The last time I wrote it was 6 years ago and life was so much different then.   In that missing 6 years I have had 3 or 4 kinds of cancer, both breasts removed (each 2 years apart) and somewhere in there was placed on oxygen along with other maladies with which I had to deal.   It has been a journey I didn't expect and one I wouldn't have chosen,  but one that I have made and I have come out on the other side.   Still on oxygen but I'm going strong and soon will be moving.   .

 I  have come to a time when I am going to be saying Goodbye to Shenandoah Drive.  Almost 50 years I have spent on Shenandoah Drive in this house -- My 52 year old son was 2 when we moved in and his two sisters were'hatched' here.   I didn't see this moving as being a big deal in the beginning but this morning I took my coffee and sat out there on my patio and everywhere I looked there was something happening.   I 'saw' Bruno, the Doberman we loved sooo much out there guarding my elderly mother......I 'saw' my husband pouring cement into a form for a stone for Bruno's grave and I 'saw' us and friends all gathered there as we placed his ashes in the ground.   I  'saw' a much thinner, younger lady out there at 3:00 in the morning hiding easter eggs and I 'saw' little children running around, finding them.

 I remember how it smelled of drywall and fresh sawdust when we opened the door.     Every nail hole in the trimwork was filled with wood putty and these hands.   (we did our own painting to save money).   My husband and I were in our 20s and so young when we took the leap and moved into this addition along with all the other then young families.   We did Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and lots of community work and PTA and church (I directed the choir at one time) and finally the kids grew up and away.   And then grandchildren began coming to Shenandoah Drive.    And then a heart attack took my love away on our 38th wedding anniversary and I was alone on Shenandoah Drive.

And now it's time for me to move on to an easier way of life -- I didn't expect the feelings I am beginning to experience but I'm sure it's all part of the letting go and so I decided to 'journal my journey' if you will on my Blog.  I think it will help me thru this journey much like my walker helps me journey walks that might prove too hard.  

So, stay posted -- this next week I'll be making my decision about the communities I'll be going into.