Complexities And Dealing With Them

 TRIGGER WARNING: Disclaimer, this Post will get increasingly Raw and perhaps difficult for some Readers if it's Triggering.  Read at your own Risk then, Okay?  We'll start out Soft and Slow tho' and then intensify the Subject Matter so you can ease into the Content.   Life has been difficult lately, I mean 2025 was difficult all around, I suspect for most of us.   But, I mean Life has been complex enuf with Family dynamics for us personally, that it's been a real mixed bag.  We all Love one another, but Liking one another for some has been particularly difficult and challenging at times.  Co-Existing as a Multigenerational Family is Three Generations of Era blending too, as well as Personality blending, and Dealing with everyone's Mental Health and Personal Issues of Life playing out.  It can be a LOT.  *Eye Roll and Winks*

We got new remotes to go with the Cox Upgrade to Fiber Optics Cable, I'm still trying to figure it out and remember what the Tech taught us.  The remotes do everything but make love to you.  I Hate new gadgets and by the time I learn them, newer gadgets replace them so I'm a perpetual Trainee.  So, our Kiddos have to be so patient with The Man and I perpetually needing help with Technological advances and devices, forgetting instantly what they showed us to do just last time... and the time before that.  *Grins*   And The Man now has more of a Relationship with TV and it's Characters, than Real Life People in his Orbit, since, Reality is blurred once you reach critical cognitive decline.

While the Tech was showing us our replacement remotes, Princess T was telling him, Oh No, it's taken us YEARS to Teach them how to use those Old ones and they JUST got the hang of it this Year!  And my Grandpa, well, his Learning Curve is compromised a lot now.  *LOL*  It wasn't hyperbole, she was spitting Truth!  The Man's Learning Curve is in a Word: GONE!!!  There are no longer Teachable Moments.  The Dementia is excelerating to where he'll be regressing back to the Womb soon enuf I think.  I had been so Proud of myself FINALLY figuring out how to work Two remotes to turn the TV on, to change it to NetFlix and back to Cable TV or those other Free TV Options and Music Channels.  Now I gotta start all over again... Le Sigh.  With The Man having Dementia and Emotional deregulation, I'm afraid he's gonna lob a remote thru the TV Screen?!

But, remember, now he has an NCIS Channel, he spent from early Morning 'til late Evening glued to his Media Chair and NCIS all day and got cranky if anyone even Talked!   Merry Christmas!  *LOL* The Son was drinking all his Sister's Gift Eggnog she'd gotten from her Friend Amber.  It was a vile Eggnog, I don't know how he could drink so much of it, but, he is an Alcoholic and it was Alcohol, so... it took the Edge off the Holidays for him.  Being Autistic, Holidays are Sensory Overload for him and his Dad's sour Moods become an Emotional Challenge for him too.  They have had a complex Relationship before, now it's just even more complex for him to try to have one with his Dad.

But, we persevered and Christmas Morning turned out Swell, everyone enjoyed it and we eased The Man into it a few people at a time, which helped.  It started out with us Early Risers, Princess T, me and The Man.  We did some Photos, let Grandpa open some Gifts.  Eli The Cat joined us, he was curious about what all us Humans were up to around that Common Area Tree.  So, he came to explore a bit, rare for him, he rarely ventures outside her Bedroom, but, he was in a Celebratory Mood I guess, he'd gotten his Catnip and Feather Pressies and a new Scratching Post, so he was feeling benevolent towards Family Members he's usually Hostile around and to.  *LOL*

Then The Son woke up and joined us, we did the same, The Man had more pressies than anyone, from everyone, so we staggered his Gift Openings.  It kept him engaged and not thinking about the Reruns of NCIS he might be missing.  *Winks*  Then The Daughter and Mando later joined in, by then, The Man was losing Interest and it was a lot of people, but, he behaved and it went better than expected.  Dementia can be a real mixed bag Relationally with Mood deregulation and tiring easily becoming something you have to be Mindful of.  Everyone had a big time tho' and a lot of Laughs, nobody had been expecting pressies and they got some, mostly a Stripper's Bankroll of Cash, which went over well.  I got a shitload of small Bills for everyone to look like it was more, everyone got a kick out of my Stripper Bankroll.  *Winks*

I told them I hadda Work that Pole extra Hard to get that many Small Bills for everyone.  *Winks*  The Son ended up with enuf Cash from me and Princess T to pay for his Phone and his X-Box for another Month, so, Color him Happy.   Everyone got a couple of Dollar Scratch Lottery Tickets from me, Mando Won and The Son Won the most, so, that was great and an added Bonus.   Mando appreciated being included in our Family Christmas, I could tell it had made his Day.   I got some Egyptian Style bagged Lot of New Old Stock Earrings from Mando and The Daughter, they knew I'd LOVE them, and I REALLY do.  There's over half a Dozen Pair and they're all different classic Ancient Egyptian Symbols and such in Gold-tone and some with faux Stone accents.

