All We Are Saying Is Give Peace A Chance

 

Everybody's talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism, ism ism ism
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Everybody's talking about
Minister, Sinister, Banisters and Canisters
Bishops, Fishops, Rabbis, and Pop Eyes, Bye bye, Bye byes
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Everybody's talking about
Revolution, Evolution, Masturbation, Flagellation, Regulation
Integrations, mediations, United Nations, congratulations
All we are saying is give peace a chance

John wasn't Wrong, not Then... and not Now either.

Sorry if I duplicate some recent Imagery, my Short Term Memory is shot to Shit.  So I usually try to turn my Pixs Sideways in my Photo Archives after I use them for a Share here in The Land Of Blog, but forgot to the other day when doing a Post.  Ooops.  So, if it looks familiar, it probably is.  *Winks*  I got about 70+ Fresh Images at the Event, so it's not like I'm so Light on Fresh Pixs that I've got to recycle them so soon.  *Ha ha ha*  And I did like the Patriotic Theme Honoring our Nation's 250th Birthday, which IS Significant, I don't wanna diminish that National Pride we should have otherwise.  Our Family are deeply Patriotic, we're just hugely disappointed in the direction our Nation is going right now under this vile and grossly incompetent unqualified Criminal laden Leadership installed, that's all.  We get what is Voted in tho', that's a Cold Hard Fact.

I do desperately wanna Feel Proud of America again, and hold out Hope we will be able to after we rid ourselves of this abhorrent Regime?!  Whether we can restore our Global Reputation and run enuf damage control behind what they've done remains to be seen?  It may take Years, Decades, Never, I just don't know?   Once Trust is irrevocably Broken, it's hard Earned back, if ever.   I do know we Need to take our Country Back, the America we ALL Deserve, not the one they're skewing to Serve only a Lily White Christian Nationalist and obscenely Wealthy Elitist Segment of, and Dehumanizing and Vilifying the rest of us.  There is nothing remotely Godly nor 'Christian' about their Cult of Personality and America is built on Freedom OF or FROM Religion, not any ONE shoved down everyone's Throat involuntarily and forcefully, which promotes and displays Hatred and lacks Humanity.  

 

But, Moving On... The Man has his Cardiologist Appointment with Dr. Singh... who apparently is Monitoring something different than Dr. Pham... I get confused when so many Specialists are on Board.  We've seen Dr. Singh long before Dr. Pham did the Emergency Heart Surgery as the Doctor On Call during The Man's Medical Emergency.  So, I do have to ask about that so we don't have even more Insurance woes of refusal to cover expenses and visits or Medical Advice the Insurers seem hinky about covering.  We do Like both Dr. Singh and Dr. Pham so don't mind both Monitoring him if it's covered.  Mebbe one does Surgeries and one doesn't, that's been a Thing in the Past, Specialties abound in the Medical Profession and I don't pretend to know how it all works and is delegated or distributed.   I just know the VA Cardiologists, all of them, decided his Civilian Cardiologists is who he should be under the direct Care of... so, here we now are.  

He seems Fine about going, he's been holding his Head a lot and looking Glum and Melancholy lately tho', so no telling what's going on in his poor Brain, which also has cognitive and degeneration going on too?  He likes his Home Visits, going TO an Appointment, not so much, even tho' it gets him out of the House.  It is a lot of loading and unloading him and his Medical Equipment which is Why I NEED to go to The Gym with consistency so I'm Strong enuf to do all that for a sustained period now.  I don't expect to become Ripped, Shredded and have a Banging Body... but, I do require more Strength than your Garden Variety Senior whose heading towards Seven Decades around the Sun.  I will be 69 in August and I have to possess the Strength of someone at least half my Age still, and do.  I can still Arm Wrestle a 34 Year Old Guy and hold my own.  I have Biceps like a Man and that Unnatural Strength that my Kids joke is what only Crazy People have.  *Winks, they could be Right?*

I was once told by a Podiatrist I was sent to that I have Unnatural Flexibility, not just for my Age, but for ANY Age he's ever seen!  *LOL*  It was Funny, he was Young and was trying to convince me I'd have to see him not only after my Foot Surgery for Diabetic Issues I was having, but to Cut my Toenails and give me Pedis in the Future.  Why says I?  I can easily Cut my own Toenails still!   How says he?  And I just raised my Foot up in front of my Face within Inches and says, well, I do it like this and I'm very Careful not to nick myself.  The look on his Face was Priceless, he asked if I'd been a Contortionist... mebbe some Circus Act?  He wasn't Joking, coz he said he's Never been able to do that, nor any of his Patients, ever!!!  So anyway, he Agreed, I didn't Need anyone to do my Pedis, I'm quite limber enuf to contort to do it quite effectively without any problems.   I can still twist myself into a Pretzel.  It's part of Why The Man thinks I have Alien DNA perhaps?!!  *Bwahahahaha*

 

My Mom WAS a Resident Legal Alien and many Americans thought perhaps she was from another Planet and were Scared of her, coz, she wasn't your Garden Variety Immigrant, that's for sure.  *Bwahahaha*  I remember back in my Childhood there was a Black & White Sitcom Show on called "My Favorite Martian" {1963-1966} with Ray Walston and he'd do this thing that was like throwing up a Gang Sign, with his Fingers.  Bill Bixby was the Human that took him in and I swear, when that Show became a Popular Sitcom of it's Era, my Mom would have Americans ask her if she was THAT KIND OF ALIEN?  *LMAOROTF*  And as a Lark she learned to do the Hand Thing that "Uncle Martin" The Alien did and it would Scare the Shit out of some folks!

  They didn't 'Get' the Joke and knew she could Predict things and had Premotions, Read Palms, Tea Leaves, and could be known to Practice some stuff they didn't understand.  She sure didn't dress or look like anyone they'd ever seen!  Or come from a Country they'd ever heard of or knew where it was on the Map   Most folks have no Idea that North Wales is a Country, even now.   My Welsh Uncle would come over here every Year thru either Chicago or Atlanta to get to Phoenix by Air from Europe and every time he said they were absolutely Clueless about where he was from!!!  He'd ask me, don't they Teach you Geography in American Schools, they don't seem to know where half the Countries of the World even are on a Map in front of them!?  *LMAO, he wasn't Wrong!*  UFO's were Big News in the Sixties too... so, pretty sure they thought she'd come on one and Infiltrated?   And they always treated my Uncle like he could be a Terrorist, coz, you know, North Wales is renown to have so many of them... NOT!!!   *Huge Eye Roll!!!*

And he'd see TSA ignoring people from Countries that were known to harbor Terrorists, or had never been American Allies, coz, they didn't wanna appear to be Profiling... so, it was quite Amusing to him.  And back then he'd bring me Holy Water from the Holy Well in Wales, back then you could bring Liquids on Board.  And they'd tell him we had Water in America  *Bwahahahahahaha*, which he also thought was hilarious, but explaining what the Holy Water was too, along with where Wales even WAS, wasn't something he was up for.  Especially since most of them couldn't understand a damned bit of his English anyway, nobody spoke Welsh, and he'd have to Write everything down in his attempt at Writing in English, which could be Funny, I ain't gonna Lie.  Coz it wasn't his First Language to Write, let alone Speak fluently. 

