joyful2beeblogs

After my husband’s death in 2009, my life changed greatly. I loved our home and could do whatever I wanted to do with it and with my life.

But the yard, was more of a challenge; the physical part of caring for the grass, (watering it during dry weather) and raking gazillions of leaves in the fall, soon proved to be potentially dangerous for my back; I was afraid of hurting it again or pulling a muscle. My sons both lived over 50 minutes away. So I hired someone to do the necessary yard work.

Thankfully, I had disability insurance, (thanks to my husband, who had reminded me to get it through the hospital, a year before his death.) I worked for about two more years as a nurse, totaling 37 years of my nursing career. I had experienced sciatica in the past but recovered from it with rest, anti-inflammatory medicine, physical therapy, and ice. But this time, I noticed that I couldn’t sit and chart without pain in my sciatic nerve area. So sciatica happened again and was documented by an MRI.

The hospital administration would not let me work in the hospital for fear I might increase the damage to my back, if I even accidentally tried to lift someone up in bed or push a heavy bed. So I was put on disability and received the disability checks for two years. I was able to get my husband’s social security checks until I reached the right age, when I switched to my social security checks.

So I had to pay someone to cut the grass and rake the leaves every time it was needed. After the acute phase of the sciatica, I looked into volunteering at the local chamber of c

ommerce for our small town. I enjoyed interacting with people; answering the phone; and attending meetings and special occasions.

Soon, I bought a Canon Rebel T3I, took two classes in photography at a nearby junior college. I bought the small lens, the long lens, and “the works,” including a battery, energized flash, and a backpack for the camera and its various parts.

One or two years later, I also took a class on writing because I wanted to write about my family, my life, the weird things that sometimes happened, and more. I joined a group of people who read my writings and those of others. There was such a great response from them about my stories that I decided to blog. I took a class about WordPress and enjoyed it. The people who had read my blogs all seemed to enjoy them. So away I went on a new career.

Then I got to thinking that I needed some kind of income, because I wanted a little more money. My husband had always paid the bills with checks but later, I caught on to automatic drafts for bill payments.

I applied and was hired at the local newspaper as a photojournalist. I loved writing and telling the stories of other people and using my photography skills for the photos. Unfortunately, the newspaper was closed by its owners after my second year there.

In 2017, I hired a real estate agent to help me locate a smaller home, since I no longer needed three bedrooms and a yard, which required so much attention. Later, my real estate agent asked me if I would like to earn some money photographing houses he had for sale. I photographed four or five of his houses before I moved.

There was also another photography venture that gave me quite a surprise. An advertising agency wanted to use twenty-one of the photos that I had taken of our sleepy little town to draw people to the development being built up the road. They paid me $1000 for each of two years to use my photos! I was thrilled!

In the mean time, the search continued for a smaller home, to save electricity and the costs of yard work. I had two cats whom I loved. (One passed over 5 years ago.) Norie, my black cat, is still with me, fifteen years later. So I looked at two condominiums in my price range with the help of my real estate agent.

I found the condo I am living in now. The neighbors are all wonderful. The size was/is perfect for my needs, and there’s a screened in porch, which my cat enjoys and lies in the sun there, when she wants to.

Thanks to my retirement funds and social security checks, I have what I need. After my husband passed I found out that I am stronger emotionally, wiser mentally, more creative in solving problems, and happier than I had been for a long time.

I have friends, great neighbors, and two sons. My first son moved out before my husband died. But stayed close for a while until he met his wife, and they lived 50 minutes west of me. They have a golden retriever. I adopted my second son as a married adult who had been a close friend to my first son and was included in some of our family activities when my husband was alive. His parents had died, so I talked with him, and he was happy to hear that I wanted to adopt him. He and his wife live about an hour and a half east of where I live. They have my three grandchildren, whom I love dearly.

My life is good. I am happy. I love people and enjoy interacting with the others who live in my condominium. We are a small world of Irish, Hindu, Muslim, and Catholics, and (not to neglect myself), a former “Presbyterian, then Southern Baptist,” now just a Christian trying to help make the world a better place. I have been able to help some of the people in my condo when they were sick, which filled me with thankfulness that I had been a nurse and could help my neighbors and anyone who asked me for help.

I am a very thankful, happy, person on a mission to make the world a better place; help others who have been through what I have been through; and spread love and kindness to others. I am loved by my family, my neighbors, and friends, as much as I love them, and would do anything to help where I can, as they have repeatedly helped me in many ways. I am so thankful for my life and all who have been and are a part of it.