The Raw part I mentioned at the start is how Holidays can make everyone Overwhelmed and Emotionally Raw, Family Dynamics can be complex and less than Ideal, Holidays can Magnify all of that.  So, you really have to finesse it all, which we make a Special Effort to do.  On account of everyone's Disabling Factors just adding to Personal dynamics all Humans will just Naturally have amongst themselves and one another.   Some Family Members get along well, while with other Family Members theirs is a more complicated Relationship and they don't always get along and play well with one another.  I Mediate and Moderate a lot between those factions of Family that can and do clash at times.  You never know with Dementia/TBI/Autism/Mental Illness if things will go Sideways in a split instant and Domino? 

I should wear a Striped Shirt and Whistle sometimes becoz I'm Refereeing when any clashes happen to diffuse Situations from escalating and the Wheels coming Off when anyone has gone Mental or just deteriorated in regulation of Moods.  Depending on what Head Space each Individual is in that challenges them to play well with other Individuals for a variety of reasons or they simply aren't getting along in that Moment.   I Hoped for a Christmas Morning where everyone would get along and play well with one another, and, Miraculously they did.  It's a Christmas Miracle!  *Whew and LOL*  Now they've all gone to their respective Corners of Private Personal Space and it's almost Noon now and no Trouble in Paradise.  We had Tamales, Red Beef ones, and Sweet Corn ones I'd thawed out.  I still have Green Chile Chicken ones in the Freezer for another time.   All a "Food City" Special.

I called The Young Prince and he said they were having Crepes for Breakfast.  They make Crepes from scratch and are accomplished at it.  Made me Crave Crepes now.  *LOL*  He and Allen seemed in a good and festive Mood where they were getting along and playing well with one another.  That's great.  I know they're splitting up, but they are truly hopeful they can remain civil, Friendly and respectful towards one another.  They do Love each other, but it just isn't a functional relationship that can be sustained or even Safe all the time.  There's so much to unpack and they have exhausted the reconciliation attempts, things have not changed in the Positive ways necessary.  What is Wrong with each of them has no Cures and can't always be Managed, it's a Lifetime considerable Disability.  My opinion being, each should remain Single and just work on themselves exclusively.

We took a lot of Pixs with both my Old School Camera and our Cellphone Cameras, so we got some good candid shots of the Christmas Morning of 2025.  We took a lot which were the same just to ensure we got the best clarity, everyone struggles with taking Pixs with my Old School Camera.  *LOL*  They don't even know if they're actually taking a Pix with it or not?  *Bwahahahaha*   Most turned out quite well so I'll dump a bunch on you of the festivities and Usual Suspects... you can virtually join us.  *Winks*   I didn't bother to get dressed and neither did anyone but The Man and The Son, the rest of us stayed in our Jammies.  Mando and The Daughter plopped on some Santa Hats after they got tidy enuf from rolling out of Bed last.  *Smiles*  The Daughter is wearing her Christmas Snoop Dogg Sweatshirt I got her for Christmas.

The Son and I had stayed up Late watching the new Tom Segura NetFlix Comedy Special that just dropped so I couldn't find my Christmas Graphics Jammies by bedtime.  So, I just wore my Smurf Jammie Pants and a Bright Neon Shirt.  I should have probably, in hindsight, not been such an Old Hippie and popped on a Bra... the Kiddos were teasing me about that.   Is that a Pair of Prize sized Melons sitting in your Lap Mom/Gramma?  Why Yes, I think it is!!!   They also teased me that now my Dreads are dragging on the Floor when I sit down and might stick to the Wool Persian Rug like Velcro.  I've yanked a couple inches of Ends off sometimes when something like that happens.   They look like little but very long Brown Hairy Caterpillars and scare the shit out of Family that find them!  Relieved when they realize, oh, don't have to kill it, it's just a piece of Dreadlock, whew!  *Bwahahahaha*

Princess T has now had Rusty pick her up to go do Pressies at his House too, they'll spend the rest of the Day together.  He always spends a lot of Money on her, which is good, coz, we couldn't this Year make a Big Christmas.  Everyone was very happy they got something tho' and Grateful for what we have, and that we have each other, which, is Priceless and the best Gift of all... Time spent with those we Care about and Love.   I don't think much, if anything, is Open Today, so it's Down Time for most Working People too, which is good, they can spend Time with their Families and Friends.   

