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Creating a New Life!

Earlier this year, I woke up in the hospital after having suffered a mild heart attack, and realized I needed a new life.

If you are like me, you have spent your life taking care of others.

Starting at the age of 11, my Grandmother came to live with us after my Grandfather's death.  She was 80 years old at the time, and lived with us for the next 22 years!  Having never spent a night by herself in her life, until she died, whenever my parents wanted to go somewhere, I was on "Granny duty".  Most of the time I didn't mind it at all -- she would regale me with stories about San Francisco before and after the 1906 Fire and Earthquake.

Later, I married and had a wonderful son, Frank.  Unfortunately, the marriage didn't last.  Fortunately my former husband and I got along, and worked together to raise our son.

About the time my Granny died, my father was tentatively diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  At that time, the state of medical knowledge was that a firm diagnosis could only be made with an autopsy -- with my father being alive, that was definitely not an option!

Since my father had no idea where he was, my mother, son and I would pack him up and take him on vacation with us.   Before it became impossible to take him anywhere, we took him to China and Europe.  It was an interesting experience.  In London, my father became frantic because he couldn't find his car keys.  He was looking for the keys to a car we had had in London over 25 years before!  Another time he thought he was in Panama, where he had been born and raised.

Throughout that period of time, while holding down at least one job, I spent weekends driving 180+ miles each way to help my mother and provide respite care.  Also, as my mother never drove, I had to do the family shopping.

After my father passed away, my son was in college, so my mother and I spent time together.  As she had been literally house bound for years, I felt that she should be able to enjoy herself.  In the process, she became my best friend and we traveled to every continent except Antarctica!

Suddenly, a few years ago, my mother died unexpectedly of undiagnosed colon cancer.  So, I packed up and moved back to the home I was raised in. 

So, upon waking up in the hospital, I realized that I had spent my life taking care of others.  I also realized that I wanted to live and for the first time, I had to take care of myself first!

However, there is a small problem -- how do you go about taking care of yourself when it has never been a priority!!  In fact, it is a totally new adventure.

Come join me as I start on this new adventure!