Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Or "Ice, Ice, Baby....

Yesterday I had a dear lady (M) offer to sit with Ida and let me have a couple hours break.  This was a lovely gift so I naturally call Joy and tell her we can go PLAY!!!  Before M got here though I had some breaking up to do!  We have had numerous mishaps in our driveway and people getting stuck.  The sidewalk wasn't much better and I didn't want M to fall.  So out with the shovel & salt (is it me or does that sound like a line in a Jimmy Buffet song?), and off with the ice and snow.  Joy makes it to the house before M and looks at me with that funny look. 

Joy:  "Uhm...are you shovelling snow in fur and a diamond necklace?" 

Me:  The diamonds aren't real

Joy: In your world this explains it, right?

Me:  Why yes, yes it does.

Turtleneck: recycled

Vest:  Kohls clearance a week ago $11

Jewelry: BR

Jeans: Gap

Sass: All mine

Well, back to work....get it? This is my backside and I am working...lol

Hey, these are not super high fashion boots, but they are warm and dry.

I got them in Park City, Utah last year because when I got there for the

Sundance Film Festival in my UGG's...well they got wet.  There was just waaay too much snow.

So, I found these for $34 at an outlet and love them.  They have faux fur around the top!

Finally the work is over, M arrives.  The sons are with a sitter and my daughter comes with us for the fun!

It is never too early to teach a girl how to shop well for high style and low price.

It's a bit bright Joy!!! Can I borrow your sunglasses for the pics?  Thanks.

Much better!

So, I have to tell you that yesterday was a great day of shopping.  We hit

Goodwill, PS Too (thrift) and our favorite consignment store of all time....Sassy Pants!

I sold some things there and had a credit and purchased a few things for the daughter and myself and STILL got some $$ back.  Life is good.  We also had great luck at the other places.   I came back a few hours later renewed and reinvigorated and ready to have fun with Ida again.

Ida....hmmmm....here is a cool note....

Ida and I have always been very good friends.  We lived next door to each other most of my married life and it was great.  But lately we don't talk about that because with the Alzheimer's, it isn't part of her memory.  So she tells me tales of picking 200 lbs of cotton a day and learning to make biscuits and travelling with her father singing where he was preaching.  And I see this whole other dimension to my mother-in-law that I never knew and I have a new respect for her 84 years.

I want to connect with her on this new level.  Songs bring us together.  She loves to sing

"Where Have All the Flowers Gone" with me.  But her favorite song is an old gospel song that I had never

even heard of.  No problem, this is a new age of computers and it is not long before I locate the music and words to CAMEL TRAIN!!! (I learned how to link so you can hear it).

I have been busy learning it and this morning I went into her room and announced that I learned it!

Her eyes got wet with tears as she held my hand and we sang this sweet song together numerous times.

It will be one of my favorite memories, always.

She gives my hand a squeeze and says "I remember I always loved you girl, but I feel right now like you are my very own daughter and love you like that"

Ida had 4 sons and always wanted a daughter.  I did what any of you would do...

I cried.   And I think Camel Train will be one of my favorite songs.