I'm just going to jump right in today with a very condensed catch-up post about what's been happening in my life during the three years I was missing from the blogging world before starting NaBloPoMo this year.
I've already filled you in about my two beautiful granddaughters and just how much my world has revolved around them during that time. The other side of my story isn't nearly as pleasant - it's pretty grim.
Most of you know I stopped blogging back in 2022 when my husband unexpectedly passed away. It was obviously a very difficult year. I know my friends here would have been a great support system, but I was just... empty.
I went from working part-time to working full-time, plus any extra hours I could get to fill my days and wear me out enough to be able to come home and sleep at night. It was just my way of dealing and letting time do its thing.
I had to quit working in 2023 due to health issues. At the beginning of the year, my health took a huge nosedive. In between taking care of my first granddaughter, that year was filled with constant medical appointments, extensive testing, procedures, and surgeries. I ended that year at a gaunt ninety-nine pounds, but with my health back under control for the most part.
2024 was the year of hurricanes here. My area was hit by not one, or even two, but three storms. They were all bad, all caused a lot of damage. The last one, Hurricane Milton, was a direct hit and came very close to destroying my home. Let me add here, I was uninsured at the time.
This year has been spent attempting to recover from the storms. It's taken just about every penny I have, but I've had the major repairs completed. Unfortunately, my home still needs a lot of work, both inside and out.
I've thought about selling. My home is in a fantastic location, but the market here in Florida is so horrible right now. I've been decluttering and packing things up with the hope that it will change soon, but of course, I'm not holding my breath. I'm just kind of stuck at the moment. We'll see how things go from here.
So there you have it. It's been a very rough few years, and I'm worse for the wear, but I'm not complaining - I'm still here to talk about it, thankfully.
Now you can understand why it has taken me so long to finally get back to blogging. Back to more positive posts tomorrow!
We're glad you are back and still talking. And I think it's good to talk about it. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mari. It's blog therapy! :)
DeleteWe thought about you frequently while you were gone and I'm glad you are back!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, it's great to be back!
DeleteOh, Martha, suddenly losing your husband, having serious health issues of your own AND three destructive storms?? I don't have words for how awful this was and how proud I am of you for getting through it. I hated when people told me how strong and brave I was because what choice did I have? (besides giving up--and that's not my style!) I worried about you a lot and am delighted to have you back in BlogWorld.
ReplyDeleteExactly Margaret, I'm not the type to give up either. I just had to pick myself up and move on each time something horrible happened. It wasn't always easy but I wasn't about to come here and wallow in my grief or whine about all the bad things. I can talk about it now and I'm so glad to be back!
DeleteLife is so unpredictable Martha I am so sorry and wishing you continued recovery and that things continue to improve. -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com. -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Christine!
DeleteJust one whammy after another -- what a horribly difficult time you've had for the past 3 years. I hope the future will be much brighter for you going forward.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debra. It was definitely a pretty horrific time - and all that on top of what's been going on in our country. It was just too much.
DeleteYou've been through a lot, I can understand how you had no more to give for blogging. We've had the "hurricane dance" here in south Louisiana, too, and our home is much worse for the wear, so you have my sympathy.
ReplyDeleteIf I would have been blogging I would have been wallowing and whining. I just don't do things like that on my blog. I know you know all about the hurricanes up there. We all got so lucky this year!
DeleteOh, Martha, you have been the poster child for going through the wringer. But instead of asking, "Why me?" you've come back with a resounding and positive take on all that's happened. I don't mean to pull the "me, too" card here, but I just want to let you know that I married a wonderful man named John in 1994 after being divorced from the father of my children. He died in a freak fall in 1997. He was such a special person and a devout Christian. The only things that kept me going were my trust in the Lord and my love for my kids. I've been blessed beyond expectations to have met Danny and to have been married now for 20 years. Always feel free to chat with me privately through email. You are one brave and courageous woman, and I'm glad to know you!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Martha. Of course I knew about you losing your previous husband but I don't think I ever knew how. It's always so difficult to lose someone suddenly. I'm so happy that you and Danny found each other and have been living happily ever after since. Our children and grandchildren make all the difference in the world to keep us going!
DeleteSending you HUGE hugs, prayers and positive thoughts. I knew you needed time after Joe passed and with the back to back storms hitting your area, just not sure I really knew how bad it really was! On a personal note, I am so happy to have you back in blogland - I have missed you my friend. I really wish we didn't live across the country from each other and that I could help you with so many things. XOXO
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Tamy. You had no way of knowing everything that was happening. I did really appreciate it when you sent the text to check on my when hurricane Milton was approaching. I'm so thankful we evacuated for that one. My home was in horrible condition when we returned. I can't even imagine how scary it would have been if we would have stayed to ride it out! I have certainly missed you too and I'm so glad to be back!
