It's Spooky Season, finally! Halloween Calendar Time

 44 total days, just over 6 weeks human time my mother was in the hospital from Aug 12^th through Sep. 24^th. She’s much better now, and has returned home but for a hot minute we weren’t sure we’d ever get to send a “she’s home” text to our loved ones. She fought like a champ and the text was able to be sent eventually to much fanfare and rejoicing. In case you didn’t know, she had a heart episode, a heart attack, blockage in one of her arteries, (depending on who you talked to) and required a single bypass surgery. She handled the surgery like a pro, she handled the recovery like a scared little baby, but she handled Rehab like a boss and that is what’s important. Very Jekyll and Hyde of her which ironically isn’t on my calendar this year, more on that in a moment. I tell you all that not for sympathy or for you to send your I’m glad your mom’s doing better messages back but to tell you that my heart and mind were not in me for this calendar and frankly I did it more out of obligation than anything else. Like her, I pulled it together and attached is the calendar for another year. I almost had a panic attack cause I thought it was Oct 1^st and I hadn’t sent it out yet, in the hospital days just kind of run together after a while, and realized I had a few more days to try and make it better, talk about stressful, but was grateful for the few extra days to make this worth your time and frankly mine.

It's not entirely my fault tho. Local networks aren’t interested in holiday programing unless it is that fun “Halloween” special for their established shows, which as you know that’s not what this calendar is about. So that’s not helpful. What happened to Icabod and Mr. Toad, or Pooh and his Heffalump, or Alvin and Chipmunks Trick or Treason, Monster House and his awesome kite, The Exorcist (can’t someone think of poor Ragan), The Smurfs and the Legend of Smurfy Hollow (see what they did there), heck at this point I’ll take Shrek in Scared Shrekless. All this gold and none of it on tv, but what’s really sad is that a lot of it isn’t even available for streaming either. That’s just disgraceful. Yet I can watch the same 12 episodes of the Big Bang Theory on just about every channel …. I mean come on what’s that about? Don’t get me wrong I love me some BBT but the point is still the same.

 

AMC, Freeform you guys saved this calendar, hallmark you got invited to the party cause well we needed to add some lighthearted fall fun to the blood and gore. SYFY I don’t know what’s going on with you, I’ll assume your mom was also sick so you bailed completely, but I expect to see you back next year. I miss your Halloween fun. They claim they are still doing Halloween programing, but I can’t find a listing anywhere. I was able to look through their website schedule, and found a few gems (they are airing the original Blair Witch btw) but it only takes me through the first week of shows. Again … not so much with the helpfulness. Don’t make me put you in the corner with Food Network. I’ll do it. Just tempt me.

 

That being said not everything on Freeform and AMC made my calendar. I can’t live in a world in which the likes of say Pirates of the Caribbean, or Alice in Wonderland, are considered “horror” …that’s not to say they aren’t worthy of your time it just not going to take up a slot on my already full calendar. It’s my calendar and it’s my rules (as dictated below).

 

Food Network cut their Halloween programing down to two shows, and they both aired mostly in September. Rolls eyes so hard. However, if you are interested to see who wins …  Halloween Wars airs on Sunday nights, and Halloween Baking Championship on Monday night. Looking for Outrageous Pumpkins? Don’t bother, they didn’t bring it back and that’s a real shame. It was a very creative show and I for one miss it. I’m starting to wonder why I even watch that channel anymore, oh wait I kind of don’t. If nothing else is on I’ll turn to it but it’s more background noises than me really giving a crap who cut an onion correctly or not.

 

The ID channel has some interesting offerings this year namely “Real Murders on Elm Street” which is apparently a series that airs on Wednesday nights alongside “The Friday the 14th Murders” … which both sound very interesting. If you do get the ID channel you might be interested in these, sadly I do not. I mean who would willingly choose to live on Elm Street. That would be like me naming my new campground “Crystal Lake” then being surprised when all the teens get murdered one afternoon and they pull my license and shut down my camp after making me refund all the money. I’m sure there was a clause in the sign up form about that but my lawyers swear it’s missing. I guess you get what you pay for. I digress the moral is don’t tempt faith people, isn’t that what the original Halloween is all about!? I should ask Jamie Lee Curtis that question.

 

As always there’s streaming fun to be had this time of year with a lot of new offerings a Family Guy special on Hulu for some reason, the IT: Welcome to Derry series premiering on HBO, and of course the Great Pumpkin which is still being held hostage by Apple TV (tho I understand it’s available to watch for free – somehow.) Many of the shows I listed from when I was a kid (see above) can also be found on some of the streaming services, but as previously stated not all of them. I highly recommend the Garfield Halloween Special if only for that amazing rendition of “What should I be” cause Afterall a singing cat trying to determine his Halloween costume with his dog friend is always a good time. I believe it’s on Hulu and maybe prime but don’t quote me on that.

 

For those new to this party, and there are several of you, I will re-state the rules, for those veterans out there please forgive me for giving a short explanation and allow your attention to wander freely if you’d like. (thanks for that line Albus! – 10 pts for your house if you can tell me which Harry Potter book that’s paraphrase from).

