That photo was actually taken in February during one of my recent stays at Dad’s house. He is 80, and he’s been having some health issues. I’ve been trying to help get him back on track, but it’s hard. He lives a three-hour drive away from us. I do what I can. My brother is trying to help, too, but he lives even further away. Eventually, we will have to come up with a long-term solution that fits everyone’s needs.
Work has been crazy-busy for the past month, too. I managed to keep things on track there somehow, even while working extra-remotely from Dad’s house, his hospital rooms, waiting areas, etc. Having empathetic colleagues and bosses helps tremendously. But it’s all been rather exhausting.
I’m determined not to work a ton of extra hours, as I’ve had to do in the past, but that means I cram a ton of stuff into my “normal” day. At day’s end, every day, I am mentally wiped out.
It’s been nuts. But it could always be worse. I am not complaining, really. I’m alive, relatively healthy, happy. I have a wonderful Hubby, great kids, grand kids, a broad range of friends, all of whom are also doing relatively well. And there’s fun ahead.
Right now, it’s cold. Winter is dragging on. I know there is light at the end of the tunnel, though, so I’ll keep plowing forward. That’s all any of us can do.
Last year was the first time that I was really annoyed with winter dragging on and on. It’s not bothering me too much this year….
I wonder why? LOL. I’m guessing your hop up to Fairbanks will seem refreshing.
I’m sorry to hear that your Dad is having health issues. I know how hard that is while holding down a fulltime job. Hang in there, and I wish you warmer, less busy days ahead!
Oh and LOL on Richard’s comment!
Thanks. I’m lucky to be able to work from his place, too, but it’s not an ideal environment so can’t be sustained long-term. I think he’s on the mend, but time will tell.
I believe firmly in the law of averages. Things have a way of getting better when they suck in the present.
My very dear friend who has a PHD in mathematics says I’m wrong and that I have a poor understanding of statistics in general and of averages in particular.
He is likely right, but I have a ton of anecdotal evidence to cite.
I am therefore confident things will improve for you 🙂
Thanks. I wouldn’t put much credence in the math either, since mathematicians populate a whole separate plane of reality, in my opinion. 😉 In other words, I’m confident things will get better too, and I know they could always be far worse.
All in all, I know that I’m very fortunate in many ways. So all is good.
I’m with you, David. I am definitely starting to feel like things are on the upswing.
All you can do is keep on, keeping on.
It is good to know you are still doing well. Hopefully your dad will recover. It is good that you live as close as you do, although it probably feels like too far away most days.
Yes, I’ll keep pushing ahead. As for living close to Dad, that’s a relative term. Three hours makes it hard to get there in a hurry, but it also allows time to prepare mentally before arrival and decompress before returning home. 😎
I don’t know if you knew this, but Bridget Machida’s Dad was living very close to where my Dad lives. Now THAT was a challenging distance for them to travel, but it meant that we got to see Richard and Bridget twice.