What a Week !

What a busy week ! I transitioned into my new schedule, which meant working 6 days straight, 10 hours a day. Fortunately, Tuesday night ( which is now my Friday), there was enough staff here that I could leave early and get a head start on my sleep. For some odd reason, I woke up after about 5 hours asleep at 9 AM. I knew my mom and my cousin, Kaye, were going to my Aunt Dot's home, to start packing it up and being I had the day free, I decided to help. I'm hoping by helping pack up Aunt Dot's house, I will be able to have a sense of closure to this part of her life and embrace the new phase of her life in an assisted living facility.

I get to her house around 10 AM ; mom is already there and Kaye arrives shortly after. I don't think any of us really wanted to start going through her belongings and begin discarding trash, setting aside things we wanted to keep or give to family, or set aside for the yard sale we are having in the fall. Finally, we went into the Living Room and began packing up the items that Aunt Dot and mom had picked out for specific family members. Most of the items were cut glass candy dishes (very very nice, I might add) or figurienes. All of them had a post-it note under or inside them, to let us know what item was to go to whom. We carefully wrapped each item, and most went into my car to take to the relatives out at the farm. After packing up the living room, we went back to the guest bedroom and started going thru the Lane Trunk that Aunt Dot is giving Jessica. Most every thing inside was related to knitting, but at the bottom, we found a treasure. We discovered 3 very old quilts. Kaye and I called mom back to the room and when she saw them, she recognized them as her mother's (my grandmother's) quilts. There was one for each of us....but in the end, Kaye and mom decided to leave theirs in the trunk and give them to Jessica, as well. I was so touched.

Aunt Dot has already given Jessica her 2 Wing Backed Chairs in her living room, because Jessica has always loved them since she was just a little girl. They will have to be recovered, but they have good "bones". She, also, has given Jessica 2 pretty Milk Glass containers that used to sit on her dresser. Aunt Dot has already given me her Bedroom set. It is absolutely beautiful... Solid Mahogany, 4 Post Bed, with a beautiful solid Mahogany Dresser and Mirror.

After all the packing and grabbing lunch with my cousin, Kaye and my mom, I went and visited Aunt Dot at the Assisted Living Facility. She has a bright room. She shares a room with another lady. She has a nicer TV than me. It's a large flat panel TV in the corner. Work it Aunt Dot ! We had a nice chat. She mentioned how she had such a small room and a big empty house and how she should just go back home. I tried to rationalize with her, but I found it to be more important to let her vent and talk about how she was feeling. I can't even fathom what is really going on in her head....She's lived 55 years and almost a month in the same home...and now she's been uprooted and moved into a strange facility, even though they have done their very best to make it look as "homey" as possible.

Later, My Mom and I went to see the movie, THE PROPOSAL. It was outstandingly funny ! I laughed through the whole movie !! Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds were outstanding.

Afterwards, I needed to drive home and deliver the things that Aunt Dot wanted the family to have. I dropped mom at home, and cried all the way to the farm. I just think the stress from packing Aunt Dot's house had to be released....Packing up someone's belongings of 55 years is just so sad to me. I delivered a fine china set to Uncle Fred and Aunt Helen for my cousin, Pam. I gave Aunt Helen a candy dish that Aunt Dot had picked out for her. Afterwards, I stopped at Uncle Harvey and Aunt Margaret's house and delivered their Candy Dish. It was a long, emotional day.

On Friday, we worked at Aunt Dot's house further. We cleaned out books upon books. We categorized the books in the 3 categories; religious, fiction and cookbooks. I chose a couple of old cookbooks of Aunt Dot's. One was published in 1943....called "MODERN DAY COOKING". I got such a kick out of it. We discovered Aunt Dot's old Bible...given to her in 1946...and found my great Aunt Lou's Bible from 1943. I am thrilled to keep them in the family.

We were exhausted by the end of the day. I couldn't believe how much trash we could dispose. I think Aunt Dot saved every Christmas and Birthday card she ever received ! LOL ! We threw away empty boxes of boxes.

In the evening, I had a friend for dinner....and we watched SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. It was a very good movie.

Jessica comes home Sunday Afternoon !! Finally !!! 10 days without my Baby girl !! Andrew is still hanging out in Cleveland until July 22.

Elliot has bought a Grand Piano...He's spending alot of time refurbishing it....The Pictures look great ! However, it appears to take up most of the Dining Room. I can't wait to hear him play again.

In 2 weeks we will have already been in NY for a day. I can't wait to see the boy. It will be great to have the whole family together for 2 weeks. I just can't wait !!