 

The Rules:

• I live in the central time zone, so does this calendar. Adjust accordingly for the current location of you and your family. Don’t call me cause you missed your “favorite” show/movie, that’s not my mess. Be a big girl or boy and crank up that DVR and find out when it comes on again cause odds are it will. I don’t need 5 e-mails about the mistakes made on this calendar it’s free … suck it up and move on.
• Time Zones are hard and sometimes I screw up the conversion from Eastern Time Zone to Central. See Note above for how I feel about you finding a mistake on the calendar.
• Unless otherwise stated the times are PM, this calendar is also geared towards the after work hours cause that’s mostly when I can watch. My office seems to think it’s a distraction if I watch while at work, I mean I still do sometimes but for full disclosure I don’t watch TV while working but I do listen to music, and this time of year that music is SPOOKY. For those WFH peeps or stay at home moms feel free to check out these channels throughout the day for more spooky goodness you know between Team’s calls.
• Lastly this calendar shows things I want to see, movies and specials that take me back to my childhood or that just make me happy, or things that intrigue me. Some are kid themed, and some are more adult oriented. PLEASE be mindful of that before you sit down with your little and they can’t sleep cause Freddy might get them. That’s your mess not mine but kudos to you for showing them a classic. Seriously don’t be that person and there’s always one. This is supposed to be for fun, if you make it not be for fun well you won’t get it next year. PS if you don’t get this one you don’t get the Christmas one either so be sure that’s what you need/want before firing off that e-mail/text or god forbid call me. This isn’t the internet where you can say whatever you want without consequences. 

If you are a digital user the easiest way to use this calendar is to save it to your phone so you can check it on the fly, I mean who hasn’t gone to the bar keep at the local restaurant to ask them to switch from the game to Friday the 13th ? Just me ….weird. When I print it, and I do, I print it 11X17 but 8.5X11 is often good enough, especially if you can use one of those cool work printers … not that I do that nor am I suggesting that you do that I’m just saying that is the kind of printer that prints really well at that size.

 

Now I must warn you … these networks have some kind of dyslexia cause I have noticed that they will show the movies and their sequels but often in not any kind of order that makes sense in any world that we live in. I mean I get it … you want to show the real popular ones when people can watch and that requires a little planning on their part. If it’s a full night of say Halloween fun I just put Halloween Marathon and it’s up to you to find what you want to watch, that’s right you don’t get out of doing some work on this thing too. I did highlight the ones I want to watch cause as previously stated it’s my calendar I’m just sharing. Please Note: If you pick Halloween Three we can no longer be friends.  

 

A few things to take note of :

• Freeform – is once again bringing their 31 nights of Halloween to the party. Just about every night there is fun and laughter and lots of animation that satisfies both adults and little’s alike. So sit down relax and fall into the fun of your childhood. The joy starts October 1st.
• AMC is where you go for all out gore …. Fear Fest starts October 1st and it is not to be messed with and is to be revered and loved for the wonder that it is. Lots of classics on the list and marathon on top of marathon. Lots of theme nights.
• Hallmark channel is bringing the fall feels with “harvest” theme shows about people falling in love as leaves are falling and pumpkins are on display. There are likely others on the schedule but I focused on the few that caught my eye cause they sounded interesting or fun tho I’m sure they are all the same.
• SYFY is apparently having a 31 days of Halloween but as stated previously good luck finding what they are showing and when. It’s usually fun stuff too like Child’s Play and Jeepers Creepers, oh and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Cabin in the Woods, Carrie, House of Wax,  real psychological fun but oh no they can’t be bothered to share their schedules so go check them out see what’s on then move on if you want.

So enjoy a scare, carve a pumpkin, eat all the good candy, eat it all then buy some more for the little beggers who grace your front door at the end of the month (or during your Trunk or Treats) just do whatever you need to in order to keep Mariah at bay a little bit longer. Good lord X-mas back off we still have Turkey day to get through afterall! 

 

Happy Spooky Season,

 

Marcy

BLOGAVERSARY!!!!!!

Can you believe it … Aug. 2, 2014  … 11 years ago …. we posted our “test post” which frankly didn’t have much on it but it was a start. It was the push that propelled everything else that followed. It was the “first post” and yeah we could have stopped there but we didn’t we just kept pushing through. On August 3^rd we did an introduction post about what the blog was going to be and more importantly what it wasn’t going to be and then we did some introductions to each of us … myself .. and my partner in crime Golden.

 This blog started out as a way to take two people being crushed by the world and help them remember that they have it in them to be creative. Golden did this for me and I know that but having her along the way gave me … I don’t know a sense that if I didn’t see it through I’d be letting her down as much as letting myself down. So I’m grateful she came on this ride with me. Truth is she’s better at this than I ever wanted to be. The way she uses words like a paint brush to tell a story fills me with an envy that I can’t fully express.

 That August was a good month for us with 27 posts but then again it was new, exciting and we went to Dragon Con which always helps with content. Here I sit … again looking our 10 year anniversary of Dragon Con (it really feels like we’ve been going longer but my calculations say 10 years so 10 it is – math is hard yall) and I can’t wait for that 4 day break with my bestie. I need it and more important she needs it. We might just veg the entire time playing video games but we’ll at least be doing it in the same room.

 A lot has changed for Golden and I over these 11 years. She’s changed jobs for one. Sometimes I think it’s for the better but other times I’m not so sure. I’ve gotten a few promotions at work and am now leading a team of people which is very daunting and I’m not sure I like it at all. She’s been through a few fur babies, which were really tough to watch her go through cause as you know dear reader I’m too far away to just go over and make sure she’s ok.  We have both lost family members along the way, and we have both also gained family members, which has been more fun than the losing. We’ve gone on a few more trips, most recently to Atlanta to see the StayKids which I admit was far more fun than I anticipated.  Sickness we have both dealt with our fair shar of sickness over the years mine mostly watching others be sick and Golden being my Medical Marvel. Neither of us really use Twitter (I refuse to call it anything else) as much as we used too but have migrated to other platforms. Social Media has always been a cesspool and now it’s somehow worse.

 I admit finding content to post here without a lot of feedback wasn’t always easy so I started little challenges for myself. The thankfulness challenge in 2014 was particular a highlight for me as it was a post a day for the month of November and I succeeded. Is every post worth a read … not really but there are 30 posts in the month of November and for that I am proud. I tried it again in 2019 and it was equally successful. Maybe I bring it back this year?

