Well... we started off the day by going to Erway's Market for the breakfast buffet... and looked at all their marvelous plants for sale in the store area. It was awesome. Did a couple things around the house... and I also dug up and transplanted a few plants into pots for the patio. Afterwards, we took a short driving tour (so to speak) of the downtown... then spent the rest of the afternoon visiting with my dad.
Dinner was spent with my niece and her 3 kids... burgers and corn on the cob... peanut butter no-bake cookies... iced tea.... fabulous. Then... back up to visit with my dad again.
All things considered... today was actually fairly pleasant and easy. Not all days are like this.
This seems to be (sort of ) the normal routine as of late (course, usually without the benefit of the extended meals... which I insisted on today)...and it's not that it's a horrible routine... but it is rather exhausting. We have been getting home from the last visit of the day around midnight... give or take... and I haven't been getting to sleep before 3am usually because I am trying to keep up at least with my blog and some photo projects that I am involved in. It is a hard thing to try to keep up with stuff... but at the moment... it is also the only thing keeping me relatively sane.
I suppose I am whining... and that is not my intention... but few people seem to understand how very different this is from my normal life. I have essentially been in PA for 3 months... and I am used to working on my art for hours at a stretch.... having leisurely dates with my hubby...working in my studio.... and here I am in a situation where there is no TV, no radio, rushed meals in between visits to the hospital... having to grab snippets of time to work on a daily photo... and I won't even address the family dynamics. Things have been very stressful and uptight. All families have interesting quirks and characters... mine is no exception.... I just think perhaps that I am more sensitive to it all because I am tired.
The crux of it though... is that I am quickly and definitely heading towards a nervous breakdown of sorts. It's hard to be strong and reliable and completely there for other people 24:7.... and I have made a valiant effort... but I thoroughly need a break... and not just a 3hr escape to the woods (which although it was completely awesome, and completely needed... was just not enough)...
I thank the gods daily for my wonderful hubby... whom I miss very much... who not only knows and understands my family.... but allows me to try to be a "good daughter." Who... understand me... (and still loves me)....I hope to spend much more time with him in the future.....
*all photos by Elaine A. Russell