will miss her.
We moved here in 2005 and made friends with Betty and her husband Spike and during the past few years we have been good friends as well as neighbors. My husband Harold and Spike shared a lot of the same interest and Betty and I always found things to talk about and when the four of us were together, we had a good time visiting and laughing. Spike and Betty continued to show me that friendship after Harold passed and now I hope to help Spike through this period.
As this year comes to a close, I want to put all the bad memories behind me and look forward to the new year. I'm thankful that I have survived another year and I pray that my ailments will not worsen this next year so I might enjoy another year and hopefully one not so full of woes and pain and losses.
If all goes well, my brother Bob, will be coming to visit me in the spring. We plan to just relax and enjoy the solitude and catch up on our visiting. Of course, we will try to get some fishing in too. LOL! And hopefully I can adjust my budget so that I can replace my old car with a new or newer one. Got my eye on one kind but will have to see what I can get. But the Taurus is getting old, at 14 years and a lot of miles.
I hope everyone has a wonderful new year ahead of them with all good things and blessings coming your way. I thank God each day for the blessings I do have and try to look on the positive side if I can.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
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