When we started this blog we said we’d not “teach you anything” but like the former journalist that I wanted to be I added but we might … which helped open the door for my Blog with a Purpose posts that focused on a few charities that Golden and I have supported over the years. I hope those were interesting cause I really enjoyed writing them.

Oh and the greatest challenge of all is that this blog got me writing again. Here of late I’ve been doing my Writing prompt challenge, which has been interesting. However, over the years I used this to share some of my original  fiction which was both fun and scary at the same time.

Several reoccurring themes have popped up too including music, books, tv, the aforementioned drama with fur babies, etc., which has also helped in keeping this thing going. Oh and I’ve wasted a post or two a year on my silly TV movie calendars for Halloween and Christmas and while that is slowing down I don’t see it stopping soon. Tho Microsoft doing away with publisher I might have to come up with another plan for those in the very near future. My gripes at Microsoft have also  made a few appearances too over the years. Year end posts or new year blogs helped kick off the year or end it and made for some good content as well. Random Thoughts/Grind my Gears were also fun ways to get topics bouncing around in my head out of my head and onto the screen so I could move on.

So the point is if you have been with us this long than you, if you are new here enjoy going through the archives to the right, and if you are a casual reader it’s been fun seeing you around too. This blog isn’t dead yet and while I know sometimes it looks and feels that way that’s just what we do. We don’t post for the sake of posting we post when there is something worth saying and in my opinion that is more fun. It’s about quality not quantity but know there will be typos.

So thanks again Golden for the push and let’s keep it going a few more years at least!

Marcy

Writing Prompt #3 - Question A Day: Organized or Chaotic ?

So, several years ago, I told Golden I was struggling to find something worthy of writing about that I could put on this blog. She gave me these books. During a cleaning binge recently, I found them and decided to dust them off and actually use them. Here’s attempt Number 3 this time from the A 5 Year Question a Day Memory Journal. So I’ve been randomly flipping through these books and landing on a date. Today I focused on the 26^th, the month didn’t matter, since today is the 26^th. That would force me to finish it and post it today (at least that’s how my brain works anyway) I landed on May, 26.

The prompt:       Organized or Chaotic ?

What I liked about this “prompt” is that I could go in a variety of ways with it.

Are they talking about my life is it organized or chaotic ? I’d say pretty organized as I have set times for things I need done. Like sleep, work, relaxation, repeat…. etc,

Are they referring to what I prefer organization or chaos ? Cause there are some people out there that crave chaos and the adrenaline it brings. I am not that person.

Do they mean my space is it organized or chaotic? In my home life I’d say chaotic as I have crap literally everywhere. Often my closet looks like it threw up, and my bathroom is even worse with clothes that need to be cleaned just kind of hanging out on the floor. I have a bag of clothing in my closet that needs to go to goodwill but haven’t made it to the car. Where they will then ride around with me for a few months before I finally drop it off on my way to or from work one day. Does that make sense … no cause the Goodwill is literally right next door to my office. I zip it, drop it in that big box and zip out. Yet it always seems like a chore to stop, or it’s raining or I’m running late and can do it tomorrow. So maybe that part is a little chaotic.

In my work life my space is pretty organized or it was. We recently had to give up one of our offices to make way for a new employee and that lady’s stuff more or less ended up in my office and in a filing cabinet. She works from home mostly but had enough to take up an entire filing cabinet …. I kid you not. We also have a lot of stuff to ship things to other offices and so those boxes had to go somewhere. We also threw a crap ton of stuff away. So while the space may look more chaotic than I’m used to it’s pretty organized. I am also very organized when it comes to my job itself. I almost have to be. The deadlines, the submittals, the random calls to talk about the submittal that I’m not working on at the moment so notes are being taken on the fly and must be attached to the write package etc.

They can’t be talking about my personal life, relationships, cause I don’t really have any. I mean I have friends. I have people I hang out with socially when I get off my butt and make it happen but not relationships in like the way of a husband, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, etc., No kiddos in my way, but I do have two amazing nephews who sometimes like to throw my world into Chaos but they are well worth it so it’s all good.

Are they talking about packing for a trip cause it’s all chaos and no organization. I literally either have all the things or none of said things. I try. I really do. I make lists. I write out the plan for the trip. I pack and repack bags several times and yet once I get in the car with said bag I honestly have very little idea of what’s in said bag.

So to refocus this post …. Organized or Chaotic ?  ….. I think they both have their place but I prefer organized chaos if that’s a thing. Kind of like answering a question without answering I guess. Organization has it’s place but often time really organized people can’t find a damn thing when they need it and chaotic people can often walk into a room of chaos and find that one random thing they need in that moment.

So what about you guys ? Which do you prefer and did I do the challenge justice?! 

Hey look at that I just wasted nearly 400 characters … go me!

Have a great day everyone see you next time.

Marcy

Writing Prompts #2 – finish the story "The First Cut"

So several years ago I told Golden I was struggling to find something worthy of writing about that I could put on this blog. She got me these books. During a cleaning binge recently I found them and decided to dust them off and actually use them. Here’s attempt Number 2 this time from the Complete the Story book. I admit I didn't know where this one was going when I started but here it is with a little help from Chat GPT when I got a little stuck. Who knows maybe I'll make this a weekly or monthly thing. 

The prompt:

I stopped for a breath before cutting the turkey. I wanted to appreciate the moment. Seeing everyone there, sitting around the table, almost felt like we were a family again. It's a shame it can't always feel like that.

The story:                                                                The First Cut

I stopped for a breath before cutting the turkey. I wanted to appreciate the moment. Seeing everyone there, sitting around the table, almost felt like we were a family again. It's a shame it can't always feel like that. For a second, no one said anything. Just the clinking of glasses, the soft creak of chairs as everyone settled into their seats. Aunt May caught my eye and gave me a small nod, her smile tight but genuine. Even Uncle Dan had traded his usual scowl for a neutral expression — a small miracle in itself.

