Shhh…. I have a secret

‘Officially ‘ started my dissertation- hello to no real life for at least a year.

Mom’s birthday was yesterday. She would have been 91. She’s been gone since Thanksgiving 2020, and it has been 6+ years since I last saw her. Not my choice, my rotten siblings. Another story for another day. Yesterday was hard, though. I miss my mom. There are so many things that I wish I could talk to her about. Or my dad. But he’s been gone since 2003. He had a rapid form of Alzheimer’s—less than 4 years from the beginning of symptoms to death. The last 2 years were brutal.

I was Dad’s favorite. He tried not to show it, but I knew. He was a great man, and I have always wanted to be a parent like him. Like mom, too, I guess, but she was a typical Norwegian mom- all about the boy. My brother could do no wrong. Although I doubt that she knew he was dealing in high school, mainly pot, still in the late 70’s this was not exactly legal. Nor was it when he added other ‘light’ drugs in the mid 80’s. I assume he hasn’t dealt in years, possibly decades, but I don’t really know him anymore. By choice- mine.

Almost finished with my book. Hard to find time to work on it while keeping up with my dissertation timeline. Afterall, my book timeline went to hell.

Going on a cruise at the end of March. I have never been on anything larger than a glass bottom boat when we were in Hawaii when I was 16. Well, unless you count a ferry in the Sound. Hopefully, I won’t get seasick. We’ll be gone almost a month in total—24-day cruise, and a day before and a day after for flight times. I’m excited to go- hubby and I have never taken an actual vacation alone. Scared because I am leaving my kids at home for a long period of time. Yes, they are adults, but three with autism, another with anxiety and depression…. Thank goddess for my daughter-in-law! I suspect she will be in charge.

Not to mention I will have to continue with my dissertation the entire time. Hopefully, chapters two and three…

Christmas is in 15 days. Eek! Two weeks.

I have two kids that are notoriously hard to buy for. One is the worst! He has no real hobbies and collects nothing. He’s getting a fan for his laptop. And, goddess only knows what else. Everyone keeps coming to me to ask ‘what should I get him?’ I give the same answer, ‘I have no idea.’ Helpful, I know.

What to get my husband? Seahawks are his passion? But, let’s face it, as a football team, they aren’t doing well. Haven’t for a while. I mean their coach basically was fired and demoted to a college team. And the new coach is from a college team.

How only other real interest is KISS. I think that has been done to death. Last count was something like 10 shirts.

We really need to think about doing some ‘Swedish Death Cleaning’. To much crap. It is hard to let go of things that one has had forever. But, I have boxes I haven’t opened since we moved from AZ in 1998, six moves ago. Maybe it’s time to let some of it go.

Oregon is requiring everyone get a new ID/License by the 7th of May. ‘Real ID’. They have been talking about it since 2020, and keep pushing the day back. I think we are like one of the last states to require it. Oregon- behind the times.