A Bewitchingly Ordinary Life!

  On Death 9/21/20 Friday, it was a Friday. August 20th, 2021.  I will never forget that night for as long as I live on this earth.  Everything, so crystal clear yet so foggy.  Like a raging river that night came rushing at me.  I was powerless to stop it, though I tried so hard.  That uneasy feeling came over me when Eric didn’t answer the door.  Aaron was supposed to stay the weekend with him.  I stopped by once, no answer.  Figuring he was out with a friend for a moment or napping, we went on to an appointment for David.   Stopping by again, an unsettling feeling came over me as Aaron knocked again, but no answer. I pushed it to the back of my mind as we drove off.  He just forgot.  He was out with a friend.  I was annoyed, how could he forget about Aaron coming over?  I felt bad for Aaron who wanted to visit his dad.  Still, I pushed it out of my mind.   Exhausted after a long week of teaching...

  There are times I have felt so content with life: wanting to stay planted. Wanting to grow roots, staying firmly in place. And then there are these times. That feeling of being trapped in life. That feeling of nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and not doing or being enough. I feel like this world has closed in on me the older have become. 10 years ago at age 40, I felt like there was still a shimmer of hope. I felt like I could pull things off and do what needed to be done. Now at 50 years old, I look back and feel like the span of my life has been but a vapor in the wind. I look back and see where I failed greatly. I look back and think why didn't I do better. Why didn't I do more.  I fear the Future. I'm sad that I can't give my sons the life that I had so wanted to when I set out on this motherhood journey. I've grown weary with the path in front of me so crooked and long.  Each day it seems happiness eludes me more and more. The call of contentment. The dreamy ...

This is how I remember you.  I am sure it is how I'll always remember you.  When I'm old, when I can not remember much else, when the world seems bleak or when the end of my life nears, I know I still remember "those" days. You were so young, fresh to the world. A million dreams before you.   (video montage) Those days, they flew by.  Faster than I ever dreamed possible.  And now, the days continue to fleet by.  I try to slow down, slow time down yet it only seems to disappear faster. You both have grown so much.  Young boys to young men.  11 and 13.  So close to 12 and 14. I seem so lost. In "those" days, those young days, I felt like I knew what I was doing.  Time proved me wrong.  Some days we sailed through with laughter, other days the three of us ended it in tears. Not much has changed in that respect. Except I realize I have no idea what I was doing then, nor do I have any idea now. I try though. I fail a lot, yet...

I will never forget that day. I was judging!!! I watched the lady as she absently scanned 2 Lunchables, a carton of Capri-Sun, some individual applesauce pouches, a single serving of some soda product, and a pack of mixed nuts. (do you KNOW how expensive and processed those Lunchables are anyway?? Not to mention juice pouches full of sugar.) Come on, wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to make a couple of sandwiches, and have some reusable cups and portion containers to get virtually the same meal?   Her children were a little disheveled and good god I don't think she ever brushes their hair. They were also not under control but arguing back and forth. To be honest it was rather annoying and I thought why doesn't she intervene? But wonder of wonders, they were on electronics.  And of course, she was paying with food stamps.  No mistaking that debit card anywhere. They have welfare, but still have money for that apparently.   She had some kind of Vera Bradle...

The Divorce Chronicles  Healing Takes Time: 5 things NOT to say Yes I know.  Don't say it.   "Terra, you share too much." Well, yes.  Yes I do.  I wear my heart on my sleeve.  For so long I have always done what others told me.  I stuffed things down.  I lived my life for others.  I'm 47 years old (almost 48).  I will no longer live for others.  At least in the sense of trying to please everyone.  I don't have to hid.  I don't have to feel ashamed.  AND, I don't have to agree. I'm getting ahead of myself a bit. I'll never forget the day I knew my marriage was over.  May 7, 2017.   1 year, 7 months, 10 days, 11 hours, 18 minutes, 30 seconds ago to be precise (at the time I wrote this).   The year before that our marriage almost ended.  There was 'forgiveness' and we moved beyond. 9 months went by.  I thought everything was perfect.  Better than ever. Tha...

I get it.   I really do. We all have preferences.  We all need that chemistry or spark. However there is a difference between having a preference and having a cruel outlook and saying things that do not build others up. I realize not everyone looks at it that way or has the same outlook. Yet treating others with just a bit of kindness should be common place.  There shouldn't be excuses made or even things said like "that's a man for you'. Why?  Because all men (thankfully) are not the same. But why does it seem that we may receive 100 compliments, yet can't shake the sadness and hurt from just one negative energy? Now before you say it, let me do it. Yes, I know it's within myself to not let what others say about me, hurt or damage my soul. Let's be real though.  Hurtful words and actions/in-actions of others DO affect us.  It's not that there is blame to place, however while I maybe should not dwell on the hurt, the other person needs to un...

I so understand the sentiment.  I get it. I appreciate the support, love, and concern. I also know it is not true. I am not strong. I am not great. I am not always doing well. I'm not always happy. I hide. I hide behind a smile. I hide behind "lies" of I'm doing wonderful. I hide behind the light of day. I hide behind "happy" pictures posted on social media. I hide behind "fun" times. You don't see all the time I'm alone. You don't see me embracing the darkness and crying myself to sleep so many nights. You don't see me on my knees crying and cursing and pleading and making deals & bargains with the God I believe in. You don't see the loneliness in my heart. You don't see the endless nights. You don't see me looking into a future that looks bleak. Though I know encouragement is just that and can be wonderful. I also know in the midst of pain it is cliched and trite. Many of you don't kno...