On the Half Shell – Living in the Raw

I have just opened up a new world to myself with this blog. I really have no plan or method to what I intend to write about, other than I think I would like to get my daily ramblings about life, faith, marriage and family, cooking, sports, politics etc. “down on paper”.

I am almost 57, married for almost 34 years to a wonderful man who’d keeps me happy and laughing, have two precious daughters, two even more precious “grandangel” boys, 3 dogs (actually 5, but I’ll get into that later) and a cat. I was born in, and lived and loved, in the DEEP SOUTH my entire life, and I will NOT apologize for that, regardless of what your opinions might be. Outside of Jesus and my family, I love Mississippi State University, music, cocktails (partaking AND mixing), cooking, decorating and the beach.

I lost my mama to breast cancer in 2001, and miss her and think of her every day. I am blessed to still have my daddy – he is my backyard neighbor here in the neighborhood…he will be 92 in October. I also have the BEST big brother EVER. He is 6 years older, lives here in town and is the smartest man I know (I think he knows that too :). He is currently at the beach with his lady friend and some other friends, and I am TOTES JELLY about it, but I’m glad they are off having a grand time.

My best friends are but a few, and I love them fiercely. One of them has been with me since 1984 in college, another since about 2011, and the third for a little over a year. I. Don’t know what I would do without any of them. My Sharon, my very best friend and confidante, has been living in Colorado for a couple of years and will be moving back in just a few weeks – she will only be a couple of hours from me – AND I CANNOT WAIT. Deborah and I became friends our freshman year at Mississippi State University (most likely known from here on out as “STATE”). Joy and I became friends last summer – she is my son-in-love’s stepmother. They are all so so precious to me. Then I have a few more really close friends that I don’t see or talk to often but I always know they are there—some of which I have had for 50+ years.

On another note, in late 2018, I was diagnosed with advanced glaucoma and had suffered major optic nerve damage. After several surgeries on both eyes over the next year, the ongoing nerve damage was slowed to the point that I would not become totally blind, but the damage was done, and the surgeries, while successful, left me in a constant state of, what I call, “non-focus”. In other words, if you checked my vision for a glasses prescription this morning, by the afternoon or even sometimes just a couple of hours later, would be completely different. Thus, I was declared legally blind and unable to perform my normal job functions. I went on disability and had to give up a job that I truly loved, working with folks I loved even more. All that being said, I handle the “day-to-day” fine within my own home. I used to love to read, but now I just have audio books. Texting is extremely difficult so I use my iPad, and I am very slow.

ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, I AM SO VERY BLESSED!!