 And I had to interpret for him even to my own Family and Friends, like I often did with my Mom, coz few understood their thick Welsh Accent.  I didn't even understand any of Mom's People when I was a Teenager and went to Wales to visit them for the first time, tho' I was Born there.  *LOL*  Mom went Home to have both my Brother and I coz having an Intercultural Interracial Marriage, she was Terrified to have us here in America.   Tho' the Welsh hadn't seen a Red Indian Baby before in their Lives, we were Novelties.  Mom said her people thought Crazy things about Native Americans back then, like we could Walk AT BIRTH!!!  She had to tell them, No, her Newborn could not Walk the Day I was Born!!!  I kid you not.  Of coarse, my Cousins used to Charge their Friends to come look at my Dad like he was a Sideshow Attraction coz they were sure the Americans had killed off all the Indigenous People and none were left coz nobody ever saw them.  

They had a point, you didn't even see Tribal People out and about in America in those days.  I was 16 before I saw another Indian other than my Dad outside of The Reservations, where all the rest of my Paternal Relatives still lived and didn't leave very often... and still live to this day!   And Dad would Joke about it and say, well, they Tried to Kill us all off, but some of us got away.  And so few of us are left now that nobody knows what we are anymore.  So we're Safe if they can misidentify us now.  *LMAO, Dad had a Wicked Sense of Humor*   And he wasn't Wrong, for the rest of his Life people thought he was Asian coz most had never seen a Native American in their Life.  And ICE mistakes them for being Mexicans now all the time too and can't tell the difference, and want to Deport them to "Where they came from"... {insert HUGE Eye Roll at THAT!!!}... even with Tribal I.D. provided to them!!!  So, Point taken.  

Loved this Patriotic Graphics Hendrix Creation my Designer Friend had also made, but only had the Budget for my John Lennon one... dammit!  Or, I would have gotten both.   If she ends up not Selling this one and gives me another 1st Cousin Deal on it, I'll get it tho' when I've got more Budget available.  Which, is iffy with the Prices of everything Essential skyrocketing and getting worse daily now.  I bought some Beef on Sale, coz, at the 18% higher it's gone already, probably won't be eating much of it anymore.  I told The Man we may all have to become Vegetarians or Vegans, and even Grow all that ourselves, he winced and grimaced at the Thought of it.  *Smiles*  Becoming Vegetarian or Vegan to him is worse than Death, and he's not one to like to grow anything like us Old Hippies enjoy doing.  

He'll Hunt and Kill it, but forget about having the Patience and taking the Time to Grow and Harvest it... plus, he don't like Veggies that much and is like a Child trying to get him to eat his!!!   I hide it in his foods, shush, our Secret!   He's eating Healthier but just doesn't know it.   *Bwahahahahaha*   Getting him to drink Water tho' is a Challenge and all his Team say he MUST do it... Good Luck with that, he says Fish pee and poop in it and he won't drink it!!!  *LOL*  And I'm having a Fight with the City now coz they wouldn't pick up our Trash Today coz it was full so the Lid was slightly Open and they Tagged it and said they won't pick it up unless the Lid is totally Closed now!!!  WTF?!  They busted half the Lids off the Trash Containers in our area, so how are those folks gonna Close a Lid the Trashman broke off with his Machine?  They had no Answer.  And Two Inches, come on, how nitpicky is that?!  To now leave a Family with no Trash Pickup and no empty container now for next Week's Trash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They said they could charge me Extra Monthly for a 2nd Receptacle... or Extra to come back and empty the one they refused to empty coz it had a Lid up a fucking 2 inches!!!  I said No, I'm not paying Extra, I already pay Enough.  And not getting picked up for a Week, then Two Weeks... means there will now be One to Two Week's worth of Next Weeks Garbage in the Streets now, coz I ain't got nowhere else to put it!  I'm sure as Hell not keeping all that Trash in our Home, I got a Family & seriously Ill Spouse recovering from recent Heart Surgery... and it would be a serious Health Hazard to have Two Week Old Garbage in your Home, so I made that Crystal Clear!!!  They said their reasoning is it's an Environmental Hazard if the Lid is up a bit! I told them the Trash in the Street ain't gonna be LESS of an Environmental Hazard now, that's for damned sure!!!  It will possibly just attract Wild Animals and be blowing all over Avondale, and I could give a Fuck if they're gonna get bougee all of a sudden about our Garbage pickup.  And try to Extort more Money out of Residents with foolish Regulations they only just made up, coz they didn't exist before.  

I hung up on her coz I'm just putting the Garbage in Bags now by the Street until they pick this shit up and go to the Media if they don't.  I'll Parade my Disabled Veteran in all his Military Regalia if I have to draw Public Support and Sympathies.  *Winks*   I don't Need this Extra Drama and a Headache right now and so I could give a Fuck what the City is making up on The Fly to try to Extort more Money out of everyone, another Racket those in Charge feel they can get away with now we've got Lawlessness abounding in Government.  It will look like NYC when Trash doesn't get picked up coz of Nonsense that is needless, I don't particularly Care, but I won't be Extorted, that's for damned sure.  I Wish they would take me to Court about it too, in the past anytime the City or an HOA has, or threatened to, I've Legally prevailed coz I do know The Law... even if they're Ignorant of it and breaking it themselves all the time.

 

So, Moments after I tore the City a new Asshole over the Phone, the Garbage Guy came back around IMMEDIATELY and emptied my Bin.  *Winks*  The Man was like, Honey, that was Quick... they knew you were MAD and not gonna Take it anymore!!! The Truck Driver talked to The Son and to Rob who said, hey, this really set her Off Dude, don't do that again!  *LOL*  I will go Mental and Take Down everyone who stands in my way, I don't give a Shit how many Heads have to roll.  So, problem Solved, the City knew they'd have a shitstorm of trouble if my Trash didn't get picked up, coz I was Serious as a fucking Heart Attack about not being Extorted and Shaken Down, and just setting Trash out on the Streets if they didn't pick it up. 

