Welcome to my world!

My life's been crazy since my Daddy moved in with me immediately after my mother's death in October 2010. My one and only kiddo headed to college at Carolina at the end of August. So...I lived on my own, for the first time in my life, for a total of a blissful six weeks. Then, I started the parenting gig with my dad. He's a combination of a grouchy old man, a surly teenager and a temperamental toddler. Needless to say, I get very close to the brink of insanity sometimes. I get through life by finding the humor in difficult circumstances. And for some reason, I wind up in the weirdest situations. I couldn't make this stuff up. So I wind up having lots and lots crazy adventures which make great stories to share with my friends. Writing about my life is so therapeutic. My ramblings range from funny to sad to angry (full of cuss words) to sweet. While my focus is dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a parent to my Daddy, I have lots of random, totally unrelated posts. Whatever's on my mind. I love to make people laugh, and I'm happy to think my readers will get my strange sense of humor. And maybe, people who are in my situation will be encouraged. That's all I can hope for...

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The Ides of March

This is the day Caesar was murdered by Brutus. The soothsayer warned, "Beware the Ides of March."

It's feeling ominous today. I woke up to see that the futures indicated a huge drop on market open. And they were right. The events in Japan are affecting the markets all over the world. Investors are scared. I'm going to put my head in the sand and close my Fidelity software, and turn off CNBC and play some Enya or Allison Krauss. Something soothing.

The reason I remembered today is the Ides of March is that it's my mother's birthday. She told me that. It also used to be the individual income tax deadline, way back when. I didn't think I'd feel so sad today, but when I woke up and realized it, my heart was heavy.

My brother died May 1st. 12 years ago. It sneaks up on me every year. You know how on the first day of every month, you say, "Wow, I can't believe last month's over already."? Every May, when I have that moment of realization, I also realize it's May Day. The joyous celebration of spring with dancing around the Maypole. And then I think of the distress signal: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. That's how it felt when my phone rang in the early morning hours. Before I answered it, I knew. My mother's voice on the other end, relaying the terrible news. As much as my heart was breaking, I couldn't imagine the despair my mother was experiencing. She wasn't the same after that. Every year, I'd call her on that terrible anniversary, to tell her how much I loved her and how much I missed David. She struggled so much with that loss. It was hard for The D, too, but he couldn't express it.

My strategy to get through the day is to celebrate my mother's life. To remember the ways she demonstrated unconditional love for me. Her great sense of humor. Her strength and independence. These are just a few of the legacies she left me.

I want to make the day special for Daddy. So I've invited some sweet family members over for dinner. My niece and her husband and two precious children. Her little boy looks so much like my brother (his grandfather) when he was that age. And like me, too, lucky kid. And my sweet sister-in-law. Not sure Deb can make it. She's under the weather.

Happy birthday, Mother. We miss you...

2 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to your mom, C. I am so sorry and know it must be a hard day for you. Big hugs!!

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  2. Thanks, J. It's looking up. Several more friends are coming, including Ruth and Jerry, our newest friends from the senior center. Hope you can make it, too! Daddy loves having people around. My house is a wreck (boxes everywhere) but Sarita's cleaning off the dining room table - the main thing. I have a Texas sheet cake in the oven - chocolate always helps! :)

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