I clearly fizzled out on this project in 2023...I didn't even make it through January. My last post that year portends what was to come - surgery and recovery and health issues for my sweet mama. It was great to be able to spend more time with Mom than I had in the past. We got into a lovely routine of me popping by in the evening (we were both night owls), taking care of her bills and writing birthday cards, and wandering the hallways of Marquette Senior Living at midnight, stopping in their library to read magazines and generally putzing around. 2023 was also definitely a year of work, I left vacation days unused. There was fun stuff too (visiting Israel)- and time with friends and family.
Mom died January 6th, 2024. We were lucky enough to spend the last weeks of her life at her bedside and I am eternally grateful for that. The next month was spent sorting her things - photographs, cards, and letters, and family treasures. Followed by intermittently trying to organize my photography, letters, and paperwork.
My sweetie, Aaron, moved from Austin to the other side of my double in April and it's been grand. We travelled to the UK (London, England - Snowdonia, Wales - Edinburgh, Scotland) and to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
I still worked a whole bunch, but I'm in no danger of not using my vacation days this year.
That said, 2024 feels like a blur. I remember Mom telling me that she felt like she lost a year after her mother died. I now see what she meant, and I can't describe it - nothing awful - just fuzz, like when the television channel isn't quite clear and adjusting the rabbit ears doesn't help (for those who remember pre-digital times).
I've spent a lot of time the last few months thinking about what is important for me to spend my time on - my house is never going to be without a pile of purses and books and mail on the end of the sofa or without at least two pairs of shoes kicked under the table and trying to right those things that don't bother me doesn't seem worth the effort.
Laughing with Aaron on the porch, reading books, listening to music, and hanging out with friends is at the top of my list.
When I think about what I'm missing, Grandma Nora is at the top of the list. I was lucky enough to have my Grandma Leona in my life until I was 23 years old, and I have such great memories and letters and photographs of her - I feel like she is always with me.
Grandma Nora died 10 years before I was born, Dad was only 14 and he loved her dearly - he was certainly a mama's boy - and I've loved getting to know her through her journals and I'm anxious to dive back in.
You might remember (or you can go back and read all about it) that in 2021 I followed Grandma Nora's 1914 daily journal. I started to follow her 1915 journal in 2023, but as I said, that didn't last long.
I thought about picking back up with 1915 but want to get to know a little bit older Nora. I was tempted to dive into her 1946 or 1949 journals that mention Dad (born in 1936). I decided to tackle her 1919 journal. She turned 25 that year and married Paul. This will be fun to follow!
And pragmatically I picked 1919 because the calendar follows the 2025 calendar. It will be nice to have Grandma Nora's Sunday match up with this Nora's Sundays.
I'll see you tomorrow!
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