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Hallo, Hallo I’ve decided:
my life is a SOAP OPERA!
Case in point:
your 10th Blogoversary is GENERALLY a MAJOR MILESTONE in of itself, right?
mine is slightly marred by the fact I have to relocate without the choice being my own!
In regards to my life behind the blog:
I was so EXCITED to tell my boss (of whom has become a bit of a confidante and close friend over the past year and nearly a half) that my life was FINALLY getting sorted and calmed down to the point of where I felt I could BREATHE. Only to have my WIND knocked out of me by a few mitigating circumstances that were completely out of my CONTROL. Perhaps you’ve experienced the same in your life? For starters, in the ongoing and continuing saga of my father’s recovery – he’s fallen 3x in one week, had two ER visitations and the last one of course, proved to be the best for us as the doctor in the ER gave us the best INSIGHT into his current prognosis and current medical state of affairs. Mind you, we were still adjusting to the news of his AKI (ie. acute kidney injury), severe lack of hydration, his recovery from pneumonia and previously his recovery from the Covid-flu variant.
Yet, the medical terminology disclosed to us after midnight (as that was when we could connect with his doctor the other night) – we were given so much technically specific informational bits that it made our heads swim with dots after awhile. The main takeaway though is what I already afeared might become true: as my grandfather (his father) died of renal failure. My Dad is currently in Stage 4 Kidney Disease and this is the FIRST TIME anyone has mentioned it to either myself or my Mum. Which in of itself seems fishy but there it is — sometimes, I suppose you have to be transferred to a different medical ER than the standard hospital one to get a more solid answer out of the medical staff. So there’s that.
This is the SAME week of course where our landlord asked us for our mailing address. HUGE red flag. They’ve had it since you know, DAY ONE? It only took less than 24 hours to solve that mystery as we were served with a non-renewal of lease notice. We have EXACTLY one month and less than two weeks to vacate and relocate. We are a humble working class family who lives paycheck to paycheck – so process that for a bit – and no, we don’t currently have moving supplies either. Our current goal is to a) raise funds to move (ie. moving supplies) and b) see if we can qualify for a personal loan (unsecured) to pay first and security if not last in order to transition into a new lease which blessedly will be a 12 month lease as we weren’t able to renew ours two years ago.
Here’s the kicker – are you sitting down?
The ONLY reason we were given this notice to vacate is because our landlord wants to RENOVATE our flat and raise the RENT. Never-mind the fact we’ve gone through 90+ days of hellish medical crises with my father. Or that we’ve said ‘goodbye’ to him 3x times over, lost our two beloved cats and are on Medicaid pending status to secure my father into long-term care. No, never-mind ANY of that because now we’re facing a housing crisis and an unplanned relocation within the next five weeks.
Which drumroll — guess which date of EXIT we were given?
MY 10th Blogoversary, the 31st of March!
I REFUSE to let that news taint my blogoversary but its been HARD. Emotionally especially.
Instead of celebrating with Mum, I’ll be relocating.
Thus, I’ve decided. My life is SOAP OPERA and I need to exit stage left. At some point, you have to question how you can keep pivoting and adapting to the challenges and adversities that keep presenting themselves to you in your life. Quite literally the day we learnt we had turned in all the paperwork needed for Medicaid was the day a letter was tacked on our door about vacating. After seeking out legal (pro bono) advice, we’ve learnt that we have ZERO LEGAL RECOURSE but it is suspected that is not the most kosher of circumstances that we’re being let out of our lease which is currently month to month. FYI: NEVER go month to month, you have ZERO rights even if the law says otherwise.
We’ve NEVER been late on our rent either and we only ask or request for repairs as they are warranted. We’ve rented this flat for 8 years and we have gone through 2x landlords and a sell of ownership. For long-term tenants it seems really odd that we’re being given the boot but of course, most things in life are unfair and this is just one of those instances. Is the timing perfect? Far from it. Does it feel beyond impossible? You bet. Am I going to get down about it? Wells, I might have felt EMOTIONALLY shell-shocked and overwhelmed for 48 hours – mind you, who wouldn’t? Even my boss questioned it as I apparently didn’t look so well after receiving the news at work. Yet. I adapt. I pivot. I find a way through an obstacle and I will get through this — even if I’ve worried about Mum and her current burden of stress in regards to my father. And, now the uncertainty of our housing situation.
