Topic: Went Where? Did What?
Sami’s birthday came and went. She is 14 now. A half-year away from getting her working permit and only two years away from driving. We have been practicing the "driving thing" in the cemetery.
She's getting a pretty good handle o
n it, although is a little lead footed, or.... perhaps I am overly paranoid. I was a speed demon as a teen and I'm surprised I made it through those years alive, not to mention without one single speeding ticket. When I'm not in control of that wheel though, I hate speed. I am probablly one of the worst backseat drivers you will ever meet, although I do bite my tongue 75% of the time. With Sam though, I don't, I constantly want her to go about 15 mph and want her to hold that foot on the break so she can be prepared. Ok, yes, I am the paranoid one.... I'll admit, paranoia will destroy ya...
Samantha's birthday celebration this year was another milestone. She had another sleepover – only this time we held it at a local Comfort Inn & Suites. I had 75% discount coupon off of two rooms (which actually equalled 150.00 off and only a 
35.00 charge) due to a bad experience at another Comfort Inn last year, so I took advantage of that and what a wonderful idea it turned out to be! We had adjourning rooms, one room for 8 girls and one for little ole me. It was the perfect set-up, giving them some privacy, yet close enough so I could keep an eye (or an ear) on the group of teens. They didn’t do too badly, believe it or not, only one "talking-to" from hotel employees. Running in the halls.... after my warning fell on deaf ears. There was an indoor pool where the kids swam, an exercise room and just the excitement of being at a hotel kept the kiddo’s hopping. 
I thought of some fun games, which weren't too childish, yet kept them busy. One was simply throwing a metal object into the pool and the first to come up with it got a $1.00. I thought nothing of giving out the dollar to each winner, but they sure did! The value of a dollar at that age.... huh? Because they were 14 (most) they were able to swim without adult supervision and I headed upstairs to brainstorm ideas for a charades game, whic
h we ended up playing most of the night, from about eleven until 1 a.m.. As usual, they only slept about an hour, but I got some unexpected sleep and we did have until 11 a.m. to check out and no clean up! I’d do it again in a millisecond. No more sleepovers at home. Even if I have to pay full price, it is well worth the money.
Christmas is on the horizon and plans are coming at me quickly. I am just not in the spirit, basically because of money. I’ve decided that this year I am sending Sami on the Amtrak to my Mom’s for her 10 day vacation. This will be my first year not with her, but I don’t feel too badly about it because, like I said, I’m not really in the spirit anyway. It’s time for her to visit Nana, Grampa and her Aunties again and Christmas is only once a year. It's such a big event in our family and I don't want her to have to miss the excitement of the Christmas traditions she has grown to love and that I cherish, living in a very large family. I’d go myself, and I’m sure I’d enjoy myself once I got there, but I just can’t afford it this year. I could afford the trip itself, for it’s not too expensive for Amtrak, or I could even drive, it’s mostly that I can’t afford all the gifts entailed in the visit.
Work is steady and I’ve actually been getting a little bit of overtime each week, due to vacations of other employee’s this month. I also had gotten a 2nd job taking care of an older woman on by days off. HAD, being past tense. I went in last Monday, to supposebly train and learn the woman's regular morning schedule. I was actually left alone, after about 15 minutes of explanation. I was left to give out meds (which I'm not even sure I'm supposed to do and was not comfortable doing, told to give her insulin shots (which I have never done and ended up asking her husband to do it), left to help her stay continant (which was no big deal) and basically keep her company. I showed her my cross-stitch and told her about my life. I mentioned that I liked to read and that I thought it would be a great ritual to read a good book together, a chapter per visit. She couldn't see well enough to watch TV or read herself anymore and I really thought she would enjoy this... and I had just happened upon the "Perfect" book for her, at Becky's. The book, Saving Grace, takes place in her generation and is quite touching. We enjoyed the chapter, it seemed... but about 6 hours after I left that day she apparently fell into a dementia of some sort, with emotional problems. My first immediate thought was that I brought the emotional issues on by reading the book to her. I wondered if maybe the reminiscing was just a bit too much? But.... and thank heavens.... me being there that day was just a coincidence. They are calling it "venticular dementia" which does appear suddenly. She is in the hospital now, but her granddaughter says that she probably will need long-term care now, so the new job is out.
Just taking things one day at a time..... still.