A FAREWELL TO 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

This is a boring day in my house. New Year's Eve has been for theson and thedaughter to celebrate, as I really don't go to the bars at all. If I manage to stay awake...I may go out on the front porch and bang a pan and make some noise. No doubt, I will immediately retreat back to the safety inside, as our local idiot Police chief lives 2 doors away and always shoots off his guns at midnight. DUH!?!?! What goes up, must come down...and no one has stopped him in all these years.

I have to think back about 2007 to reflect on what has transpired.

Jan. 25-28, to Boston to visit with "family."
**4 trips to Pittsburgh Airport
February - Busy tax season begins
**3 trips to Pittsburgh Airport
March 4 - begin Tanning sessions for cruise (can't go pasty white)
March - Very busy full month of tax filers
** No airport runs
Mom2 got her first tattoo, me my 2nd! (Rebellious old broads)
**2 trips to Pittsburgh Airport
May 12 - thegrandson's very first baseball game
**2 trips to Pittsburgh Airport
June 2-10 Caribbean cruise (plus day ahead in Ft. Lauderdale)
**1 trip to Pittsburgh Airport
July 19-22 Jamboree In The Hills
**1 trip to Pittsburgh Airport
August 20-26 theson to Bristol for NASCAR race
**3 trips to Pittsburgh Airport
September 14 - made up with my very best friend Mom2
September 28 - Mom2 to Ohio State University Hospital
**2 trips to Pittsburgh Airport
October 12 - Mom2 home from Pickerington (skilled care)
October 17 - Mom2 passes away - worst day of my life!
**2 trips to Pittsburgh Airport
November - stayed in depression - nothing exciting at all.
**3 trips to Pittsburgh Airport
December 1 - 3rd Tattoo in memory of Mom2 (Fire at Country Square)
December 23 - theson turns 30
December 24 - Mom2's family remains together for a wonderful family event
**3 trips to Pittsburgh Airport

Wow - it appears my biggest accomplishment for 2007 was a total of 26 trips to the airport. Like I have said before - I really need a life.

Most of all, I wish all my friends and fellow bloggers the best 2008 possible. Good health and fortune (hopefully)!

With these good wishes, I am signing off till next year - so everyone stay healthy and TTFN!

MY FRIEND, MY SISTER HAS GONE AWAY!

MOM2 (Jean) July 8, 1944 - October 17, 2007




I have lost my very best friend and sister and feel so lonely right now. We have known each other since our sons started school, yet became best friends when our sons went off to college. Our common bond was our love for our sons (daughters don't be offended please) and how we relished their accomplishments and shared their pain. As mothers, we could not have been any prouder.

We shopped together, went out to eat, and traveled to Boston to visit family and cruised the Caribbean. So many memories, so much fun, we have mourned the passing of family members and "been there" whenever needed. We even had "sibling" spats (unfortunately this last one lasting 3 months), but ALWAYS got back together as if nothing had happened at all.

My family has dwindled to just myself and kids, and we adopted and were adopted by Jeans large family. Her brother, nieces, nephews, cousins are like my own now. Until Jean's mother passed away a few years ago - she was the matriarch of the family - passing the honor to Jean. She was the glue holding the family together. We hope that we can carry on her love of family and pleasure with friends as well.

Jean's passing came 19 days after being diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer. She had been mis-diagnosed (actually non diagnosed) by her local physician for almost 2 1/2 years. It was only after going to Ohio State University James Cancer Center that the terminal diagnosis was made. All the "I wish we had done this and that sooner" comments mean nothing now. But we all know that once we knew what she was facing, we could have done nothing more than stand by her and love her as always to help her as much as possible. We have no regrets, we were with her at all times till she passed - now we have to deal with such a huge void in our lives. At this moment I am finding this so very hard.

She was by my side when my husband died, she was by my side when my twin sister died - and now I don't have her by my side and I am so lost.

I have so many wonderful memories of our trips, our talks, all our experiences, but it doesn't seem like enough.

Helping rid my basement of water after flooding in '04.

Enjoying the sun in the Caribbean!

Jean and I at her sons Engagement dinner.

As we reached our "mid life crisis", she wanted a nose ring more than anything (a small stud) and truly enjoyed the compliments she received afterwards...then on to the ankle tattoo... which she had copied from a henna tattoo we had done 2 years earlier. She saved the henna copy all that time in her wallet, that was determination.

I can't even begin to list all the things I will miss most, because it is quite lengthy.

There are many past blogs which detail our relationship and too much to say at this point. This is cathartic for me...just wanted to share the beauty of my friend and sister with any who might drop by here.

"DEATH LEAVES A HEARTACHE NO ONE CAN HEAL...LOVE LEAVES A MEMORY NO ONE CAN STEAL!!" from a headstone in Ireland

I can't say anymore....Good bye Jean, my friend forever.

I am NOT slacking....promise!

I really don't have a lot to write about, but MOM2, my best friend has some serious health issues and she is 2 hours away, and not being able to be there is driving me nuts!!! I encouraged her husband (and her) to take her to Ohio State University hospital, as she was not being treated well locally - but the end result was not what we wanted to hear - yet she can be treated by much more qualified people there.

Having to be here for my grandson while his mother works has made my making regular visits quite difficult. Theson may be home Wednesday or Thursday, and hopefully we will be able to work someting out to get back up to Columbus. I spoke with Mom2 a few minutes ago and she is quite depressed (expected) and that puts me in a funk.

This is just an update and hope to get back to some regular postings at some point.

Everyone stay healthy and TTFN.