and time doesn't stop

 I am consistent with my inconsistency in posting ruminations to this blog. I can't explain it.

So much has happened since I last wrote - that was January 2, 2020!

I retired from my teaching career effective August 1, 2021. Began in 1971, so that's a pretty long run. IF teaching were still anything similar to past years, I would definitely have stayed at least until my National Boards ran out at the end of this year, but wowsers! nothing is the same. Maybe I'll write a whole post about that - there's so much to say.

Sammie is staying on Poverty Knob with friend Chad Davis. She has one more semester of Central Piedmont Community College's Medical Laboratory Technician clinicals to finish at Watauga Medical Center.

Mikey is still unemployed and seems to be spiraling downward in several ways. His personality has been adversely affected by medication and/or depression. He's not the happy, joking, cheerful Mikey that I know. His eating has changed - he seems to just not care about what's for dinner. He used to request or at least add input for the planning. So I'm concerned about his physical health. He's using up all his savings. I can't see any progress toward mitigating the situation. He won't even begin to discuss his medical, financial, or employment situation. I offer help. "What can Mommie do to help you?" Mike: "Nothing." I want my old Mikey back, but I have no earthly idea what I can do. I am distraught.

The Harrison Estate is shaping up a little. Larry and Barbara have footed the bill for cleaning up the area around the houses. Quite a contribution!!! to say the least.

I've tried to fix up Mom and Daddy's house to make it a little more habitable. Inside is all painted - even the closets! Just need to finish my room after all the "collectibles" get redistributed. Downstairs floors were refinished - they look AMAZING! Added a heat pump and two mini-splits to keep the climate under control. The dehumidifier in the basement has helped tremendously in reducing the mustiness, mold, and mildew. The back porch still needs to be addressed. Harold is working on finishing up the exterior painting.

My dear, dear friend Kendal Privette's husband, Chris, used his magic to make a wormy chestnut table for the dining room. Mike and I took a truck load of the wormy chestnut boards salvaged from the old smokehouse and maybe the outhouse to Chris. He built a table and a little bench. We LOVE it. I just wish Daddy could see it because he wanted so much to do something with the wormy chestnut. He had held on to it and protected it all these years.

I cleaned off the gravestone for Momma and Daddy yesterday. I miss them so much - still crying.