DeleteWell, I just met you through NaBloPoMo but I can say that it makes me so happy that you found your blogging voice again. Those were some hard years indeed, and I am so very sorry.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much San. It was definitely some very hard times, but I'm thankful to be here to talk about it now.
DeleteSounds like that you have been having an eventful couple of years. I am glad that those hard years have passed and you are healthy and back to blogging world again, Martha.
ReplyDeleteThank you Angie!
DeleteWelcome back to blog land. You had some terribly difficult years recently and I hope things are looking up for you.
ReplyDeleteThank Terra. Things are far from perfect, but a lot better than they were!
DeleteThank you for sharing, Martha. The past few years have been more than rough for you. I hope your health issues are all in the past and you won't have to deal with any more hurricanes! I'm happy to see you blogging, again.
ReplyDeleteThey really have been Bless. My health issues are being managed, and I'm thankful we didn't have any hurricanes that even came close this year. Of course living in Florida that's always going to be part of life. I just hope it's a long, long time before I ever see another direct hit. I'm so happy to be back to blogging again and reconnecting with friends like you! :)
DeleteThe last three years you’ve been through the worst. I hope all is behind you now and you can go forward in peace.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marie. It isn't exactly behind me yet, but it's all a lot more manageable now.
DeleteOh, Martha. You've had a lot to cope with and get through. I'm sorry. It breaks my heart - losing your husband sounds challenging all on its own. Add in the hurricanes and the health issues . . . well, I cannot imagine. I'm so happy you've decided to blog again. Hoping it helps to connect here, and Thank goodness for the grandbabies - - - and there are more on the way! Oh what fun! xo
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty horrible Ernie, one thing after another, and all huge things. I'm not sure I would have made it through it all if it weren't for these grandbabies of mine. I still don't have any idea how I'm going to manage watching two more, lol! I can talk about things now without it setting me back like it probably would have if I would have been blogging through it all. I'm not one to wallow and whine, I think it makes things harder. Now that I'm back, talking about it is more like a little bit of therapy, and I'm so thankful for all my good friends here like you! Big hugs!
DeleteWow! Sorry it's been such a rough 3 years! I know too well how that feels. Now you are back, I hope no more bad storms come your way. Good luck, I'll be praying all stays well with you !
ReplyDeleteThanks Ma. I know you've been through your share. The hurricanes are just part of life living in Florida but I sure hope I don't see another direct hit like the last one again any time soon!
DeleteI've had times when I've had no words to write, but I didn't take 3 years off, only a day or so. Love, ma
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't that I didn't have words, I just didn't want to be inside my own head. It was easier on me to focus on keeping as busy as I could in the early days after my husband's passing. Of course once I started watching my grands too life just got way too busy to even think about taking time for blogging!
DeleteMartha, you know my heart goes out to you. I was heartbroken for you when you lost your husband but to hear you also endured a lot of health issues is a lot to go through. TBG had his share of health issues around the same time, and I know how hard it is to navigate and endure. I knew how bad the hurricanes were there and I thought of you often. The family that bought our old house sent us pictures of the damage. It had 5 feet of water in the main level and all I could think was I'm so glad we've left that area because I can't begin to imagine the cleanup and upheaval of life. You were always so positive and strong and I'm sure that got you through it. Big hugs my friend. I hope you feel the love from everyone by sharing this here.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Lori, it was a lot to deal with. I didn't know about TBG's health issues, fill me in when yo have a chance. I hope he's doing ok now. I'm so glad you weren't still in that house, can you even imagine?! Thankfully my home didn't take on any water, which is crazy because so many in my neighborhood did, many completely destroyed and had to be torn down. Thank you so much for keeping me in your thoughts, and of course for coming here with such a warm welcome when I returned. I really do feel the love and it's very healing! Big hugs to you too Lori!
DeleteThank you so much Bijoux. It was definitely a heartbreaking time for me and my kids when my husband passed away. Unfortunately things just kept coming at me after that. Having my grandbabies definitely helped keep me going, gave me purpose, and brought me so much joy even through all the difficult times. I somehow came through the years with my positive attitude still in tact. I'm so glad to be back. Thank you so much for thinking about me while I was gone and thank you for coming right back over with such a warm welcome. It means so much to me. Big Hugs my friend!
ReplyDeleteThese past years have been really trying. I am sorry you had such a rough patch.
ReplyDeleteI hope getting back into blogging is something that is nutrition now that you were able to heal a bit.
