tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-230424872024-03-14T15:31:18.925+05:30 Life on a HillUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger466125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-62578534036838533872023-10-04T19:13:00.004+05:302023-11-02T16:43:11.298+05:30Grief<p> There have been a few deaths of people I know, in our town, in the past month. The last was a fellow Libra, a senior colleague and a teacher of my children. I knew her well.</p><p>When I looked at her children, somehow I remembered the passing of my own mother--which was very sudden-- and the passing away of my son. I remember thinking, especially after my son passed away, life has to go on and all the friends and relatives go immediately back to their lives, because that is the way it is, that is what life is all about, although what went through my mind were the words of the song, "Why does the sun go on shining, why does the sea wash the shore? Don't they know it's the end of the world, it ended when you said goodbye".</p><p> All of us who lose someone close, have to swim, wade, push through the grief, accepting that the sun will shine, life will go on, good things and bad will happen willy nilly and those of us left behind are still alive and will go on living. I remember thinking I could not strum my guitar ever again. But slowly, one laughs again, remembers the good times and then one day you know you have reached the shores of grief, no longer drowning. The hurt of the loss gets a keloid around it, and I am living the best life I can. Living the best life does not diminish the love for the one gone though. Memories will always remain. But yes the earth turns and the universe continues to exist and accepting that is the only way to get to the shoals of grief and come out on the sands of life, to walk the path ahead.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-29307226378488167932023-01-29T22:48:00.000+05:302023-01-29T22:48:17.848+05:30<p> As the days come closer to the death anniversary of my son, the images come up in my mind's eye, so sharp, though 10 years ago. His last days in the hospital, his last visit home in January 2013, all those images are imprinted in my memory. So many memories, if I let myself think, come crowding, He suffered a great deal of pain in the 39 years he lived. But he also had a lot of fun. His tongue was his weapon. But so much of the teasing he did of others was accepted by them because he was equally ready to laugh at any jokes anyone else made about him. </p><p>As he was my eldest, I did expect a lot from him, and we argued a great deal. But, as he and I grew older, we got to let go the small stuff. </p><p>Ah well, I realise I will never stop missing him. Hopefully his musical fun loving spirit is in a happy place.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-29884444698207878102023-01-24T20:07:00.009+05:302023-01-24T20:10:35.275+05:30Encounter with an owl<p> The other morning I heard a big hullabaloo in the tree right outside my verandah. It was barely 7 am. Normally the crows are not so raucous and don't gather together so early. Also, a couple of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufous_treepie" target="_blank">Rufus treepies</a> were screeching away, not their normal whistles. </p><p>So I went out to see. The crows were all together on the tree just next to the house. At first I thought it was an injured pigeon the crows were harassing. But when I looked closely it was an owl. It looked a light grey in colour and was fairly big. I chased the crows away and there the owl sat looking down at me and gulping away. We looked at each other for a long moment. I went inside to get my phone, thinking I would photograph the owl. Sadly, as soon as I pointed the phone, the owl flew away. At first it looked like one of it's wings was not quite ok. But once it had taken wing the owl righted itself, flying to the trees at a distance from the house. soon after, there was a flash of smaller grey flying after it. This made me wonder if it had been a mother owl with her owlet, which the crows had chased. Seeing the owl at that time of the morning and hearing the protesting cries of the crows, must have frightened the treepies. Hence all the noise. </p><p>Anyway, the owl seemed grateful for the help in getting rid of her harassers. The look that passed between us will stay with me a long time.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-27519465849715646462023-01-20T21:06:00.000+05:302023-01-20T21:06:20.965+05:30An iinteresting evening.<p> A release of a book of poetry by an old friend of my college days, but who, later in her avatar as English teacher, taught my three children. The book has been illustrated by an old student of hers, one of my eldest's classmates. One of her ex-students was on the dais too, as he has become a well know script writer. She has written poems as tributes to various people, one of whom is my eldest who passed away.</p><p> She was a much loved teacher, who was passionate about her subject, enjoying what she taught. She was and still is in love with her subject and is always interested in the lives of her students. An interesting evening, with some lovely poetry reading by family members and the author herself.