possible last IFN - topic "Alone with Others"

Since Steve is contemplating closing the site, and Switch is moving on - I posted what could be my last IFN post, oh well.

The scanner here at Mom's is just TERRIBLE. The colors have come out all wrong, and you can't see the background grey color, but it's there. Perhaps I'll rescan it when I get home and re- load. If you can't see if the top banner is pink with "sweetness and light.com" and all of the others are things like "pain.com" and "angst.com" etc. It's funny to me.

Either way, - what's done is done.

More late Sunday night

The folks are in bed, and I'm wandering the house, cleaning a bit, picking up papers - packing up for a Tuesday AM departure. I went into the garage to look for a cardboard box to send some books home in (Main Street Bookstore - don't miss it!) and found the usual flotsam and jetsom of family life. I started thinking about what gets thrown away thru the years and what doesn't...and what should and shouldn't. Both of my parents are pack rats, but unorganized ones. I can find a pile of old envelopes - odd sizes; in the same box as an old tape recording of me singing at "4 yrs old".
Mom has her old tap shoes in the garage closet - she started tap dancing at 70 or 75 and kept it up for a few years. She won't do it anymore, her balance isn't good enought. Why keep these shoes? This was a short stint on the local community stage, there can't be too many memories involved in these shoes. Should I sneak them to Goodwill? Someone could probably use them.

A needlepoint that I did when I was about 13 is carefully wrapped up with "Miri's needlepoint - green frame" on it. I'd throw it out but appreciate that my mom wants to keep it. It's a clumsy needlepoint, not worth keeping even for sentimental reasons in my view point.

My grandmother started painting when she was 62 and newly widowed and we must have 30 REALLY BAD paintings of her's in the closet - the better ones hang on the walls. Are we hoping that she can become the next Grandma Moses, or can we simply not get rid of these paintings by a well loved mom and grandma. I may take pictures of all of her painting and follow one of Lynn's idea and do some kind of a quilt.

I keep momento's too, and also like to keep them in unorganized fashion but for a reason. I like to stumble upon lost moments. I open a drawer and find a diary with the date circled of my first date with Tony - I'll always remember that night. I know that I should be a bit more organized about keeping things in some order, but most of my life is ordered and this is my secret and loved chaos.

When my sister in law died two years ago, we didn't go to help clean out the house, which I really regret. Not because we were really needed - there were a ton of people there, but because MIL is NOT a pack rat and she threw out so many potential cherished items. She just told me the other day that she threw out 30 years worth of letters that Lucile kept from friends and boyfriends. I was literally heartsick to hear this, what a legacy this could have been for her children - for them to continue to learn about their mother in later years. MIL only kept things that she felt were "valuable" or that she knew the provence of. That's the type of throw away that I don't understand. Yes, keeping valuable things is good, but keeping priceless items and memories is even better. Sorry Lu - I wish I could have prevented that random toss. I love MIL but she does do random tosses yet goes to flea markets and buys chipped china. Go figure.

So OK, this is another end of year, end of trip review. Sorry. But it all had to come out.

Enough of this end of the year stuff already

My ATC trading group is doing a trade with ATC's from your hometown, or "Hello from" etc. In the spirit of a frugal New Englander, I did paper, scissors, magazine images and colored paper ATC while not having my supplies with me. I like this constraint, and am going to try this a little bit more. ( I do see the disturbing tangent in the lobster one, but decided to ignore it)

Rambling

It's Sunday night. Spent the morning with my 88 year old aunt, showing her how to use her new phone and then went to the beach for a few hours. Now we are getting ready for the social event of the day - Dinner out with my 'rents. Rolling walker and all!!!

New Year - is Switchsky shutting down? Maybe. I am not a big fan of change, and fight like hell to keep an even keel in my life, but stuff changes - right? Or maybe I can do a Pleasantville thing to keep things the same ALL the time. Imagine writing the same posts over and over again. (minor claim to fame; Bill Macy went to Goddard at the same time as me - that's where it ends)

Something tells me that this will be a year of change for alot of us. Sort of a tickling in my toes right now.

Ah well, time to go home for a few days, work awhile and then come back for Dad's 94th. Grant him many more, oh ye the great birthday giver.

Illustration Friday - December 28th - Soar

I am in Florida at my folks house, and only found paper and pencil around to do anything for this topic - it's a good challenge. Great colors can be found in magazine pages. I only had one of those giant scissors so details were out of the question, but I had fun doing this and isn't that what it's all about?

I've always wanted to Soar thru outer space - would love to be in zero gravity.

New Year resolutions????

In Loretta's blog she outlines her approach for New Years resolutions and I like the way she has prioritized her hopes for each category. I love lists, but usually find NewYear resolutions too overwhelming - I like this approach and am going to do the same.

Heart - continue to be open to family and friends, be supportive of my husband and LISTEN to him with a more open mind. (30 some-odd years can dull the hearing abilities). I want us not to regret any moments spent together - and to treasure each other for the individuals that we are. Have fun with him, and try to keep up with his activies.
Tall order, neither one of us is an angel - but it's worth a try isn't it? He really is my whole heart.

Family - help my family go thru the changes that come with aging, at all ages! Be supportive and helpful to mom and dad as they both go thru the next year, try like the dickens NOT to tell them what to do, but to work with them to make sure they are happy, healthy and that the bills get paid. (that story is for another post). Be there for my nieces, two of whom are going thru personal growth issues and changes. Treasure my nephews and see them as much as possible this year. (love those boys like crazy)

Wallet - be a little bit more frugal this year Stella! Stop buying unneeded art supplies. Try to sell some quilts. Diversify. Invest wisely, or at least as wisely as possible. Right now there are no looming costs, but being prepared for a rainy day is always in my sights.

Health - Get this weight issue taken care of once and for all for goodness sakes! I don't know exactly what will work, but that darned honest mirror just won't lie to me! I did make some inroads recently, but we're talking major changes here in lifestyle. With our February move to a work site MUCH closer to home, I plan to get back to the gym and begin a regular routine again. But health isn't only about weight is it? Work on the other stuff too - get back to the Dr. and get going on other delayed issues.

Create - sign up for more art classes and complete 3 projects. Go to Virginia in May for Art and Soul. Enjoy art. Draw. Don't worry about the outcome. Have fun.

Work - Do a darned good job but LEAVE work at work and keep home for home. Remember, no one ever regretted not spending more time at work.

Spirit - I don't belong to any organized religious group, and don't plan to start attending temple. I simply haven't found one that meets my needs in any way. What would do my spirit good is to get a dog. Work on this. Use my journal more as a guide to how I feel about issues, and my resolutions.

I think that's the main issues covered. There is still the list which includes things like: clean my closet, find all the tops to the tupperwear containers etc etc etc. but all that can wait.

Happy New Year to all

Grateful again

I just found out that my friends mom passed away yesterday and we had a good cry on the phone. So sudden and so sad, her dad is inconsolable. 56 years married or something close to that.

It ain't easy being a human is it?

love to all!