Category: My Life

I decided to sit down today to catch you up on all the happenings in my life. As you already know, I got sick on the cruise. I had three days of good health on the ship before the Norovirus hit.

I have only a few pictures of me that came out well instead of green and sick!

Yes, I was in isolation for eight days due to the Norovirus. You have never had real fun until you have had that! About a third of my ship had it. I slept, sipped ginger ale, and slept some more. I came home having lost six pounds.

No sooner had I returned than I started experiencing flu-like symptoms. I waited but eventually went to see my doctor. With her guidance, I started my recovery. So, what should have been a relaxing vacation turned into a fight for health.

I am so thankful to Hannaford for home delivery of groceries. I needed food, so I ordered everything from the comfort of my recliner with Heidi in my lap.

It is -10 this morning, and I think this winter will be a bear. Meanwhile, I am making some hot tea and snuggling with Heidi.

Yes, it’s true. Today is my birthday, and I am officially sixty-six years old. How in the world did that happen?

I was born and raised on Cape Cod in the 1950s-1960s. Back then, I could ride my bike all over town and pick up things for my mother at the local convenience store.

I recall going to the beach, lying on the sand, and thinking that this part of my life was far away. Yet, here I am.

I was a little raggamuffin, often without shoes and in junkie clothes. I rode my bike, climbed trees, and walked along the shore.

I married twice, had my babies, and started my travels worldwide.

Mandy, Katie, and me.

I fell in love with wire-haired dackels and traveled to Germany to get Greta.

What a significant part of my life Greta was.

Anneliese, Arnie and Greta.

She gave me Arnie and Anneliese. I thought it could not get any better.

Then came Heidi and I thank the good Lord who knew I needed a best friend because she sure is!

Heidi

I’m so lucky to have my daughter and grandchildren, Savannah and Quinn.

Savannah

Quinn
Amanda and me.

I have also picked up two sons and a daughter. Stepchildren, but I think of them as my own.

At sixty-six, I think of them all with great love, and seriously, I wonder how I got here so darn fast.

Ah yes. The age of decrepitude!

So here’s to these years. May old age be kind, and may they be full of fun and laughs.

I have been thinking about life lately, perhaps because we have lost so many talented people who have entertained us.

It seems like just yesterday, I was climbing the jetties at Surf Drive Beach. Many people liked to lie in the sand and soak up the sun. However, as a child, I could never sit still.

We had picnics at the beach, eating somewhat sandy peanut butter and fluff sandwiches. It didn’t matter. Looking back, it was the best.

Imagine living in paradise and not even knowing this. So was my childhood growing up on Cape Cod.

All summer, I went around in bathing suits and bare feet.

Of course, back in the 1960s, I could ride my Schwinn bicycle all around town without worrying anyone.

Dairy Queen treats and trips to Elsie’s Restaurant, where she served the best German food!

Henry and Elsie Baumann

Life was simple and carefree, and today, as I am living out the final decades of my life, I appreciate that time even more.

The last few weeks have found me establishing a new normal for myself.

I have been slowly making this house my own, and during this process, I realized that it was the very first time in my life that I was living my own life.

Having gotten married at 17, I have been living the lives of my two husbands.

It’s not that this was bad. Our beautiful daughters came with my first husband, and with my second husband came the ability to travel the world.

However, I never decorated a house or selected my dishes or glassware.

Since last July, I have sold many pieces of furniture and selected the things I like.

The walls have been painted, the bathrooms refurbished, and a new reclining bed installed.

Finally, I am not sleeping in my recliner.

Also, my first foray out was to a local diner. “George’s”. It’s become my place. They know me, and when I go in, I feel looked after. That’s such a nice feeling.

So my life is going on.

I usually post a Friday Five each week, but this darn COVID has taken control of me, and although I am not contagious, it has settled in my chest, and I have been running a fever and coughing.

Yesterday, I was forced to do a load of whites, as I was down to my last pair of underwear. Miraculously, I got that done.

However, being sick and trying to manage the stairs to the basement have been a challenge. I have decided to do a remodel. I have a huge master bath, and I plan to remove the jacuzzi tub and put a washer and dryer in that room, along with the sinks and walk-in shower.

So, slowly, I recover with wonderfully warm and peaceful naps with my girls.

 

It’s been a while since I sat down to write. Not because nothing is happening but because too much is happening.

We filled another dumpster in my quest to get rid of all the junk, extra clothing of Jack’s, and all the things that do not bring me joy.

Social Security is still driving me nuts, and it required a fourth trip on Monday to prove I am alive.

So, I spent time there, and then it was on to my cell phone provider. I am still having trouble getting the bill switched over. From what they say, it cannot be done.

Did I mention that I became pretty ill on Thanksgiving Day (my favorite meal day)? After loading up with Pepcid and Mylanta, I start to feel a little better, but I must be careful because all this stress is hitting me in my stomach.

I have one more thing to do this week, and then I will sit down and write Christmas Cards.

So, don’t give up on me. Just know that I hide in the closet when the stress gets too great.

What on earth were we thinking when we wanted to grow up so fast?

So, this is what 65 looks like! I now have my medicare card. I have found a caring Nurse Practitioner at the end of my street, and life is going on.

 

I made this video a bit ago but didn’t feel up to making a new one. Maybe next year I can show you all the highlights of my 65-ness.

I have plans ready for this year. Places to go. People to see, things to do.

So as I start my 65th year I look back and I am grateful that I made it.

This week sped by and so here goes all the details.

1. The first snow of the season fell. It was about three inches, and now, on Friday, most of the snow is gone. But it is still cold and feels like winter.
2. Our roofers have been here each day, but on Wednesday when it was raining/snowing.
3. My birthday started with a Doe and her two Fawns presenting themselves just before dawn.  They simply stood silhouetted in the early morning light. I was there watching them, watching me and it was such a peaceful moment. I don’t have a camera that could have done justice to that picture, so it is stored in my memory.
4. Lili and Heidi are bothered by all the noise. I’ve been cuddling with Heidi today after she had sort of a doggy nervous breakdown. She had two accidents and just couldn’t settle down. Today Lili is quite the worse for wear as the loud noises overhead scare her so much. I had them out and a stack of shingles hit the roof and Lili started to bolt. Thankfully I called her and she stopped, turned, and came back.
5. For my birthday dinner, we went to George’s Seafood. We both had the fried Whole Belly Clams.

   My dinner.

   They were so good! My only problem is driving at night and we also had snow flurries. But we made it home. Turning 64 wasn’t so bad after all.