I don't figure I will ever get a chance to ever meet you all. Oh, how I wish we COULD all gather in Cabo for an all-inclusive week of sun, cabana boys and foo foo drinks with umbrellas in them, but...we have too many responsibilities - each one of us. But I double-love each of you, and want to feel like I know YOU, not just all that we all do. So, I was thinkin', how 'bout a proper introduction? And I will start:
My name is Deb, and I will be 54 in 10 days. I have a DH, 30 yr old daughter, 21 yr old son and 12 yr old son. Have one dog (a beagle) Maya, and a cat, Minga. Had another daughter that would be 31, but she passed in 1996. I take care of my father, who has dementia, and I am his full time caregiver. I USED to be a successful insurance agent, and loved my career. I love this one, too.
We live in Denver Colorado, where we moved from Oregon in 2002. We moved here because our daughter lived and worked here, and we all just missed each other too much to be apart. We moved dad here following mom's passing in 2004. Dad lives next door to us, and has a stupid fat dog, Mitzi. Oooooh, how that dog annoys me. Anyway, he is 82, and has no idea he's 82.
I am 5'3, carry a bit too much weight (a bit? Oh, how I DO go on...). I have red hair (thank you Clairol), still a lot of freckles, and my hobbies are cooking, baking, sewing, acrylic painting and gardening. I am active in my Church, and am currently working on a food drive to feed hungry families here in Denver.
So how 'bout it? I would love to make y'all's acquaintance....
I've been a stay-at-home mom; domestic goddess; whatever you'ld call it since my first son was born in 1982. I worked part-time here and there; now and then during those years, but for the most part, my job is mom. I was very much a PTA mom and held the job as Treasurer of my kids' school...a big job as a volunteer, but, I have my Lifetime Member pin!
My name is Diane and I'm a strawberry-blonde (natural...with some gray hairs now) Oh well, I turned 53 two months ago so I suppose it's expected! 5'2; hazel eyes; and pleasingly plump.
Married to hubby for almost 27 years; two sons age 26 and 21 who still live at home....and our Golden Retriever, Maggie, who is two. I call her my little girl! What can I say, she's the little girl I never had and helped me cope with my hysterectomy by just being my baby.
Most of my time these past 7-8 years have been tending to my mom; and her sister, my aunt, with their health related problems.
My mom is now in a nursing home with dementia. I'd say she's at stage 6 and seems to have leveled off...just have to keep her physically healthy.
My aunt will be going to the same facility for rehab from hip-replacement surgery in about two weeks. So I'll be running double duty over there. Luckily, she does not exhibit any dementia at her young age of 82. Hopefully, I'll have her back in her own home within a few weeks and she can get back to her very active life.
Needless to say, being POA of them both and all the other stuff, can get overwhelming.
So, I will take my aunt to the surgeon tomorrow for consult; Thursday I see my mom and listen to another adventure of how she went here and there...she even goes to NYC in her travels! Amazing how the imagination works in a dementia patient.
That's enough about me for now! Anyone else?
Last edited by sunnydaze1; 10-14-2008 at 04:37 PM.
Hi Ladies,
I will take my turn now....I think this is a wonderful idea!
My name is Caroline, I am 39 years old. I have been married for 8 years, with a 4 year old son, and am currently expecting our second child. (I am 14 weeks along). I was born in Ireland where most of my family still lives, but we live in Toronto, Canada. I am an only child.....
I work full time, have worked in the same Marketing job since I was 17 years old. Would love to be a "domestic goddess" as Sunny calls it (I love that).....but sadly, I would have to win that big old lottery!!!
I come to this board in support of my grandmother who has dementia, and is in late stages. She is 95 years young. I come for support for my Uncle who is her sole caregiver, god bless him, and for my mom who desperately tries to do all she can from a long distance.
I am 5'5......strawberry blonde hair.......and my weight well lets just say I'm pregnant, so for the next 6 months it cant be held against me!
For my past 7 or 8 years......since I turned 30, I have seen alot of illness and death in my family. It's been a rough road, but I'm struggling to rise above it and look to the future since I am about to bring another little life into the world.
