The Balance

How do you balance work and home life?

I work at a high school as a para-professional. 99% of the time, I don’t bring work home with me, though there may be a time or two where something affected me and I can’t help but bring it home to journal or vent.

When I get home, it’s all about needing an hour to decompress, as I call it. Go to my room, a quiet place, and just chill. Then, I go and hangout with my baby granddaughter before her daddy gets there and after he leaves so my daughter can continue to do what she needs to do.

I’ll text my fiancé or call him to see how he is doing even though I will send him a text during my break or lunch.

Around 8pm, I start doing what I need to do to get ready for the next day and start all over again.

Great question!

P~

Back to the Grind

First day back to work since last Wednesday. I needed that mental health break. After my brother passed, my granddaughter had an urgent breathing issue. She is good, but she has to take albuterol every 4-6 hours. The doc isn’t diagnosing her with asthma just yet, though it does run in my little family. All three of us, have seasonal asthma and allergies. No fun, especially to see a 9 month old suffering.

I looked in the mirror a little while ago while at work and noticed my eyes are a bit red. The wind has picked up and it’s chilly out. The sun is out and it’s blue sky in my little area of the world in the Metro LA Basin, so that’s a plus.

While I was off work, my daughter, baby granddaughter and I went to see SNOW WHITE. It was better than I expected, the story line anyway, and it even brought tears to my eyes. It was actually funny because one of the Dwarf’s started to cry and he only had one tear, so guess what I thought of? Yep, Rachel Markle and her “one tear, left eye, GO” LMAO. I think they could have gotten a better witch. I love Gal Gadot, but I was not impressed with her acting or singing throughout most of the movie. Only when she turned into the old woman was I impressed as she was scary looking. I think they could have gotten a better Snow White as well, but she was Rachel Zegler did ok. She was better than Gal, but not much. Let me know what you think.

On Saturday afternoon I went to watch my 10 yr old nephew play baseball. It was a lot of fun! His team won, but MAN OH MAN was it an exciting game! His team was ahead, then got behind then tied then WON! HOLY MOLY! I can hardly wait for my granddaughter to be able to start playing softball! I will be her loudest cheerleader!

I was off work yesterday, a student/staff day off. Overall, the days off I had and the weekend were the days I needed. I’m tired today, as I didn’t sleep well last night, but my work day is almost over.

I hope life has been treating you all well.

Until next time….

P~

Curious

Why is it, and I’m just curious, when someone finds out a sibling died, they ask, “ I’m so sorry, where you close?” Huh? What difference does it make? I’m sure they mean well, but that’s never something that I think to ask. Why does it matter? Things that make you go hmmm…

Today

I woke up this morning with you on my mind.

54 years ago you took your first breath and you started to live and thrive your way.

15 days ago, I saw you in the ER with a tube down your throat, blood all over on the blanket you were laying in, asking the nurse questions that she really couldn’t answer. I saw your body twitch, and had hope you were hearing me and acknowledging what I was saying to you.

I visited you ever day I could, spoke to you verbally and Heart to Heart, while holding your hand, rubbing your arm, touching your hair, your face, forehead, and was just amazed at how you looked more like Dad than I realized.

5 days ago, after your Heroes Walk, you took your last breath. I saw you that day, briefly. I wished you a happy birthday from me and my family as well as from our sister, Chelle. I kissed your hand, and walked out of your room, for the last time. On your birthday, you took your last breath.

I still can’t believe you’re gone, but you aren’t really. While I won’t see you physically anymore, or hear your voice except in my heart and memories, you DO live on in others, through your organ and tissue donations. The ULTIMATE, and most unselfish gift someone can give another.

Your soul is soaring, whole and pain free. Your spirit lives within those that were the recipients of the gift you blessed them with.

May you always know how much you were loved here on earth, and now you’re up in the Heavens being welcomed with love and open arms by those that arrived before you. Give a big hug and Hello from me and us down here to our family and friends you see.

You are missed, Mikey, so much. While we didn’t talk every day, I will cherish each and every memory and conversation we had.

Fly with the Angels, Brother. Thank you for being you.

I love you. 💔🙏🏼💚❤️

Yesterday, Ladt Night, This Morning

I left the hospital in the early afternoon, I had said what I thought were my final goodbyes because I was under the impression it was.

I got a text from my older brother asking me if I could meet with my sister in law this morning at 8:30 am at the hospital. Of course I said sure.

I had hope, I thought, did my brother show signs of opening his eyes? Did he make a VOLUNTARY movement? Did he come out of the coma and was sitting up smiling and talking?

I got to the hospital at 8:29am, this morning. When I met with my sister in law , she told me the news. Medical staff had been given the green light to start looking for donor matches, etc, and that within the next 24-48 hours, there will be a Heroes Walk as they wheel my brother to the OR where they will remove the ventilator from ny brother and perform the surgery to harvest his organs.

My bother is 53 years old. Tomorrow would be his 54th birthday. He leaves behind his wife of 20 years this October, his 25 year old daughter, and his 10 year old son.

My brother is an amazing man, made no enemies and would give the shirt off his back for anyone who needed it. He’s a very active parent, who does anything for his kids.

He’s very well loved. ❤️💔😢❤️💔😢

I Held Out For Hope

It’s not to be 💔😢💔😢 My brother will be taking his last breath within the next 24-48 hours as they search for matches and set up the organ donations. He is an organ donor.

Lately…

It’s been mentally exhausting. Last Friday evening, my youngest brother had a medical emergency. Please keep him in your prayers.

Today, my daughter and I are texting with a friend of ours regarding the house she and her siblings inherited from their late father. That whole situation has gone no where and it’s frustrating for my daughter.

We are going to see what can be done ASAP.

I’m tired, but I’m still doing what I got to do, my brother is on my mind, and that alone is a lot.

I hope all is well with you all!

TTFN,

P~