 Now I know why the Nature Preserve always has Illegal Trash Dumping suddenly tho', they pull that shit in Da Hood and they'll just dump their Trash anywhere and not give a Fuck.  Then the City and County has to pay way more to have it cleaned up, so it's all irrational Bureaucrazy shit they're pulling on Residents to try to get more Money out of everyone.  I don't condone dumping illegally in Nature, but the City needs to handle their Business wisely, legally and properly.  So, fuck that, Americans are Done with this Shake Down Authoritarian/Totalitarian nonsense they're pulling already.  Me and my Kids CAN be Assholes if you wanna Play us that way and Play Hard, I can Play Hard.  And I Love my Asshole Kids, they got my Back.  My Neighbor Omar had said he'd go call the City and Complain for me too, so I know he went and did, they knew they'd stirred up a Hornet's Nest in this long time Community coz we all have each other's Backs and Organize to make Good Trouble.  *Winks*

Rob was helping The Son with our Irrigation and he said, Ruh Roh, your Mom really has gone on the Warpath, hasn't she?!  *LOL*  Rob told The Son, I wouldn't wanna be a City Worker right about now Dude or have your Mom's Target on my Back, she's ready to go to WAR!!!  *Smiles*  And just as I went inside, from Ranting in my Front Yard like I was gonna go completely Postal... that Trash Truck pulled right up!  The Man said, Wow, they're Back already,  So, I stood in the Doorway glaring at the Driver, who avoided Eye Contact Wisely, and he emptied my Trash quickly, then talked with Rob and The Son.  Rob knows the Guy who drives the Truck and he apologized for the City, coz the Green Tags they're told are put on Bins they don't want him to pick up so he couldn't without getting in Trouble.  The Son said Rob was Right, the Driver is Cool... and told them, if we get Ticketed again, they do it the Night Before Pickup, if he sees it he can't pick up that Bin... so, just tear it off and he will.  And nobody will know from the City.  Coz it is some Bullshit and unnecessarily Punitive and stirs up Shit, as far as he's concerned.  *LOL*

  I'd already pulled that Motherfuckin' Tag off when it hadn't been picked up, dumped the Three Bags of Grass that had been the Offending overage into the Street, and planned to dump all of next Week's Trash right there too if I had to and the City knew it, for damned Sure.  I was slinging Bags of Grass around like a Scottish Shot Putter.  *Winks*  I was ready to set Trash on Fire actually, Burn Baby Burn!!!  Where's my Matches?!  The Kids would have Wisely hid all the Matches, coz I have set things on Fire before if I totally go Mental about it not being picked up for Stupid Reasons the City gives!!!   The HOA Devil at the Villa McManse once Tagged me for my Garbage not being "Clean Enough"... I am NOT KIDDING... and so I set it on Fire!!!  It was a Clean Fire *Winks*... and they realized I wasn't Kidding either about Garbage being fucking Clean before they would empty it.  What kind of Mental Statement is that?! CLEAN Garbage!!!   Well, I can be Crazy too, just Watch me... how ya Like me NOW?!  *LMAOROTF*

When I went out there the Guy had even gotten out of his Truck and picked up those Three Bags of Grass I'd thrown in the Street!  *LMAO*  Coz they'd of set there 'til Hell freezes over otherwise.  *Smiles*  Anyway, took The Man to a new Seafood Restaurant's Soft Opening called "Crab 99".  I think it's owned by a Japanese Firm and they make is such Fun, like the Japanese are prone to doing.  They have Cute Robot Servers as well as the Human Servers, Cloud shaped Lighting, a Game as you Leave where you spin the Wheel and Win a Prize.  The Food was exceptional, I had the Po Boy with Crawfish, a big pile of the Crawfish was under my Sammie, so it was loaded up with them and had the best Cajun Fries too.  The Man had the Shrimp Po Boy, it was excellent too, he let me taste one.   Their Batter and Seasoning is exceptional and so Light and such a good Flavor Profile.  Prices were super reasonable too.  Tho' you could do expensive Seafood Boils that come in an enormous Bag to the Table.

 

I Won the Store Gift with my Spin of the Wheel and they have a bunch of Carnival Prizes you can choose from.  I chose the adorable lil Crab Plushie made of Terry Cloth.  It was Fun, the Ambiance was Trendy and Fun, the Food was exceptional, the Pricing was affordable if you got things like Appetizers or Lunch Specials, Dinner Meals were higher, or you could go all out and spend a lot on Seafood Boil by the Pound, which can get up there and exceed $108 for the splurge, depending on going Prices for various Seafood, but, they have it all to choose from by the Pound.  I'm not a huge Seafood Boil Devotee and don't wanna spend that much on a Single Meal.  But I'll definitely go back for Lunches mos def.  And it's really close to Home, half a Block away near the "Sprouts" I shop at on the next Street South of ours.

 
The Son was saying anything after 50 he doesn't wanna be in Charge of anything.  I hadda laff coz he does the best Donnie Two Dolls Impressions, he's always been good at Impressions.  He can make me Laugh with Presidential Impressions coz he's spot on, even with their Mannerisms and he's very Jaded about ALL Politics and Politicians.  This one especially, but, he wasn't Crazy about any of them and felt always quite unrepresented as a Demographic.  He feels that all Politics is just Political Theater with very little, if any, Substance.   And his Sentiments are that if someone doesn't even Know you, and will Never Know you, they sure as shit don't Care about you.  Since some folks you might actually Know and who do Know you don't even sometimes Care about you.  Yes, he's very Cynical by Nature and says even tho' his expectations of most people are Low, it means that they then can rarely disappoint him, coz he didn't expect much of them in the first place.  You know how I Love Fugglers... so, I Love the Fuggler Cake!  *LOL*

 

So, when we got to Dr. Singh's Office and asked about who we should be seeing, since our Insurance are getting hinky about Paying, even with Hospitalizations necessary, he determined we should just see Dr. Pham now since that's the last Cardiologist whose done the most recent Emergency Heart Procedures.  We like both Cardiologists equally, both have Saved The Man's Life and done Surgeries on his Heart.  But, Dr. Pham is at the better and preferred Cardiac Hospital we use and we don't like the other Hospital's ER at all.  So we don't use it if we don't have to.  Plus his Cardiac Rehab will be done at Abrazo West where Dr. Pham works so we might as well use that Hospital and that Specialist exclusively.  You don't get to choose who you use during a Life and Death Emergency and that's how things can get mixed up with numerous Surgeons and Specialists seeing the same Patient.   And if Providers wanna get Paid and Patients don't wanna end up paying Out of Pocket, you have to narrow the Field as you go.

The Man was glad he didn't have to actually see a Doctor Today and they just voided the Appointment.  It had been set up Months ago before his Heart Attack and sure, Dr. Singh had wanted to keep him as a Patient and see him... but he understands our dilemma with how Sideways everything has gone and where he was taken on Emergency to have his Life Saved... and where the VA even referred him this last time when they couldn't provide everything Needed.   Anyway, we are Hoping it all shakes out in The End with the Insurance Companies???   Coz I ain't got the $$$ to pay for all this out of Pocket and we have Three Insurances for The Man, so that should cover everything, really, it should.  Otherwise what good is even having Insurance and paying for it, which we do, so, we expect them to Insure.