The Son's Nutritional Assistance was Approved and should have hit, but didn't before Christmas.   So we didn't get the Ham, which is why we thawed out my backup Plan of the Tamales.  It was Fine, he should get his December adjusted amount sometime, since his Approval was on the 19th, so about half a Month worth of Assistance for December.  The Cupboards aren't bare, I'd stocked up when I could to ensure when I couldn't, we'd coast thru whenever Money ran out and there was still too much Month to get thru.   The Food Banks have enormously long lines ever since this Administration took Office, so Food Insecurities are evident.  Some Families that never had to go to a Food Bank before have had to.  I Worked Food Ministries for over 25 Years, I never seen this much demand for Nutritional Assistance or Rental Assistance before.

We always invite anyone over to join us for Meals if we know they're going thru a tough time and might not have enuf to eat at Home.  I can always throw more Water in the Beans and stretch it for a few more Mouths to Feed.   Amber just came over to spend time with our Family, we're like her 2nd Family, so she's here almost as much as with her own Kinfolk... and has been ever since Childhood.   Mando spends far more time with our Family now than his large Family, most of whom do live Local, but not all of them get along and he just isn't Well enuf to Deal with Family Drama.   Nobody needs Drama and a Headache at the Holidays especially, it's already often overwhelming and Sensory Overload for many, and stressful, or magnifies their Depression.

 

Some of our Family, when they're not here with me, wouldn't even Celebrate Holidays coz they find it Stress inducing, Depression inducing, and too much Sensory Overload than is comfortable.  So, I do try to Moderate Holidays for Just Enough and not Too Much so that nobody goes over The Edge too much or too often.   Halloween doesn't ever do that for them, Halloween everyone is Chill and enjoys it without going Wheels Off the Rails.   But, Christmas is probably the hardest one for them to get thru.  And Birthdays, most of them would rather have no Parties and no Guests for their Birthdays.   Just something Simple, Intimate, and Dialed way back to almost not being acknowledged except to a tight Inner Circle.

 

We don't force Festivities upon anyone, they can come out of their Rooms when they feel able to engage and Cope, but if they don't feel they can or want to, no pressure to at all.   You can Opt Out in this Family anytime you Need to, with no Offense taken.   I remember when all of them were Little, they'd say things during Celebrations like, "We've had Enough Fun."  *Bwahahahaha*  Have you ever heard a Kid say that?  *Smiles*  That would then be the Cue to Wrap it up if we were Hosting it, or leave whatever we were invited to and Gracefully Exit Stage Left before a Meltdown happened or an Anxiety/Panic Attack.  There have been times we arrive somewhere and it's Too Much for them and they just know, this was not a Good Idea.  Abort Mission.  And we have to and do immediately. 

Princess T ended up giving her Grandpa about 2/3 of what was in her Christmas Stocking, she doesn't have much of a Sweet Tooth and kept what was Gum or Sour/Savory.   So now we gotta watch Grandpa like a Hawk to ensure he rations what he got out and doesn't eat too much per Day.  But he's jazzed to be stocked up with Treats, he's like a Big Kid when it comes to Holiday Treats.  The rest of us could Care less so very often he or our Friends get ours or it would last us all Year long.  I think I had some Peppermint Coated Pretzel Sticks from last Christmas in an Airtight container that I still munch on.  *Smiles*

 

I did notice at the Stores they were lean on Stock, especially in the Toy Departments, probably due to Tariffs imposed and where 90% of that kind of thing are made.   Some Stores, like TARGET had limits on how much of some Toys you could Buy, they had them rationed.  Otherwise I'm pretty damned sure they'd of ended up with Re-Salers then inflating the Price all the more and on the Black Market.  Remember during the COVID Pandemic, when Supply Chain Issues and runs on what was available Created huge Supply Shortages that couldn't keep up with Demand and inflated prices?   Along with people Hoarding more than they Needed realistically.  When that was happening, even with Toilet Paper?!  I don't soon forget such things and if Tariffs worsen Supply Chain Issues and Affordability Issues, it could get hairy again.

And look who I FINALLY got a Pix of after Two Years of trying!   This is Princess T's long time Boyfriend we call Rusty, but is Gerardo by his Given Name.  He's so shy he usually sits in the Car but I made him have a couple Pixs taken for Christmas and come inside to greet The Family.  He's a sweet Young Man and so Nice, so Respectful and Spoils Princess T rotten.  You'll look further down and see the wealth of Gifts he showered on her for Christmas!!!   There must have been about 30 Gifts, I kid you not, and I only had her show me the biggest ones to take a Pix of her with in our messy Room, coz we had it tore up for the Cox Cable Upgrades and haven't put it or the Guest Bedroom back together yet.  We don't normally live like that, but had to clear everything around one Wall and each TV away in Four different Rooms Christmas Eve Day.