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-58827231644508903132023-01-12T19:59:00.000+05:302023-01-12T19:59:27.272+05:306 weeks in Chicagoland<p> We had a lovely 6 weeks in Chicagoland , in October, with a wedding in Colorado in between. This is in spite of a visit from Covid and sudden, freezing cold. </p><p>The wedding was great fun, a nephew's wedding. It is the first time I am attending a wedding in the US. All the festivities were outdoors. The wedding itself was unique, because, at the appointed time, just as the bridegroom was walking in, there was a downpour and a hail storm at that! Luckily a tent had been set up for the food. So everyone took shelter in the tent and the bar tenders kindly handed out cocktails early. So, by the time that was over and the wedding could take place--now in bright sunshine--most guests were quite happy and not too cold.<br /></p><p>But post the wedding, quite a few of the extended family tested positive for Covid, though everyone had it quite mild.</p><p>I had my birthday in Chicagoland with my son and family.</p><p>It was a tug to leave them and come back home. Hopefully they can visit this year.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-48780684009740321712022-08-25T20:18:00.003+05:302022-08-25T20:18:52.208+05:30Up coming Trip<p> We are going to be visiting the US again and I must say I am super excited! Firstly, we haven't seen my son and family (except for his daughter, who came for a very short visit recently) for over 3 years. Besides, one of my nephews is getting married and we will be attending the wedding. So that gives me an opportunity to see family who I have not seen for even longer than 3 years. I am really looking forward to the trip. </p><p>My suitcases will shortly be retrieved from storage and I will start packing slowly, although we leave only towards the end of September. Packing for the trip is part of the fun.</p><p>Looking forward to our trip and hoping all will go well.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-88488649848776477532022-06-20T20:51:00.001+05:302022-06-20T20:51:12.405+05:30<p> My grandchildren, now teenagers, occasionally come to stay, usually with their parents, but once in a while on their own. </p><p>In the past 4 or 5 months I have had my older grandson, now 17 come and stay for a few days, and last weekend, he and his sister had come to stay.</p><p>Yes, the food they want is different, yes old grandpa and grandma's normal routine gets changed. But, when they leave I'm "bluer than blue" . Suddenly the house seems full and brings back so many memories of when my children were growing up.</p><p>I hope my grandkids will always feel welcome here and will enjoy coming by, even later on, as they grow away from their own homes and sttike out on their own.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-84603896887701645892022-02-08T21:51:00.000+05:302022-02-08T21:51:11.402+05:30<p> And so it has been 9 years since my eldest passed away. Yesterday was his 9th death anniversary. In the Orthodox Christian tradition prayers are said at the grave. </p><p>Time has flown and life goes on. My other children and I discuss how, if he was still here during this pandemic, he would have been so fearful for his family and would have been handing out instructions left right and centre on the best ways to protect oneself etc (he was paranoid about illness). He always worried for everyone else. But his humour kept him sane.</p><p>Missing a person who has passed never quite goes away. It hurts physically less. But sometimes, unexpectedly, I find myself missing him intensely.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-64621391430776373672022-01-31T15:48:00.000+05:302022-01-31T15:48:07.473+05:30Golden Anniversary<p> It was our 50th wedding anniversary early this month. My husband and I had decided on having a quiet anniversary with just daughters and daughter-in-law and kids.</p><p>But two of my husband's siblings decided otherwise and held a surprise dinner party for us. Covid added a spoiler in changing the venue, but thankfully caused no other problems.</p><p>As my husband has/had 7 siblings, just his siblings and their families means a lot of people. There was just my husband's family and my eldest brother, who spends half the year here. But that added up to around 50 people, which included all the grandkinds ranging in age from a 1 year old to an 18 year old. Many out-of-towner nieces and nephews very sweetly adjusted their schedules and stayed on specially for the event. Unfortunately my youngest son and family were not able to make it from Chicago, because of the surge of Covid cases at the end of last year and the beginning of this year in the US. We really missed them.</p><p>I had guessed that something had been planned but it was a total surprise to my husband and he was very touched by all the preparation. There were some speeches and some singing [in our family there is no event sans some singing] and good food. The weather was pleasant too. So a good time was had by all. Luckily it did not turn out to be a pandemic super spreader, for which we are truly grateful.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-1131494682740474572021-12-27T20:41:00.002+05:302021-12-27T20:41:26.040+05:30<p> So another Christmas has come and gone. I was not as Grinchy as I am normally (yes I really am a grinch about Christmas since my children grew up and left the nest). We had a Christmas Eve get together not usual around here, as most people are on Lent till Christmas morning and 2 out of 3 of my family were here. But, since I am a reluctant and lazy cook, at the end of it I am <b>totally</b> cooked out! I can't bring myself to do any sort of cooking for a while.