Irrigation came, we got a good Head of Water again, Rob has come over for Two Rotations now to help The Son with it, which I appreciate.  His Family try to be Good Neighbors like that, they know The Man has been really ill.  Rob hasn't been Negative at all about his Brother's Newborn being there, so mebbe that's working out?  Everyone in that Household except for the Child's Mom is Geriatric, so a Newborn in the Household would be a huge transition.  The Grandparents of the Child are in their 80's, the Child's Dad in his Mid-60's, as well as the Uncle living there.  Amber's Daughter is about 25 and has Special Needs, this is her First Child.  I haven't seen the Baby, but I hear he's Cute, which, I'm sure he is.  The Daughter has seen him and Wishes that Amber's Daughter could reconcile with her Mom so that she can see her 1st Grandchild.  Amber buys him lots of things and The Daughter brings them over for her... it's messed up.  But Amber despises TJ, with just cause to.

Some more of that Funky, Fun "Texas Trash Jewelry" Line Above.  And Below, Hell, I'd give that Guy a Panhandler's Handout just for his humorous Creativity and making me and other Motorists Smile!!!  *LOL*  I don't know Why but he kinda reminds me of the McDonald's Hamburglar Character.  *Ha ha ha*  And I do wonder where his Corner is and in what City now?  *Smiles*  And how Successful has this Schtick been for him Panhandling?   Must have been worth the Investment in the Halloween Costume, at the very least.  I Needed that Smile as I was quite Emotional the day before seeing my BFF being Laid to Rest, it hit me very hard... yet another profound Loss of a Lifetime Friend who is like Family and closer than some Family actually.   This Guy is wearing Purple and so did my Friend and her Daughter at the Memorial for her.

The Niece, for her Mom's Memorial Service, had her Hair Dyed the same Color as her Mom's so they could have a similar Style and Color.  Kathie's Hair had gone White completely when it grew back after the Chemo.  Tho' her Daughter is so Young, it really still suits her and she looked Stunning and made sure that her Mom looked so Beautiful Laid to Rest.  Kathie Rocked being Bald but also Rocked Short White Hair, tho' she'd always had longer Hair.   I'm glad that during this most difficult time she's taking Care of herself too, she's had a lot of her own serious Health Issues with her Heart and was wearing a Monitor like they wanted to implant in me and I decided against it.   Looks like now she doesn't have to wear it and she lost the Weight they told her would be Helpful.  I know her Mom was so Proud of her stepping up and doing what was necessary during the Year Long Illness that my Friend finally succumbed to.  I'm just saddened that the whole Family didn't pull together and draw closer when it was most Needed.   

 

The Siblings didn't even acknowledge the Service, not even on Social Media, tho' numerous Friends did and I'm glad Alex had a tight inner circle there in Texas to make up for absence of Family involvement that whole Year of Extreme Caregiving.   I did feel some kind of way about how the other Four Kiddos opted out.  Their Mom was always there for them and Raised the Oldest Grandson for his first Eight Years of Life.   This Daughter and I have had some long Talks about the Family Situation and she knows we're here for her to Call anytime she just needs to Talk.  Family were not there for her or her Mom and it stung.  Wish they still lived in Arizona, but she's very Happy in Texas and it's where her Husband is from and has Family there. 

 My Friend seemed to also like Texas, she was kind of done with Arizona, and especially when all her Kids and Grandkids moved away to other parts of the Country.  They seem to also have a lot of New Friends who seem also to be very involved in being a wonderful Support System.   When Family scatter to the Winds it's hard to get everyone together again, and especially when there wasn't much closeness to begin with among them.  I understand.   I'm glad at least my Friend's Youngest was there for her 'til The End, even if the other Four were not or couldn't be, for whatever their reasons were.  Family dynamics being complex, I don't presume to know everything about anyone else's, there'd be a lot to unpack I highly suspect.   My Kiddos weren't Surprised, none of our Four, that Alex was left doing it all... and they grew up and knew Four of her Five Kiddos and her Oldest Grandson all their Lives.  They know their Two Generations of Friends even better than we do.

All I could say to my Adult Kids and Adult Grandkids here is, well, I sure would Hope if I were Dying and when I do Die, you all could pull it together better than that for me and for each other.  I would Hope you could be as Ride or Die as Alex was for her Mom, and I mean that.  And I added... Or I'll fucking Haunt you for the rest of your Days... and not in a Good Way either.  *Winks and Smiles*  They Laughed coz they know I'm not EVEN Kidding, I would.  *Winks*   But, I know Family Dynamics even within our own Extended Family.  The Man only has One of his Siblings whose All In, and he had a Big Family.  And our Oldest Daughter, we'd have Zero expectations at all of, coz she's never been there for her Dad thru any of the Crisis and near Death experiences he's had.   And I know that bothers him, but, it is what it just is.  He was shut out of her early Life too long.  I get along with his Ex and like her, like her Family and Husband... which was pleasantly Surprising they liked me so much too actually.  They interact with me more than with The Man... go figure?!

That part of the Family is far in Distance and Relationships tho', it seems to be their way of Being... sometimes even among each other it seems.  I don't get in that Mix coz I'm not in Pennsylvania.  So I don't know all of the interactions and complexities going on.  But... that said... If Heaven Forbid, The Man was on his Deathbed or Died, I'd not expect any of them to even bother to show up or say anything.  They would be notified, I always notify them all, then it's on them how they Receive it and Respond.  I have no expectations and no condemnation, I just think it's Weird, coz my own immediate Family Dynamic is way different.  We keep it "distantly close" with The Oldest Daughter and Family, as one can when you're interacting only via Social Media and a whole Nation between where they are and where you are Geographically.  The Man's Biological Family, with the exception of his Oldest Brother, are all like that tho'.  It's their Family Dynamic and I never expected to Change that.  Even tho' it was very Foreign to me and mine.  I don't "Get It"???

I talked to my Niece Brandy Today, also not Biologically Connected, but her Mom was a BFF and Died prematurely.  I was close to Barb's Kids all their Lives and they are like Cousins to our Kids.  I'm very close to her Oldest Child, Brandy, and so also call her The Niece and she calls me Aunt Dawn and always has.  She knew my other BFF had Died, and The Man's continued Medical complexities and crisis, so asked how I was doing?   I told her about Alex's Situation and that I don't "Get It", but, she did.  Her Family is like Alex's and she didn't attend her own Mom's Memorial or Funeral and it wasn't coz she and her Mom were not Close, in her case, it was due to the whole Sibling and extended Family melee that unfolded, making it estranged to the point she wasn't even invited.  I'd gone to the Memorial of Celebration of Barb's Life, held at the Youngest Daughter's Home and the Middle Daughter was there.  I had wondered Why the Oldest was absent, but, didn't ask.  My Son attended with me, The Daughter was in Mexico at the time.

Brandy explained to me what had transpired.  Barb had Four Brothers and only Three were still Living when she Passed and the only one who was never close to her in Life, took over everything coz he has the most Money.  So, that was quite awkward she said, that the Uncle least involved in their Lives presumed to take over the Funeral when he hadn't ever been Close to his only Sister.   And then her Two Younger Siblings, well, they used to be so close as Children, but in Adulthood, it's been very messy.  In fact, estrangements off and on have abounded.  So, Brandy said we have always been more like Family and there for her than her own Kinfolk and she feels closer to us than to any of them.  I know this to be True.  Her Younger Sisters did 'Change' a lot once they reached Adulthood, not always in the most Positive ways after they became Successful and very Pretentious about it.   I saw the difference in them, as did my Kiddos, so it wasn't just their Sister who did.

