My New Normal

We got the house ready for sale, my son off to college and then the first weekend of general open houses.  That Sunday we had seven offers to consider.  We finalized on one.  Next would be the buyer's inspection.  That happened the day we brought our youngest back to college.  There were four items that needed to be addressed.  My brother and his wife took care of it.

I have both children back at college and no parents to visit or help take care of.  I hope though the house is settled and closed on soon.

What shall I do with my time?  I was really wanting to be in this sandwich generation for longer.  Apparently not.  Most of the people I know who have recently had parents pass away either have their children to still take care of, or have grandchildren; or their in-laws.

I right now have no grandchildren and my children are either living on their own or are at college.  There is my horse Dinah.  Yes, I can spend more time with her.  Our bond can grow deepter and the connections will be better.  I will still have work (but that is where my parents would shop).  

It is weird though that it is somewhat nice having the kids back at college.  I can fix the meals I love, eat whatever and whenever I want to.  I have the bathroom to myself and the laundry room.  Our driveway no longer looks like a used car lot.  I took my mom's minivan so at one time we had six cars.  My husband donated our oldest car so now we are down to five.  One of those is my husband's car that his employer gives him to use for work.  My mom's is our spare.

My oldest daugher's boyfriend got a better job.  It still is not in sports writing but better than what he had before.

My son may not have a job at college but he will be busy volunteering at the college's newspaper and literary journal.  That will look awesome on his resume.  It will be like an internship.

I hope the next time I write, the house is gone and I have settled into a routine.

The Summer that flew by

Well, this week will mark eight weeks since my mom passed away.  So many emotions and feelings.  I don't know how to begin.  I feel like she is just in the hospital or maybe a assisted living apartment.  Then at times it feels like she has been gone a long time.

Everything that my parents owned or kept that my brother and I owned as children is out of that house.  That is the only house we really have known.  We had lived there for all of our childhood except for four or seven years.  I don't like it but I knew it had to be done.

The painters have already painted and carpet ripped up.  I think next is the countertops and the bathrooms.  Then it will be new carpet.

My brother and I have been getting along great this whole time.  Somehow I think my parents knew we would.

We had a garage sale and still had six loads in the cars to donate.

I still wish I knew what happened to cause her death and had been there.

I have a hard time going to work.  My parents would shop there and also get there prescriptions.

I have been getting the letters fro the companies that my mom had investments.  Decisions, decisions.

In two weeks my son goes back for his last year of college.  I pray that he does well and is able to have a job shortly after.

My daughter's boyfriend still does not have a job.  I am still praying for him.  I hope 2015 turns around soon.