I was in Berlin yesterday to visit my Dentist and couldn't help from laughing when I saw this in the thrift shop next door.Yes, it is the little town where Julia Roberts played

Runaway Bride opposite Richard Geer.


The town strikes me as being something between Mayberry and Stepford. The Dental practice seems to service a lot of Seniors who dress neatly in in their tan pant suits and matching pumps. One such lady was seated in the waiting room when I arrived, quietly reading a hard cover book which I assummed was hers. When they called her into the office, she left it on the table and it was The Bible. The Bible..have the Gideons expanded their misssion?I found this quite odd.

Jim has gone up to Joell's for the day/night. She is having some minor reconstructive surgery done, and he is taking Max to his first Baseball game of the year.


I'm glad that he is getting more involved with the kids. They surely will benefit from his wit and personality, after all, he is still a boy at heart.


We spent most of last night over Betty's house, trying to salvage what was not put into storage. The contractor is ready to paint and put flooring down and wanted everything gone. It was an impossible task. We spent 4 + hours sorting out clothes to donate, things to save and making piles of boxes and bags. Dishes, and vases and lamps. Books and hats and pots and pans.


We were both drained, physically and emotionally when we got home.


We didn't even attempt to empty the closets. There are enough clothes, shoes and wigs to outfit a small 3 rd world country. I wish I knew someone who wore a size 6 1/2 shoe....I could make you Imelda Marcos overnight.


Maybe my friend Wanda ( sorry Clare, You'll always be Wanda to me) is right. She is working/studying in the Geriatric field and she says all she wants to do is live in a little trailer that she can haul around when she gets tired of one place, She's seen how much stuff old people accumulate over the years when she was cleaning houses. I know, it isn't pretty.


I had the same problem with My Mom's stuff. Making decisions about what was important and why she kept some things an not others. Thank goodness my Brother was able to be more objective.

In spite of all the hassle of the packing and dragging and sorting, I felt it was a bonding experience for Us.
I really love this new Jim who has become more responsible and caring.

Belated Birthday Blog

I can't believe how quickly time passes even though I have had moments in my life that I thought would never end, both good and bad.

So many routine days that now, looking back, are precious memories. Baby's first word or step, family dinners, Holiday Feasts. A best friend to see every day and confide in, a fun weekend with girlfriends, campouts, family vacations, PTA meetings, cookouts. Ordinary things that become extraordinary in my mind with the passing of years.

So many of these are lost when a relationship ends. Friends go one way or the other, families divide, responsibilites shift

The circle changes to accommodate a new job, or place, or a new partner .

Another family to meet, children to accept, friends you hope like you.

I am envious of my friends who have ridden the waves of marriage and are still together after many years and yes, there are a few
They have a common bond to lean on, being the parents of the same kids with the same values, experiences and expectations. There is a continuity to their lives that I have never experienced.

Family has always been my mainstay and now the top layers have all crumbled.

I am the Matriarch, my Brother the Patriarch and we each have our own little families.

I am now A Grandmother for the first time and it is wonderful.

Jim and I have been together for almost 15 years so we are writing our own continuing story

It is good.

Memories of Dad

For some unknown reason, I've had Dad on my mind. It may be the coming of Spring and the thought of planting vegetable and herb seeds once again, watching the daffodil and crocus poke cautiously through the winter soil .

Maybe it's the unanswered question of how he would react to the New President, would he still be Archie Bunker or could he get past that?

It could be the mention of programs to get people back to work It reminds me of his own experience in the CCC which gave him hope in his youth. I think he would approve if he truly understood that we are getting back to basics.

The last time I saw him alive I think we both knew it. He was in the hospital in Baltimore and I was leaving to return to Delaware, . He was in good humor and when the nurse addressed him "Hey good lookin"" He responded "Whatcha got cookin" in that silly way of his that was endearing
We looked at each other for a very long time, like he was trying to take it all in and hold it forever.

I hesitated several time before finally departing, and I think I cried all the way home

I have such a busy week ahead. My calendar is starting to look like Mom Mom's, full of Doctor appointments.
I have 2 PT sessions, a follow up with my Primary, and the first of 5 weekly sessions with the Orthopedic PA for a shot of Supartz in both knees. It is designed to lubricate the knee between the joint to increase flexibility. If it works it will help avoid replacement knee surgery .
We are also packing up the area to be tiled, ie kitchen furniture and TV room. That is the first project to be tackled. We are waiting to hear about the home equity to proceed with the others.
The floor will be started next Monday.
We had a great weather weekend, temps in the 60's and sunshine. It makes me anxious to get on with Spring!!

Ah..February.
Can be the last cold month of winter or not.
I am anxious to get on with Spring as are most people who don't ski or snowboard.
I am also trying to not let the economy be an issue, but we are applying for a Home equity loan to get some home improvements done.
We have ceramic tile for the kitchen and TV room, are hoping to replace the counter top and sink, and put an island in where the kitchen table is.
We would also like to change the the flooring in the LR and DR. and Maybe get a new fancy washer and dryer!

Personally, I am going through some restoration as well.
I got a cortisone shot in my shoulder last week which helped with the pain from when I fell on it in Dec. I had my knees x-rayed, and they showed osteo arthritis in both patellas. I am getting shots (not the same thing) for them next week and started P.T. on Tuesday. There was an old man in the training room going on about Gitmo and how the prisoners should all be shot in the head when they are released, and then started quoting Rush Limbaugh, his hero. It was hilarious. He even hated the Indians (Native Americans) because, get this, they killed our soldiers. When I reminded him, politely, that they were here first he said they had no deeds to prove it. Well just shoot me in the head for being so liberal! Don't these people even want to "Get It?"
I really dislike this aging process. The wisdom that comes with it is great, but of course all in hindsight. By the time you learn the tricks, you're too stiff to roll over.