- I drove 9 hours each way to Kentucky for my grandfather's memorial service, alone (Bryce had to attend several classes during that time) -- a sort of weird new milestone of adulting
- I saw a zillion family members and the stabs were actually fairly few and far between (a different aunt from last time who commented how odd it was that neither me nor my sister have children, I corrected her that my sister has two stepsons, and then explained that children just didn't work out for us, faced the dreaded "why didn't you adopt" question and answered it with two years of the adoption process, and that was that)
- We had a cold and rainy Halloween but had 9 trick-or-treaters, a new record (in a positive direction) for us
- We had a little party with the neighbors to celebrate our anniversary and Halloween
- I got to dress up as just one thing this year, as I am mostly connected with the Red Team in my middle school, and so I got to be Dopey (of the seven dwarves)
- I managed to make it through anniversary season and Halloween season without getting too morose and woe-is-me
- I am struggling through some drama with adults at school right now...my kids are great but the adults are killing me slowly...but it will all work out
- I finished Stranger Things Season 2 FINALLY tonight
All in all, not too terribly bad. I am proud of my ability to cross four states alone and not be too terribly afraid while finding the local NPR station every 50 miles or so, I am proud of my 8 years of marriage to Mr. Bryce, I am making my way through an awkward year of school where adults are making me crazy, I made it to a memorial service for my grandfather who passed of complications from Alzheimer's, and I spent as much time watching a great TV show as I did driving to Kentucky one way. I'm ready for a bit of a slowdown (enter the holiday season, of course).
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| My sister, me, my dad, my stepbrother in the basement of the church. A rare all-siblings-on-deck shot. |
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You should be proud of yourself. Both for getting through the interaction with your aunt, dealing with school, celebrating your anniversary. What a lot of things going on!
ReplyDeleteAlso, nine hours driving on your own is a long time! Though when I've done a shorter drive (about seven hours but stretches to nine with food/bathroom/petrol and photo stops), I found there was something great about being on the open road all alone.
Thank you -- it did feel like a total gauntlet of things, and lasted ALL WEEK. There is totally something great about having that time to yourself on the open road, finding interesting radio stations and time to make phone calls. Handsfree, of course. :) Minus stops it was probably closer to 8 hours of actual driving, but all that time on the road is exhausting.
DeleteThat sounds incredibly busy! A long road-trip driving alone is definitely an adulting milestone. Glad that the stabby moments were few (though that one you describe...ouch). Hope things improve with the adults at school, that sounds like a tough situation.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, a whirlwind and one that continued clear until yesterday! I do feel super adulty. :) And yeah, huzzah for fewer stabby moments than expected. The adult thing at school just kept getting worse this week, so awkward when it's a coworker, but it should get better. Jeezum. Thanks for your thoughts!
DeleteNext time I get the urge for a road trip, I am totally calling you!! That's awesome you did 9!! hours of driving on your own. I feel like so would get bored.
ReplyDeleteWork drama with adults is the pits. So doesn't have to be like that, but there is some of that almost everywhere anymore, it seems.
I love the pic of you and your siblings and dad. Jess, you are so beautiful, and although it's been a hard year for you, your recent pictures you have posted you can really see how much happier you are. Truly, they hold a lightness to them now, and it is so good to see! I also love your dress and think it looks so lovely on you!! Great color, too!
Ha! Maybe I should take a bloggy tour road trip and go see everyone... :) I did get to the point where I just sort of made wookiiee noises out of boredom, but luckily the radio was fascinating (NPR! Classic rock!) and I caught up with people I hadn't talked on the phone with in a while. And oh yes, the work drama just keeps on going, spiraling into a real shit week this week. It's going to get better though, but holy hell this coworker situation is the pits.
DeleteThank you so much for your kind words about the photo! It is interesting to see the difference in photos from recent times and then during the Long Hell. I really am much happier now. That dress is a new favorite! It's ModCloth, which is where probably 90% of my dresses come from. SO COMFY and can be dressed up or down! Ok, sales pitch over... :) Thank you!
You’ve had a lot going on. All of it hard (I’m happy to smack your parents because I want to do the same thing with my lot). You are handling yourself so well with the invasive questions and I’m impressed by your bravery with traveling alone to a hard event. Truly.
ReplyDeleteMay the next couple of months be smooth ones, especially given that most people bring out their inner crazy with the holidays.
It's been such a freaking gauntlet of awful lately, but it's all survivable. It's actually not crazy parents this school year -- my parents are as lovely as my students. It's COWORKERS. Which is awful and awkward as ass. Not a good situation at all. Thank you, I did feel super brave and adulty. It felt like a quest of sorts.
DeleteThanks for the wishes for the next few months, the holidays are crazy times for sure. And I wish the same for you!
Such a lot of adulting. YOu did a great job with all that driving. I'm sorry for the loss of your grandfather and I want to congratulate you and Bryce on your anniversary.
ReplyDeleteI have started using the word "stabby" and each time I do I think of you.
Thank you! It was difficult on many levels, but I'm proud of having made the trip myself. Thanks for the condolences and the congrats, too.
DeleteYES! Use "stabby!" It's a good descriptor. :) I think I'd have to fly to Colorado, but if we do I HAVE to visit you...
You look beautiful. Glad things are going well.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Definitely things are going in more positive directions. Hope at the end of a long dark time. Thinking of you, too!
DeleteGreat photo! And yes, that's a whole lot of adulting. Hope the next few months are less challenging...! <3
ReplyDeleteYour journey is definitely a rite of passage. It takes guts to drive that far alone. I'm so proud of you on so many levels.
ReplyDelete9 hours on the road is alot. Kudos for getting through. Yay for local NPR stations.
ReplyDeleteLove the pic! Ya'll look fabulous.