Well, crap

 Geesh. I guess lately I only write when I'm in the feels. 

I was just telling my cat it's one of those days. She was cradled in my arms purring. When she sees me start to crochet she has to let me know she is a priority and climbs on me and settles in my arms till the thought of crocheting goes away. I love her for that. This cat was one that I had a hard time with at first because she never wanted petted or touched. She was a new kitten when I got her, and she just wasn't social. My other cat was the affectionate one, and now it's reversed. The older cat is 10 this year. The younger one is maybe 4 or 5? 

I just woke up feeling extra lonely today. I will be ready for winter to be over. Even if I don't leave the house I want fresh air wafting through the windows. I want to sit out on my porch with a good book and listen to the birds. I actually want to mow my yard. I may have found some walking buddies in town when the weather gets nice, so I'm ready. 

The closest JoAnn's to me is closing. I'm sad to see them liquidate, but I really didn't shop their that much. When I did it was only when they had great sales, or it was something I really needed. I like Hobby Lobby better for yarn, but since they are only in the bigger cities it's usually not worth the drive and dealing with the traffic. JoAnns is also a good excuse to see my son and wife. :) I feel guilty sometimes when I stop over because he's been working a lot of hours, but I miss my kid. I know he's not a kid anymore, but he will always be my baby. I'm so proud of the man he has become. Hard worker, smart, and likes to learn stuff. He's a good human, and I couldn't love and respect him any more than I already do. I'm so glad he found someone to share his life with. She's good to him and for him, and I love her all the more for that.  

So, I did a thing. I sent a Christmas card to my high school crush. I didn't tell him I had a crush since Jr. High, I just thanked him for being nice to me in school, and that I always thought fondly of him. I gave him all my contact information, and told him how I got his address. 

Valentines day has come and gone, and crickets. I was kind of expecting that. He was pretty shy in school, all those many years ago. My inside information said he was single, and not doing well physically. I thought maybe he would send a note or something, but nothing. My friend who gave me his address was more upset I didn't hear back. I told her it took me 50 years to say something, so I wasn't expecting a fast reply. I pray for his health and peace of mind daily, as I do my family and friends. 

I try to get out of the house at least once a week. The weather lately has been crap, and today is no exception. Another day at home. At least (weather permitting) I'm going out for a haircut Tuesday. I think it's supposed to be below zero that day, which I'm NOT looking forward to, but it will be good to get out of here. I think I've been home for 6 days. Sometimes I feel like I'm on a desert island. The bad thing is, if I get invited out or make plans I can often find a good excuse not to. I'm trying to do better, but I'm content not getting out 95% of the time. It's when that 5% kicks in that gets me. I'm not bored, I have plenty of things to do to keep me entertained. I've barely been reading lately, like I did last year. I'm working on my 3rd baby blanket for this year. (my goal is 7 by November for a charity thing, so that's on track.) I haven't even made birthday cards for this month. Oh Spring, wherefore art thou?????

Well, that's it for today. God bless you my friend. Thanks for listening. It's time to pull up my big girl panties and get on with my day. Journaling really does help. 

Life and Love

 I have always loved love. My favorite genre to read is clean romance. I don't need to read about sex when it's not in my life. 

I'm reading a really good book right now called Lowcountry Lost by T I Lowe. It's been really good, but it just made me really sad. The love in this book seems so real. It's made me yearn for what I don't have. 

I have been in love a few times. Married once, lived with a guy once. Had boyfriends, one I loved desperately, and others that were not for me. 3 serious loves in my life. The husband called it quits after 4 years. Guy I lived with decided he liked a friend of mine better than he did me. The boyfriend I loved desperately had a drinking problem, so I had to walk away. 

I love people. My son, his wife, friends, family. 

The love in the book I'm reading goes back to childhood. Just reading about the feelings they have shared through their whole life so far just reminded me I'm not going to have that. I don't even know what to write, but I need it to leave my head and go out my fingers. It just saddens me that there is no one I can do sweet little things for, no one to wrap their arms around me when I need it, or even when I don't need it. (I guess there is such a thing) I really miss having a special man in my life. 

I'm 65 now. I just... I don't know.... feel like I missed out on a big part of life. I just wish it could have been different, but I don't know how I could have changed it. 

I'm just in my feels tonight, and no one wants to hear that.  I don't even know what to pray about that anymore.

God Bless. 

I hope you have good love in your life.  

Sometimes Family Sucks

 I'm in a mood. I miss my brother, the way he use to be. Sort of. 

He has pretty much always been a jerk to me, but he thinks he's funny. He just says things for the laughs. I just don't even know what to write. I love him, but I don't like him very much a lot of the time. He takes every opportunity to make fun of me, one way or another. 

When my son was born we ran into each other while visiting my aunt and uncle. My son was a newborn, and my brother was telling my family that it's a shame if you want to see my son you have to see me too. (hahaha<------sarcasm)  :(

I took my son over to his house for trick or treat every year. They were the only reason we drove 20 miles on Halloween. His wife had made treat bags for all of the nieces and nephews on her side of the family, but apologized to my son because she had nothing to give him. She told him she would make it up to him later. That never happened. He was 5.  (I had made up a will when he was 6 months old in case anything happened to me, and they were suppose to get custody of him, and they can't remember him at Halloween???). They were good parents, raised great kids and the grands are spoiled, but in a good way. I thought they would be good to my son, but not when I'm around. 