 The consensus being, they wanna Forget where they came from and erase it.  Anyone who Knew them before that, they kind of cut loose so they could deny anything or anyone before, who'd know they were not always so privileged and successful, to the carefully constructed Illusion of who they now were, being who they always were.  It happens.  Their Parents were Career Military, both being Enlisted, their Dad served 18 Years, their Mom 11.  The Fall came for the Middle one, Relationally, Financially, and Personally as she developed Alcoholism... not yet for the Youngest one, who has Divorced, but now has an Affluent Boyfriend.  So, after listening to The Niece explain how it was for her, she asked if I could then see how Kathie's Family probably had a lot of Mess that never got cleared up and it's all still Messy, not resolved before she got Sick, certainly not as she got Sick and began Dying, and wouldn't even after she was Dead.  Putting it that way, Yep, I can definitely see some parallels of Family Dysfunction running so deep, it may never get resolved in any of their Lifetimes. 

 But, it's still tragic and sad to me.  So, I am glad to Talk to That Niece about what had troubled me about my Friend's Family Situation, I wanted better for all of them, I Love and Care about them all.  I thought about not having the means or the circumstances to even Be There for my Younger Brother, who is very ill too... sometimes it's just not possible, no matter how close you are.  It's just a lot to consider... when someone's Time is close or indeed comes... who'll be there... who will not???    And well, Hell, once we're Dead, does it really matter to us?  I'm Guessing NOT.   It's Important whose there for you in Life... and if they couldn't manage that, I'd have no expectation of them being there in Death either, it would be performative at Best really.  And Funerals, really... are... more for the Benefit of the Living and Left Behind.  You think more of Mortality when you've begun Outliving all your Friends...

*******

Sorry to have done such a Deep Dive into the Weeds of Life... and Death... Dawn... The Bohemian

A 250th Anniversary I Can't Feel Celebratory About... But A Tribute I Can Celebrate The Life Of

 

Well, a good part about taking The Daughter to her Housekeeping Job in Chandler Tomorrow is that one of my favorite Events is this Weekend too and it's nearby, so I'll get to go while waiting on her to finish the Job.  Looked at the Sneak Peeks on the FB Page of each Event either happening now or coming up this Week.  Some didn't have much coverage, I wonder why?  Others had good coverage and I cribbed some of the Imagery and then Edited some of it to look like I wanted it to in order to Share it here.  Like the above Altered Art Top with John Lennon Graphics and some Exotic Fabrics Sleeves.    I'd like to see it on, the price is high and I don't usually wear long sleeves tho'.  And I can't find that T-Shirt's Graphics on a T-Shirt anywhere Online, so it may be Custom Printed from some Art of it I did find.

 

You might notice I'm keeping Archived Posts up longer, I used to purge them and do a dump of all but about 20 most recent ones.  But, Readership of Archived Posts is way up and so I thought, might as well leave them up 'til that drops off to where they're irrelevant to have Stored to Read.  I know sometimes I delve into Bloggers Archives if I haven't visited for a while, to catch up and find out what I've missed while I've been away.  I'm a prolific Writer, but not a prolific Reader, and my Attention Span with Adult ADHD is still Shit, Age hasn't been beneficial to expand it.  *Le Sigh and Smiles*  I do Read fast, the whole Evelyn Wood Speed Reading peeps would be Proud of me and give me a Diploma or something.  *Winks*  I just get antsy and quite restless when Reading or trying to watch TV, my Mind strays and spins too fast.

I did crawl out of my Deep Funk even tho' the Trigger that sent me Down hasn't been resolved.  Sometimes I just have to Sit with a Problem for a Minute to then be not Emotionally so Raw about it and just Deal with it appropriately and in the best Head Space that will be more productive.  Things not totally within my Control I realize will happen and you can't always predict it will, so it can blindside you even when you're otherwise having the Best Day Ever, and then Wham, something Epic and Shitty just happens.  That's Life.  Anyway, I used the last of the Insulin Needles to give The Man his Lantus Injection and went and did Environmental Cleanup this Morning at 6:30 a.m., popped into a WALGREENS close by when it opened at 7:00 a.m. and got 100 Diabetic Needles on Sale.  I know neither of the Home Deliveries from the VA or Express Scripts ever Delivers on a Sunday.  And I needed my Insulin, and was a Needle short, so might as well get 99 more.  *LOL*

I also picked up some more Roach Spray for the Outside Roach Massacre the Guys are doing for that Red Roach exterior infestation.  That Old Stump had really attracted them but there's no getting it out of the ground without great expense coz it was a 60+ Year Old Pine Tree we already paid $800 to have cut down when it got the Bark Beetle Blight that has hit Arizona.   The only reason it didn't cost more than three times as much to cut it down is the Young Hispanic Male Crew saw Princess T looking Hawt as Hell and I had her out there with me on Purpose batting her False Eyelashes and Smiling demurely at them all.  *Winks*   So, they Negotiated it WAYYYY down for me and were Showing Off for her, as Young Men are inclined to do, so had that enormous Tree, which was over 60 Feet Tall, felled in like 20 Minutes, I kid you not!!!   

It was impressive and our Neighbors were wishing they'd Hired the same Crew for their Job.  They had a Crew at the same time cutting down their much smaller Blighted Mulberry Tree within Sight of our Crew taking our Tree 3x bigger down, and it took their Crew Two Days!  Twenty Minutes after our Crew arrived and Princess T was watching them Work, our Tree was Down and the Wood piled nicely for Firewood in 20 Minutes Flat... and it cost me 1/3 of what it should have cost!  *Winks*  Of coarse, our Neighbor's Guys were some Middle Aged White Boy Crew tho'.  So I told TJ & Rob, you know better, Christ, you're Half Mexican, and we'd of let you borrow Princess T to flirt with a Younger Hispanic Crew of Guys to do the Job right and not Milk it and pretend it takes Two fucking Days to justify what Premium Price they charged you!  *LMAOROTF*  Rob Laughed and said, well, I should have had me my OG Gypsy Neighbor Woman doing my Negotiating too!  *Bwahahahaha*

While I was doing Environmental Cleanup the Park had some of those Wild Lovebirds, there is a healthy flock of them in our area and they often come into the Mini Farms Community too.  Anywhere that has Mature Trees, abundant Food and Nesting sites.  It's always a Joy to see them even tho' they're not a Native Species, they've done no harm to Native Species and are thriving in the Desert.   I've included some of the Cribbed Imagery of the Event that I may be able to Attend Today if The Daughter shows up in time to do her Job in Chandler.  She was doing some Work at Jason's and he's had troubles with his Truck, so I don't know if she got a Ride Home or not last Night?  I haven't seen her this Morning and her Phone isn't Working, I dunno why, it's another New one the State Provides the Indigent, but those break down easily coz they're Free Phones and limited Service.  Where Jason lives you can't always get a Signal out with a good Provider, let alone with a Free Service Phone.