I pressed the carving knife into the golden skin and began slicing, the scent of rosemary and butter rising like steam from a memory. “So,” Mom said suddenly, breaking the silence, “does anyone remember when Jason dropped the turkey in ‘06?”

A few chuckles rippled around the table. Jason groaned. “I knew that was coming.”

“You tripped over your own shoelaces,” Cousin Claire added, laughing. “The bird went flying like a UFO.”

The tension broke a little. Laughter filled the gaps. I even saw Dad smile — really smile — for the first time in months. Jason lifted his voice over all the laughing, “hey we all still ate it once we cleaned it off!”

But just beneath the surface, I felt the weight of everything we weren’t saying. The reasons we’d drifted. The empty chair where Grandma used to sit. The unspoken arguments, the silences that used to last for days. Still, I kept carving. Piece by piece. Hoping, maybe foolishly, that this year would be different. Or at least… that it could be a start.

The chair at the end of the table stayed empty, though we’d still set it. Just habit, maybe. Or maybe because no one wanted to admit it out loud — that Grandma wasn’t coming home for Thanksgiving this year.

“She called this morning,” Mom said, passing the rolls with forced cheer. “Said the nurses let her watch the parade in the rec room. She liked the big Snoopy balloon. Said it was awfully quite around there today.”

No one responded at first. We just nodded, like we were all silently filing the information away somewhere — grateful for the update but unsure what to do with it and a little guilty they weren't there with her.

“She ask about us?” I asked finally, not looking up from the turkey.

“She always does.” Mom's smile faltered for half a second, just enough for me to catch it.

Grandma had been in rehab for three weeks now. After the fall. After the hospital. After the way her hands had started shaking so badly she could barely lift a spoon.

We’d all visited. At least once. But it didn’t feel the same. She didn’t feel the same.

“She’ll be back,” Jason said suddenly, surprising everyone. “For Christmas, probably.”

We all looked at him, and for a second I wanted to believe it too. But the way Mom looked down at her plate told a different story. We all looked at him. It was the first real thing he’d said all day, and his voice had that edge — the kind he got when he’d already made up his mind about something. At 22 years old he was still in that I know everything mindset without really knowing anything at all. He was scheduled to return to school for finals in a few days and then have a bit of a break. He was not planning on getting a job during his break but he also hadn’t gotten a job during summer break either.

I set the carving knife down. It wasn’t time to get into it.

“She might,” Mom said carefully. “We don’t know yet.”

Jason cleared his throat. “Actually, I wanted to say something.” He pushed back his chair just enough to make it squeak — that same old anxious tic from childhood. “I’m going to finish this semester but I’m not going back to school next semester,” he said. “I’ve decided to move in with Grandma. Help out with her so she can come back to her house. I’ll be there if she needs anything. You know, just—make sure she is taken care of, not alone.”

Silence.

Aunt May was the first to react. She set down her wine glass — hard enough that the base echoed off the table.

“Jason, no. Absolutely not.” Her voice was firm, the kind that left no room for argument — or tried not to. “That’s not your job. You’re 22. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. I’m afraid if you don’t go back to school you’ll never get your degree.”

“She doesn’t have much ahead of her,” Jason said quietly. “And she was there for me when no one else was. So… yeah. It is my job. School will be there … after…maybe.”

Aunt May leaned back, arms crossed, eyes sharp, deciding to not ignore the elephant in the room any longer. “Jason, she’s not coming home. Not really. I’ve talked to her doctors. They’re not going to say it outright, but—this is it. That place is her home now.”

Uncle Dan stared at the floor like this was a talk he had heard before, Mom looked like she wanted to say something but stayed silent, even the cousins stopped fidgeting eyes flicking between Jason and Aunt May. This was something they all knew was a possibility, but it hadn’t really been decided yet at least not as a family. 

“I don’t care what the doctors think,” Jason said. “she’s coming home. She just needs time, care, and SUPPORT.”

“It’s not about what she says,” May snapped. “She’s confused. She doesn’t even remember what year it is half the time.”

That landed like a slap. Jason’s jaw tightened. “She remembers me. I’ve visited her every day since I got home. We laugh. She tells me stories, she remembers it’s just harder for her to voice it sometimes. I painted her nails once, changed her when she made a mess, and helped her wash her hair. I can do this!”

A long pause followed. No one realized he had been visiting her every day since he got home. The turkey was getting cold. The cranberry sauce sat untouched. Finally, Dad muttered, “Maybe we should all just eat.”

But the air had changed. Something had cracked.

Jason shifted in his seat, clearly trying to hold his ground, but something in his posture had changed. Like the armor was starting to slip. “I’m not trying to be a hero,” he said, quieter now. “It just makes sense. She needs someone. I’ve got the time.”

Aunt May wasn’t buying it. “You also don’t have a job, Jason. Or a plan. That’s what this is about, isn’t it?” Her tone was sharp but not unkind — just tired. “This is easier than figuring out what you actually want.”

Jason’s eyes darted to Mom, maybe hoping for a lifeline. She stayed neutral, which was somehow worse.

“I do want this,” he insisted, but the words hung a little hollow, "she needs this ... she needs .. ME!"

“You don’t want to go back to school,” May said flatly. “And you don’t want to admit you have no idea what comes next. So taking care of Grandma gives you an out. You get to say you’re doing something important, and maybe you are — but it also means you don’t have to do anything else.”

He didn’t deny it.

I watched him shrink a little in his seat, not defeated, just... exposed. There was no speech coming. No big defense.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” he admitted. “I’m not like you guys. I don’t have this big plan. School felt like pretending. I’d sit in class and feel like I was watching someone else’s life happen. It's not that it is hard it just feels like I'm drifting and I could be drifting or I could be with Grandma who needs someone. At least around her I feel like I matter.”