Thanks Tobia. That's exactly how I feel about blogging right now. It's always been kind of therapeutic for me, but now more than ever.
DeleteYou certainly have a full life with grown children , small grandchildren, and health issues to cope with. I hope things improve for you. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteThanks GM, and thanks for stopping over to say hello. :)
DeleteI'm so sorry. That sucks. It's like the universe has been testing you, seeing how much you can stand. I hope things turn around for you now, as you have had enough to deal with. Staying positive is hard when things are hard. I'm glad you're still with us.
ReplyDeleteThat's sure how it felt Liz - that or like someone put a curse on me or something, lol. Seriously though, it was insane! I'm so glad to be back to blogging now. :)
DeleteAs Liz above said, that sucks. Any one of these things would have sucked, but all of them together, what a tragic situation. Health can change so rapidly; I can only hope that things (and the Florida real estate market) will only get better with time.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Alana. Things are much better than they were, but my fingers are crossed on the real estate market - and you can bet I won't buy anywhere nearly as close to the coast as I am now ever again!
DeleteWishing you the best after some unimaginably difficult years.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, and thank you for coming back to support me when I returned. I appreciate your friendship!
DeleteI hope you are able to sell and move somewhere safer. Property near the ocean is so wonderful, until it isn’t, right? I’ve thought of you often over the last few years, and I’m glad you’re hanging in there since the sudden loss of your husband.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie. You're so on point about living near the ocean. I've lived in this house for almost thirty years. I've been through a lot of hurricanes, but never like the ones we had last year. I'm definitely hoping to move into a newer and smaller home - and one that's significantly further inland!
DeleteI never removed you from my blog roll. I can't imagine everything you've had to deal with, and I'm so glad you're back. Wishing you the best and sending a hug from a stranger on the other coast. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Ami! Thanks for the welcome back, it's great to see you here. I think a lot of people either removed me from their blog rolls or just don't remember me. I guess being gone three years is fairly significant. Thanks for the well wishes and the virtual hug. You aren't a stranger, I've known you for years! :)
DeleteThat's an awful lot to deal with on top of grief of losing a partner. I can understand your grandchildren being a life line of sorts to get through each day. None for me but silly as it might be, the various pets who've been added have helped me tremendously.
ReplyDeleteIt really was a lot Sam, and it just kept coming from all directions. It's been some very difficult years. I can understand the pets helping you, it's not silly at all. I'm glad you've had them in your life. I know you're traveling now, but I hope you are really doing ok. There are no words to describe how hard it is when our worlds just come crashing down without warning. Big hugs!
DeleteWhat huge, disruptive, and devastating things to go through in a short time period. I'm glad to have found your blog and hope you are settling into a more calm period.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam. It has definitely been a few rough years. Things are a bit easier now, but still a lot to deal with. Thank you for taking the time to come over and get to know me a little better. I hope you have a great week!
DeleteMartha, I'm so very sorry that life has handed you a terribly rough couple of years. Losing my husband is my biggest fear; my heart breaks for you so much. I've had so many of my friends lose husbands in the last five years. I have seen them all fall apart, and pull it back together with such resilience; I'm astounded at their strength---and yours too!
ReplyDeleteI mean, three hurricanes tried to take you out, but NOPE. I'm proud of you for all you've been through, and you are such a kind soul and a loving Grandma.
I pray that your health continues to improve and that your living situation also improves (if you wish to sell) in the near future.
Our real estate (Naples) is now picking up again, after quite a lull, so yours isn't far behind.
Thank you so much Suz. It has been such a difficult period of time. I guess when bad things happen we just have to keep pushing forward one step at a time. I'm not sure how I would have made it through it all without my grandbabies to focus on. You'll soon see, they take over our hearts and our world. I'm so glad to hear the market is picking up down in Naples again and I hope you're right that we're not far behind here - fingers crossed! Thank you for your very kind and thoughtful words. Big hugs!
DeleteOh wow, I'm so sorry - principally about your husband, of course, but what a long stretch of difficult things. No wonder you like being home so much, when you could have lost it. Houses are SO expensive - when we first moved in my husband said it doesn't take long to learn that every house thing is in multiples of a thousand dollars. Thank-you for sharing all this with us.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. These last few years have been difficult beyond anything I ever could have ever imagined. Everything is so expensive these days, it's insane - and homes, and everything to do with them, obviously top that list!
DeleteYou had so much going on in your life. Glad you are better now and feeling like blogging again!
ReplyDeleteThank you Connie. It's been so hard, but now that some time has passed I can come here and talk about it a bit. A little blog therapy never hurts!
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