I was kinda now looking forward to taking her so I could stop by "Highland Yard Vintage" and "Merchant Square Antique Mall" while she was Working.  It's only Blocks away from where she's Working and it's a nice way to bide my time while she's doing her Work way over there.  With Gas Prices I wanna make the Trip across the whole Valley well worth it to both of us.  *Smiles*  I had 30 Cents a Gallon Credit at the Gas Station owned by "Fry's Food Stores", you build Credit off your Gas when you Buy your Groceries and have a certain period of Time to use it.  "Safeway Food Stores" do the same, so I alternate building Gas Credits between the Two since I Shop at them all the time anyway for most of our Groceries.   It still cost me over $70 to fill up since even with the Credit it was $4.49 a Gallon... $4.79 a Gallon without the Discount Credit I'd built up.  You can get up to $200 worth at a time Discounted with the built up Credit, before it Expires if unused.   I use ever bit of ours.

 

Arizona Gas is way higher than most States that are bitching about their much lower than ours prices.  And my Brother said in L.A. it's up past NINE DOLLARS a Gallon now!  So, I'm not complaining so much about being slightly under Five, it clearly could be worse coz we use Cali Refineries for Arizona Gas.  Of coarse Cali's Cost of Living is ridiculous and Why they have almost 200,000 Homeless in their State.  The Rich and Elite of Cali are doing very well, everyone else is paying more than they can afford for everything.  When my Brother and his Lady both worked in Hollywood they made Bank and had Celebrity and other Famous and Wealthy Clients.  But, he got Terminally Ill and she eventually had to Retire, so, now they struggle too.

  

I remember Silly Putty and so this Nostalgic Meme that showed up brought back fond Memories of my Brother and I doing this with our Silly Putty with the Sunday Comics and we thought it was Da Bomb and Magical too!  *LOL*  I still have my Mattel Thingmaker and Molds of various kinds from the early 1960's, it still Works.  When I think about it, quite a dangerous Toy, yet, we never got hurt with our Dangerous Toys, coz Kids of our Era weren't so Stupid about handling Dangerous shit I guess, or, just Lucky... I dunno?  I threw Lawn Darts at my Brother, who stood far away and let me see how close I could get to him... so, I take that back, we were sometimes risk taking Stupid and just Lucky.  He knew how Crazy I was and yet he still had that much Trust in me not to WANT to Dart him!!!  And to Trust my Skill and Aim William Tell Style like we were some Circus Knife Throwing Act!!!  *Bwahahahaha*

Okay, so, True Story, my Brother and I have been Close our whole Lives and Best of Friends.  But, me being the Oldest, I was always put In Charge when ever our Parents weren't Home, and I was Bossy, always... my Nickname was Bossy Boots, after a British Cartoon Character.  *Winks*  He and his Friends always Feared me tho', coz I could go Mental on the Turn of a Dime and be like Handling Dynamite, even tho' I'm Small, 5'2" and probably then weighed about 92 Lbs. soaking wet.  *Winks*  So, anyway, by the time my Brother hit his Teen Years, he was 6'4", powerfully big built like all the Men in my Mom's side of the Family, and Towered over me, yet he's a docile Soul to his Core.  But, one day I was left In Charge, and he had a bunch of his Teen Guy Friends over and they were all acting the Fool and messing up the House doing stupid shit Teen Boys are inclined to do that would have my Mom go Mental when she got Home and everyone knew how Crazy Mom could get!!!  *Winks*

 

So, I started Lording it over all these Teen Guys and his Friends are egging my Brother on to not let ME kick them all out or take no mess from me.  After all, they were many, what was little ME gonna DO to make them all leave if they didn't want to?  So, my Dear Brother, who wouldn't hurt a Fly to this Day, just wanted to push me back coz I was all up in his Face by then coz his Friends had fucking Triggered a Bipolar Episode so he misjudged The Moment... and misjudged his own Strength too.  Coz when he pushed me, I went flying, hit the Brick Wall of our House, slid down it and got Road Rash from the Bricks, which Bled! 

 He was mortified coz he hadn't meant to hurt me at all, but seeing my own Blood, I Snapped and went Mental immediately, that's when I spied and got his Baseball Bat that was leaning up against the Wall near where I'd been pushed!!!   Ruh Roh, you never saw a bunch of Big Teen Guys scatter so fucking fast in all your Life!  *Bwahahahaha*  Needless to say, I never got Challenged again, ever.  But that Bat would have been The Great Equalizer and they knew it!  *Winks*   And Teenagers are prone to thinking they're finally Bad Ass enuf to make Challenges that are unwise.  My own Kiddos tried it with me as Teens, The Son only Once, The Daughter Twice coz she's just that Mental.  *LOL*  Let us just say they remembered how Badly it went for them.  *Winks*  The G-Kid Force had heard the Legendary Stories from their Mom and Uncle before they became Teens, so never Challenged me.  *Smiles*

LATER: Back from the Event and The Daughter's Housecleaning Job.  Her Client has Chickens and always Blesses us with Fresh Brown Eggs.  I got her there on time even tho' we left late coz Jason's Truck broke down again and I had to go help his Neighbor with getting the Truck back to Jason's Mini Farm.  Which is out where we used to live in the Villa McManse in an Older Mini Farms Community out there that was probably built back in the 1960-1980's too.  There's some Mansions on the Properties out there and much more Acreage than most of us have here, some look like 3-5 Acres Lots, ours here are 1-3 Acres Lots.  The Neighbor is another Guy that The Daughter does Work for, he owns Three different Properties out there, as does Jason's extended Family.  So, between the Two Families they own Six Mini Farms in that Community of them.  Wise Investment and being near Family.  Jason is the Nephew of our Nextdoor Neighbor Old Tom, it's his Brother's Son.

Anyway, I got loads of Pixs of the Event taken with my Old School Camera and my Cellphone Camera too.  I also took Pixs of the Big 250th Anniversary of America Sale at the Antique Mall.  Both the Mall and the Event had the 250th American Birthday Theme so everything was quite Patriotic and loads of good Quality Americana Antiques.   That Antique Mall and the Event in the Warehouse behind it which is held Monthly always has actual Antiques, Vintage Items and Quality Collectibles.  Mingled with newer Merch too of coarse, but always Styled and Showcased well.  I ended up with Three items from the Event.  A 1950's Early Mannequin that they Sold with a Patriotic Hoodie for only $65 coz she's seen better days and is pretty Busted looking.  I don't mind that tho' and she's almost full sized, Head to about Thighs, no Arms, typical early 1950's Bob Molded Hairstyle tho', she's a Blonde.  I can do some minor repairs on her, that was a Killer Price/Bargain for her.  The Daughter wants the Hoodie, which is a nice one.  *LOL*

They also had some 1952 Canvas Local Bank Bags and 1952 Cashier's Checks with each Bag from the Bank I was a Corporate Executive of in the 1970's thru 1980's!!!   I didn't Photograph the one I got, it had a better Patina on the Canvas Bag than the one I Photographed with my Phone {Below}, but it did have the better Cashier's Check than mine, but I opted for the Bag with a better Sepia Tea Stained Patina on the Canvas.  Coz I intend to make a Tote Bag out of mine and use an Old Cowboy Leather Belt for the Strap Handle.   Being an AVP I used to Sign many a Cashier's Check for that Bank, and the Savings and Loans that I also Worked for in my 1st Corporate Life.   Back in the 1970's I was responsible for about a 14 Million Dollar Plus Portfolio of Loans at any given time, of Real Property, mostly Residential, which, back then was a lot of Money to protect the Bank's Interest of... on defaulted Loans.  

