It wasn't the first time I'd told Lyla & Owen that their Dad was my little boy.   But one day, it finally "clicked" for Lyla.  We were on the phone FaceTiming, and I was reading her a story I'd made a picture book out of about her Mom & Dad.  It included photos from when they were in high school together, then their engagement, their wedding, and finally when Lyla was born.  Then I showed her pictures of her Dad when he was little and I was young.  All of a sudden, her eyes opened really big, she gasped, dropped the phone, and all I could hear was her running to the kitchen yelling, "Dad!!!!   Gummy is your MOM!!!!!" Well, we all nearly died laughing, but really there's probably a lesson in it all.  Never forget where you came from. Never forget how nervous you were ... View Post

  Several years ago I walked into a local hair salon suggested on social media, inquired if they took walk-ins, and asked for someone to cut off all of the hair I'd been talked into growing out.  I couldn't take it anymore.  Having overheard me, a lovely hair dresser full of spice and feist stepped up and began rubbing her hands together, laughing and saying, "Let me at it!"  About an hour later, I left with the cutest short haircut I'd ever had.   Once every five to six weeks, I still leave with a cute haircut, feeling pretty and pampered, and always looking forward to my next appointment! Lisa knows the names of my children and my grandchildren, their silly antics, and several fun stories.  Each month she humors me while I show her pictures and we laugh as I replay videos of ... View Post

Although I would probably describe myself as someone who doesn't necessarily enjoy change, last year I decided to take a leap of faith, follow my heart's longing, and become a home hospice nurse.  I knew it would be a challenging year of an incredible amount of learning, and I thought that the most difficult aspect would be learning a new charting system.  HA!  Having worked most of my nursing career in the ICU, I have obviously said hundreds of goodbyes, so I did not anticipate having to learn how to do that. Tree trimming & tree removal helps remove dead or broken limbs and helps keep your tree healthy. But I was wrong.  The charting came easy; it's the goodbyes that are still difficult. My supervisor said it best when she described being a hospice nurse as a "world of ... View Post

You are more than your dementia diagnosis.  Every week I look forward to seeing you.  Every week I look around your room, and I look for things that might make you get tangled and trip, or fall, or get injured.  I make sure your bed is down low, your fall mat is right next to the bed, and your mattress is on the bed in such a way that if you do happen to fall, your head won't hit the metal frame on the way down.  Your bed alarm is on.  Your door is open.  Your favorite television program is on, or the familiar Greek music is playing.  Everything you need, including your Kleenex box and trash can are nearby and within reach.  Your lunch is cut up in small bites and there is a towel on your lap.  Your adorable great grandson's picture with his bright red hair is turned just the right way on ... View Post

Dear new owner of my longest home ever, For the past couple of weeks, I've gone room by room, closet by closet, boxing up both the belongings I lay eyes on daily, and those with memories attached that I'd forgotten about, or hadn't seen in more than a decade.  One can't help but reminisce while packing up a home where 22 years of memories have been made.  I do hope you love this home as much as I still do.  And I hope you make memories in it that keep you smiling for a lifetime, like mine certainly will. I was newly divorced, and unsure how I'd survive as a single mom.  I worked, and worked, and worked doing medical transcription from our little mobile home, waitressing midnights every Sunday, and saved, and saved, and saved until I finally had enough money to put down on this home.  ... View Post