</p><p>On another note, the news from all over the world seems so depressing these days, I do not want to read the newspapers. I find I have been hiding my head in fiction, the lighter the better, or it has to be fantasy. But then again, one never knows how life can suddenly change, fate always working mysteriously. So here I am hoping that 2022 would be an improvement on 2021/</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-75233036542844185332021-10-25T15:58:00.001+05:302021-10-25T15:58:29.283+05:30<p><span style="font-family: arial;">I turned 70 in the first week of this month--October. I was lucky to have a lovely birthday with those of my children who are around, at a beautiful beach side resort. As a result of the Covid scenario, we turned out to be the only guests at the resort! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I am truly, truly grateful to my daughter, who made me a beautiful playlist of songs, organised the stay and best of all, composed a song for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As I grow older I realise, often I forget the age I am, more so when I listen to music. But at times, although the mind is raring to go, the body is not quite up to it. I am deeply grateful for all the loving relationships I have. I am also grateful for each day of health and for life in an area where nature is mine to appreciate and up close. The joy of hearing birdsong, watching brilliant sunrises and sunsets, seeing the seasons change is wonderful. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The world around me and all it's happenings do get me down. But, now I feel I will let the youngsters change the world to fit them better. I wish that I may make even one person happy by an action of mine, each day that I have left in this world.</span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-79970276760520436632021-08-13T20:42:00.000+05:302021-08-13T20:42:24.675+05:30<p> Recently my grandson came and stayed with us for around 3 weeks. For 2 weeks the whole family was here. But he decided to stay on for another week. Since they are all schooling from home, and since anyway he couldn't go out to play, he figured it was better to stay on here, as there is a great deal of greenery and space around,. Now, he has stayed with us very often, when he was little. But, since he turned a teenager, it has been a long while since he stayed with us by himself. </p><p>My husband and I found ourselves thoroughly enjoying his company, when he was not studying, and since he is in high school, he has a great deal of work. His conversation was interesting and oh. how I missed him when he went back home. I found myself moping around as I used to when my children first went off to university.</p><p>I am so glad that he thought of staying on with us for a week.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-26167534448022424202021-03-08T19:43:00.003+05:302021-03-08T19:43:40.923+05:30Vaccinations<p> So the vaccinations in India have been rolled out for senior citizens. My husband and I had our first shot today. There has been a rush to register online to get the vaccines. Today, at the centre we went to, there were 100 people waiting for the vaccine. But we do not have drive by vaccination centres. Besides, they make each person wait half and hour after the shot, to know if anybody has any adverse reaction, which was reassuring for amny with allergies or other issues.</p><p>But the guidelines are that masking and hand washing have to continue. But then I guess masking, if one as a cold is always a good idea and maybe folks will get used to putting on a mask if one has a cold. In our state, as masking is mandatory, you rarely see anyone in a public space without a mask. I guess masking up will become a way of life or maybe that is just a hope. </p><p>Anyway here is hoping that this virus will slowly become controlled.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-9554579122898072272021-02-10T21:58:00.004+05:302021-02-10T21:58:56.915+05:30<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">I had a little baby staying here with his mum and older sister. Having a baby in the house, as well as a young child makes you wake up to the wonder of life. For a baby everyday is a new discovery and adding to his experiences. Watching children also made me feel the ephemeral quality of a day, minute, second! So much happens with each new day. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The baby's older sister at times wanted time to stand still as she felt that being small seemed to get more attention. I am sure many people would like time to stand still. But no, each day goes by and we move into another day, month, year and then decades pass. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The three year old asked me if I had ever been her age and when I said I had, I could see her trying to comprehend that idea and then wrestle with the possiblity that she too might get to be as old as me!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Well, as time rushes by, I hope I can spread some love and light in someone else's life as my December comes.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-4917904506095940132021-01-05T20:53:00.004+05:302021-01-05T20:53:44.785+05:30<p> So 2020--the year of chaos and uncertainaties--is over. As matters stand, Covid 19 is still very much around. But at least now the silver lining to the clouds is definitely shining, what with the many vaccines being tested. Presumably the many vaccines will bring down transmission of the virus. Certainly hope 2021 will be a look up from last year.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-51481740412539841802020-07-12T14:49:00.000+05:302020-07-12T14:49:05.140+05:30Pandemic bluesAs the pandemic seems to be increasing by leaps and bounds in my country and my state ( which had earlier managed to control the spread pretty well), I started getting the blues thinking about what the future holds for younger people and for economies of the world as a whole, where those already way down the income line, are suffering and will suffer the most. I, for one, am comfortable with the idea that I may die with Covid. But that does not make anything better for the rest of the world.<br />
