Up We Go

My online group increased by five in a couple of days. Apparently I made the right move by inviting people to join. I celebrated today by making a pot of homemade beef soup. I have been wanting soup, but the prices are outrageous. So I decided to make my own. I can hardly wait to see what happens tomorrow!

 

 

A New Idea

Interesting what can happen when one follows their intuition. I have been having problems encouraging the members of my online group, "Answer This", to participate. I was really on the verge of shutting it down. Then an idea popped up. I decided to send invitations to join to several people. As of this morning the group has four new members and I am really expecting more to accept my invite.

I have always loved the quote- there is more than one way to skin a cat!

 

Memorial Day

 Another one of those special holidays that I spend alone, with my dog.

Again?

 Yup! I have another gout attack. This is getting very tiresome! I have an appointment with a podiatrist soon, but Other than confirming what is going on It probably won't prove much. Apparently it is a form of  arthritis. No surprise there. According to my chiropractor my body is full of it. That's the fun of getting older.

Interesing developments

It seems that life is full of surprises! In checking on my bank statement this morning I discovered that There was a deposit of $250. Not sure where that came from. It looks like it was a tax refund of some kind. Whatever I am keeping it. It makes up for the crap I have received from insurance companies I have canceled this month. Apparently you don't pay premiums in advance and not only do they not owe me a refund, I owe them. I am not going to fight them, it is not worth the battle. I am sick of dealing with companies! Starting June 1 I will begin again.

The birds

A couple of days ago I put out the hummingbird feeder in hopes of attracting some customers. Well, it worked! The problem is it also attracted some bigger birds that are stealing the hummingbird food. I feel bad for the poor little birds. They not only have to fight the wind, but intruders, for their food. Maybe if I toss some birdseed on the ground that might take care of the problem. It is worth a try I guess! 

Grants,NM

 I have been reading  the Kindle book, "The Darling Songbirds". It is about a small Western ton that is slowly dying. It reminded me of the town I live in, Grants,NM. I moved to Grants in 1980 and I have seen a lot of ups and downs.It became famous for its uranium, among other things over the years. As I look around today there are numerous empty buildings. People just can't stay in business with all that the pandemic has brought in its wake. 

The one good thing I have always noticed is that we really have great weather. Even though the rest of the state seems to be dealing with fires, we are not. We also do not have tornadoes, hurricanes or earthquakes. It just seems like a really safe place to live. I originally found it a little difficult to get used to, as it is mostly made up of Spanish and Native American residents.

I am not sure what will happen in the book I am reading or what will happen to Grants, but as the saying goes, whatever will be will be. I can't afford to move.

Doctors aren't always right

I think sometimes you just have to go with your intuition and disregard what the doctors say. Over Easter I struggled with what the professionals thought was gout. I ended up with a $64 prescription for gout medication. It sort of worked after taking it for a week. Everything seemed to be okay for a couple of weeks. Then last week the pain came back so bad in my foot I had to use a cane in the morning. I again took the medication for a couple of days and it didn't get better. If anything it got worse and the pharmacist told me if it caused diarrhea to stop taking it. It did and I did! 

I decided to try neuropathy cream and got it in one day. After only two days I was pain free.

I have come to the conclusion that I probably never had gout at all, even though that's what the doctors decided. I am convinced it was a combination of arthritis and neuropathy. I could be wrong, but I am going by what worked.

If not for you

 

If not for you I would not be here to be a mother of three.

 

Gertrude Ione Johnston- mother 1911

Beatrix Kate Fowler-grandmother 1884

Laura Marie Laviolette-grandmother 1891

Arianna Kinkaid Wyman-great grandmother

Elena Davis-great grandmother 1863

Ruth Ford-great grandmother 1866

Clarissa Destree- great grandmother 1853

 

Thank you!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day for me has pretty much been like any other day of the year. It is sort of like my birthday, nobody ever made it special. There is one Mother's Day that stands out in my memory though.

It was the first year my daughter became a mother. Since my grandson was born in September he was eight months old on this occasion. We decided to go to Albuquerque to take in a concert on the grounds of the zoo. I remember being spread out on the grass sitting on a blanket and enjoying the music. Later we stopped by to say hello to some of the animals. I suspect that is the part my grandson liked best! 

Happy Mother's Day to my followers. I hope you have at least one special day to remember.

Dreams

A member of my online group, "Answer This" asked the question, "When do you give up on your dreams? After giving it much thought, the following is my answer.

I have always felt bad that I do not remember any dreams I had for my future, as a child. I probably had some, I just don’t remember them. Graduating from high school in 1956 I had no idea what I was supposed to do with my life. My mother pretty much put a damper on the idea of college. She thought it was only necessary for a female if she wanted a career. So much for that idea.

It looked like my only option was to get married. So at 23 I was married and had a son, followed by another five years later. Deciding I didn’t need to be married to a womanizing jackass I filed for divorce after thirteen years of putting up with the jerk. One would think I had learned a life lesson but, I soon married again and seven years later gave birth to my only daughter. Apparently I must have done something right as all three are now adults. None of them have ever been arrested or used drugs, as far as I know. They went on to lead their own lives.

Another divorce followed. I guess the only dream I have ever had was to become a writer. I had to wait for all that other nonsense to be over to accomplish that. Free at last, of a husband and the responsibility of children I began my life as a columnist for our local newspaper. Who knew I could write? I sure didn’t!

As the years went by I published two hard cover books, now out of print, and four Kindle books, on Amazon. I am in the process of turning the best of the bunch into paperback books. I find it very strange that I have never cared if my writing made money. My purpose in writing is to share my experiences so that others facing similar challenges might benefit.

There is one unfulfilled dream that I have though. I have always felt that my writing would attract a soul who knew me as well or better than I know myself. Since my life is not over, I am still waiting for that to happen.

 

After digesting my answer for awhile I realized something. My children are no longer my responsibility! Damn it took me long enough to get that!!

Was it worth it?

Thinking about my life this morning I am wondering if it was worth it. I was married to two different men for a total of forty years. Both relationships ended in divorce and both partners are now deceased.Neither marriage is what I would call good. I never found what I was looking for in either partner.

The relationships did add to the future by producing children. My two marriages produced three children, who in turn produced four children, who at last count produced three children. So I suppose one could say if it were not for me there might be ten less children in this crazy world. The odd thing is that of those ten children only three are still speaking to me, which is why I am asking myself- was it worth it?