Landed in NC

It has been two hectic weeks moving and settling into my new rental house. I am blessed to live next door to my son, daughter-in-law and baby. Lily [my dog] and I have established a routine of going for a walk everyday. We wait for the sun to go down, so it is not so hot. There are green trees everywhere, frogs singing and not much traffic. I'm thinking I have landed in heaven. My Granny Nanny job officially starts Thur. June 3rd. Today I started a journal about baby TJ. I wrote one for Jim when he was a little older [infants don't do a whole lot] but, it will help Mom & Dad know what their baby TJ does all day while they are working hard. I have the best job in the whole world.............Granny Nanny.

4 days until...........

4 days until one of the biggest changes in my life happens. Some changes in your life cause more stress/anxiety than others. Married vs divorce, child birth vs child loss, job found vs job loss, new house vs nursing home. The changes that are most stressful challenge your sense of self. If I'm not Mrs. Smith who am I? If I'm not employee 23454 who am I? I have had profound changes and time heals. It sometimes takes many months to feel 'normal' again. It is a different normal and if there are no other challenges to deal with, life is good. This change to NC does not seem stressful because it feels like the right thing to do at this time in my life. Will I take to it 'like a duck to water', only time will tell................and time will heal.

Bittersweet

An oxymoron bitter/sweet. A word that describes perfectly the ending of one close relationship to begin another.......I don't want my close ties to Jim to be severed, but cut they must be to be Granny Nanny to TJ. I can't think of a better [if it can be described as better] time to loosen the ties of Grandma/Grandson then this period in his life when HE will be starting a brand new chapter in his story. High school [not local] begins in September and with that event will come a change of address for Jim. Jim is looking forward to HS and college. Soon eighth grade graduation and many interesting summer adventures like Leadership training in Boston, basketball camp, Washington DC trip and earning money. I will watch from afar his growing into manhood. He will visit, I will visit, WE will miss each other terribly, but that ache will not be as acute because we have an exciting future before us. Learn from the Past - Dream about the Future - LIVE in the PRESENT.

Busy, busy, busy

Clearing out 40 years of accumulation takes time. Today I sold the last piece of furniture I had left. I sold everything.......if it doesn't fit in two cars [my sister is following me to NC], it's not going. For some reason, the accouterments and paraphernalia of making a home have given me a sense of claustrophobia. Moving to NC has given me the chance to lighten my life and free myself from too much stuff. Our society is a consumer driven one. Buy, buy, buy, shop, shop, shop, spend, spend, spend. I used to look at wealthy people as inspiration; now I wonder why I was misguided in thinking that to have more was a good thing. If you look long and closely at what is really NEEDED to live, maybe you will find that you have more than enough stuff. Nothing that I have sold or given away makes me sad. I will miss my family and friends.....NOT my stuff. 7 days until departure.

Happiness

Learn .........from the PAST.
Dream .......about the FUTURE.
Live ...........in the PRESENT everyday is a gift.

Count ........your blessings.

Share.........your fortune with worthy causes; more stuff will not make you happy.

Act .............like someone besides you is important.

Give ...........kindness, respect, empathy.

Say.............a complement to someone everyday.

Walk...........outside everyday [adopt a dog].

Eat..............in moderation.

Vote..........many people don't have that right.

Sleep.........enough.

Don't..........watch TV ...... read, call a lonely friend, garden, do puzzles, take a bubble bath, plant a tree, walk the dog, clean house, read to someone, wash the car, organize, volunteer,
invite someone over, sell stuff on ebay, get a hobby, go bowling [it's smoke free now],

Learn.........something new everyday!

Friends

Jim has buddies stay the night at my house once in a while. I'm more than happy to have his friends here for a day or three. The boys use the basketball court I built for Jim in the backyard, play video games, check facebook, watch movies, talk about girls and eat and eat and eat. Most of the boys have known me for a long time. Last night Jim had a friend stay over. I took them to eat dinner and was pleasantly surprised when his friend Cal thanked me for dinner AND the ride to dinner. Even Jim seemed more relaxed. They did all of the above required teenage things, then went to sleep. Cal had to go home early the next morning. We all jump up at 8:30am, pjs still on; hair a mess. It was "too early" quite in the car but Cal thanked me for getting up so early to drive him home, thanked me for letting him spend the night and thanked me for 'dinner' AGAIN. This is quite the contrast to Jim's other friends that have to be reminded to ''thank' me, reminded to be respectful and are very self-focused [but good kids]. Choose wisely; our "friends" should help civilize us and uplift the human experience.