I dont really have any hobbies.....I like to shop of course (I'm a female).....I like to cook, unfortunately for my family as just because I "like" to cook, doesnt mean I'm good at it! I like to read when I have a chance, and I love to travel with my family and get away from the "routines" of life.
That's about it for me girls......
Love, Caroline xo.
P.S. Dearest Deb.....I had no idea you had lost a daughter.....I am very sorry....((((big hugs))))))
My name is also Deb. I am well into 57 and loving it. I have light brown/blond/gray hair and it's natural. I am 5'6 and weigh 65 pounds less than I did a year ago. I have just finished donating all my old clothes and replacing them with size.. 10!!! Yes, I am proud of myself and ride my bicycle as often as possible to keep me this way. I have been married for 35 years to the same engineer and have a 28 year old daughter that is the light of my life. She is a senior in college (better late than never) and supporting herself while she does it. My only disappointment is that she decided to do it 5 hours from home. She has a long time boyfriend of over 5 years and I think it's permanent without the paperwork.
I have three sisters, some of which drive me nuts at times. There are 5 nieces (three married), and now 3 great nieces and nephews to love.
I have always lived in NC and spent four wonderful years at NCSU. I spent 7 years working in HR until my daughter was born and we moved to the Charlotte area. When my daughter was 3 I started working in a long term care facility as Assistant Admin/Social Worker/Financials/Peronnel/ anything else that came up. It was a new facility with 100 nursing/rest home beds including an ALZ unit and 30 apartments. When my daughter was in 2nd grade she was diagnosed ADHD. I could not work 24/7 with all the responsibility I had and do what was right for her so I went part time at LTC. My hours reduced to 40+ so I eventually found my replacements and left. One of my good friends was a teacher and she talked me into subbing for her class while she went on a trip. Once signed up I was hooked. I spent the next 13 years subbing in all subjects in all grades but ended up mainly at the high school. During that time I spent years working daily with the high school marching band as well.... being an old band nerd myself. I was VP and fund raising chairman for the junior high and marching band fund raising chairman as well. I enjoyed every minute of it. As Dad and then Mom became progressively worse, and my daughter ventured into other areas of her life, I worked less and less until I left for good not long before Mom was diagnosed. Now I just ride the roads between here, Mom and Dad, and my daughter's. I also take care of all Mom and Dad's financials, insurance, taxes, etc... including the farm that Mom has with her sister, their home and their mountain cabin.
About the same time Mom was diagnosed my FIL fell over his walker petting the cat he had just stepped on, toppled over head first into the dresser, and broke his neck. He spent about a year in the hospital/rehab with a halo brace and PT but he is back home. Hubby was astounded the last time he visited his parents because his Mom didn't remember his previous visit. Yep, here we go again....
I love my bicycle and swimming in my friend pool, enjoy reading and music, and I am addicted to my computer and the friendships I have developed here. I enjoy working outside in my flowers, my koi pond, and mowing our acres. I put up lots of food in the summer. I love hummingbirds and feed them right outside of my window so I can watch them. I have a best friend, the kind you talk to several times each day, and we try our best to keep each other semi sane. When I have the time I enjoy sewing, smocking, and other crafty things.
That's more than I intended to write so I am going to stop....
Oh my gosh! I had no idea that this would be this terRIFfic!
I am might glad to make y'all's acquaintance!
I think that we all (ok, maybe it's just me) get all wound up in what we DO - and for all of us, that is a lot - and we forget that we are human beings, women, and individuals. I wanted to bring that all out - for MY benefit (cuz I wanted to know you), and for our individual benefits.
Deb - I know you are a wise and generous woman - but I never knew you had a Koi pond! How wonderful is THAT?
****** - I didn't know you worked in Marketing! How interesting! And do you know the sex of baby #2 yet? (Just whisper - no one will hear...)
Sunny - You work with TWO ALZ dementia patients? Good grief. You are superhuman!
And I would like to think that I can address you all by name now. But my memory fails me waaay too often.
It's nice to know about stuff that makes you all tick. And again...
*deb shakes hands all the way around * Nice to Meetcha!
since my first son was born in 1982. I worked part-time here and there; now and then during those years, but for the most part, my job is mom. I was very much a PTA mom and held the job as Treasurer of my kids' school...a big job as a volunteer, but, I have my Lifetime Member pin! 
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