Life Is Ever Changing

Just when you think you've got things figured out, life throws you a curve ball.  This week my mother went into the hospital. She fell in her home and had to be sent to the hospital by ambulance.  The doctor told us she would not be able to live on her own ever again.  

It's difficult to watch your people you love age.  I don't feel like I'm fifty six, but there you are.  I am the youngest in my family.  I remember so much of when I was growing up.  My father was not really home a lot when I was a kid.  He was in Okinawa during the Viet Nam war.  He did three tours of duty.  As I got older he was still employed by the government and was away a lot.  My mother raised six children mostly on her own.  She is the strongest woman I know.  She had to bear the burden of  raising us all through our teen years.  They were still married, but Dad traveled an hour and a half each way to work.  Life went on my oldest sister moved away from home when I was just four.  She was the glamorous one.  My oldest brother was always the champion. Then came my second brother he was the kind one.  My third brother was the jokster.   My second sister came next.  She was the most like our mom.  Willful, strong like my mom.  She was the one I fought with but also she would never let anyone else pick on me. Then came me I'm the baby of the family.  I had an interesting perspective growing up.  I got to watch all of my brothers and grow up get married and have families.  I witnessed their joys and sorrows, their triumphs and their mistakes.  They have all changed and grown older.  Each year brings about more change in all of our lives.  I have seen my brothers and sisters families grow and have children of their own.  My own children are growing up, my youngest is now eighteen.  

Life is passing so quickly, as I said before I don't really feel like I'm fifty six I feel more like forty something.  They say forty is the new fifty. I hope that's true, because the older I get the more things I want to accomplish.  There is still so much more for me to do.  I feel like time is passing swiftly but I'm beginning to slow down.  But I refuse to give up with out a fight.  I will ride in a one hundred mile bicycle ride this year.  I will finish my fourth and start my fifth novel this year.  I will finish my garden spots.  I will help with the care of my mother.  I will be a better wife and mother.   

Life is ever changing and asking more of me, but I am determined to not give up.  I wish all of you find the joy you seek in life.  Life may be ever changing but then again so are we.  

Until next time.