So now I work harder on keeping myself away from the blues with my ususal activities--listening to music (top on the list), exercise, reading and playing mindless computer games. I also realise I am very lucky to have lots of fresh air and so many trees around me. I am truly grateful for what I have. I only pray for all my kids and grandkids and all the youngsters I know.<br />
Stay safe everyone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-965352306427040632020-05-08T12:37:00.002+05:302020-05-08T12:39:08.916+05:30Last 13 yearsI came across <a href="http://newgranny.blogspot.com/2007/12/hip-hop-grandmom-asked-me-to-take-on.html" target="_blank">this blog post of mine posted in 2007.</a> It was a tag that <a href="http://hiphopgmom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hiphop grandmom</a>, a blogger I read frequently, had asked me to do.<br />
When I read that list and realise too that I will now turn 70 next year, I think of what I have achieved from that and think of how much water has flowed under the bridge in those years.<br />
The list then, and what I have managed out of that--(my achievements are in green and what I didn't achieve is in red and the in between is in yellow.)<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">1. Travel to South America. I love Latin music and Brazilian music particularly--what i've heard of it. (But I'm willing to take Thailand.) <span style="color: lime;"> </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>South America is almost certainly out now, what with Covid-19 circling the globe and likely to remain so for another 2 to 3 years (optimistically). But I did get to go near Thailand when my children gifted me a trip to Langkawi off the Thai coast, for my 60th birthday.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">2. Hope to see the birth of at least one more grandchild, preferably more! <span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Have seen the birth of 4 more grandkids</b></span> 😊</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">3. Maybe go for one spa treatment. <b><span style="color: #274e13;">Did that, again a gift from the kids for a Mother's Day around 10 years back.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">4. Lose around 10 kgs (ok let's get realistic here--5 kgs atleast). <b><span style="color: #274e13;">I have been able to lose, since then, around 15 kgs. (Pat myself on the back, for what I thought was totally no possible).</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">5. Be more active in working with under-privileged children. <b><span style="color: #990000;">Yes and no. Not good enough.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">6. Learn to take negative criticism better--without feeling like I'm the most useless thing around. <b><span style="color: #bf9000;">Getting there. Much better now.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">7. Learn to be firm. <b><span style="color: #990000;">Not really</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">8. Hope to get the better of my procrastination. <b><span style="color: #38761d;">I realise I procastinate depending on how important the thing I am procrastinating about is to me.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px;">There have been many ups and downs in those years. But I am still here, much greyer now, and the realisation that I am certainly not growing younger and now, with Covid-19 around, that life is probably never ever going to be the same again, certainly not in my lifetime.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-91922783277427883262020-04-29T10:43:00.002+05:302020-04-29T10:43:35.659+05:30So goes lockdown.I was asked by a friend to keep some record for my children during this long drawn out holiday. She is making journals for each of her three children, with photos, cards and other memorablia. But for me, I find just cooking ( I am a slow and reluctant cook), cleaning and other household chores leave me very little time other than for my exercise--an absolute must for me and a bit of time at the computer. So I decided I would, at least occasionally, update my blog as a record.<br />
This time of Covid-19 is weird and mostly I try to keep worry and general gloominess out of my mind by staying in the moment during my work and, very often, by listening to music, which can be anything from oldies, to Western classical to jazz, depending on my mood. Music really is a balm to the soul. <br />
If I let myself go, I worry about what the future holds for my children and grandchildren. When will I be able to see again my son and family who live in the US? But no, I try to push these away and try to stay in the moment--Zen. When anybody says, 'Let's plan this or that' I say, 'Please let's just live one day at a time now. Truly we do not know what tomorrow may bring.' This virus has really made this clear to us that each minute is new and who knows what the next minute or hour may bring.<br />
Peace to all and may everyone stay safe.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-54157902260851014352020-03-24T16:04:00.000+05:302020-03-24T16:04:43.123+05:30Lockdown and IntrovertsA blog friend I follow said that this time was perfect for Introverts! That is so true. I am enjoying being at home, pottering about, reading, watching nature and just being silent. The only thing I miss is not being able to visit my daughter and family who live only around 2 hours away. <br />
