Grandbabies, Retirement, Wedding, Apartment, Survival!

 Wow, chalk another one up to chemo brain - I totally forgot that I had this blog! 

Forgot about this website and that I had ever written one! What a major discovery. And where has the time gone?  I am now in my fifth year of survival from ovarian cancer.  My doctor says that it usually returns in the first two years (if it is going to do so) but that it is official when you hit the 5th year mark. (That will be next summer: 2027). 

What has been happening in these past few years? Well, I moved back to Massachusetts during COVID. Started at a job at a parish office as an administrative assistant and worked my way to communications and sacramental records.  Had an apartment in Hopkinton and then the kiddos bought this house in Natick and are now adding on to it, including an apartment for me. Hopefully, it will be done by Thanksgiving - so, I am actually planning on Christmas. My worldly goods have been in storage for a year now - and I am living in the guest room. (I do have some essentials here with me).

My youngest met a young man at the beginning of the year, they got engaged, she had to have surgery, and planned a wedding that just took place this month! My middle child needed me back in February when her husband had to have surgery again so I went to care for grandbabies. My oldest spent the first half of the year suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (meaning that she was sick throughout her pregnancy) and we welcomed the new little man into our lives in early June! So, in the midst of everything, I finally decided enough was enough and I officially retired on September 11th so that I could once again focus on being Mom and Grammie (to 8!). 

Since I last published: my dog passed away (almost made it to 19 years old!), my Mom passed away (that's been a lot to handle but she did leave me some monies - thank you to my stepdad for taking care of her so well!), and my Momma passed away. (Probably the last time the five of us kids will all be together in one place). Big Bro is the only one who regularly checks in with me. 

Two years ago, my oldest took me on pilgrimage to South Korea! What an amazing experience and an awesome group of people - led by Meg Hunter-Kilmer, Sarah Ku, and Fr. Phil Yang. We have an on-line community still through our Whats App group that Verso Ministries put together for us. 

Finally re-connected at my youngest's wedding with her Godparents - and my besties from the early years of my marriage.  They spent the night with me at the air bnb and helped me take care of the wedding gifts and getting everything together to return home. Now I need to make a concerted effort to renew my correspondence and reach out to people once again.  Every now and then things crop up and remind me that I have totally forgotten and blanked out on events and people whom I have met. 

Still love my K-dramas, K-pop, and still learning to speak, read, and write in Korean. Trying to figure out a routine for me in retirement - and still trying to be of help to my family.  They come first. 

Sincerely, just Me