That quieted the table.

Even May seemed to soften, if only slightly. “You do matter. But you can’t pour your whole self into someone who’s already halfway out the door. That’s not saving her. That’s getting stuck. You do realize it could be 6 months, 2 years, 5 years, we just don't know.”

Jason looked down at his plate. He didn’t say anything else.

The turkey was finally being passed around again, but everything tasted different now. The conversations started back up about daily life, and a discussion about the big game coming up. They all felt that this was a return to a semi normal holiday lunch, but it felt like a calm before another storm. 

Once dinner was over and the plates had been cleared away many retreated to the living room to watch football, play cards, work on a puzzle together. The kids went into the yard to play. Jason quietly slipped out of the house cause he couldn’t let the day go by without going to see his grandmother. During clean up he fixed her a plate of all of her favorite things it was time for him to deliver it to her.

She scarfed down the plate of food like she hadn’t eaten in days and thanked him for it as she did. He told her who all was at lunch and how it wasn’t the same without her there. When she asked if anyone else was coming to visit he had to admit he didn’t know. As she finished her lunch he removed her plate and sat back on the edge of the bed. The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead as Jason sat by the edge of Grandma’s bed, holding her hand gently in both of his. Her fingers, once strong and quick with crochet hooks, and casserole dishes, now trembled softly as they rested in his. It was time to tell her.

“You’re looking better,” Jason said, trying to smile. “Way better than the other day at least. Your color is coming back.”

Grandma smiled back, a little lopsided but still hers. “They’ve got me doing leg lifts. Nasty little things. But I’m strong.” She tapped her knee. “Still got some kick left. I walked down the hall and back this morning! They wanted me to use that blasted wheelchair but I wanted to see if I could do it.”

Jason nodded. He was quiet for a long moment after that. Then he drew a breath, shaky and too loud in the small room. “I wanted to tell you something,” he said, his voice cracking a little. “I… I can’t move in with you. When you get out.”

Her face fell slowly, like a curtain dropping.

“I thought maybe I could,” he went on, eyes flicking away. “But they’re saying it’s not safe. That I’m not ready for that kind of responsibility. That I might do more harm than good. I just… I wanted to believe we could make it work.”

Grandma didn’t answer right away. Her eyes filled, not sudden and dramatic, but slow — the kind of tears that come from somewhere deep, old, tired. “So I won’t be going home,” she said softly.

Jason swallowed hard. “I don’t know.”

“But I won’t.” She nodded a little, like she was confirming it to herself. “They’ve been telling me that. I just didn’t want to hear it unless it came from you.”

“I’m sorry.” His voice was small now. “I really wanted to be there for you.”

She squeezed his hand with what strength she had left. “You are here for me.”

Neither of them saw Aunt May standing in the doorway.

She’d come to drop off some fresh socks and books and it never even dawned on her to bring a plate, which she saw on the side table and knew Jason had to have brought it. When she saw the two of them — the way Jason sat slumped forward, head bowed in quiet shame, the way Grandma looked at him like he was the last bright thread of a fading world — she froze. Something inside her shifted. Because suddenly, she remembered all the times she hadn’t been there — too busy, too tired, too practical. All the holidays she left early cause something “important” came up, the times she put work over family, the times she frankly didn’t have time for the drama. The calls she sent to voicemail. The she thought of how her grandmother had never done that to her. Of the times Grandma had shown up to help with the kids during school breaks, the meals she’d bring over cause she frankly didn’t want to eat alone and grandpa was off somewhere, the mess that she would clean up or laundry she would take over — all without being asked. And Jason, awkward and lost as he was, had noticed what she hadn’t. And now here he was — not hiding. Not running. Just sitting with someone who was fading, refusing to let her go invisible.

Quietly, May stepped back from the door and wiped her face with the sleeve of her coat before she walked in.

“Hey,” she said softly, as she entered the room,  “Mind if I join you guys?”

Jason looked up, surprised. Grandma smiled through her tears. May pulled a chair over and sat on the other side of the bed. She reached out, took Grandma’s other hand, and for once didn’t say anything practical at all. They just sat there. Three generations. Nothing solved, nothing fixed — but for the first time, something was shared.

-------

The morning Jason left for finals, the sky was still that pale winter gray that makes everything feel half-asleep.

He stood in the driveway, stuffing his duffel into the backseat of his beat-up Honda. May was already outside, holding a travel mug in one hand and a manila folder in the other — her version of a goodbye gift.

“I threw in a gas card and a few gift cards so you won’t starve. Study hard but don’t forget to take care of yourself,” she said, handing over the folder. “oh and I also printed out a study guide from one of those sites I know you don’t actually use.”

Jason grinned, a little sheepishly. “Thanks, Aunt May.” They stood there for a second, the air between them filled with all the words they’d already said — and the quiet relief of knowing they didn’t need to repeat them.

“I’ll check in on her while you’re gone,” May said, more gently than she normally spoke. “Every couple of days at least if not more.”

Jason nodded. “You don’t have to—”

“I want to,” she cut in. Then, after a beat, “You were right, by the way. She was always there. I just never let myself notice it.”

Jason didn’t say anything. He just hugged her — a little stiff at first, then solid. Then he jumped in his car and backed out of the driveway.

The nursing home was quiet later that week when May sat down with the doctors. They gave her their professional opinion: it was too risky. The house wasn’t equipped. There was a fall risk. There were care needs. They weren’t wrong. But May had made up her mind.

“She wants to go home,” she said. “I want to give her that. Even if it’s not forever. Even if it’s just for a little while.”

The paperwork was tedious, the calls endless, the modifications to the house a headache. But somehow, it all got done. A borrowed hospital bed. A home nurse two days a week. Rails on the stairs. Meals in the freezer.

And when Jason came back, road-weary and sleep-deprived but somehow a little taller, a little clearer — the front door opened, and there she was.

