Let me introduce….

myself.  There is probably a carton of milk in your fridge with my picture on it.  Yes, I have been lost in cyberspace for many weeks now, and it’s time to get back into the world of blogging.  I have missed it.

If you’re a Facebook friend, you already know most of my life.  Here is the Reader’s Digest condensed version of the last 4 1/2 months of my life for everyone else.

We returned  from Texas mid-March.

Two days later my mom had a stroke.  She spent four weeks in rehab a 35-minute drive from our home.  I went to see her nearly every day.

It was determined she shouldn’t live alone any more.  I stayed with her in her apartment for two weeks, while we looked for an appropriate assisted living facility and started packing.

Packed about 25% of her belongings and moved her close to our home…only 7-8 minutes away.

Three weeks later she had serious respiratory issues, resulting in two ER visits, intensive care, then an elderly ward — all within a week.

She lived with us her last seven days under the Hospice program (wonderful, caring people).

Planned and arranged for her funeral.

Cleaned out two apartments with much family help.

As executor, worked on seemingly endless financial matters/paperwork/phone calls.

Fun trip to Huntsville, Alabama, for a quilting retreat with my Aunt Bert and 11 other lovely quilters from Memphis and Huntsville.  I bet you were starting to think I would NEVER have any fun!

Finally caught up on my own doc appointments, only to have them find a rare phyllodes breast tumor (found on the mammogram).  Benign, but these buggers are treated very conservatively, removed with wide margins.  Healing.

Trip to North Dakota for the Hubster’s class reunion.  Fun, but too many hours riding in the car.

Home, facing half a very hot garage full of my mom’s belongings.

Tired.  I just realized this tonight, but I am probably just now having time and space to allow for some grieving/mourning.  I am tired doing nothing.  I am two+ weeks post-surgery, so I should be getting some energy back soon.

I am giving myself six weeks to deal with everything in the garage.  My house needs major shoveling cleaning.  I need to sew.  I need to knit.  I need to play on my Gammill.  I haven’t taken any pictures of birds or bugs all summer long.  I feel like I’ve lost *me* a little bit, but I will get it back.  This blog post is the first step, and tomorrow I will find a bug to photograph (such lofty goals…).

Thank you, Jordan Cousin Judy S., for the call tonight.  You helped get me back on track.

–Sue

p.s.:  Thank you for checking on my blog or following me on Google Reader (or similar service).  I am amazed I have any followers/readers left, and I appreciate every one of you!  I did get some sewing done at the retreat in Alabama, and will share pix soon.

11 thoughts on “Let me introduce….”

  1. What a treat to click on your name in my favorites folder, and find a week’s worth of posts. I’ve missed you, and stopped by at least weekly. I’m so sorry for your loss, and health issues. So glad to see you back on the road to re-discovering yourself. May your photography, quilting, and blogging bring you comfort and enjoyment. I know that I enjoy reading your blog, no matter what the subject is.

  2. Seeing all these messages of care and delight at your return reminded me of a long ago quote. I have spent hours trying to locate the source (hope it was in a nice book I read.) It went something like “the heart is a mansion with a room for every person it loves.” Well, Sue, this is a bit like your online mansion and as you can see, there are many rooms worldwide. A neighborhood of quilters’ mansions have been bringing so many together for creative and positive visits. It’s been a discovery for me as an amateur quilter and a long lost cousin. ‘So glad to once more see the stitches, photography and the care given by so many to respect your pause for good causes. What a living/sewing room! Judy S

  3. Just seeing your new post put a smile on my face 🙂 this morning…I have missed you! Hope to see you in a couple of weeks!

  4. Glad to see you’re back. All you’ve gone through is hard on the body especially losing your mom. Recovering from surgery is no walk in the park either. You think you’re wasting time laying around but you’re not. I’m looking forward to more of your beautiful photos.

  5. What an explosive 4 months you have had. We are really glad to have you back but be sure to give yourself time to reconstruct. You have had several blows and will need to give yourself time to really heal. And you have lots of people pulling for you.

  6. I’m so sorry for the loss of your Mother, Sue. I have missed your wonderful pix. Please take time for yourself. Sending prayers for you and your family.

  7. So glad to see you’re back…It’s been a long, tough summer. I checked your blog every day hoping to see you back on track. You’ve had so many things to deal with but you’re made of good stuff; you’ll make it.

  8. Good to hear from you dear Sue. Life gets tough at times and takes some time to feel like your somewhat “normal”. Hope you can sew, stitch, create and catch some photos in time to come. You know it will help!
    :-}pokey

  9. Welcome back. You were missed! Glad to know that tumor was benign and better to have lots removed than for it to turn cancerous later. Don’t push yourself too hard ~ take the time you need to recover from all the stresses you’ve encountered. I’ll be watching for the bug photo =).

  10. My husband just lost his mother a few weeks ago too and it is taking him time to grieve. Some days are good and some really bad. I’ve been dealing with migraines on a daily basis, so understand what you are going through. Praying for you as you go through all this. And welcome back to blogging 🙂

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