Oh No Sheryl! much health~ma to your mom and Gary's dad.

Matilda's birthday seems like an awesome one for turning 15.

My grandmother isn't doing well. She's 101. this is expected but she's sleeping a lot and not eating. It's looking more and more likely that the next time I'm in Florida will be for her funeral not for a visit. I'm sad but I also know I'm incredibly lucky to have a grandparent in my life for 48 years. The last time I saw her she could remember me but not much else.

I don't know what will happen about her funeral with Covid, I know that lots of people will want to come. Growing up it could feel difficult sometimes having a last name that means you are related to everyone else with the same last name. I would hear "oh are you related to" and brace for it being my dad or one of my uncles. But there were plenty more people who would say "are you related to Mrs E? she was my 3rd grade teacher/Sunday School teacher/dear friend of my mother/we went to church together. Your grandmother is a wonderful lady (or some variation)".

I want to see her again and hug her. But I really want to have a chance to visit with who she was not who she is now.

My big vacation to Florida is Oct 15 but I don't know what will happen between then and now, I briefly talked to the HR manager about this and she said not to worry about it the scheduling and things would be figured out. I don't have anything nice to wear that fits well. I need to call my aunt tomorrow.

I'm sorry about all the ailing elders, and wishing them well.

I have no clue about my geneology but it would be a good bet on Scots-Irish, since that's what nearly all the hill folk are where I'm from. No other country eager to take me in. And at past-prime work age, they don't want me anyway. H has a straight line to Ukraine, but he'd rather tough it out here than go there. And, really, we'll probably be gone before the real cataclysm gets going.

Yikes Sheryl! Best of luck.

Askye, when we visited my grandma in her tiny town people would look at us kids if we were alone and say “oh you must be (my last name)s!” Because we do all look alike.

Went to a soccer game, it rained a lot. I think I need a bigger rain coat, which is depressing/disturbing since I bought this one when I got too big for my last one!!

JZ I haven’t been to mass in years but that sounds awesome. I miss singing.

Cashmere, I had a delightful conversation yesterday with a good friend who moved to Soajo, in the north of Portugal last January. He and his wife are retired and they are loving it.

I will never retire and I'm not much of an outdoors person, but J & K are overjoyed with the hiking and gorgeous national parks nearby.

Their biggest problem is a herd of wild horses that routinely break into their garage. So far, no damage to the car, but a few sanitation issues. If you know what I mean.

They had looked into Ireland because J has direct family ties, but the peacefulness and cost of living are far more attractive in Portugal. I could not agree more.

In fact, J thinks my biggest problem is going to be a need for patience with slow pace of things. Trust me. I will adapt.

That's a lot, Sheryl. Sending healing thoughts all round.

I'm sorry, askye. It's hard when you know your loved one is ready, but you aren't ever going to be ready.

Portugal sounds lovely. I can't see DH choosing to live permanently far from family despite his globe trotting youth. Maybe I could talk him into extended visits elsewhere but that is about it.

Best wishes for all the ailing elders. I realized - several times over - that my next birthday I'll be 70. I don't FEEL that old ... I think the Buffistas help keep me young in attitude.

I can't think of another country that would have me - my mother was doing the genealogy thing and it seems the last time anyone immigrated was in the 1790s. One from Ireland and one from France. Otherwise, I seem to be descended from people who were on the losing side of every political, social and religious dispute in various areas of Europe. Plus the great-grandmother who was Native American of some sort - I'm suspecting Choctaw since she came from the reservation in North Carolina. Whatever ... I'm not eligible for any other country.

that my next birthday I'll be 70. I don't FEEL that old

I know I have told this before, but when I was about 9 I asked an older neighbor what it was like to be old. She was probably younger than I am now! Anyway, I still remember her answer. She said she was the same person she was in her youth, it was only how other people treated her that had changed.

I may have pushed another person to get vaccinated. Was talking with one of my nurses this morning. She is in very rural Georgia and I talk to her pretty often. She mentioned that she had some staff out from exposure to Covid. We got to talking about how bad it was, particularly in her region. She mentioned a 20-year-old recently lost. I told her I was getting my booster tomorrow and she asked if I minded telling her which one I took. I let her know that I had Moderna, DH had Pfizer, and my son had J&J. She then asked about our side effects. I told her the truth of course that Brendon and I had none, but that my son was sicker than a dog. Also shared my theory that younger people have a harder time, but of course, it is still way better than Covid. She said that she was by no means an anti-vaxxer, but she was hesitant and afraid. We talked some more and she ended up saying that she thought she would go ahead and get it this week to surprise her doctor who is out of the office until Friday. Her doctor has been asking her regularly if she has done it yet, but hasn't forced the staff to do so. I think the final straw was knowing several people who have died and knowing that she could pass it to the patients in her care without even knowing.

So, maybe one more jab in Georgia. (I'll ask her next time I talk with her!)

Oh exciting, fingers crossed Laura!!

Askye, I'm so sorry. This is one of those situations where any decision you make will be the right decision AND it will still hurt.

My father is the second of eight from a fairly small town. There are still a few circumstances where I introduce myself as "Bill's oldest." THEN I'll say my name.

Good work, Laura!