This is the One I got...

In the 1970's the average Cost of a Home in Metro Phoenix was around $23,000 or less.  We did have Loans in 11 other States I was responsible for tho' too, including California, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington State, Utah, New Mexico... I can't recall all the States now.  But every State's Laws are completely different, so it was a lot to have to know when you were handling Collections, Foreclosures, handling the Bankruptcies, or Evictions.  Some States still had the Old Mortgage Notes which took Forever to finalize a Foreclosure of, others had the Trust Deeds which could be Foreclosed in about 91 Days on average unless I worked some Forbearance out with the Borrowers.  I have lotsa Memories of both Corporate Lives so something like this is Nostalgic for me and part of my Career History that fed and Supported my Family.

Of coarse my initial Purchase and Fav Score was that Top I had seen in the Sneak Peek.  Turns out it was made by a Designer Friend of mine there and she gave me a Deep Discount on it so it was affordable!  Yay, Color me Happy!!!   And it also wasn't Long Sleeve and looked much better in Person than it even does in Photos and is actually Sleeveless like a long loose fitting Vest!  I just Adore it.  She'd also asked my Opinion on some New Styles she had come up with that are similar to a Favorite Designer we both Adore and gave her some Inspiration of, with her own Artistic/Designer Twist on it of coarse.  She Loved the Top I was wearing and Photographed it for more Inspiration, she would have liked to have Bought it off me if it had been For Sale.   *Ha ha ha* 

  She's always trying to Buy the Clothes off my Back and my Bags I bring with me, it's now a running Joke, tho' she is Serious about it.  *LOL*  She asks my Opinion about Designs she's considering and we brainstorm how to make them better.  She's so Talented she really doesn't Need my Help IMO, but she Values my Opinion and Advice.  And I've bought quite a lot of her Statement Pieces and always get compliments when wearing it.  I plan to wear that John Lennon Top to "Sweet Salvage's" Event later this Week to the Grand Opening of this Month's Themed Show.  I keep forgetting to get her Business Card so I can Link up with any Online site she might have, gotta remember to do that next time I see her.

 I only got 3 items at the Antique Mall too... Two Old Canning Jars with Zinc/Milk Glass Lids filled with Antique Marbles... and a 1950's Seafood Restaurant Graphics Tablecloth, the Graphics of which are terrific... which I Scored so Cheap my Heart was skipping a Beat, only Six Bucks!!!  My Canning Jars are laying on it so you can't really see the Graphics, only one of the Claws of a Crab and the Woodgrain Graphics in the Middle, the whole Border Graphics are Seafood and various Foods, mostly Veggies.  *Smiles*  It's a really large one and I haven't even opened it out fully yet to see all the Graphics, for that low Price I didn't even Need to or Care.  It's getting so hard to ever Score Vintage Tablecloths at all anymore, so I was lamenting that recently and The Laws of Attraction then Activated and I've Scored Two in One Week now!!!  Booyah!!!   The other one I got at SAVERS that the Grandchild Works at for only $4 and was 1960's Retro Hippie Mod Flowers Graphics in Bold Bright Colors like Yellow, Orange, Green.

Anyway, I shall Save a lot of the numerous Images taken for other Posts, giving me loads of Fresh Blog Fodder Imagery at this Event.  It was a really good one, better than expected and lots of New Designers and Vendors at it.  A lot of the Old Vendors and Designers from there both at the Event and the Antique Mall know me and have for Years.  But, it's nice to be introduced to the Newbies and get to know them too.  They do an exceptional Job and it just seems to keep getting better lately, which is a Relief, coz a couple of Shows it was slipping and I was concerned.  I didn't eat there this day at "The American Way Smokehouse Restaurant", but, I did get a couple of their Peach and Mixed Berry Scones.  I ate instead at "The Tipsy Egg" a Fav Brunch/Breakfast spot in Old Historic Chandler.  It's in a Historic Building that used to be an Old Levi Strauss Supplier and you can still see that faded Signage Painted on the Side of the Historic Brick Building.

The Brunch I had was excellent but I had to send the Caramel Iced Coffee back, it was watery, lukewarm and not at all tasty, coz it was so diluted it was like Coffee flavored Water, yuk!  She swapped it out at my request for a Diet Soda instead.  The Bennie Meal I had is exceptional tho', it's a Jalapeno Cornbread with Pork Chorizo, Hollandaise Sauce, Smashed Avocado, Paprika and Fresh Chives.   I chose a side of Fruit with it and then got an extra $4 Side of their Breakfast Potatoes, which are really good too.   I could only eat the One Bennie and Saved the other one and 2/3 of the Potatoes for later, as a late Lunch.  It was a lot of Food for me.  I ate it on their Outside Patio Alfresco coz it was such a balmy Nice Cooler Day with quite a lovely Breeze, got real Windy later on tho'.   The Daughter ended up eating my Leftovers, so... forget about having it for a Late Lunch, she was Hungry when she got off Working and scarfed it all down on the Drive Home.  *LOL*

We didn't end up stopping by Gypsy James' in South Phoenix to get the Bunny, coz he wasn't answering his Phone all day so we weren't sure he hadn't forgotten.  The Son just then Texted him that I'd pick it up another time when we'd be sure he'd be Home... not going out of my way to drive there and he's not even there.  I hadn't told The Young Prince his Bunny was coming, Thankfully, so, his Hopes won't be dashed.  I know how James is so I'll wait 'til I for sure have a Bunny in my possession.  *Winks*   Gypsy James is like another Son to me but he can be flaky about keeping his Word or Appointments he sets up to meet for stuff, he's always been like that tho'.    He always has the Best of Intentions and will Help anyone out... but he's one to Overpromise and Under-Deliver, never Learning it's better to Under-Promise and Over-Deliver instead.

