Saturday, June 28, 2025

I am here on a Saturday so that I can link up with Jenn for her monthly post when we talk about some things we loved, some things we learned, some things that went well, and some things we let go of this month. 

Some Things I Loved

I had lots of time at home with my people and my pup, but I was social, too! I had a wonderful lunch with Beth where she celebrated my retirement.

I went to the pool with Erica and Elizabeth and had this wonderful aperol spritz…

and another time with Victoria where we had a great time catching up!

I had Victoria over for lunch on my patio, too, and that was lovely and she gave me the most thoughtful retirement gift of a necklace.

I met Elizabeth at Haymarket and Erica at the mall, and I met Jessica for dinner. I learned to play mah jong, and I got to see my high school friends at a pool party!

I would say I had a good mix of home and social time this month. I feel lucky and blessed.

Some Things I Learned

Most of the things I learned this month have to do with me slowing down. I was so wired the first week of June and the wise words of Mason were…”Mom, chill out. You don’t have to accomplish everything in one day” and boy is he right.

I have learned to cook homemade stromboli and black bean burgers, and this week’s was two tapas from Spain! I learned patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) and gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp). This has been a fun connector with niece Nora who is a talented cook. My sister Kate lets her in her kitchen and has given her the freedom to explore this talent. My mom didn’t want me in the kitchen making messes so I really didn’t learn to cook until I was much older than Nora.

I have taken over all the bill paying. I usually do this in the summer, anyway, but I have learned more about what kind of system I want to have in taking over the bills.

I have been the main point person with the realtor for the sale of my mom’s house and have learned a lot in regards to that.

Some Things that went well

This could also go with the above, but I have learned about estate sales and how they work and how the sales of a home work, too. I have never sold a house. This is my one and only house that I currently live in!

A dear friend now owns these player piano rolls and I love seeing GREASE in my Dad’s handwriting.

Some Things I let go of

I’m in a season where there will be dog toys lying around and there will be dog hair. I try my best to sweep it up but it’s more important that I have this wonderful pup than that I have a pristine home. There will always been dishes in the dishwasher, drainer, and probably the sink. Some days I make food three times a day and that means I didn’t go out and I fed myself and my people. The recycling bin will always be full and the trash will almost always be full. There will always be clothes in some laundry rotation, too, right?

I am trying not to get upset about these things but just know it’s all a part of doing life.

I let go of many of my parents’ possessions in the estate sale but we have so much stuff to remember them by. I have bins to go through.

I let go of their final earthly home and handed the sale of it to the realtor. It was hard to see it empty, of course. I am glad I had the privilege of getting to do so, though. I walked the rooms and thanked them out loud for the wonderful childhood they gave me. I asked that they understand how we have handled it. I hope and pray that I have the best of them that lives on in me.

I have a piece of advice for you. If you have parents that have so much stuff and it is causing you anxiety…let it go for now. It is much more important that you enjoy the time you have left with your parents without stressing about their stuff. They find it overwhelming, too, I’m sure. When they pass on, it will be yours to deal with and then you can deal with it. Now, if you have a parent that wants you to help them downsize, you can do that. You just have to let them lead the way if you are lucky enough to still have them here.

I want to end on a fun note…I am so excited about something that might be in the works involving my best guy friend Dan. He is coming over next week to discuss it with me. Dan is my only male blog reader that has come forth – lol!

Everybody loves Dan and he just makes you feel special. He is so sweet and funny. He loves Tom and that takes a special person.

Can you guess what might be in the works?

Happy Saturday to you! As you read this I am trying to go to my first farmer’s market of the season!

Amy