Sitting in the living room. Wrapped in her favorite blue cardigan. The afternoon sun spilling through the lace curtains. Her photos back on the mantle. Her life — pieced together, if imperfectly — in its rightful place.

“Surprise,” May said from the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish towel. “Don’t get excited. It’s still trial and error.”

Jason just stared. Then he walked over to Grandma and knelt beside her, taking her hand. “You’re home.”

She smiled, eyes glistening. “I told you I would be.”

Behind him, May leaned against the doorframe and watched as her mother’s frail hand rested in Jason’s steady one. She still wasn’t sure this would work. But for once, she didn’t need certainty. She just needed this moment — this return, this connection, this choice — and for now, that was enough. Jason walked over and hugged her, quiet but saying everything at the same time.

A few weeks later the house smelled like cinnamon and cloves, like pine needles and roast turkey. Snow had fallen the night before, blanketing the yard in soft white that seemed to hush the whole world.

Christmas lights blinked gently around the window frames. Someone had set Grandma’s old ceramic tree on the sideboard, its tiny colored bulbs glowing like candy. Holiday music played faintly in the background — the old stuff, the records she loved to hum along with, that Jason has started learning by heart singing along with her as they played. It took some doing but Grandma sat at the head of the table, wrapped in a quilt she’d sewn decades ago. Her breathing was slower now, and her frame seemed smaller every time Jason looked at her — but her eyes sparkled brighter than they had in years. She looked out over her table with all the glit and glitter that a festive holiday occasion called for and took stock in her family surrounding her and quietly thanked God for a wonderful life. The chaos and laughter and clink of glasses that came with a big family meal had all returned to this house, even just for today. Her house. Her family. She was home.

Jason stood beside her, watching carefully as she reached for the carving knife. Her hand trembled as she gripped the handle. Then she looked up at him, her eyes meeting his.

“I think it’s your turn, sweetheart,” she said, and handed him the knife.

He took it gently, both hands, as if it were something sacred. Maybe it was.

Everyone grew quiet for a moment as he stood there, looking around the table — at May, who gave him the smallest nod, at Mom, at his cousins, all of them waiting, breathing in something tender and unspoken.

“I want to thank you all,” Jason said. “For being here. For showing up. For letting today be about joy, not sadness. That’s what she wanted. That’s what we all needed.”

Grandma smiled, a single tear slipping down her cheek. Not from grief — from fullness. Jason turned back to the turkey and slowly, carefully, made the first cut. A moment passed. Then another. And just like that, the room exhaled as he started passing around the slices and mentioned that time he dropped the turkey.

Laughter started again. More plates were passed, wine was consumed. Stories flowed like cider. For that one afternoon  it was not about endings. It was about everything that had ever mattered before and everything that would come tomorrow cause there would be a tomorrow and time only knew how long they would have for days like this.

Well there you go ... .what did you think ?! Anyone.... Buller?! Buller ?! IYKYK :) 

Marcy

Writing Prompt Challenge #1 If you could ban something what would you ban?

So several years ago I told Golden I was struggling to find something worthy of writing about that I could put on this blog. She got me these books. During a cleaning binge recently I found them and decided to dust them off and actually use them. Who knows  maybe one day I’ll pull up Chat GPT and see what they want me to write about and lord knows I have opinions about that too.

 So today being July 6^th I decided to go with any prompt on the 6^th of the month. I went with the “A 5 Year Question A Day Memory Journal” tho I did flip through the “Complete The Story” book and found a few interesting ones but none I felt like diving into today. That’s for another post I guess.

So today’s prompt is “If you could ban something right now, what would it be?” and I found that interesting cause just yesterday a friend of mine and I were debating a “boycott” that was being called on a site that helps DIYers sell their wares. I won’t share the site but you likely know which one I’m talking about. It’s one of those sites where you can make up a bunch of whatever, create an “online store” and people can buy your goods. They could be tshirts, bags, crochet patterns, jewelry, personalized gifts, vintage items, whatever you want, then you simply set up an online store pretty easily and wait for the orders to come sliding in. Many have made a nice little business through this site, others use it as a side hustle. Either way it’s a good thing. People are allowed to be creative and people who want to support creative people can easily do so. Win .. Win. . .  Right?!  

The problem is that this site has started selling some pretty political wares aimed at a very particular party and supporters of said party are snatching up those trinkets showing there was definite demand for said supply. People are not happy. They think this particular site, shouldn’t have allowed them to have a store to begin with. That the site should take those items down. People were threatening to take down their shops, to move their products elsewhere. Those are likely the same people who say if so and so wins I’m going to move to xxx (fill in blank country”.

Look I get it … is it in bad taste … yeah it is. Are these people just branding themselves by making it, buying it and God forbid wearing it in public. 100% but should they not be allowed to sell the product on this website …. That’s just absurd. I mean this brand made an account just like everyone else, posted their goods just like everyone else and people are willing to pay for said items. I’ve never understood that mentality of if I don’t like it then it shouldn’t be out there. Is it tasteless … well yeah. Does it put a scarlet letter on those that buy the items, yes – frankly let’s make it easier to spot these people, but at the end of the day it’s a legit business with legit merchandise. If they boycott it cause they don’t like it and convince the site to take it down what’s not to say that other stores can’t face the same “backlash.” That being said all this “boycott” did was highlight that these items were in fact for sale.

Politics aside cause I said from day 1 I wasn’t going to get into that here, you can do whatever you want and you can listen to which ever side you want but remember that anyone and everyone can also make an argument against or for whatever and all of it needs to be taken with a grain of salt. So I guess my answer to the prompt … “If you could ban something right now, what would it be?” … would be unnecessary banning of things and the cancel culture plaguing our lives at the moment.

