Mother’s Day 2019/ a trip to Vegas

Here we go and hopefully, I can write what is in my heart. Mother’s Day was a fun day, even though I was in pain. Three days before, I fractured my sternum and boy the pain was almost unbearable. Heidi and Bill made the day special as always. Neal also surprised me with the tote I wanted. Rodmond, Paul, and Steve called. Walter was busy celebrating with his own family and said he was going to call but, by evening he totally forgot. He, Rod and Paul came two weeks later to celebrate.

Seven weeks have gone by since then and I am still struggling with the pain. After nineteen days on Narcs I took myself off, I was breaking out in a rash. The withdrawal symptoms were so bad for almost four days, never again will I take Narcs. The only good thing was I slept better but believe me, it is not good in the overall theme of health.

My children all stepped up to the plate, which made me feel good. Heidi came for a few days and would not let me do anything especially laundry, ha, ha.

Her last evening here we went to Brava’s and had some great food and a good time together. I love Brava’s, I also like most of our Restaurants here in Healdsburg.

Rodmond took me to Las Vegas in April for 5 days and boy, was that fun and interesting. We stayed at Caesars Palace with a beautiful view of all the grounds, the room was a mini suite and wonderful. Rod was so attentive and he spoiled me. One day we drove to the Hoover Dam which was educational. We also visited a ghost town outside of Bakersfield on our way to Vegas. I loved it, all the preservation, buildings and it was fun to look at the history of the first settlers in California.

This weekend Rod is coming for a visit and I ordered his Birthday present which I hope will arrive before the weekend. I also ordered Bill’s present, a little late but I hope Rod and also Bill will love it. I have a valid excuse: I was laid up for several weeks, kind of wallowing in self-pity.

Summer is here and I am banking on it to get warm. It is no fun to be cold all the time even when my home is 80 degree, yikes.

I am also getting ready to get my driver’s license renewed. Always something going on. In the meantime I could add a lot more to this blog. I decided to write another one instead. Will add some pictures to this one.

Evolving as we age:

Another Mother’s day is approaching I can’t believe that I did not post a blog in all these months. Time seems to go faster as we age. Priorities change but, in the back of my mind, I need to get more blogs written and try to marry them into my book which has a deadline of July 2020 when I will be 85. The year 2018 and the start of 2019 have been a challenge, not just on a personal level, but nationwide.  Natural disasters, a President who only thinks of himself and not the Nation, the People who carry it. I am hopeful that America will learn a valuable lesson through all this.

On a personal level I am grateful for my family and friends, my living situation. Health issues are taking too much time and thought as well as money. I am at the point where I am grateful for every day I wake up. Today is a great day, woke up with no pain. I believe it has to do with me cutting out gluten for the most part and I have a cup of Ginger Turmeric Tea daily. I’ve been self-medicating for the last 10 days and can’t help but think this is the answer to the osteoarthritis, not so much for the scoliosis.  A lot of changes I have been forced to make but if it makes me feel healthier and put a smile back on my face I have nothing to lose, right?

We have sunny cool weather and it lifts ones spirit. Trees are blooming and walking is good medicine. Looking at my balcony, it is time to do some spring planting. Sunday was St. Patrick’s Day and I cooked corned beef, cabbage, carrots and potatoes in one pot. Neal came here for Sunday lunch, he thought it was delicious. Entertaining has been put on the back burner for some time now. My bestie is so busy with her new son so we do not interact as we always have over the last 15+ years. I do understand that since I am a Mother of seven Children, all grown now thank God. Concentrating more on grandkids these days. Unfortunately they all live far away. We are lucky to be able to call, send e-mails or go on Facebook to find out what family and friends are up to, ha, ha.

On May 5, I will be living in beautiful Healdsburg 21 years. Talking about evolving, boy the town has changed - most of it for the better, some of it not so good. However, I love this town and I call it my hometown now. This is the longest I lived in a Town since coming to the US with my husband Marcus and son Walter 60 years ago, pregnant with Neal to be born about 7 weeks after arriving in the US.

I am posting a picture of my youngest granddaughter Janine who turned 15 yesterday. Janine is my oldest son Walter’s youngest daughter residing in Idaho. Janine is stepping into my shoes with her love for cooking. Her Birthday gift was a set of beautiful Henkel cookware which made her so happy.