I remember when...

My Mom, when she learned that she was going to die, wrote a list titled "I Remember When." I want to do the same for her, although she is not her to read it. I cried at some, but I also learned some new information. Like that Clair and I wandered off one day and got lost. Boy, my Mom must have freaked out!

I remember when...my Mom came to visit me for Thanksgiving, after not being together for over 20 years.

I remember when...my Mom sat down on one of our coolers on the patio before I could tell her to be careful as it would fall over. She fell on her ass. *giggle* After trying to see if she was okay (she was), I couldn't stop laughing. I think most of us siblings are like that, laugh in the face of pain.

I remember when...I surprised my Mom by knowing how to make gravy.

I remember when...I came to Michigan (on several occasions) to surprise my Mom.

I remember when...came out to watch all of us play soccer, although not together.

I remember when...my Mom (and all my sibs) came out for Shawna's graduation. What a time that was. There were 10 of us in my 2 bedroom town home, but it never seemed crowded.

I remember when...my Mom taught me to crochet, around Halloween, when I flew out to IL to spend the weekend with family.

I remember when...I came out for Mother's Day (as a surprise) and went lilacing.

I remember when...my Mom and I went Black Friday shopping.

I remember when...my Mom and I planted my "circle" garden. It's taken apart at the moment, but when I have use of my hands, will be set up again.

I remember when...my Mom canned tomatoes and let me have hot, cooked tomatoes over buttered bread.

I will add more to this blog as I think of more...

Love and miss you Mom. Until next time...

xoxo,
Nay

Life is good...

At this exact very moment, life is good. I figured since I usually only put the sad stories, I needed to put some happy ones as well, to balance it out. It's nothing specific that makes life good. I seem to be at peace. I don't know the last time I felt this way. I know it won't last, it never does.For now, I am trying to enjoy it.

Things that make life good:

♥ My daughter lives closer to me now...we walk almost every day!

♥ I am flying back to MI to see my family, and hopefully some friends, in about at week.

♥ I'll be in MI for 2 whole weeks!!!

♥ Class is almost done for the semester (I hope to have my final exams done by Monday at the latest)

♥ My little garden is doing well.

♥ I can think about my Mom with mostly happy thoughts (enough said).

♥ My son is almost a senior (okay happy and sad at the same time).

♥ My CTR surgeries are done (time to work on the healing/recovery part now).

♥ I get to take my little niece to the Zoo (Detroit) for the first time with her Mommy.

♥ I love my truck (even if she is a gas whore).

♥ My asthma seems to be better since I'm not working.

♥ I am not so restless when my son isn't home. 

They say that people that worry, are smart. Well, I am super duper smart then. I am trying to learn not to worry so much about the future that I don't enjoy the present. It's a work in progress, but I am trying. Until next time...

     

My tears...

At very random times, like tonight, the floodgates open up. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. I don't know if I am writing this blog for sympathy or therapy. Maybe it's a combination of both. I don't know what sets me off, but usually I can feel it build up. I'm starting to cry again as I type this blog on my laptop. Damn glasses get all fogged up and spotty and then I can't see through it all. I have felt a lot of anxiety lately; makes my stomach clench up. It also makes it hard for me to sleep. I hate that the worst of all, not sleeping. It makes me put off stuff I know that needs doing, like homework. I don't know if it's because I miss my mom. Just typing that makes me cry harder, so maybe. It might be because my daughter is getting married in about a week and she won't be a part of it. She'll miss the whole thing. She'll never get to be a great grandma. I don't know if I want my son to hear me right now and try to comfort me. He's too young, yes at 17, to have that burden. Plus I don't think he knows what to do. Not to mention, I think he did but is overlooking it. I don't blame him. I don't know if I cry cause I feel alone out here in Cali. I can blame that on me though. I am sociable, but don't go out much. I am 45 but don't feel like I am. My body tells me otherwise. It's been 2 years since my Mom died. 2 years seem like a long time, but then again, her death seems like yesterday. I miss her every single day. I look at my Spring flowers and think of her. I planted these a lot because of her. They remind me of her and of home. A home I'll never visit again, except in my memories. I don't dare share that I am still not over my Mom. I'll never be. I sometimes still wallow on grief and self pity. I feel lost. I feel abandoned my Mom. At times I'm angry, at her and at God. I still need my Mom. It wasn't fair that she left us, left me. Who am I supposed to talk to about my kids and am I doing the right thing in the way I have raised them, how I treat them? Who can I talk to about my siblings. I want my Mom. Okay, this crying is because I miss my Mom. when I cry harder thinking about her, it has to be about her. I am writing one long, run on sentence and I don't even care. It's my blog, my style. I can be as random as I choose. I have learned, in my life, in my past marriage, in love, that I can't depend on anyone but me. If I have no expectations, then I'll never be disappointed. I seem to be drawn to men, situations that require no commitment. Yet I also miss a connection, companionship. I don't know what to do anymore. My Mom would set me straight. If I can't share it with her, I shouldn't be doing it. I feel like I am wandering around aimlessly in life. Yes, I go to school. I don't know why anymore. I thought I had a life outside of my kids. I don't. I don't know what I am going to do after my boy moves out in a few years. I know it's a rite of passage, a child leaving the nest. Doesn't mean I have to like it. Most of the time, in most situations, I am on the outside, looking in, always apart from the rest. I miss my Mom. For the last several years, I flew Mom out to see me. It was always the highlight of my year. I liked to, when I flew to Michigan, plan a surprise with one of my siblings for the rest of the family. I loved that. I don't anymore. All my surprise visits to her are my favorite. My fondest memory though, is the year that she was diagnosed, flying out there for Mother's Day, my first one in MI in over 20 years then. Not since I was 18. I had crocheted her a afghan, from her teaching me to crochet and brought it out then. I have it now. That visit we drove around the back roads of MI, cutting wild lilacs. We went into town, where a resident had some dark purple lilacs growing in their yard, but close to the fence. I told her to stop, let me cut some, and get away in her truck, already full of our fav flower. She drove right past because she thought I was kidding; I wasn't. She turned around and I cut some dark purple lilacs. When get got home, I hauled them in and filled so many vases, etc with lilacs. This is a very special memory to me. I have a Mom lilac tattoo on my back, in her memory. I miss and love you Mom. I am so lost without you. I still need you so much. I miss your arms around me, I miss your unconditional love, I miss your smile, your laugh. I miss sitting at your kitchen table in the mornings and reading our books in companionable silence. I miss making our lists of what we needed/wanted to accomplish. Why did you leave me? Until next time, maybe...