I exercise using YouTube, as I have almost always done, I take my dogs out for a walk and that is possible because I am privileged to live in a gated community which is largely made up of extended family; I chat with my kids abroad online, as I would be doing anyway. But the best part is not having to get dressed up to go for any kind of social functions! That is really bliss. I suppose though, that even I might feel like dressing up after maybe another 2 to 3 months of this! At present though, I am enjoying my downtime. May you enjoy yours.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-87688370940526427022020-03-05T20:30:00.000+05:302020-03-09T12:27:08.013+05:30Viruses respect no one.Once again nature shows us humans--who think that they are God's gift to the world--how helpless we really are when nature decides to get going. Here is a virus going around and spreading all over the world and killing many and all of humanity watches and hopes that they and their loved ones won't be among those who get ill.<br />
In the midst of this danger, I do wish we would all really come to appreciate our common humanity. Whatever the colour of our skin, whatever religion we profess, whatever party we might support, whatever caste, we belong to, whatever our economic status, the virus can catch any of us and the people who die, die irrespective of these divisions that people have made. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-74941330321575136392020-02-01T18:10:00.000+05:302020-02-01T18:10:06.659+05:30And so it's 2020Finally, my husband and went for a very short holiday just before Christmas with the two grandkids that live the nearest. We went to a beach and the children (14 & 10) and the both of us had a good time, playing Uno, Monopoly, getting in the water and eating seafood.<br />
After that there was a mega family wedding, which took up about 10 days of time from around 28th of December till January 7th, by which time schools had reopened and I was back at work. But the wedding was generally fun though a bit exhausting, especially since continuous dressing up is not something I enjoy.<br />
Now, my eldest's death anniversary is coming up. It will be 7 years since he passed away. But all the memories remain so fresh and then again, with all the pictures and videos out there on the Web, the memories are kept alive. I wonder whether that is good or bad. The pictures that my mind has stored are always there and so very sharp still. But sometimes, I do go and look at all his pictures in Facebook and the videos of him on Youtube, though the latter is much the more painful and than just looking at photos. Ah but missing him is always going to be there, a part of my life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-4071327725792497522019-12-01T13:16:00.001+05:302019-12-01T13:16:30.158+05:30December again.And so it is December of yet another year. Once, in my early years of blogging, and when I was 10 years younger, I would have redone my blog in Christmas colours pretty soon after the start of December, though I never put up my tree or decorated the house till the middle of December.<br />
Since none of my children are coming for Christmas this year, I doubt that I will put up the tree. I might just add a bit of decorations here and there and for sure I will hang up the star! No house in Kerala is left without a star in December!<br />
So, my husband and I are thinking of going somewhere for Christmas this once instead. We still haven't planned. Have to start thinking.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-36660537244928799482019-10-06T11:15:00.001+05:302019-10-06T11:15:31.551+05:30October 5th, 46th birthday.Yesterday was my eldest's birthday. He would have been 46. He was a person who left so many happy memories, in spite of all the bodily trials he had to go through. He is still so much a part of our lives and the lives of his family and friends. Mostly we can talk about him without grief, because he was a whole human being, with good and bad and he was one who acknowledged his faults pretty well. But sometimes, knowing he is not there overwhelms me and I recall an article I read about grief and how it comes at unexpected times and then just takes over you. I now accept that grief as a part of my life, but I also remember him with happiness.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-38235953827227266932019-08-23T20:02:00.000+05:302019-08-23T20:03:53.822+05:30Back HomeI am now back at home after 7 weeks. My dogs were ecstatic to have me back. But I am still missing my son and family and all my feathered and furry friends. I have written about them over on my '<a href="https://hillgrandmom-nature.blogspot.com/2019/08/backyard-birds-in-chicagoland.html" target="_blank">Beauty around me</a>' blog and will be putting pictures there too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23042487.post-11612261627469285432019-08-21T01:05:00.002+05:302019-08-21T01:05:48.943+05:30Bye Chicago<br />And so it is out last day here. My grandkids have gone back to school. So we go back home. Leave takings are always sad and I can already feel the missing. I will miss too, the beautiful area around here to walk, the beautiful sunsets and all the wildlife--birds, squirrels and the occasional chipmunk.<br />
It's been a good summer. Wonder when we will be able to come back. I guess if my husband and I remain healthy we can think of returning after a year or two.<br />
Goodbye Chicagoland and all my furry friends.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0