Still navigating my way through empty-nest-hood, I rearranged many favorite books in my Mama Cave this afternoon. (I use this word "empty-nest-hood" often, so I'm going with - it's a real word.  You won't find it in a dictionary because I made it up, though.  But it's real, okay?), The same empty room has, over the past 5+ years, housed four different individuals who needed homes for awhile.  Therefore, my nest technically hasn't really been very empty, after all.   I've had mostly good experiences, but some not-so-desirable experiences, and finally decided last fall it would become my Mama Cave again.  After all, if I was going to call myself an empty nester, I needed to empty the nest. That room has gone from my study room, to my ironing room, to what is currently my ... View Post

Like a chicken with its head cut off, I'm running around this morning getting ready for several things going on this week, beginning with a funeral I need to leave for in an hour. This blog could wait.  It should wait.   But, here I am! Name change papers, name change papers......   I've got to get those out and make a copy and get them in the mail for Ian.  Laundry on the steps waiting for me to carry up and fold....... Where are those papers??? Well, I found them.  But in the process of searching, I also ran into my grandmother's will.  That is a picture of her on the front of this blog.  I have kept and cherished this will for many years.  I loved that it was her handwriting.  Isn't it beautiful?  I wish I would have really known her.  I wish I could have sat as an adult at ... View Post

  There's not a day that goes by my body doesn't remind me of the fact that we don't live forever.  Sometimes I hurt from head to toe. Come to think of it, most mornings I hurt from head to toe. I'm an empty nester, looking forward to hopefully retiring one day (with dreams of becoming top sales associate at the Vera Bradley store! ;)    This year on the tippy top of my priority list was seeing a financial advisor to find out if retirement is even a word that should be in my vocabulary.  And then I made some changes to my will, my trust, etc.  That involved documents regarding what my end-of-life wishes are. Yeah, that always brings up some crazy conversations. Fortunately, they are conversations I'm used to having - but mostly with the family members of my patients.  I ... View Post

  The #1 question I've been asked recently by friends, family, & acquaintances is, "Are you going to quit nursing now?" The answer is no.  I will still be working 3 days a week as an RN. So why did I spend the past eight months studying real estate and then cramming for the licensing exam?  Well, yes it was on my bucket list.  In fact, several decades ago before I had children I had taken an informational class because I'd been interested back then, too.  But my son recently made a go of it, has been rather successful, and so I thought.......  Why not???   After all, the more skills you have, the better, right? So let's go way, way back..... In 1993, just two months prior to having Ian, my youngest son, I became a divorced, single mom.  I spent five months living in ... View Post

  Every now and then something will spark a memory that makes me laugh really hard.  I know how lucky I am that I get to say that!  And when that laugh comes from way deep down inside, causing me to throw my head back, and then have to catch my breath and immediately phone someone in my family who will "get it," well - that laugh usually involves my Dad! Today was one of those days. My cousin Jo Ann in Nova Scotia used to come to Detroit and stay with me for long, fun visits.  Some fun we still enjoy laughing about, and some fun we will never breathe a word about.  To anyone.  So don't try to make us.  Our lips are sealed. Dad loved Jo Ann - he loved her just like one of his own daughters.  And Jo Ann loved him too, ever since a very early memory in her childhood when Dad ... View Post