On September 18th of this year, my dad will turn 90, still going strong and still pretty ornery. I know its some time off yet but I think about my dad especially and how we almost lost him some years back. How very blessed we all are that we still have him here. My Mom, who went through surgery, had a little difficulty recovering, she will be 88. I turn 58 this year and I think about my family, My Aunt Janet, now by herself with only her two sons left. She too will turn 90 this December. She has been through a great deal of herself. My cousin, her daughter, passed away about four years ago from cancer. My other Aunt and Uncle are pretty good and my dad's last remaining brother is still around to drive dad crazy as younger siblings do His half sister ,my Aunt Barbra is doing fine as well. My late husband's mother, Pat is doing good as I am grateful for that. I pray every night that we all get to keep everyone for more years to come.
I think a lot of people know what I mean when I say that its tough watching your parents grow old but whenever Im around them, I feel like a kid again.
I have been looking back on my life a lot, thinking of old days when I was a kid growing up in the seventies and eighties, when 1980 hit , I was about 13. When I was that age, I was more focused on growing up, shoot my great nephew has a girlfriend at the age of twelve. When I was that age, I was enjoying my youth, listening to the radio, recording song off of the radio, playing with my barbie dolls. Wasn't worried about dating then. I will admit I didn't pay too much of attention to the stories my parents told as I was growing up, now I love to her them talk about the old days.
I am close to my parents, very much so, but I really enjoy dads stories the most. Not really sure why because both of my folks have had a interesting life. Dad's however has so many facets, everything he did and experienced is over the top. Even mom keeps telling, he should have wrote a book.
My father was abused by his step dad and through his tumoil, he was able to pull himself up, learn to play the gutiar, play in a band, be on the radio, make a record, go into The Army, serve in Korea, get his GED, become a seargent ,use his GI bill and become a mechanic. A foot note to that, not only work on cars, trucks, tractors but learn how to work on planes and trains as well. My dad also became a Ohio State Auxillary Highway Patrolman and work as The Cheif of Police for the town of Sunbury. He administered drivers test, which as his kids, we got the full extent of his authority when we learned how to drive.
He road tested the first Ford Mustangs back in 1964, worked as a mechanic for Ford in Delaware, which was Humphries then, now its Buyers. He finally settled to work at Buckeye Tractor as we growing up; its gone too now.
My son bought a classic Ford Mustang, well a 1988. I posted a picture of him and daddy working on it. I think my son was influenced by the many stories I told about his grandpa.
I think of dad's stories a lot especially , what it was like in down town Delaware when he was a young man. I was going through the songs I loved so well over the years. For the most part, I could tell you who sang this song and what year it came out. I have so many bands I love. unfortunately, not too many of today's music or bands. Im big Boston fan but I like many others. You could call me a purest because with the band Journey, Steve Perry is the only lead singer of Journey.
My son listens to classic rock sometimes and when I was riding down with them to see my folks and my sisters last weekend. A new band made a remake of Bad Company, well to me the group Bad Company who recorded that song as their title song..is still the best version with Paul Rogers doing the vocals. My daughter on the other hand likes the "Now" music, mostly rap..I guess thats what it is. Not too crazy about that. Now I know how my mom and dad felt, They are country music fans and all the time we were3 growing up, we listened to rock. It wasn't all in vain, my brother and I listened and cherished some country music.
Anyway as I was thinking of some of the songs, Journey's "Still They Ride" with Steve Perry came to mind thinking about dad'
s stories of Delaware. He grew up in the city of Delaware while my mom grew up in the country of Delaware. Now not too much is left of country in Delaware, its hard to come by anymore. So I wanted to post the song along with the pictures Im sharing today as a dedication to daddy and all he has expeerienced in his life because3 after all "Still He Rides"
Living alone can be very difficult but having pets can make a big difference for a senior like myself. I got scooter when he was almost 3 years old in 2014 as well as his little sister as I call her. Daisy was just a puppy. I took them both because the lady who had them couldn't keep them anymore. Scooter and Daisy's original owners had both died. At the time I got Scooter and Daisy, I still had my German Shepherd mix ,Murphy. My kids were still at home, so I had plenty of company. I really enjoyed those days. I had my Gallbladder out the following summer and like they always did when the kids were in school, the dogs stayed by my side. My mom calls in "Nurse Matting" Even though they were furry four legged friends, they stayed by me as a care taker.