I didn't have it in me to put it all back Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, Princess T did in her Room coz she couldn't stand for everything to be vulnerable and not put back in place after he was done.   She's very particular about arranging her Vignettes around her TV and on her Dresser there that it sits on.  She's got it like a virtual Shrine.  *LOL*  Well, anyway, along with the expensive Anime Plushies, he got her an Old School Camera exactly like mine that is Red.  He said she'd been telling him she didn't know how to take Pixs for me with my Camera and so he secretly bought her one, along with a Printer that hooks up to it so she can take Old School Camera Pixs now AND Print them out!!!  He got her the MJ Vapes she uses for her Anxiety and Panic Attacks.  Jewelry and an Ed Hardy Blanket Throw.   Some Anime Keychain Plushies, about 10 of those, of every one of her favorite Characters.  I forget what all else, it was a LOT!  He must have spend an entire Paycheck!!!

Guess what I JUST Found Out and had actually happened Years ago?  That she'd let Timmy put a Heart Tattoo on her too when they were Teenagers and he thought he wanted to be a Tattoo Artist!  It's on her Ribs, looks good, but she said she thought it hilarious I never noticed it 'til now, I guess I thought it was a temporary Sticker Tattoo she was wearing, I dunno?  Or something she drew on with a Marker?  Anyway, she thought it hilarious too that I Freaked Out about her Brother letting his Dad's New Wife give him a Tattoo and hadn't said a damned thing when Timmy gave her one when they were only about 15!!!  But, I didn't think it was Real when I saw it coz she was always drawing Tattoos on herself with Markers back then.  *LOL*  I knew Timmy had Tattooed himself tho'... Crazy Kids.  *LMAO*

Of coarse I can't Talk smack about it and doing Crazy Tattoo stuff.  When I was Eight Months Preggy with The Daughter, my Roommate Joanne wanted a Tattoo but was afraid to get one on her own.  Two Male GI Friends also were going Downtown to get Tattoos and back then Tattooing was still Illegal.  So it was always done on The Down Low in some Seedy Outlaw Biker Shop, in the Back Rooms, in those Days.  You'd be getting your Tats alongside Outlaw Bikers getting such Tattoos as "I Eat Pussy" on the inside of their Lips... at least that's the Crowd in that day getting that Done as I peeled off my Shirt, Eight Months Preggy, since us Hippie Chicks have few Inhibitions, to get mine on my Back, coz Joanne talked me into it so she wouldn't be the only Female getting one!!!  She got hers on her Boob, which I thought was a Bad Idea, Gravity would stretch it there, on the Back, it won't.  *Winks*

I've seen Old People Tats... I know where they 'Age' best.  *LOL*  All the Men in my Mom's Family have Tattoos, heavily Tattooed in fact, my Brother also is heavily Tattooed.  And my Native American Grandmother was heavily Tattooed with Tribal Tats.  Most of my Native American Male Relatives also are heavily Tattooed.  So, my Family had no Issues with Tats or me getting one, even tho' in Non-Indigenous Culture at the Time, they were not totally Legal, so were Illegal in some States, Arizona included and not Licensed or had any Health Codes.   In 2012 an Arizona Supreme Court Ruling protected Tattoos as a form of Free Speech and now Tattoo Parlors, Legal Ones, flourish everywhere and we have some renown Artists doing them.  

Back then, my Tat was given me by a Biker Babe of an Outlaw Biker Gang named Terry.  She had a big Blonde Afro, and an Anaconda Black and Grey Snake Tattoo that started at her Neck and ended at her Ankles, wrapping around her entire Body!!!  She was one of the few Female Tattoo Artists of her Time and let me Design my own Tattoo.  Terry was a Boss Bitch back when most Biker Babes were just the Old Ladies of their Biker Gangs, nobody messed with Terry, she was Pretty, but like one of the Guys and highly Respected and had Earned her Colors like all the Guys had.  

She wasn't a particularly good Tattoo Artist tho' and I've thought about a Cover Up for Years, but, it's faded now and wasn't a big piece of Flash, and, it's part of my Story and my History after all.  Joanne's Butterfly probably looks like Big Bird now... ha ha ha???  The Two GI's got Pinup Girl Tattoos in Sailor Jerry Style Flash of American Traditional and very strong Colors.  Mine WAS Color, but I do prefer Black and Grey Tats so am glad my Colored Tat faded out to mostly Outline now.  It's a Heart with a Devil's Tail and a Henna Mehndi Style Flower beside it.   I've had Mehndi done for Years and Love that Art Form, I wouldn't mind having Permanent Mehndi on my Hands actually and have thought about it.

Our Dear Neighbors got us a huge Box of Candy, I can't eat it coz it's Chocolate, and The Man will have to be rationed with it coz he's a Type II Diabetic too, but it was Sweet and a good quality Gift.  It's always the Thought that Counts with Gifts and why it is harder to Buy for people you don't know very, very well.   Even Princess T says she never knows what to Buy for Rusty even after Two Years together.  The Man is notoriously hard to Buy for and always has been.  He's a Minimalist and has few things he Wants or Needs.  He likes his Knife Collection and his Lures Collection, so along with Cash it was the best option to Gift him with this Year, he liked what he got.

