Sounds like...fun? Or at least hilarity!

Interesting family story: my cousin Robin's (my first babysitter) first political campaign was for George McGovern in SD. Her parents were quite active in local politics (both served at mayor of Brookings at various points), and they got to know him personally.

Anyway fast forward to his twilight years. Robin's daughter Marley became his personal assistant, traveling companion and trusted family friend the last few years of his life, and in fact had to have him medivac-ed after one of his final falls. She rode with him. At the time she was offered the position, neither were aware that the family connection was well over 40 years old. They got a good laugh over that fact. She was 'just' a congressional staffer well known for her mental health advocacy (she lobbied for and was one of the poster kids for the parity act on Capitol Hill starting when she was 16 and newly diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, which later lead to the staff positions, etc.)

Also? she was just 27 when he died and had been working with him for 3 years. She just amazes me,before I even take into account her ongoing struggle with the bipolarism.

Oh and she and her boyfriend are basically houseparents to 4 sudanese refugee kids 10-3 yrs old. The family includes mom and grandma, but both are functionally illiterate in english and work full+ time PLUS english classes, so they've taken on running the household and making sure they get all the services they need. And it is a whole family deal. Robin was picking up the grandmother today to take her to get fitted for glasses at her eye place. And she counts the kids same as her step-grandkids, grandma as her peer and the mother like her own daughter.

It's like a marysue family except I know they are real and don't expect anything in return.

Wow sarameg, her story is both inspiring and humbling.

She sounds incredible, sarameg.

Yup. And I still remember when she was a drooly baby with milk-cheeks demanding 'BESOS!'

Robin's my second or third cousin, she landed at NMSU for a semester in 1974 and saw my mom's full name (with maiden, which is also hers) in a LWV thing and so called her up to see if there was a relation. Sure enough. Mom became her surrogate big sister and Robin decided to stay at NMSU. I adored Robin from the time I was born and when as young as 3, was always lobbying to sleepover at her apartment (in reality, mom picked me up after I fell asleep, but Robin and I'd eat popcorn and play games until I conked out. I still associate her with jellybeans and popcorn.)

She met Marley's dad and they married and moved around the corner from us. I was always running over there. Later, M's dad went off the reservation (he was also bipolar, but never sought treatment) and she moved back to SD when M was 4. I cried so hard when she left, though even then I understood.

Ack. Was having lovely time with ex-roomie, in the national park in an adorable 1926 cabin, with fire and s'mores...until we saw a mouse run under the bed. And both of us last night woke up thinking we'd felt something move. So now we are convinced mice are running amok over our sleeping bodies tonight, and are afraid we won't be able to sleep.

But mice are so cute! If I had to pick a species I'd like to have running amok over my sleeping body, it would be mice. I mean, consider the alternatives - cockroaches, those nasty little lizards...

Real nice, flea! But also, yes -- they're practically kittens.

Hope you got some sleep, meara.

My body is trying to kill me today.

Too late for last night, but do a search for mice repellent app for your phone. I haven't used them, but the insect ones work great.

They also hate peppermint oil if that is an option.

And you wake minty-fresh!