Marcy

I Don’t know what to say, so here

It is the beginning of February March, I haven’t posted since Christmas time. I would say I’ve been off having fun and tell you all about it, but honestly I haven’t been. January felt like it was never going to end but it did include a massive snow storm, which is something my area of the planet doesn’t get often so that was fun. It was pretty watching it come down but I admit I didn’t really get out in it. I was working. I did take breaks to take pictures or video every few hours then would get back to the task at hand. It literally snowed for over 8 hours straight. We have heard we got between 6-10 inches of snow, depending on which report you want to go with. I guess now that I have the ability to work from home weather days are no longer  a thing. I guess technically I could have used PTO, lord knows I have enough of it, but I had a submittal due in the middle of that storm which turned into a “digital” submission. They were quick to add that we would need to submit hard copies the following week, which we did, tho I question as to why that was necessary. We’ll see if it was worth it.

While dealing with the snow and ice that followed, the other side of the country was literally on fire. Like for weeks it was all anyone talked about, all that was on the TV and then suddenly it wasn’t. That’s starting to feel a little discombobulating as it keeps happening over and over. A MASSIVE Story that everyone is supposed to stop and pay attention to then boom it’s just gone and we all move on except for those dealing with the aftermath. There have also been lots of plane crashes, and other insanity that I won’t go into cause it’s frankly depressing and I think I’m nearing the verge of a nervous breakdown so to rehash it all seems like it’s counter productive at this point. Case in point I started writing this in February, it’s now early March and I’m still working on it.

At the start of February my Dad’s older brother died just shy of his 90^th birthday. So last week we had to drive up for the funeral. I went for my Dad, I had recently seen his brother and while it was a good visit I can’t recall the last time I saw him (before that I mean). We were on our way back from visiting Olia for the first time (my new great niece) or I likely wouldn’t have gone that time either.

Not too long after I got home from that trip I got a text message from a dear friend of mine who had been in the hospital for over a month and she was finally home. It was quite a whirlwind of emotions. I’ve talked to her several times since and I really hope this time around she’s found the right combination of medicine and resolve that her time here is not over to finally find her place in this world.

Then a few days later my mom’s sister passed away. That’s always been a very complicated relationship between them. My aunt made some choices throughout her life that weren’t always in her best interest and the last few years she’s just kind of retreated from everyone would reach out when she was sick or needed something but more or less stayed away. I think in my mom’s head she was already gone. She never really processed the death but she is doing ok. She kept saying she feels like she should be sadder or going through specific emotions that she wasn’t feeling. The funeral was more of a viewing and clear on the other side of the state. We found out about it the night before and it was to be held the next morning. So mom and her remaining sisters decided to have lunch instead and they seemed to enjoy themselves. I hope they did. They all used to be so close.

Oh and we got us a new president in the middle of all of this. Every single day has been … an adventure. I have had people that I know that voted for him to look at me and say I didn’t realize it was going to be like this to which I replied what the actual hell did you think was going to be happening ? Or those that voted for him who are trying to convince me now that he’s doing what this country needs and I’ve completely lost my fight. Things that I used to be passionate about I’m just not anymore. I’d call it picking my battles but in reality, there are battles that I’m just not willing to fight anymore cause they honestly don’t matter. Things at work that used to bother me I can’t get geared up for it anymore. Go after that submittal or don’t I don’t care. Help with the submittal or don’t we just won’t get the job. That should bother me but I’m not the one losing out on the work they are. I’ve said for decades that I’m not going to care more about these than they are and I guess I’ve finally really hit that limit. I got a promotion recently and while I know I’ve earned it I can’t help but feel it’s just for show. I’m struggling with that cause while I feel like it’s a promotion like the last one nothing has really changed so it feels like I am just going through the motions.

I can’t tell you the last time I talked with Golden. I finally texted her the other day after realizing it had been weeks/months since we really talked only to find out that she’s very sick with I guess some version of the flu with her lack of immune system it’s not easy to determine really. They will get her well, patch her up and send her back into the world until it happens next time. I don’t like to complain to much about what I have going on cause there better be a throne waiting for her with her name on it for all the crap she's had to deal with in her short little life. In a few months she and I will be attending a concert in Atlanta and then Dragon Con a few months later. Gotta get my badge for that and a hotel. 

I’m still actively or passively looking for a therapist cause I know something isn’t right. Be it a chemical imbalance, a diet thing, or what I just know something is off. I am sleeping in like 2-3 hour shifts and when I’m sleeping it’s not “good” sleep it’s filled with stress dreams or I wake up so achy from being so tense it’s like I have forgotten how to relax. It’s very exhausting but I think I’m also getting used to being exhausted. I also realize this is not a good thing just a thing I’ve got going on. Apparently in order for me to find a therapist I have to call a 1-800 number from my insurance company and discuss what’s going on before they will give me a list of approved therapist for me to call and then I have to then explain to them what’s going on and it just all seems unnecessary. I have made the call once but no one called back (however it was during the holidays so I guess I fell through the cracks) and I haven’t taken the time since to do it again. I had an appointment with someone only to learn they don’t take my insurance and while I could go talk to her (who came highly recommended) but knew in the long run I wasn’t going to want to pay her so I’d just have to start over. I think my brain convinced myself that maybe this was someone or something telling me that I didn’t need to talk with anyone but my brain and I aren’t really talking at the moment so who knows what’s really going on. I just know I’m tired.

I did spend last weekend with my new great niece (whom I just call my niece now) Olia who is just as cute and lovely in person as she is in pictures. I love that little girl so much and I can’t wait to watch her grow up and give my nephew a run for his money. As I held her last weekend I told her that her Aunt Marcy loved her and she lifted her head up (post pandemic babies are built differently) looked me in the eye then dropped her head back to my shoulder. Like she wanted to see whoever had said that. Then she snuggled into me and made this little noise that I took as “cool I like you too!” There’s talk that they will be moving back this way upon graduation in May and I am very excited about it. Like with her dad I look forward to being a part of her everyday world like I was for him.