Not all the Pixs turned out great, but some of the out of focus ones we still liked enuf to Keep and not Delete.  All the Kiddos and The Man were exceedingly Gracious about my Pathological Picture Taking.  Now all of the Kids have gone out to have a good time visiting their Friends for Christmas Day.  They still have an Active Social Life and get together with Friends, like we did when we were their Ages.   So, the rest of our Christmas Day will be serene and quiet, The Man & I have the whole House to ourselves now.  I gave Eli the Cat extra Christmas Kibbles as a Special Treat, he was very well behaved Today, like he knew it was Special somehow.  I think Animals pick up on Energy of their Humans.

I will not do a total Christmas Morning Visual Dump on you for this Post, I'll save some for the next Post too.  *Bwahahahahaha*  You can Thank me later.  *Winks*  Hey, I'm not getting out of my Jammies or putting a Bra on all Day my Friends, so, I'm Chillin' for the duration of Christmas Day.   I enjoyed visiting just about every Blog on my Sidebar too, I needed to catch up on my Blog Reads.  I didn't realize how far behind I had gotten actually, I hadn't even been Lurking in a while in many places I usually frequent Online!!!   Some of you I had to do an Archive Read Catch Up Marathon of several Posts to get all Caught Up with you!!!  I did do more Engaging than usual and put a few Comments out there, until I got too tired to continue with that.  I fade at the Gate sometimes when it comes to Social Media Engagement, I'm a much better Lurker.

 

I did also snag some Pixs off Social Media sites Family had Shared Online, since most don't send out Cards or Photos anymore.  One Granddaughter used to, she always has a Holiday Christmas Card made up and this Year was no exception {see Below}, but she didn't mail us one this Year.  Mebbe it was only Online generated?  I know Virtual Cards are a Big Thing now rather than Hard Copies... I'm not a Fan, but I understand most folks now prefer getting or sending them.  I got some Lovely Photos of my BFF whose Dying {some also included Below}, she got to spend time at the Home of her Youngest Daughter rather than spending Christmas at the Hospice.  So I was glad to see her included in the Festivities and that Daughter is doing so much for her Mom in the time of most Need.

She looks Radiant and as Beautiful as ever, in spite of what she's going thru, that is pretty rough.  She stopped Treatments, she wasn't strong enuf to endure any more of them and just convinced Family, time to just leave herself in God's Hands, not Doctors.  Whatever is going to happen, she's at Peace with it and wants Quality over Quantity of whatever Life is left.  I agree, it was putting her thru too much, given what Doctors had said was beyond what could have had encouraging results, had it been caught much, much, earlier, but was not.  She's in Palliative Care now in her Hospice and I do think that's the better decision and more Merciful for her being managed for what she cannot endure.  But not being put thru what is not going to make a difference or offer any particular Hope of extending Life and may just quicken Death.

She is as pale as a Ghost now, I don't like her Palor, but, she's always had the Best Smile and the most Beautiful expressive Eyes.  And she's Naughty, she's always been that Friend that would help you bury the Bodies and would have as much Fun as you could possibly have without getting Arrested.  *Smiles and Winks*  I got some Stories of what this BFF and I did and got up to over the Years.  *LOL*  She's got even better Stories of before she met me when she lived in New York and her First Husband was a real life Gangsta.  He Died and she moved to Arizona, where I met her thru her 2nd Husband, who was the Coach of The Son's T-Ball Team when all our Boys were Littles.   She has Three Daughters and Two Sons, four of which are like Nieces and Nephews to us and consider us Family.  I don't know her Oldest Daughter, who remained in New York with her Aunt and Family.

She's also the Friend you could call at Three in the Morning during a Crisis and know she'd have your Back and be there, no matter how considerable the Crisis at Hand.  She knew the same about me, so I truly Wish they weren't in Texas and were back here in Arizona so I could be there for her now and Help out.   Since all her Kids are spread across several States now from Coast to Coast, she only has the Youngest One present now.   But, they have a good Network of Friends and extended Family in Texas that are Kinfolk of her Youngest Daughter and her Husband's side of the Family.   Plus, Three of her Grandchildren are there, the others are in New York and Florida.  Only One Son doesn't have Children.  Only One of her Grandchildren is Grown, I helped Deliver him and was her Daughter's Birth Coach.  Was asked to come Deliver Chinese Food for Lunch to the Hospital, ended up Delivering her Grandson instead and too!  *LOL*

 

Her Birthday is only One Day in October before The Daughter's Birthday and they are so much alike that you'd think The Daughter wasn't my Child and was this Friend's Child instead!!!  *Smiles*  My Kids and The G-Kid Force Love their Aunt Kathie.   It did make me Cry to get these Photos, even tho' she looks so damned Good and so Happy in them.  It's hard when your Loved Ones are battling such Serious and possibly Terminal Illness.  On the one Hand you want them to stick around and fight like Hell regardless of the grim prognosis and diagnosis.  Yet, you don't want intense Suffering either, it would be Selfish of you to Wish that upon someone just so they extend Life a little more than is possible or bearable for them.   You feel very conflicted.  I think she's done all she can.  I think her Doctors have done all they can.  The rest is whatever Fate and the Lord dictates is her Hand Dealt now.

