2023

Beginning of the Year - We begin to get some help so that we can leave the house for a few hours at the same time. Watching a movie or going out to dinner is a big event. And we were even able to have an overnight staycation.

March - Hubby's dad goes back to the hospital and then in rehab.

At the end of the month Hubby's dad was home with us. He was having a good day. Went to outpatient therapy, commented on the blooming magnolias in the neighborhood. In the evening he started having problems breathing and his oxygen numbers began to drop. We worked with him and after about 10 minutes he finally agreed to let us call an ambulance. As I was waiting outside to direct the ambulance, I heard my husband call out that he had collapsed. And that was it. The paramedics arrived right at that time, and despite working on him in the ambulance, he never came fully back.

Unlike my mother, Hubby's dad had everything planned out and organized. We spent the next week making preparations and then traveling to East Texas for the funeral.

April - Our first anniversary was lost in funeral arrangements. The burden of planning fell to Hubby. The ceremony was beautiful and sad, including the military honors befitting the rank of his dad. Having lost his mother to cancer more than 10 years ago, we were now both parentless.

Summer - This was spent taking care of things related to my father-in-law, and getting his property ready for sale and then sold. We had a lot more experience with it since we just did it two years prior with my mom's house.

September - We bought our forever house. It's in a wonderful neighborhood, but there is a reason that it is one of the top stressful things that people do in their lives. Packing and moving if for the birds.

End of the Year - Trudging along. Moving from thing to thing. Dealing with life and school. Small flareups of sadness such as the last of my mom's cats passing away severing one of my connections to her and a dear mentor passing away. Having my very first full blown asthma attack.

Finally, the fall semester closed with a surprise. I decided that I would retire at the end of the school year. Navigating difficult personality dynamics became overwhelming.

2024

January - After repairs and improvements we put our former residence on the market.

Pneumonia

April - Witnessing a full solar eclipse. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

The passing of a long time colleague.

My first ever surgery which was carpal tunnel release.

I also finally announced my retirement decision. I chose to keep this decision private until April to maintain a sense of peace and avoid unnecessary complications.

May - Having to give my final concert after teaching for 30 years and being at my campus for 29 years.

We decamped to a hotel while we were having flooring work done at the new house. Truthfully we have spent a lot of time correcting things that the house flipper did to the property. This job was supposed to last four days. Four. Instead we were out of the house for 17 days.

The night of the district awards where I would get my award for my 29 years of district service, Houston was hit with a derecho. We were at the awards ceremony, but it was cancelled and everyone was sent home. The district was without power for several days. This also happened to cancel my retirement party at my school. So my career ended without much fanfare.

June - Hurricane Beryl hit Houston. Our house was mostly safe, but we evacuated due to not having electricity. We ended up being away for 10 days.

Summer and Fall - I feel like the first six months of retirement was just me collapsing in a giant blob. I didn't do much, go out much, or take care of myself much mentally or physically. Definitely been dealing with depression which I only now feel at the beginning of 2025 is starting to lessen. I had planned on teaching for another 5 years, so this retirement felt like it came out of nowhere and I was not ready mentally.

October - Carpal tunnel surgery on my dominant hand. Except of course instead of healing up nicely in two weeks like the previous hand, I had my stitches on for almost 5 weeks.

November - The Election. For me the results of this fall in the bad column.


I think I am finally coming out of the depression that has been hanging with me since the summer started and I am for the first time since March of 2020 looking forward to the future with optimist and hope. Hopefully, thus ends the trauma years.