34 days until Spring

WordPress, my blogging site, just sent me an anniversary reminder. Eight years ago I started a blog.  EIGHT. It wasn’t the finallyflorida blog but still a blog was started.  I remember the day.  I was home sick (took a sick day) from Point Park and sat on the couch in my Fair Oaks house and I wrote a blog. Just to test it out.  Isn’t that something?  I remember that day. Which considering all the days I do NOT remember is something.

I’ve been in Pittsburgh now almost 3 weeks.  Honestly, not to sound insensitive, but I can’t believe more people don’t kill themselves here.  This weather is unbelievably dismal.  Living here previously for 55 years it’s certainly not new to me, but luckily it’s still new enough, after a 5 year break, to keep me from jumping off of the 60^th floor.  

Every morning when I come to work I take a picture from my window on the 60th floor of Jimmy’s apartment complex, that I can see directly across the river, and send it to him.  Here are about a week’s worth of pictures.  Do you see a theme? (no sun)

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Other than waiting for spring, my focus has been on footwear. Let me just reemphasize that when I moved to Florida I thought it was a permanent move, and although I hung on to some items for a long time, I eventually got rid of a lot (as I’ve written about ad nauseum) Winter coats, closed toed shoes, boots I mean they are all long gone.  Fortunately for me, and the fact that I’m bunking with Diane for the time being, she has a lot of clothes.  She has not moved in 30 years and so she has not had to pitch things – and we can wear the same size – BUT we have different size feet so it’s footwear I must focus on. 

Every day I look at peoples feet to see what they are wearing.  Surprisingly I do not think I have seen two of the same boots.  Isn’t that something?  I mean seriously I must see thousands of people everyday, on and off the subway, up and down the escalators.  Have I mentioned that I learned that there are 10,000 people that work in my building?  I mean holy moly.  So anyway, Di and I went to Target.  I got two pairs of booties (you know short boots) and another pair of flats which I probably won’t wear until June. 

One of these adorable pairs of boots I just bought – that are useless in the cold and rainy weather – but very cute – have a one inch heel.  Flip flops don’t come in a heel and well I just got out of practice.  The first day I wore the one inch heel I felt very tall. Like I was on stilts.  After getting my balance it all came back to me.  (My mom has a vivid memory of me running through the airport in my purple high heeled shoes when I was 20 – late for a plane to Miami.  Back in the day when you could run through airports.)  And although I now have these cute boots that are appropriate for inside outfits I am still having to borrow snow boots (from Jerry) to get to the bus that brings me to work and then I can change into the other boots.

There is a lot of lugging stuff back and forth.  Like my lunch, which I forgot yesterday, shoes, purse, a book for the bus ride, and then I have to find my bus card and my ID card every day so I can pay for the bus and then put that card away and get out my work badge so I can get in the building.  Ya know?  I think it keeps my brain active having to remember all the various steps just to get to my desk.  Oh and Diane also gave me a big bag to lug all that stuff around in – that she got from Jerry.  It really does take a village to take care of me.

Mom’s birthday was yesterday.  She is 87.  Kerry and I took her out to dinner.  It was lovely.  Pouring down rain but lovely inside the restaurant.  Warm and quiet enough to hear each other talk. Mom seemed to like getting out. With the death of cousin Ira just happening, well I just wonder how that eats away at you over the years.  I guess we will all find out.  For several years now I have not heard of any of her “inner” circle regulars passing on until now. I don’t think anyone wants to be the last one standing do you?  Or maybe some do and some don’t.  I don’t think I would want to be that person though.  It’s very sad when you think about a whole life lived and then sitting in a room all day whiling away the hours.  Ugh…I am always considering how I want this to go for myself when I get to this point in life.  Which with my life seems pretty useless to plan for the future since I can’t even predict next week let alone what will happen in 30 years.  In any event I’m glad I’m here to help with getting mom out of the house, even in this stupid weather.

This week starting with Sunday we had our first monthly “fam” breakfast (me, Zach, Rachel and Jimmy), I’ve taken my great nephew to bball practice Monday, dinner with mom/sister Tuesday, dinner with friends Wednesday, dinner at Jimmy’s on Thursday (for Valentine’s day) – Saturday moving some stuff out of storage for mom, Sunday I think is mani/pedi day with mom.  Talk about your change of life.  Those days of rolling out of bed, sitting with a cup of tea on the quiet porch outside where it’s always warm, the highlight of the day walking on the beach, I mean could it be any different?

I should write a book.

xoxoxox