Her Youngest Daughter is also not Well and has a Heart Monitor now installed.  So, I've been concerned about The Niece too, she's leveled with me about her own Health Challenges and she's so Young still, much Younger than my Youngest Children, she was always "The Baby" of our combined Group of Kids.   We Nicknamed her Turtle when she was a Little.   And she was quite the Handful and had considerable Special Needs, so each Day was quite an Adventure with that one too.  My Friend couldn't get anyone to Babysit that one... so The Daughter or I were the only ones Brave enuf to.  She's turned out well tho', is Married with Three Lovely Children now.  She Married a Childhood Sweetheart she met in her Teens, and met him when he was an Older Teen in the Military, Stationed here at Luke AFB.   Good Guy.

I'm so glad she sent me so many Pixs of her Mom and her Family on Christmas Day and their Celebrations at her Home there in Texas.  She takes a lot of Videos too, and so it's like vicariously being there with them.  They always threw the Best House Parties and apparently still do.  They were that Family who always had even more Guests dropping by all the time than we do.  *Ha ha ha*  Kathie always had a house full all of the time, and so does her Youngest Daughter now, carrying on the Tradition of having the Gift of Hospitality and being such a good Friend she has a lot of Friendships that are close.   Both of this Friend's Youngest Daughters often come to Arizona to visit us since they know we can no longer take this Show on the Road and Travel.  Her Daughter from Florida visited us quite recently with some of her Kiddos, she has Four of her own and is Raising her Younger Brother's Teen Daughter now.

The Son and his Girlfriend have been Traveling up North to visit some of her Relatives in Northern Arizona on the Navajo Nation.   I think she's spending Christmas up there on the Rez.    She came by to see us before she left though.   I think right now her Kiddos are out of School on Winter Break.  She has them enrolled in Public School and not sent to the Indian Schools, so, they'll get a better Education and not have to live in Boarding Schools separated from Family and their Culture.  She said her Grandmother used to Hide some of the Tribal Children so that the Indian Schools wouldn't take them involuntarily.  Both from their Tribe and also from Canadian Tribes her Grandmother had Friends from that wanted their Children protected and Hidden.  

 I know some of my Cousins on the Rez ran away from the Indian Schools and never went back, so they didn't get an Education.  My Dad Lost Two Brothers in the Indian Schools, many Children Died or just never came Home and no explanation given as to what happened to them.   My Parents vowed we would not be exposed to any of that and it's Trauma, so my Dad made the Military his Career so that we'd go to the Schools that Military Dependents went to and get a proper Education outside of a Reservation.  I'm Grateful for that, and for the Opportunities it afforded us that my Paternal Relatives never had and would never receive.

So, Below are our Oldest Granddaughter in Pittsburgh's Children and their Family Christmas Card.   Both Pixs turned out so good that I Plan to make Hard Copies for ourselves.   These Great-Grandbabies are Growing Up so fast too!!!   It happens in the blink of an Eye.   Since this Granddaughter is now Middle Aged and in her Thirties, she's not having any more Children, this is it for her.   She and her Husband have been a Couple tho' since their early Tweens, Childhood Sweethearts, she never Dated any other Boys, just him, he's a great Guy.   The Oldest Great-Granddaughter looks just like our Oldest Daughter did at that Age and her Younger Sister looks just like her Mama, our Granddaughter, did at that Age.  

And that's the Grandchild and Great-Grandchild that most resembled The Man and how he looked as a Child from Old Pixs I have of him.   They are the Girl versions of their Grandpa/Great-Grandpa, the resemblances being uncanny!!!   One of the Granddaughters in Mexico, the Middle one, looks exactly like I did at her Age too.   And since she's the Prodigal Child of The Daughter's Five Kiddos, they joke that she's like ME then in every way.  *Ha ha ha*  Yeah, as if you couldn't Guess, I was a Prodigal Child and quite the Handful growing up and my Younger Brother was my Parent's Golden Child.  *Smiles and Winks*  Every Family Needs at least One Golden Child to make up for us Prodigals who were High Maintenance Children or Wild Child Types, Princess T was ours of the Four we Raised.  *LOL*