For those first few months I had Scooter, he would sit in my bedroom and howl by himself, missing his previous owner but as time went by, he started to sit by me more and more like the other dogs did.
Everytime I let them out for a run, Scooter would always stand beside Murphy and bark. Murphy was a medium size dog and both Daisy and Scooter were small. Their breed was what people call Pomchi's basically a Pomeranian and Chihuahua mix.
The scene was so cute, as long as Murphy was out with Scooter, Scooter would act tough like Murphy as if he was his little side-kick.
I have been around dogs and cats all my life, some always make an impact more so than others,especially dogs I think. I have had kitties that were dear to me as well.
I lost my husband December 13,2006 from complications from Cancer, my children then were 8 and 6. I was a single mother struggling with anxiety and depression so my kids became everything to me
Our pets became our family. Two years after I took Scooter and Daisy, Murphy died on December 14th, Murphy was just a little puppy when Jeff and I got him and the kids took to Murphy right away, so losing Murphy was very difficult for all of us. Since we lived in the suburbs, we couuld't bury him were we lived, so we buried him out on my parents property in the country. Needless to say, Scooter missed his big buddy.
2017, rolled around and my son graduated from Highschool , two years later my daughter graduated from Highschool. Eventually My son and my daughter moved out on their own, while I stuck with a relationship that really I had no business being in. The man I was with was an old classmate who was an alcoholic, narcissist and bi-polar. His first wife left him , also his girlfriend afterwards. I wasn't very smart because those were major red flags. Gradually he became more abusive. Scooter and Daisy stayed by my side through all of that and were my little rays of sunshine.
I broke my foot and had to have surgery, my son took me in and brought me back to the apartment where this man and I lived figuiring that he would take care of me. He though continued to drink to the point where he slept most if not all the time. I had give up my jobs because of my foot. Soon after as Covid hit, I came down with it. Since this man that I lived with had copd, I urged him to go to the hospital because at that point we both had covid. I stayed in the apartment and nursed myself as best as I could. After my friend got out of the hospital, he returned to drinking , seemingly getting more abusive everytime he drank. by 2021 I couldn't take it any longer, my nerves were shot, and I was scared that his verbal abuse would esculate, he had already thrown something at me that bruised my leg.
I reached out to my kids and my future daughter-in-law who took me out of the situation and to a safe house; they took care of Daisy and Scooter while I was in there.
It was a long two and half months without Daisy and Scooter. It was then they diganoised Daisy with Diabetes, now I needed too administer insulin two times a day to Daisy. It didn't matter to me, I wanted to take care of Daisy.
I finally got SSI for my disability, now I was battling the effects of covid, arthritis in my knees and back. So I took a remote job and with my SSI, I was only able to get an apartment in Marion, Ohio. My kids wanted me to live in Delaware, Ohio where they and the rest of my family were. Still to this day I'm in Marion because of my finacial difficulties.
I had and have been going through jobs because of anxiety and since the two years I have been here it has gotten worse but thank goodness when I did move here two years ago , I got my dogs back. I have a great neighbor, a single mother with two children.
On September tenth, 2022, my son got married and then in May of last year, my daughter graduated from OWU.
Last year as well My Uncle Carlton passed away at 88 right at Easter, Scooter had gotten out the door on me and for a long time I couldn't find him, my daughter- in -law posted his picture on Facebook and sure enough , the dog warden found him about two miles away from home and brought him back to me, little did I know things would change for my little guy because of it. I did get a job working for the SACC/YMCA program in Delaware that I enjoyed so very much but then my car completely broke down beyond repair. I then took a remote fundraising job in November working for St Jude Childrens Reaserch Hospital. That didn't last long because I came down with a nasty virus, that took over a month to recover from.
