Road Trip

If you don't know, we had to take an emergency trip to Illinois the week before.   As we were going out, we hit sunshine, snow, rain, ice.......sunshine, snow, rain, ice........and the cycle kept repeating all the way from Ohio to Illinois.  Was not a nice trip that was for sure.

April is now one of the worst months of the year for me.  My dad died a year ago tomorrow, and my step-dad, he was the best step-father anyone could ask for, he passed away on the 7th.  He taught me how to drive, he would take me to work with him, when he worked in the rock quarries.  I got to move a track, rock drill. I was able to stand under a Euclid dump truck, while they would blast rock.   He helped me move to New York to be with my husband, when we first met, and were only girlfriend and boyfriend.  He was always there, when I needed him.   I loved him like he was my real father!  He came into our lives when I was about 18 years old.  He will be missed.

It was nice to see family, that I hadn't seen since I lived in New York, which has been over 15 years.  It is just too bad, that it takes something like a family member passing away to get together.   I was glad to go and be able to see my mom, since it will be a while before I can see her again.  Now that I have a full time job, it will be a while before I am able to get back out to Illinois.

My mom is a pretty strong woman, she had shoulder surgery two months ago and still has two weeks, before she is able to even start physical therapy.  She is dependent on my sisters now. to help her do a lot of things, until she gets her shoulder back to normal.  Plus, having to deal with the aftermath of dad passing away.  I don't think anyone is ever ready to have to do the paper work, and getting things settled, when a family member passes away.  Life insurance, mortgage, retirement, pension, getting rid of personal things, social security, etc.  Plus having to deal with your own grief.   She brought up us four girls all by herself for most of our lives.  She had been married two times before the best one came along.   She has had back surgery, knee surgery, a broken ankle, heel surgery, two shoulder surgeries and she deals with high blood pressure.   I just hope I can be as strong as she is when I grow up.   :-)