Getting to know us ~ Getting to know you!

[Harriet]

Gee, I took a long time enjoying the first page here, learning new things about old and new friends.

I found Pam and Peggy's series of Sidetracked Home Executives books when my 2 oldest children were primary-grade and toddler, 38 (?) years ago, and rather desperately started my first cardfile before finishing the first book. That number is an eye-opener for me, too. I really hadn't added that up, possibly because I am in denial about my children's ages!

Must give credit to a local librarian who guided me to the books after I sort of poured my heart out to her, about being so overwhelmed with kids, disorganized household, part-time work, churchwork, tight budget, etc., etc. Ya'll know the drill. Librarians are the best.

I was widowed when the children were 16 and 11, and later remarried, gaining my dear stepson, 2 years older than my oldest. We had a fourth child, our dd26 whose wedding was in June.

It was 23 years ago when my husband HRH (nicknamed His Royal Highness by our dear SHE Indiana) suggested I enjoy the internet more, and guessed that SHEs would be chatting somewhere. I came upon the site that had sprung from the original Columbian newspaper online site that I was too late to find. I lurked a while, began posting with a feeling of belonging.

We lost my dsoninlaw, oldest dd's dh, several years ago to a massive heart attack. Since both ds and dstepson had each finished using my late parents' house to live in while saving for building their own houses, HRH and I decided to move in and let dd and her 4 children have my home of 43 years.

So, I live in my 1958-construction childhood home with HRH and cat Tobias, who was born here. 4 children, 3 in-law children, 6 grandchildren, 2 granddogs. Dd26 does take as much as 45 mins to drive home now, and my oldest grand, DangerBoy, can be 3 hours away when at univ. But the rest are close.

Non-fiction is my type of book and study, especially nutrition and theology. Quiltmaking is my hobby, along with garden beds, especially annual flowers.

[lucylee]

I’ve always been lucylee, and I found Pam and Peggy probably 40 years ago. There was an article in our local paper — I think someone was doing a class for the system. I didn’t go to the class but I bought the book and I LOVED the (idea of) the system from that point on. Unfortunately I have never loved the actual working the plan as much as planning the work.
I’ve had a card file ever since, but I probably function more as a bad example around here.
I found these forums in 2001 — I remember because it was during a time when my son was on a family vacation with his girlfriend and her parents. I was having some real separation anxiety and I just fell in love with all these ladies, as they talked me through that week and encouraged me to stay busy, I guess.
Of course, I’ve never conquered the procrastination problem and it’s probably worse now.

Dh passed away 11 months ago. It was and it wasn’t expected. He had been treated for a-fib and congestive heart failure for 7 years, but he seemed to be doing well. He was being treated for an infection (that probably started with gout, shoe rubbing his swollen ankle, but I think the infection was just too much for his system and he had a heart attack.
We would have been married 45 years last October, and we’d been together since I was 16. (I’m 63 now.) So it’s been a big adjustment and I’m still adjusting.
We have one child, who is married and lives about a mile away from me, in dh’s parents’ home. Ds is a musician an and his wife is an RN. They have two children — dgs12 and dgd9. I don’t know how I would survive without them! They keep me going. (I’m at batting practice for dgs right now.)
I am a Christian and of course, my faith is really what keeps me going.
My mother just turned 80 and she lives alone, but she is planning foot surgery in April, do she will require a lot of my time this spring.

I’m full of good intentions but little energy or motivation, but I’m also trying to give myself some grace in this new stage of life. I’ve always been a night owl but especially so now, so probably wherever you are in the world, if people in the central time zone of the USA would normally be asleep, I’m probably awake.

[Gma]

My sympathy to you, lucylee. This is a difficult and holy year, this first year of learning how to be a single person after those years of marriage.
It's nice to read the several biographies of people who have been posting on the sheforums, and now we are moving over here. I joined within a week of when my ds and dil announced their pregnancy, thus my first name Gma2b. Then the boards went down for a while and came back up with my new name, Gma. That darling baby was born 18 1/2 years ago, and, now is an excellent student at University, 4 hours away. My son and dil are both working full time. They are will situated: dil in health care laboratory, and ds teaching throughout our state in a program sponsored by the University. Much has happened during those years.
To back up,
God called me to be a nurse when I was 4, so I had a straight path through high school and college education. My husband was a Lutheran pastor, who died in 2010 after 40 years of multiple sclerosis, 26 of them in a wheelchair. I cared for him at home (thank you God for my nursing knowledge) except for about a 6 month break that I needed about 2 years before he died. Besides caring for him, my career included operating room, public health, and hospital. I worked in a specialty obstetric/ labor and delivery unit for over 25 years. Additionally, I earned a master's degree, taught for a couple semesters (but preferred being a bedside nurse who could work parttime and leave work at work). I am retired, but maintain my license and edit graduate papers for students at a nurse midwife graduate school.
Family life is important to me: My mother will be 101 in May. I planned a huge party for her 100 last year. She is well loved, and over 200 people came. I have 2 sisters; one is married almost 50 years and has a married daughter and 2 grandsons. I was married 40 years when dh died. We also have a beloved brother and his wife who have one married son with 2 girls. All live in various parts of the country. My niece is closest, at 500 miles away. Mother is in a care center now, but I moved in with her for 6 or 7 years before, to care for her so she could stay in her home. yes, I maintian both her house and mine, and neither one perfectly! Especially mine reflects my frequently overwhelmed, but wonderfully good and blessed, life.

