An update on my trials and tribulations

[Catty1]

*hugs*

You are taking care of yourself...I have a feeling things will fall together wonderfully for you and your mom too.

[sasvermont]

Hi kids,

I took my Mom to the assisted living place just yesterday. It all ran smoothly and I was asked not to return for a week, to give her time to settle in. I feel so guility, just leaving her, but there is a plus side to having such freedom to come and go now.

My employers have hired someone to replace me. I cannot wait to give up the crown. I hope they give me a break and have me over lap only two the first two weeks of February and pay me to leave for the last two. I think they want to see this over with too. It isn't good for office morale to keep me (the new smiling me) around the place. Things are falling apart before me, job wise. They are at each other's throats. One partner called two nights ago (before they officially hired the new person) and said that one of the attorneys promised to behave himself and increase his medication, if I would stay. When asked the following day about why I didn't return the message, I said that it was "funny, and made me laugh" and I didn't need to return the call. My mind was made up!".....

I have been lucky and rented my Mom's apartment 4.1.08! I have sold and given away lots of the furniture....and have about a day's worth of work to clean out the small items and organize what is left, for sorting out, this spring when it is warmer out.

So things are running on schedule. Gosh. I feel sooooo much better. I still have to land a job, but having lots of these things just about behind me, I feel as though I have lost tons of weight! Weight off the shoulders!

Here's to progress!

Thanks for listening.

Sas and her campers

[Medusa]

Progress is right. You're taking care of your mom and yourself and you're "taking care of business", so to speak, at the same time. You owe yourself a big "Whew!" when it's all finished. You're doing a great job.

[krazyaboutkatz]

SAS, I'm so glad to hear that things are going well for you. I'm sure that you won't have any problems finding a new job but hopefully it'll be one that you enjoy. Good luck.

[Logan]

Sallyanne, I never knew what your specific job was, but I sure hope they paid you alot for putting up with that mess. Geez.

Best of luck to you. You are going to be just fine and your mom is too. I'm sending you my best wishes.

Logan

[NoahsMommy]

To the Campers at Camp Vermont,

Please go give your mommy a kiss and some nose rubbies at least 5 times a day. While the worst is behind, she still needs your love and reassurance - and she can get it from you, but also through her PT Family through your cute little bodies, OK??

Thank you, sweet fuzzies.

Love, Kelly & Kits

************************

Dearest SallyAnne,

Things are really shaping up for you and I'm so glad! (((((((((SAS))))))))) I'm sure your mom is going to love her new place. The first time you go for a visit, she's going to be excited about her own new digs and be happy to get to show you, her daughter and favorite visitor. Make sure and fill us in on her furry co-resident, the live-in cat.

I'm so happy that the worst is behind you. I know you don't want to stay, but its nice to be and feel wanted, right? The next hurdle wont be a hurdle at all, you're going to find the best job, and it'll be perfect for you.

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...

Hugs & Love,
Kelly and the furballs

[gini]

You are so......."on the right track"............I couldn't be happier for you.

[Karen]

Gosh the next week will be so hard, not just popping over to "check in" - I don;t know that I could have waited that long when we moved Aunt Bertha into the nursing home, but as we have noted, her memory problems were different than your mom's are. But I bet your mom will settle right in. My tip for visiting loved ones in a nursing home-type place: bring fresh flowers. Staff are more likely to visit the room to enjoy them with her, and she'll love the company!

[Pam]

My employers have hired someone to replace me. I cannot wait to give up the crown.

I love the line about giving up the crown. Oh if the new person only had a clue as to what is in store for her....

I have been lucky and rented my Mom's apartment 4.1.08! I have sold and given away lots of the furniture....and have about a day's worth of work to clean out the small items and organize what is left, for sorting out, this spring when it is warmer

You are doing a super job Sallyanne. Everything you are doing has been very well thought out and methodical. I, too, have gone through the breaking down of my mom's apartment and you are wise to not rush through. You have the time, and you don't want to discard something and then wish you hadn't. I had one month to empty out Mom's apartment and it was hard, both physically and emotionally. Thank you again for keeping us updated. It is all good and will be even better once you find the perfect job and..... it is out there!