I'm watching the Finale' of "Holiday Cake Wars", which are of the Genre of the Contests I Adore that have Cake, Sugar and Carving Artists competing in Teams.  They're having a Marathon and I'm catching up, they just did a Grinch Dr. Seuss Theme which was Fun coz I just Love Dr. Seuss and their Genre of Characters that are so different and distinctive.  So far I've agreed with the Judges decisions.   They have some stellar Talent competing tho', all of them exceptional.  There's a Prize of Fifty Grand for the Winners.   Now they're doing a Santa's Elf Theme Challenge and what they do when not Supervised by Santa.  The Mini Challenge was what Santa gives Mrs. Claus as a Gift for Christmas?  I was eating my Fruitcake while watching it, I Love Fruitcake but is the only one who does so I only Buy a small one every Year for myself.  My Dad used to make them every Year with Booze in his.  

 

This was just a small long Benson's Old Home Classic Fruitcake, I tried Photographing mine but it didn't turn out good and now I've eaten half of it so I'm just cribbing an Image of one identical to it.   It's a decent Fruitcake for a lower price, sometimes now the cost of them is prohibitive.  I guess becoz demand isn't high they charge more to make it worthwhile to still Market them, I dunno?   I'd like it to taste a bit boozy, but they make them differently than European ones I've had, which are always boozy, it's what preserves them.  It is said American Fruitcakes skip the Traditional boozy long aging process, so it's more out of convenience and shortcutting it and they also don't last as long coz no liquor preservative, European ones can last for Months and are moister. 

 

I guess all of the festivities really wiped me out coz I couldn't stay Awake past 6:30 p.m., keeping the Hours of a Toddler.  *LOL*   I do get up early, but geez, Six Thirty and can't keep my Eyes open to finish watching the Shows I was enjoying!   So, I don't know who Won of the Teams, faded before the Finale' and now Christmas is over they won't be showing those Holiday Shows now on repeat to catch the ones I missed.  *Le Sigh*  I've enjoyed them tho', entertaining and a nice respite from Reality and all the terrible News playing out on the News.  Now that we have upgraded our Cable to Fiber Optics, I noticed all these new Channels we didn't previously have, so many!!!  Since The Son isn't Working now we won't be renewing NetFlix when it expires, he Paid for that subscription.   So we're trying to watch all the new stuff on it.

 

I'll pick up my Paycheck Today from the Antique Mall, it will see us thru the rest of the Month now and ensure everything is covered.  *Whew*  It's been a tough Year off and on financially so I'm hoping 2026 smooths out and The Son finds Work again?  I want to get The Daughter in to Social Security in 2026 to re-apply for SSI Benefits.  She had qualified over 20 Years ago and has a paper trail that perhaps might still be there?  Otherwise we have to start from scratch to re-qualify her, which is quite the Ordeal and usually requires Appeals galore coz they almost always Deny everyone at least once no matter how Disabled, Mentally Ill and Unstable or Unemployable they are.   

The time she got Approved finally, all those Years ago, is coz she went Mental IN the Interview and just Snapped from the Ordeal of it we were being put thru!   And threatened to throw the arrogant Caseworker, who was throwing us Shade, and saying she didn't LOOK Mentally Ill, out the 3rd Floor Window of the Building they're in!   Yeah, well, Serial Killers don't be LOOKING like Serial Killers either Honey, but you still end up Deaded.  *Winks*  And BTW, how does Serious Mental Illness LOOK I queried, and was she a Clinical Psychologist or Shrink, she wasn't, just some Bureaucrat Administrator Support Staff, with no Degrees whatsoever in Mental Health or assessing it.   That Caseworker wasn't Qualified to make those decisions she was given Authority to make or reject Applicants!!! 

  But when she had to Deal with the consequences of her poor decision, wrong attitude at approaching and dealing with the Seriously Mentally Ill, and complete ignorance about Mental Health, she had a fresh Revelation.  She Rubber Stamped Approval so damned quick, which was handy, coz I don't think she could Fly either.   And The Daughter was NOT kidding.  And there's no Moderating or Mitigating that shit when it pops off.  *Bwahahahaha*  But in all Seriousness, it ain't no Joke if The System drops the Ball on providing what's Needed.  It sometimes takes a High Profile Tragedy to bring Light up into the Darkness Families are enduring and having to Deal with in our Broken Systems that don't provide adequate Services or Help to them.  And it shouldn't take a Tragedy like the Reiners for the Public and The System to notice the Wrongs and make it somewhat Right... demanding it in fact.