Lent is once again upon us. I have thought a lot about what to “give up” or “add” to my life. I have settled on SODA all kinds. So from here on out it’s water, tea, juice, or Koolaid. I was also going to give up social media again but that’s not going to be a hardship cause I haven’t really been using it lately. I’m going to keep it open cause that’s how I talk with my nephews and nieces and Golden. I should give up games on my phone as I’ve gotten really dumb with those lately, but damn a girl needs a vice and so I’m keeping those. So on this Fat Tuesday I’m here to tell you that I’m still here, we are still updating this blog, even if no one is reading, and I’m going to drink another coke cause come Midnight I’m done with soda until Easter…… please pray for my coworkers….I was going to take away fried food too but someone reminded me that Lent is not about making myself a monster but about reflection and sacrifice. So maybe I’ll use these next 40 days to focus on positive things in my life to try and turn things around.

 

Wish me luck!

Marcy

2024 YEAR END RECAP : Best Laid Plans

So when I originally wrote this post, on Christmas Eve I was talking about how my nephew and his wife couldn’t join us for Christmas so we’d be going to see them on the weekend after Christmas which was going to eat into my downtime after the holiday. HOWEVER best laid plans be damned cause that Little Girl decided she wanted to join us for the celebration. My nephew and his lovely bride had a beautiful Baby Girl on Christmas Day almost 5 weeks prior to her due date. She was born around 3:30 and was 5lbs 14 oz and 18” long. She’s gonna be dumb tall like her dad. Her name is Olia Noelle and I love it, tho many of my fellow family members are struggling with the name. I myself can say it just fine until someone asks :D I say it like Ollie without the E but ad a AH to it. Oli-ah 😊 time will tell if I’m saying it right or not. My nephew and his wife aren't shy they will let us know if we aren't. Someday it will roll right off our tongue without us even thinking about it and we will giggle at the struggle bus that was her name. With this event I was upgraded from Aunt to Great Aunt and I mean I’ve always been great! As of this writing she is still in the hospital but her mom has been discharged and we are hopeful Olia will be coming home very soon as well. It's going to be exciting getting to celebrate this little thing every year on Christmas. I can’t wait to meet her and tickle her little feet!

However, this is about 2024 …. So digress. I admit that this wasn’t our best year on this blog…but wasn’t our worst ever … looking at you 2023 when we only managed 8 post for the entire year. That’s called minimum effort for sure. Ironically that was the year I started my “blog with a purpose” posts … and thus a post about a charitable foundation followed by me ranting about say Auburn Football …. Sadly, a constant on this blog (ranting about AU sports I mean). I also had only 8 posts in 2018 but it at least had more variety than 2023. Hey not every year can be a winner!

In 2024 I managed to knock out 10 posts, well 11 once this one goes up, on a variety of topics including another Blog with a Purpose post this time focusing on Anthony Nolan. That one was fun cause I was also helping sell a book at the same time. Don’t know if any books were sold cause of me but I’m sure I didn’t hurt the cause, well I hope I didn’t anyway. This was also the year my father turned 80 and he and I spent most of the year working on his memoirs which I found fascinating. Giving us his book was his gift to all of us this year. He also included a card with all his videos, pictures, etc, taken through August (AKA his birthday). That was a nice and very welcoming surprise that I wasn’t expecting. He’s good people my dad. This was also an Olympic year which is always exciting for me and of course Dragon Con for the 10^th time. I really believe we have been going far longer than that but 10 is a nice round number so that’s what we will go with.  

We have a new "most viewed" post which is "Baby Talk" a short story I wrote about a new mom and dad figuring out their new roles. I have no idea where it came from but it's been viewed 335 times so maybe others are enjoying it. I am proud that my Bryan White Tribute is in the top 5 of all time views. I was really proud of that one. Golden's "Drunksgiving" Post from 2014 rounds out the top views list and again I say she's way better at this than I am. 

This year the big absence was Golden. I keep telling her she is way better at this than I am … go back and read any posts tagged with GOLDEN and you’ll see what I mean. She uses words like a paintbrush in a way that I only wish I could do. 2024 is the year I was diagnosed with Covid shortly after coming home from Dragon Con. It really wasn’t that “bad” for me but I’ve had every shot the have been willing to give me. Right before I left I begged for one but the nice lady at CVS said that a new one was coming out soon and I should wait. I should have pushed it but I didn’t. Who knows maybe I would have gotten sick anyway. Maybe not. As it was I was confined to my room for 5 days then took two test both of which came back negative before coming back to the real world. I wasn’t really sick as much as I had a MASSIVE headache that just wouldn’t quit and was exhausted all the time, symptoms that lingered long after the negative tests results arrived. I still don’t think my energy level is back up to full but I guess I’m where I’m going to be. The best part of my COVID diagnosis is that neither Golden or my parents got it which was my biggest fear. 

As I am writing this news organizations are dusting off their Jimmy Carter memorial videos to bid farewell to a man that did as much good out of office as he did in office. Maybe it is because he is from nearby Plains, Georgia, or maybe it’s cause he was President when I was born (1977 – 1981) but he’s the first president I recall. From his humanitarian efforts especially with Habitat for Humanity is what I really remember. I also can’t get over the fact he was 100 … like can you imagine all he’s seen and lived through and all the changes he’s been through over his lifetime? I don’t know if I want to live to 100 … heck there are some days I’m not sure I want to make it to 45 but I guess that’s up to someone who isn’t me.

 

I hope you all had a good holiday surrounded by love and that 2025 is good for you and to 2025 I say please go easier on my friend Golden she really does not deserve the crap that the last few years have put her through. Use someone else as a punching back for a change PLEASE and thank you.

 

Marcy