I at least had my own room; insisted on it. Not like the shenanigans happened there. Especially not when the shenanigan in question put me in a room right next to my parents. Um, NO?

Wow, all of my shenanigans are firmly away from parents. I think they still wondered if I was a lesbian until I moved in with Dan. Despite conversations that included the words "Are you asking if I'm a lesbian? Because I would tell you if I were."

Then again, I've never traveled with my parents.

Takes a strong....something to travel with parents. I've done it twice as an adult and had one hormonal hell meltdown and one make-my-momma-cry episode (and I really, really do not get the latter.)

Good news is, best armed for future travel. Bad news is...well, that part sucked. I got over it.

My parents are totally confused by me. And that's fine. Brother does grandkids. I do...me.

There was an article in a very recent mag (not sure if it was Outside, Backpacking, Frommer's Budget Travel, or Nat'l Geo Adventure) about how many women end up having flings when they travel by themselves, and that often, married women end up leaving their husbands over it.

And - joining the sorority of fling-ers here!

joining the sorority of fling-ers here!

Never done that. My life has been pretty dull. Although, I did lure The Girl to a weekend in Dublin not long after she'd refused to go out with me, during which weekend she changed her mind. :D

F2f is really the closest I've ever come to getting some on the road or anything(Not that I've ever done anything at one that gets outside first base.) No, that's not true...there was one ancient LDR. But I travelled for him instead of meeting him while travelling. But I can't believe I ever liked him now anyway.(Which is not as cold as it sounds...I spent years believing he was too good for me, but you know what? Fuck that. He's a good man(a little square...would not understand the woman the Buffistas know, but he is a quality dude.) But I am a good woman, too. I need someone more comfortable with the weird stuff about me, possibly with dead parents. 2009 was just, like, fine. Could be a lot worse, could be a lot better. Picked up some new fandoms, started scriptwriting...anticipate moving into new markets in '10.

Suela, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that you have been caring for your mother. If you ever want to talk or email or whatever to someone who's been there, feel free to get in touch with me.

Suela, Burrell's offer goes for me, too, if I can help in any way.

Aww, thanks guys. We've hired a home care aide, and my sister & I are tag-teaming on checking in with them, as they're living independently about 20 minutes away. But it's been hard to get them to accept the aide, for a variety of issues. They're really clinging to their independence. (Yes, we tried to get them into assisted living, but they wouldn't go for it.)

I try not to talk about it in public too much, because, well.

I try not to talk about it in public too much, because, well.

Consuela, please tell me if I'm out of line, but... because of what?

Because you need to take care of your elderly mom? Can't see how this is something to hide. You didn't reject her, nor put her in a home away from everything and everyone to be visited twice a year.

You're taking care of you mother, for God's sake. You're not a serial killer (unless you are, and then I hope I never got you angry). You did the good, appropriate, hard and I-can't-even-imagine-how-much-challenging thing.

If anything... if you'll choose to tell people around you about it, I can only hope and understand if they'll be supportive about all of this. If not, they need a clue stick.

IMHO - it takes a village, both as a child and as an elder.

{{}}

You're good, you. Don't let our society's crappy sort-of new ideas about how the body and its aging is something to be embarrassed about to let you done. If anything, you're an example.