[lucylee]

Thank you for that reassurance, gma!

I forgot to say — dh and I both retired from teaching. He retired after 25 years in coaching and teaching social studies/history. I taught English (mostly 9th grade) for 30 years. We were together all the time, so this year has been… different, to say the least.

I kinda envy your caregiving skills. This is definitely NOT my gift, and I’m a little nervous about helping my mom after her surgery. But I’m in awe of how long you cared for your dh — that had to be difficult!
I have some guilt at my own impatience at times with my dh. He had terrible arthritis and at times I was not as understanding as I should have been.

I have a brother but he and his wife live in the southern part of Florida. I’m in North Alabama, so it’s almost like I’m an only child sometimes! But I know my son and daughter in law will help with my mom all they can.

Thanks again!
I’m enjoying reading everyone’s stories too!

[Lauralind]

Lucylee I just want to encourage you. I have literally no experience before mom's surgery last summer. She's gone actually quite gradually into needing care and dad did most all of it till the last few months when he started needing help too. It's a lot of responsibility but when it's your mom ot starts to come quite naturally. Especially if you end up helping her in the hospital. Watch the nurses.

I'm still not very confident but mom just likes the sweetness of me around. Helping with movement and such just comes.

Gma that was such a great reminder of your wealth of knowledge through your life. I so appreciate your support. I did get your pm. Might yet have to do some more research into other things available. I know there are some things directly for that.

Harriet so nice getting more familiar with you as well.

[Bama]

This is a wonderful thread and will serve to be an ongoing reminder to my very cluttered mind.
I’m “sweet home Alabama”, shortened to “Bama” at some point. I’ve seen references to me joining in 2005 although I thought I was pregnant with dd (born in 04) when I joined, so I’ve been a member since somewhere between 2004-2005.
I was lonely, bored, and probably depressed sitting at home with a toddler (and a newborn) and surfed my laptop until I stumbled on Pam and Peggy/Flylady somehow. It was a lifesaver. Instead of feeling like nobody cares and I have all day to do something so why do it now I found myself in a world of people DOING instead of feeling sorry for themselves. I’ve been reading old posts and I was so naive back then in many ways, shes helped with getting housework done, cooking healthy meals, exercising, raising kids, educating me in all sorts of ways. I felt like I was missing out on being in the world by being in a rural area alone with kids, dh worked 2 jobs, and was taught to enjoy the world given to me.
When Facebook came along, I ventured to groups there but always kept this in the back of my mind as a safe place.
Now both kids are grown, dd26 graduated college, got engaged, and is living and working in Mississippi, dd21 is attending the University of Alabama, renting a home, working, and living in Tuscaloosa. Both are hours away so I’m dealing with empty nester syndrome hard. Parents are all gone now. Trying to make new traditions as we always went along with whatever the grandparents had been doing and now we are the old ones lol. I’m 59, will be 60 this year. Yikes, sounds so old when I type it out. Truly grateful to be here on earth at any age.
My house and yard are a mess, worse than ever. Imagine multiple households of collections all crammed in. I’ve gained weight. In search of hobbies, friends, inspiration.
Not sure what else to put, maybe I’ve put too much, but thats me, I’m an open book.
Thanks for the new home! Thanks for new and old friends.

[Ramblinrose]

Bama… roll tide, my son graduated from there and I got my undergrad and Masters from the University of South Alabama.

Lucylee is a War Eagles, but we still love each other. Nice to have another Bama girl here

[Bama]

RTR, Ramblinrose. I chuckle because anytime dh wears a Bama shirt out all the guys greet him like a long lost friend and he does the same. I used to ask if he knew them, now I know it’s just a sport thing, it’s nice to see the comraderie. I wanted to go to Auburn for the programs they offered since I have always loved nature and animals. I did go to USA for two years, I was born and raised in Mobile. It’s a small world.

[Ramblinrose]

I lived for many years off of Grelot and then off off old shell road… taught at Azalea, Palmer pillans, and chestang. Worked many years at the lumberyard while in school. I went back when I was 38. My son went to St Luke’s and the St. Paul before moving back to Lannett to live with his dads

I loved living in Mobile

[lucylee]

Are you still near Mobile, Bama? As Rose said, I'm a AU fan -- dh and DS graduated there, along with several in dh's family -- brother, niece, nephew, and some cousins. DH lived and breathed AU football.
OTOH, I grew up in a Crimson Tide family. neither of my parents went there, but they always pulled for Alabama. My brother did graduate from Alabama, but he probably couldn't tell you who they're playing on any given Saturday -- I mean, even when the game is underway. He now lives in Florida and just doesn't keep up with it.
I was already married when I started college, and I graduated from the University of North Alabama.

Anyway -- you are the first Alabamian I've seen in our little internet village -- just wanted to make sure we're not running into each other at the grocery store, so I won't say anything embarrassing here! LOL!