All and all, it has been such a blessing having my two dogs with me these past two years being on my own. Scooter was always a quiet dog and you could always make him howl by howling at him. Scooter always was my cuddle bug, laying by my legs at night, it had become a source of comfort to me. I adopted a kitty from The Marion Humane Society because I had been battling mice in my apartment, but "Patch" my kitty just would sit and watch the mice so ironically, Scooter became my mouser. Ever keeping watch over the mouse situation. Last year too , I had stepped out of my apartment and twisted my ankle so bad, my daughter took me to the ER. They had to put a cast on it. I had to keep it elevated, so I sat in my chair, elevated my leg. I slept many nights like that and always Scooter would lay in my lap.
Its funny because even though my kids and the rest of my family are always supportive. I came home to Daisy, Scooter and Patch. Scooter and Daisy always wagging their tails so happy to see me. Even Patch would greet me when I came home from visiting my kids, my sisters and my folks. Scooter always was by my side and I would return the favor when it would storm because he was so scared of the lightening and thunder. I would stay by him or hold him til it would pass.
They had become my family too. Now I know exactly how a person feels and what they mean when they say that pets are family
Christmas came and New Years this year sadly brought me despair. Scooter had been coughing so much since his little run that took him two miles from home. It seemed he got better but he didn't and on January 3rd he went down. I picked him up and laid him the couch, I sat beside him, petting him. He once again cuddled up to my leg and at 5 am he died from congestive heart failure. My daughter and I buried him on my folks property.
To be honest, his death was so hard for me. I was already fighting my anxiety, then like a flash, my thoughts started racing, intrusive thoughts which are the worse and that awful feeling of dread came over me.
I never went off my antidepressant, I had faithfully taken Paxil since my doctor prescribed it in 2007. It dawned on me then, that I possibly been suffering with anxiety and depression since I was 16, it was the same feeling I went through then, back then though my parents and my siblings didn't know what I going through.
Now my Paxil has been upped to 60 mg, I am seeing a therapist, I know sooner or later I will end up going to a psychiatrist. I am feeling better and everyday I think of Scooter, Daisy now never lets me out of her sight. When I come home from visiting my folks and my kids, Daisy is there barking and wagging her tail.
What is such a comfort is knowing that animals know who God is, they belong to Him. Along with my family in heaven, Scooter and all the rest that had meant so much to me in my life will be there. Thank you God for letting me have Scooter for a time. Be free little buddy, I love you
Hello Stephen, good morning, hope your day is starting well.
Pray you and your family are all doing fine. Have a bit of the holiday blues,you probably noticed,but I don't want to get you down though.
You have a good day,stay safe and careful going out. Really warm here, sure don't feel like Christmas.
Don't know how the weather is like in Amesbury. I know by this time, the East Coast has some snow. Usually, we have similar temperature...well somewhat.
Have quite of bit of crafting and baking to do yet.
Love and prayers, many hugs and kisses
Good Morning Stephen, wishing you a good day! Thinking about you. If you happen to look back towards my way, you will see me wave with the sincerity of love in my eyes.
So many miles away, seems like I have so far to catch up to you. I smile hoping you'll see me again.
Please take care of yourself, thinking about everyone!
Hi Stephen, good morning hon!
Hoping and praying everyone and everything is ok. Please be taking care of yourself. I say this over and over but I really mean it. So often I keep wishing you would write again, of course I'd prefer seeing you in person.
Got so much baking again this year, Carianne is requesting chocolate chip cookies, more so than sugar cookies. I will end up making them I know, dad and Jon like them.
Got painting to do too,trying to decide what to paint. I am thinking a Christmas scene with an old car.
Like I mentioned, my sisters and the kids seen the last movie of the Hunger Games,not too many good movies coming out, no big surprise. Star Wars looks good and The Letters, the story of the late Mother Theresa. It looks really good. If this nation needed something positive to look forward to, is a real inspired movie of faith.
You have a good day full of smiles, I really wish that for you! Love and miss you so much. Your hugs, your smiles, your voice and handsome face!
Love you Schizz☺
Been a crazy weekend, went to the movies with my sisters and the kids. Pray all of you are ok, love you so very much SCHIZZ, so many hugs and kisses are yours today and everyday. You certainly brighten my day Honey
Morning SCHIZZ, hope you got rest and you are having a good day thus far. Have to tell ya how much I love you, thinking of you and smile sweetheart. Sure do need a warm, loving smile during all the trouble in this old world😊 Thinking about you!!!!!!!