[Freedom]

I am so pleased. You thought this through, got ideas, made a plan, followed through and even though it has been a long haul full of emotions, you are definitely seeing "the light at the end of the tunnel." Bless you for all the work you have done for your Mom. now you will a bit more time to focus on you; and the fur kids!

[Pam]

Sallyanne I am thinking of you and wondering if you have had a chance to visit with your mom since the "settling in time" is just about up. If so, how did she seem? I hope all continues to be well with you in this area as well as the job search.

[sasvermont]

I visited my Mom, a couple of days ago, on Thursday after work, at her new residence and she was thriving. They (the staff) said she was doing nicely, and having a good time of it. I thought she would adjust to the new surroundings easily, as her room is near everything, including the bathroom right next to her bedroom. She must share a bath with another woman, but that's ok. She did not recognize me when I first arrived which broke my heart but then after a few minutes she did say "oh, I didn't recognize you with your hair short"....and I've had my hair short for months now. Oh well. I haven't had long hair for years.

My employer is having me begin to train the new person and my replacement beginning Monday. I hope they let me go after just two weeks of one on one, if not sooner. I am not being very cooperative with the staff etc. at this point, responding to most requests with "gee, that's not going to be my problem soon".... I think by giving them SO much notice of my leaving, it is beginning to drag on the staff's outlook, as well as the attorney's outlooks. They need to get some new blood in there soon, as establish new relationships with her.... Her name is Linnie. Oh well. She seems like a nice enough of a person, but doesn't have the legal experience, which I think is the most important part. Oh well again. Not my problem. The relationship is over when I leave the place on my last day. I have already let them know not to call me.

A new tenant moved in to my Mom's apartment already! (The other person backed out of the lease for April first and the second person wanted the place ASAP!) She moved in on Friday, the first of February! It was a lot of work for me to get all of my Mom's things out of there in such short notice, but hey, I got it done! I gave quite a few things away and kept a few and sold a few. I had to be flexible since time was passing quickly. So success with the Mom/apartment move.

I have been asked to come in for an interview with the one company in South Hero that I applied to in December. At that time, the owner and I talked on the phone and she requested that I call her when I got closer to my departure time. I did contact her via email, and she responded with a "please call me for an interview". Woohoo! It won't pay much, but it is only a couple of miles from my home. I could walk to the place. It is a small import/export business. She said I could wear my PJs to work, since there is no store front etc. I wonder if my nightgowns would be hard to walk in...... while trotting down the side of the road? No sidewalks here.

So that is my story at this point. The job thing is just about ending. Still looking for a job, but have far from given up. I haven't really starting looking seriously.

Thanks for thinking of me. I know that my life isn't nearly as complicated as some folks. I have it easy.

Lucy misses my Mom. I don't, for the most part. It is a relief knowing that someone is looking after her and that she is around folks her age and her degree of needs.

Love to all,
Sas and her campers

[Medusa]

That's all wonderful and positive news. I'm so glad that things are working out for you and I'm sure that you'll find the right job w/just the right pay for you very soon.

[Pam]

Thank you for the update Sallyanne. I so heartily agree with the following statement as I felt the same way when I had to face the fact that my mom needed to be in assisted living.

It is a relief knowing that someone is looking after her and that she is around folks her age and her degree of needs.

While agreeing totally with that, I understand there may be a bit of guilt as I do live with some of that too. In a perfect world it would be different perhaps, but we deal with the cards we are dealt. My mom too, often does not recognize me. Eventually during the course of the visit she does, though, and has often commented on my *new* hairdo or *new* glasses which are really not new at all. (((hugs))) to you as you go through all of this. It is sooooo not easy.

I am laughing at the thought of you in a nightgown heading off to the job! As I have said many times, your sense of humor will carry you through. I will keep my fingers crossed for your interview. What could be better than a place of employment being so close by? At the present cost of gas, you could probably take a sizable pay cut and not even feel it!

Congrats also on the new tenant and the hasty job you had to do in getting the apartment ready. Once again you have risen to the occasion and no one here is surprised. Continued good luck and best wishes for the future. I know it will be a good one for you! Please keep us updated!