A Family Affair

The new year, 2022, has been a whirlwind of changes for the family. We lost a beloved member. Families came for his service and stayed to help in many ways. When we lose someone we love, we must learn not to live without them but to live with the love they left behind.
Just before that time, I was considering selling my home of 55 years—the place where all four of my kids were raised. I was so tired of telemarketing calls, having to hire help for the things I once did for myself, and of accumulating things that filled every corner of the house. To my surprise, all of the family felt it was the right thing to do. They came to the same conclusion—less is more.

By the beginning of the new year, I found an apartment and left the house in the hands of the youngsters. To my amazement, the children and grandchildren got everything out of the house, had a four-day yard sale, brought all that I needed to the apartment, kept some treasured items, and took care of the sale of our home.

It is not easy to imagine major changes taking place after years of settling in a certain area.

I am slowly becoming accustomed to changes, new locations, and habits.
The things I will forever miss, if I can’t get something to replace them, are the special days in each week that Company G—our group of friends and singers—performed at retirement homes and then enjoyed dinner together. Perhaps the Pandemic will disappear and we can get things going again. I do still work part time and am pleased to be of help to our veterans.

One Friday morning, I went to breakfast and noticed that many people were wearing red shirts. A lady named Dee Croft came in wearing a red shirt that made a declarative statement. The word red was largely and boldly centered on the shirt in the message of appreciation: “On Friday we wear RED to support our troops.”

Those of us who write for you never tire of so-called work and I will continue to do this as long as possible. If you, personally, have an interest to explore and would like to see it in Seniors Today, let the editor know and I will be glad to work with you on your interesting project.
Let’s keep up our spirits with a song in our hearts and maintain the life we have come to enjoy in America—our home sweet home.

Kitty Maiden is a staff writer for Seniors Today.