Moving On

I am moving on. I won't lie, Monday was tough for me.  Sitting in a room at a huge conference table all alone for about 15 minutes waiting for the closing lady to come in was tough.  Don't get me wrong I was totally on board with our decision, but that doesn't make it any easier.  You see, I am the oldest of we three, and so I am the "SIGNER" of everything.  I signed my mother into a nursing home originally.  I signed for her surgery when Daddy couldn't emotionally, and we know that did not go well.  I signed for her burial, her casket, etc...  I've signed for various medical things for Daddy as has my brother.  I signed for his burial, his casket, etc...  Now I have signed away his home.  It is just part of being a grown-up and taking charge of stuff.  It is a hazard of being the oldest, of being the one in charge.  It is a hazard of just taking care of what must be done.  My brother said he had no regrets and I totally agree, absolutely no regrets.  I do have sadness for the situation but it's not a bad sadness, it is the process.  What was really nice was that the people who bought the house/property is friends with my brother and they sent him a message thanking us for the sale.  They saw on Facebook about our memories, our photos, etcetera  and acknowledge the sadness and wonderful memories we were having.  They sent a photo of the house they plan on building there and have offered to let us come see it when it is done and listen to some of the memories.  I thought that such a wonderful gesture and hope they follow through.  Another family will be making new kinds of memories there and that cannot be bad.  

"Lemons, Onions and Celery - Thanksgiving Day Prep"

9x12 oil on linen

(reference photo)

I've spent a couple of days back in the studio painting finally.  I needed to do a little "art therapy" for my well being.  The reference photo for this painting I took a couple of years ago in preparation for Thanksgiving.  I have always loved it and wanted to paint but just couldn't be inspired nor could I figure out if I could pull it off.  I'm very pleased with it and can't wait to delve into another painting.  I need to get back to my self portraits, but first, I have GOT to reorganize the studio.  I had a light fixture fall in the storage room and there is sheetrock dust everywhere I have to clean up.  I have just walked by and ignored it to the point it is making me a bit crazy.  First up today though is baking day.  I'm doing my fruitcake!  I have to, I just HAVE TO for Christmas memories!  There is so much I really need to do here at home, the office and the studio that I have neglected, and a bit more Daddy financial stuff.  Just a bit overwhelmed with financial/business stuff right now that I DO NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH!  Oh well, one day at a time, one project at a time.  Moving on.

Our Final Goodbye

Tomorrow I have to do something I am dreading more than you can imagine.  It's also something we all three agree on, we three siblings.  

Tomorrow, since I am executor of Daddy's will, I will put the final signature on the papers to finalize the sale of Daddy's house, our house, our home.  

We've all three stood by each other through thick and thin.  

This doesn't mean that this decision has been easy but it is what had to be done.  Life moves on.  We've shared many memories and our lives in that house, memories to be cherished forever.

Today we met yet again to recreate this photo...

one last time in front of our family home, to say a final goodbye.

This tree that stands out in the front yard, like the house has seen better days.  Bye tree...Bye house...

It's Wednesday!

Good morning.  It's a fine Wednesday morning.  The sun is shining, the world is still spinning, my world has not changed.  Finally, FINALLY this damn election is over, yet not quite over.  They are still tabulating and that's fine.  I'm good either way the vote goes because I cast my vote, not saying which way because it's none of anyone's business but mine.  Life will go on no matter the outcome.  We will adapt with whatever person is in charge like we have done for how many years.  Life will march on.  I will continue to paint, to play with my granddaughters, work, sleep, eat (way too much), but life will carry on.  

So our youngest daughter, her husband and baby Min have all three contracted Covid.  We were all actually exposed but luckily the oldest daughter and her family, The Hubby and myself have all tested negative (some twice) and we've also been in quarantine 17 days and are quite healthy.  The son-in-law and baby Min got sick first and Af tested negative at first and didn't show symptoms at all and we assumed she was asymptomatic, we were sadly very wrong.  Day 12 I believe of the quarantine, while the first two were nearly well, Af started with her symptoms.  Hers I think were a bit worse in that she has lost her sense of taste and smell.  How odd that must be, I don't know how I could handle that.  She is struggling for sure but is getting a bit better, thank goodness.  

Since we've been out of quarantine and Snicklefritz is still in virtual school I was finally able to request some "SPEND THE NIGHT TIME."  She's been here a couple of nights and days and we've had great fun, eaten some Oreos, made banana pudding for The Hubby, played tons of Uno and watched a bit of television.  Today I take her home because I have a task to do...

Today we meet with the realtor at Daddy's house and officially put it on the market.  I'm having a lot of mixed feelings about that but it is what we must do.  I have the abstract on the house and it has been in my family (grandparents first) since 1953, that's 67 years!  OH MY GOODNESS.  Sadly none of us want to keep the house, why really.  We don't want to rent it out.  Residential renting can be a nightmare and frankly I don't want renters in there that might do more harm.  The reality is that we can make a pretty penny on my parents $10,000 investment and why shouldn't we.  We still have a lot of memories of home, our home and that will carry us through.  I could be sentimental and hang on to it for a "shrine" but that's just not smart.  We have a house in our neighborhood (we've been here 14 years) that the children are not selling, keeping it for a shrine for their parents.  It's falling apart and getting to be an eyesore. Daddy's house already is in need of a great many things, why not let someone else make some memories, or probably what will happen, build a new house.  The lot is HUGE and can accommodate a great new house and it's in an area that is highly desirable right now.  Enough said, it is going to be done.  We have pictures, knick-knacks and tons of memories.  Onward to the future.

I have been painting since in quarantine at home.  Here are my latest:

"Covid Fall"  9x12 oil

"Untitled" 11x14 oil