Did anybody miss my blog posts this week? Yeah, I know -- I missed Monday-Wednesday, and luckily my pal Kelly McClymer jumped in yesterday for Pet Peeve Thursday. (Thanks, Kelly!)
Once upon a time Harry Nilsson sang a song called, "Here's Why I Did Not Go To Work Today." Well, here's why I have been a bit haphazard with my blog posts of late.
It's the Summer Of Hell Part II.
Two years ago my Dad was sick and dying and that was the Summer of Hell Part I. This year it's my mother in law who's having a rough time.
In early April, we decided it wasn't safe for her to live alone anymore.
But uprooting one 96 year-old-lady from a city 90 miles away and moving her here to assisted living was a lot more complicated than we ever could have imagined. Even though her doctor (after MANY visits) finally signed off, she had heath problems we never suspected. The poor woman has spent most of her six weeks in our fair city in the local hospital. She's now been transferred to transitional care and we hope she's back in her assisted living place (where she only has spent 2 out of the past 6 weeks) by next week.
FINGERS CROSSED.
But getting her here was a LOT more work than just driving her from one city to another. She had an entire apartment that needed to be addressed. (Guess who got to do most of the heavy lifting and packing?) We took three (or was it four?) trips across the western part of the state to clean out the apartment. (And we've got one more to do before the end of the month . . . and you did notice that today is the 29th, didn't you?)
Mr. L has been on the phone for the past six weeks trying to put all The Mother's financial affairs in order. The missing title for her car (and yes, she was still driving in May) has been a real adventure. (We won't go there.)
Meanwhile, Mr. L's sister (who lives 1500 miles away) has come to visit three times. That means extra cleaning, laundry, food prep, and socializing (that's the fun part--and believe me, it was the ONLY fun part of this entire ordeal). Plus the fact I've been painting walls for the past four weekends in high heat and humidity.
Bottom line:
I'm burned out.
BURNED OUT.
BURNT TO A CRISP.
Remember those writing projects I told you I was juggling? I'm not juggling any more. Just working on one project and I'm far, far behind. I'll probably have to ask for a deadline extension (fair warning, Tom), but the other day I solved a BIG problem that was snagging me (wonder why?) and things seem to be rolling along a lot smoother now. But the blog has suffered.
I don't want to give up the blog. It's fun . . . at least when I have ideas, and I've temporarily run out of them. So I'm asking you . . . what would you like me to talk about in the blog for the next month (or two or three ... always need new ideas).
Come on, don't be shy. I'd LOVE to hear from you.
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Oh, what a summer, Lorraine! Ugh. Bravo to you and your husband for being such troopers in the face of logistical nightmares. Hang in there, darlin'!
ReplyDeleteSorry about all your troubles, Lorraine. I can relate to family issues pulling us in different directions. When I am really pressed for time with keeping my blog updated, I post excerpts from either a work in progress or a published book. My readers seem to enjoy that. I also have two writer friends who let me share their essays.
ReplyDelete1. Don't worry about missing a day or more when you have such pressing, much more important issues to solve. We'll still be here when you return.
ReplyDelete2. Write about your problems, like you just did. A lot of us have been there and we know it helps to write about it. These situations are so unbelievably complicated and exhausting; I remember all too well resettling my father.
3. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but don't be surprised if she fails for a while after you think she's settled. The change of place affects old people much more than we would think.
4. Remember, we're all thinking of you and hoping things get better real soon.
So sorry for your troubles. We your faithful readers will still be here when you get bakc. Promise!
ReplyDeletePerhaps, telling us a bit about persons, or events, that led you to wanting to write. Where you got ideas to write your former books.
ReplyDeleteTake care of you and Mr. L. Mama will be cared from at the 'assisted living' do not feel guilty. They are better able to detect problems ahead of time, than we are. Sometimes our vision is clouded by love.
SIL, well, Bless her. She needs to be almost invisible at this time. That you are trying to be all persons to all persons, Wife, DIL, SIL, and Author is asking a bit much for one human.
Think of your friends/readers...we care and will support you in any way we can. Tom- Lorraine is worth waiting for!
Lorraine, I can empathize with you, I went thru several scenarios of cleaning out homes, dealing with the finances, etc. You'll make it thru and be better for it. It may even give you ideas for adding to stories, you've learned a lot and have an idea what many folks these days are experiencing. Thousands of people are turning 65 each day, the boomers are aging, their kids are watching, and we're all hoping to have social security when we retire... So, keep us in the loop as to how "mom" is doing and we'll listen. We'll learn from it too. Karen
ReplyDeleteI agree w/ Barbara. Write about your problems and good/bad choices of solutions, if writing or getting comments help you. Critical to elder care is the caretaker taking care of self. And, when your despair, think how lucky your mother-in-law is to have family to help her. So many elders don't.
ReplyDelete