Another Halloween, we drove all the way over there just to see them, but they weren't home. Turns out they got a van and went trick or treating with their grandson, it was a whole family thing. We only went over there every Halloween since my son was born. A heads up would have been nice. 

Then there was the sand episode. I had gotten my son a sandbox, but hadn't gotten sand yet. He called and asked if I wanted sand, and I said sure. Then he said how they were getting new sand for the grandson since this sand tracks in the house so they are getting a better kind. He would have it in buckets outside, so just come by when I can. When I went to get it, it was raining and there wasn't anything on top of the two buckets. I tried to get as much water out of them as possible, but wet sand is heavy. I got one in the trunk and left the other one. I didn't want to risk a mess in my car. He called me later and said I forgot one. I explained about the water and just told him I didn't want it. He wasn't happy, but neither was I. 

Ya know, he can dis me all he wants. I expect it, but not in front of my kid. My son has told me that he has said rough things about me even when he sees him out in the wild. He said it's strange how he always chuckles as he gives me a dig. I'm glad my son knows me the way he does. If he listened to my brothers "jokes" he would have no respect for me. He also thinks my brother is an ass. 

When my mom passed away, my dad was devastated. He could barely function. My sister and I depended on my brother, since he was the elder. Everything went to crap when he got married. Sad to see. 

There are many more episodes I could write about, but I'm tired of thinking about it. I just had to get it out of my brain so I can get on with my day. 

I miss him. I just wish he wasn't an ass. 

God bless. 

The people who can hurt you the most are the ones you love. 

39 Years

 Today would have been my anniversary. I'm missing things that could have been, should have been. Would have been. 

He's on wife number 3, last I heard. So maybe it wasn't a "me" problem after all....

God Bless. 

Seize the day. 

Memories and old friends

 Dear Friend who shall not be named, 

I thought about you the other day. I hadn't seen or heard from you in years, (apparently about 30) but always wondered about you. The friend we had in common said he didn't know where you were or anything, and that he hadn't seen you around for a long time. (this was years ago when I asked him) 

I know when I was going through my separation and divorce we spent a lot of time together. You were part of my lifeline for hanging on. 

I remember smoking a lot of weed with you, when you could find it. We had some good times. I remember all the atrocious lies you would tell. But we all knew we couldn't believe anything you said. You were really bad at it. But you felt like family. Thank you for holding me when I was crying mourning the loss of my marriage, my child, and life as I knew it. 

Then, I googled you. 

I found your obituary. I'm glad you got married, I'm glad you had a child. It didn't mention an illness, just mentioned everyone that would miss you. Well, not everyone. I have missed you for a long time, but now I know I won't ever hear from you. 

Then I found the letter. The letter I found was written in 1992, when I was 10 hours away. I've been cleaning and found a file that had old letters in it. One of them was yours. I don't even remember getting it. You gave me validation in the letter, knowing someone cared. Even if it was a lie, I will believe it. You were very troubled and without purpose before I left, and I was heartbroken. We needed each other, but I couldn't stay. I'm glad you sent the letter. I'm glad I knew you. I will always miss you. 

It's so weird I find the letter just a few days after I found out you were gone. 12 years and I didn't know. 

I wish I could put my arms around you one more time.  

Still missing you my old friend. 

God bless.  

Looking on the bright side.....

Well, today was fun. lol

 Dear high school crush, 

I thought about you again today, and said a prayer for you. It's been many many years since we graduated, but I think about you often. Not like a stalker or anything, but I hope you have had a good life. I hope you were loved the way I wanted to love you. I hope you had someone to cook your favorite meals, meeting you at the door with gladness that you were home after a day at work. I hope you had someone who got you your favorite gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and just becauses. 

I think my crush started in Jr. High. I remember sending you a card and signing it anonymously. I heard some of your friends at school asking if any of them sent it. I scurried away because my face was turning red. 

A few months ago I told one of my friends about my crush. Of course she had to do some digging, she was friends with some of your friends, so she sent me your address, phone number, and let me know you had been married for a short time, but not for a long long time. 

She asked me why I didn't contact you, or let you know when we were in school about the crush I had on you. I did that for your sake. I was the fat ugly poor girl. If your friends found out I had a crush on you, I was afraid they would tease you like they did me. I just loved you from afar. I was doing it for you. 

I saw you in Walmart once. You were at the end of an aisle I turned down. As soon as I saw you my heart jumped in my throat and I turned around and left the aisle. I didn't know that was possible after so many years. 

I pray for you often, that you are having a good life. I'm hoping if I ever see you in public again that I will have the courage to speak and act like a normal person, not the schoolgirl crush person. 

Are you the same quiet, shy gentle giant you were in school? You may not have been overly tall, but you were in my heart. 

I pray you have a good rest of your life. If we perchance to meet, I'll try to act like a grownup and not a cow-eyed love struck girl. Or maybe I will. I just wanted someone to know that you have always been cared about. Even if it was by an ugly fat poor girl. I'm comfortable with who I am now, except for the fat part. My heart has always had room for you. I hope you can feel that from here. 

God bless