Yet, I do NOT want to risk a repeat performance of all of that either, so we've delayed putting her thru it again.  Even tho' The Daughter is 20+ Years Older now, she's as Unwell as she's ever been and once wound up, I can't stop that Runaway Train when the Wheels come Off.  *Shrugs*  In Mexico the local Police would pretend they didn't SEE her so they wouldn't have to Arrest her, and they'd take up Collections to send her to Doctors when she was in a Bad Way Mentally.   The American Police just tend to Kill the Mentally Ill when they can't manage the Situation.   So, I'm very Guarded about the Situations I'd put her in that would just be too much.  Even if it's trying to obtain much Needed Social Services she should Qualify for, but they require way too much Hoop Jumping and Bullshit to receive and become an Ordeal someone too Unwell can't Cope with.

The Young Prince told me he's had to walk out in the middle of an Interview for even Nutritional Assistance before, that began to Trigger him.  Coz he went for Help, but not to get Locked Up and lose his Mind, or his Freedom for being Unwell.   He just thinks Social Security will be as bad or worse than it was back when I took him in as a Teenager? Which was quite the fucking Ordeal and we received NO Help for him and things were really Bad back then with him.  I desperately Needed some Help to try to Stabilize Psychotic Episodes he was having that were severe.   And the Cavalry weren't fucking coming, ever, and that was so disheartening to get Denied Services for someone who desperately Needs them and won't get them coz they're not Flavor of the Month and they aren't from some affluent Family who can afford anything they Need.   But that's no Guarantee either.

As it is you see what happened to poor Rob Reiner and his Dear Wife, Throats slashed when their Seriously Mentally Ill Son's Wheels went Off.  I can bet Money that getting Help for their Schizophrenic Adult Son was an Ordeal too, and they were Rich and Famous!!!  Plus, his Diagnosis seemed quite protracted and late, which a lot of Families are too ashamed to admit it's a Mental Illness and get or accept a diagnosis.   Didn't Help that their Son was self medicating, many with SMI end up doing that from their torment they get no relief from.   The Daughter still has to Drink every day to quiet her Demons and The Young Prince has to take Medicinal MJ to quiet his.  But they have to find some kinda way to afford that too regardless of being Unemployable and having no means of self-support, so, it's gotta fall on someone if they don't receive Help.

Neither of them can tolerate most Psychotropic Meds anymore without it damaging their major Organs.  They were on them too long and had started encountering life threatening side effects, which happens.  That's why you must get Lab Work often when on them, they're strong and can cause harm, or even Death, just like illegal drugs can.  And their Commercials have a Laundry List of Disclaimers.   And if they don't Qualify for Mental Health Services or Insurance, it's prohibitively expensive, most Families could never afford it out of Pocket, I sure can't.  If they get a Title 19 Rating of Lifetime Disability it's Helpful, right now The Son and The Daughter are rated Title 19 and get Indigent Healthcare but have to keep re-applying for it.  

Which also means getting Re-Approved for it.  Both JUST got Approved, but we're still waiting on The Young Prince's Approval.  When he was still a Ward of the State he had Approval, now he's Grown and got Adopted, so isn't the State's Problem anymore, not so much.  I've got Medical Bills rolling in for him from the Spider Bite ER Visits, and they saw firsthand how Crazy he was and having Psychotic Episodes while there being treated for a Life Threatening Medical Emergency Condition after the Brown Recluse Bite.   They applied FOR us, and we still haven't been run thru the System to get that Approval... so... you expect it to become a Dog and Pony Show each and every fucking time.  Non-Crazy folks can and will lose their shit from the Ordeal, let alone those who are Seriously Unwell Mentally.  As you can see {Above} Eli ventured out to do some Christmas with everyone on Christmas Morning.  *Smiles*

The Curiosity Factor and the Human Energy that Morning about being around THAT TREE, just got the Best of him and he hadda go check it all out.  *LOL*  Princess T and I had gotten him some Cat Toys, some Catnip, some Gourmet Special Wet Food, and a Scratching Post, so he did better than some of us Humans with his Haul for Christmas.  *Winks*   Usually he wont' Pose for Pixs, but he also did this Day, which was very Odd, it's like he knew something Special was going on and became All In with it, even being NICE to everyone in the Family, including The Daughter, who he HATES, go Figure.  Peace and Goodwill extends to Felines with an Attitude Too I guess?   

I asked Eli if he had the Joy of Jesus in his Heart too and he meowed, so that might have been an Affirmative, I dunno, I don't Speak the Language of his People.  *Smiles*  Which, BTW is exclusively for us Humans, it's not something Cats do otherwise except FOR OUR Benefit.   Anyway, he didn't go all "Predator" on us as we gathered around the Tree, but afterwards The Son send me this hilarious Meme about it.   See the "Predator" Creature atop the Tree?  *LMAOROTF*   Well, Hope your Christmas was Splendid too my Friends and 2026 holds some Promise or at least some Good Luck.

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Holiday Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian