Kenny Chesney While He Still Knows Who I Am

I love Kenny Chesney and his music.  He does sad songs, happy songs, deep songs, etc.   I listen to a lot of his music when I am getting my "steps" in every day.   I have my iPod on shuffle and today this song came up.  I hadn't heard it in quite sometime.   To me it is so poignant for what we are dealing with right now with my dear Aunt Teresa.   She has started to slip mentally so much.  I saw it in the year before we left Douglas.   However in the past few months, she has really declined.  There are some days where she is really good.   She is also very good when she is around family and friends for a short time.   Our family has always been so important to her.   She loves all of us and always talks about her brothers and sisters kids.   For many years she sent birthday cards with a $1 in it to all of the kids (nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, etc.).   Now she doesn't always know who people are.   It is so sad to watch this decline.    The doctor has diagnosed her with Alzheimer's and she takes medication for it.   At 93 almost 94 years old, I wonder if it is really Alzheimer's or just her age.   As I sit here and write this post, I can't help but get a little teary.    I feel so blessed to have her in my life.  The five years that I spent with her in Douglas were worth every minute of it despite some of the garbage I dealt with.    We had a great five years as roommates!!   I will always cherish our time together.   Now she is at Judy's, but I have her a lot.    We try to keep her mind stimulated as much as possible.   But it gets harder and harder to have some conversations with her.    She doesn't remember going places that we have gone to recently, but she does remember that she wants to go to the Family Reunion in Virginia in July.   We are planning on taking her to it.   And of course, she always remembers when it is time to go to Mass!!!   If you listen to the words in this song, I think you will understand why I put on my blog.  What a blessing she is to our large extended family!    So if you read this, please every now and then give her a call.    If you get her on a good day, she will remember who you are.   If not, she will act like she remembers you.   I know how much it still means to her!

You may have to click it and go to YouTube.  It was on here for awhile, but now it is gone.  However, you can get to it by just clicking it on.

No Posts?????????

I am finding it hard to believe that I haven't written anything in 2016.    Things have been great and I am usually wanting to write when everything is in order.  Not sure what has happened.   

I didn't realize how much I was going to enjoy  being retired.  It has been amazing.   I truly thought I wouldn't be able to go from the MANY hours that I worked for the past 27 years that I was an administrator to nothing.  But it has been absolutely fine.   I have been busy, but not sure what I do.

Helping Judy with my Aunt Teresa takes a lot of time.  Judy has her most of the time, but she is here often.  I take her to doctor appointments and family events as much as possible.

Then there is my FitBit "addiction" that I have been dealing with.   I have tried to get my steps in regularly for the last many months.  A few months ago, my good friend, Debbie, got me involved in the Workweek Hustle.  I didn't know that I was competitive but I am and I am out trying to get the most steps in during the week so that I can WIN!   I have won most of the weeks, but there have been a few where I didn't quite make it.  I actually enjoy my walks and have been getting a minimum of 10,000 steps a day in.   Listening to audio books makes the walking easy.   I have been listening to historical fiction--books that I read in the 70's and 80's.  It is great to hear them again.  I love authors like Herman Wouk and John Jakes.   

In January, I started doing some principal subbing in Gilbert.  I am helping out a wonderful young man who has colon cancer when he has to undergo chemo.   It has mostly been every other week for three days, but there was one period of time that I was there for a week and a half.  It has been an honor and a privilege for me to be able to do this for him.   He has a wonderful school and I love the kids and the staff.    I am hoping that the last time I have to be there is a week from Wednesday.   Not that I don't love going there, but that will mean that he has finished his chemo and now will prepare for surgery this summer.   I hope and pray that it works out for him and I am so thankful that I have been able to help him.

I love being back home in Gilbert.  It has been wonderful to reconnect with so many people and to have the respect that I earned here for so many years valued.   It has been reaffirming in so many ways.

I have been approached by many people, including the teacher's association, to run for the school board.  I am giving it serious consideration.  I can't do anything until I am done with my sub job, but that still leaves plenty of time.  I think I would be able to be of service to the District that I love so much in this capacity.   

I am going to make it a goal to write more as I truly do enjoy it.  

Life is good!!!