I had never seen such a fine Collection of Vintage American Flags of all kinds than I did at the Event, very Tempting to Buy one, but had no place to Display it.  I don't decorate for the 4th of July much anymore, obvious reasons.  We used to, when we lived in the Historic Home.  The Man always flew an American Flag and his USMC Flag.  He's no longer Feeling the least bit Patriotic anymore given the current condition of our Nation, whose Leading it, what they're doing that is so Unpatriotic, and how they are Treating the American People and Dishonoring our Veterans and First Responders.  Being called a Sucker and a Loser when you have been a True Patriot and highly Decorated War Hero is a level of Disrespect no American President has ever displayed before.  

But, this Draft Dodging Career Criminal, well, is it Surprising how he views REAL Patriotic Americans?  And rewards only other Criminals, protects other Pedophiles, and Pardons Insurrectionists who'd destroy our Democracy and what Generations have valiantly and Sacrificially Fought and Died for?  It's a National Disgrace and he's disgracing America before the entire World.  He's an abomination and those who still Support him are complicit in everything failing now due to who they installed.   Who is internally looting, destroying the Moral fabric of, and bringing down a Nation.  One that 250 Years of National Pride and a Vision to make us the Greatest Nation on Earth in the Eyes of the whole World, is ending IMO.  Our Allies can't Trust us and he's Selling us Out to our Enemies for his own Gain.  And the day he gets what's coming to him, I Hope is soon.  Coz it can't come soon enuf IMO!!!

 

But, enuf of my Wrath about what's being done to my Beloved Nation, I could Rant way more than I have been about it.  But I'd be Singing to the Choir coz I'm fairly certain my Tribe of Readership isn't MAGA leaning and despises it all as much as I do.   I have no delusions about changing the Hearts or Minds of those like him becoz they are no better than him.  And so long as they are part of the Problem they will never be part of the Solution.  And it's a damned shame that the important Milestone of the 250th Anniversary of America is being ushered in with this vile Administration at the Helm of it.  So it will sadly be a 250th Anniversary I can't Feel Celebratory about.  And worse, neither can my Beloved who is an American Hero and has been a staunch Patriot his entire Life!  He doesn't Feel Respected by our Leadership now, he Feels THEY are now the Enemy and they've infiltrated to the very Top and aren't being Fought hard enough.  I would have to Agree.

 

Okay, but tho' I was quite Tempted to End this Post on that Sour and Bitter Note, I won't.  *Whew*  I do have some Good News.  That which had Tanked me Emotionally, did get Resolved Satisfactorily, and that's all I will say about that.  It had an Outcome I was able to accept and that was really important in that instance.  It's not something I will Blog about tho' and that's Okay.  Everyone who Needed to Know, Knew.  And often with some Issues of Life, you Need to Keep folks on a Need To Know Basis, and those that Don't Need To Know, will not Know.  I was Emotional again in an unexpected way that was one of those things that makes you have quite a Range of Emotion tho'.  Yesterday The Niece sent me Imagery of her Mom's Memorial Service, laying in Rest.  It was Beautiful, she looked Beautiful, and it will be the last time we all see her, so, it was bittersweet.  Her Youngest Daughter made it happen and was the only immediate Family I saw in attendance.  I felt some kind of way about that.

I Love all her Kiddos since I've known them practically all of their lives and am Close to some of them, less close to others who've chosen a Path in Adulthood that makes Relationship sustained an impossibility.   I'd Hoped they could all attend and don't know why all but the Youngest were conspicuous by their very absence?  I couldn't make it to my own Mom's Funeral Service, since The Man wasn't Well enuf to Travel and I couldn't leave him Home Alone or find Coverage for Younger Special Needs G-Kid Force either, at the time.   So, I won't Judge either.  There may have been legit reasons why The Youngest Son and The Middle Daughter I thought could be and should be there, and the Grandson she Raised for Eight Years. wasn't there, who is my Godson, I just don't know Why the Three of them weren't? I didn't expect her Oldest Daughter or Oldest Son to be there at all tho'.  I do know that the Middle Daughter has come to Arizona for several Friend's Funerals, and to visit us several times, so missing her own Mom's in another State was Odd, to say the least.  Most Employers will give Bereavement Leave for the Death of a Parent.

Perhaps the Youngest Daughter didn't take Photos of everyone there, but I doubt it.  And I do know she'd told me she was paying for it all too, which I didn't doubt that and Friends who could contribute did.  I'm Proud of her, I know she Honored her Mom in the best way possible with the Choices made for the Funeral.  It is absolutely Stunning, my Friend looked Beautiful and my Friend deserved that Sending Off in such Style and with such Sacrificial Unconditional Love.  She was one who Loved Sacrificially all the Years I knew her and Gave of herself without thought about herself.  She wasn't Perfect or Flawless, none of us are, but her Heart was always in the Right Place and she was a Fierce Advocate for the Underdogs of Society and Loved her Family.  We did Ministry Work together for Decades in some of the roughest parts of the City where Angels might Fear to Tread.  And the Devil's Work was everywhere around ya in plain sight.  As Crazy as she was, and she WAS Cray-Cray, if there was some place she felt she HAD to be and Felt it too Dangerous to try to be The Lone Ranger, I was her Tonto.   So, we got some Stories my Friends!!!  *Winks and Laughs* 

My Dearest Friend, my Wild Sister in Crime, I will Miss you so much, I Miss you already.  I Wish I could have been there in Texas to offer some measure of Comfort to you and your Family during your Year Long Battle fought.  I'm glad we had the Phone and Social Media to keep in Touch when you had to move away and were too Unwell to Travel too later on.  You understood our Situation coz you Helped me with it for Years when you did live in Arizona.  You were there during my Mom and my Dad's Battles, treating them like your own Mom and Dad.  We've been thru it all with our Kiddos and our Grandkiddos, you are an exemplary Gramma and The G-Kid Force Loved you like another Grandma, their Beloved Aunt Kathie. 

 It was very hard to see you this way, but I'm Thankful your Dear Daughter, our Little Alex, our "Turtle", covered it thru the Eye of the Lens to Share with those of us who couldn't be there.  And made it Feel like we were there... in Spirit and Love at least.  I can give you a Tribute of Celebration of Life coz you richly Deserve it.  And so I'll end this Post on that Note instead... and you made me Cry Dammit... and you know I never Cry and usually stay Stoic, you always busted my Chops about being a Cyborg like that... Damn Girlfriend, you Broke the Cyborg Today!  And I Imagine you Laughing your Ass off about that, as I got Tears streaming down my Face, but can't utter a fucking Sound, like a 'Normal' Person does when they Cry!!!!!!!!!!!!   I know, you'd say I just Need to Practice more Being, or at least Appearing, more 'Normal', and not such an Uncivilized 'Savage'.  You were never PC and I Loved that about ya, Girl!  *Smiles*   I HATE Crying and how it makes me Feel... but you are Deserving of a River of them to be shed my Friend... R.I.P.

And Alex, you forgot your fucking Bag before you took this Pix, Child... and that made me Smile too... and we know Why!!!  *LOL*

******

A Range of Emotions is something that's hard for Yours Truly to actually "Feel"... Especially with Tears and Outward Expression of vulnerability... Dawn... The Bohemian