I celebrated St. Valentine’s Day in true Galintine Day fashion (though for me, it is for the 14th not the 13th) with Mum. We took a much needed girls’ night out – having a lovely vegetarian meal and cocktails and just celebrated the wins alongside the losses of the last year. We toasted Dad, we toasted ourselves and we remembered the wonderful years they’ve had as a couple. It was the first Valentine’s Day where they weren’t together and of course, with Dad’s memory askew it was the first time I know Mum felt especially distant to Dad because he’s forgotten all the holidays in the last year or two which makes them even harder to get through at times.
A day later, we visited Dad and realised we need to offset our work schedules with visits with him as he is eating better in our presence than without it. We’re both grateful we have some flexibility with our day work in order to do this together. Mum graduated him to 75% of his meals (up from less than 10% to 25%) and over 90% of his liquid intact which even the care home is celebrating as he just isn’t that motivated in regards to his appetite, etc. We were quite literally re-adjusting our work schedules around being with him for an hour to an hour and a half five days a week to where we’re now trying to sort out a housing crisis of our own with a limited time window of executing everything to where we’re NOT homeless and without housing by the end of March. Yeah. Absolutely NO PRESSURE or anything.
The worst bit of it is though that Dad had a doctor’s visit this week and his doctor basically wrote him off. As if his progress to regain his strength to walk and stand on his own is immaterial. The fact that he’s trying to regain his appetite is immaterial and the fact that he’s moving from being non-verbal to conversational is completely not even worth mentioning. He’s overcome so much in 3x months that I think the medical community needs to start giving him some credit. He’s 78 years old and he’s fighting. To live, to survive and to perhaps have a few more memories with us along the way. He’s also adjusting to living apart from us and trying to maintain some of his independence too. And yet, his doctors feel its not time worth being spent. And, what right of theirs is it to determine that?
His occupational, speech and physical therapists are more proactively positive than his specialist doctors. They see the positive changes (small or large) in my father and Mum and I observe them too, on our visits. At first we were trying to go only twice a week as previously we had gone so often he couldn’t adjust to living away from us. We wanted to give him more time to adjust this time round and so, we staid away on purpose. Now though, it appears he needs us around regularly but is grateful for his nursing care and attention as well as knowing he’s still in recovery. He’s even starting to recognise and understand who we are again more often than not. I had one of my best days with Dad in MONTHS and yet, his heart doctor just thinks its time to ‘let go’.
When my grandfathers were alive they had two separate medical conditions – one had Aztermiers and one had Parkinson’s which dearly affected both of their lives but NO ONE back then said their lives weren’t worth continuing forward and NO ONE put a timestamp on their existence. There is something seriously messed up in this world if quality of life is now no longer respected and that if a person is FIGHTING to survive their medical emergencies and crises — wells, I no longer have any words to share about it because its that futile to even articulate anymore.
Yet, a few nights ago an ER doctor gave me a boost of Hope. She said so much is understood now about kidney disease and mentioned that my Dad’s prognosis is long term. That there are still steps we can take to help him and also improve his daily condition as well. In regards to his frequency of falls and his stubbornness in not asking for assistance as he’s needing it — wells, we all knew that at some point that might become his downfall. However, aside from that – we’re advocating on his behalf and trying to hold onto the people who understand him. After all, he’s been piloting this himself by all the times he’s overcome EVERY medical obstacle given to him. If anything, they need to give him MORE credit. Not less.
If I hadn’t found the care home I had, he woudn’t have the quality of care and attention he has today. They are so on top of everything and go the extra mile on his behalf that part of the burden and weight of worry is transferred to them right now. As we await the news about Medicaid, we’re proceeding forward with encouraging Dad daily (five days a week) to eat and drink as much as he can whilst visiting with him and trying to carve out a bit of family time too. It is part of our new normal and one that we’re all adjusting too. It didn’t take me too long to sort out how to be in a nursing facility again as I’ve had so much practice in the past (especially when I was a kid growing up and also as a twenty-something which looking back was a huge blessing of its own as being a forty-something daughter now its proven to be quite old hat) to where I can help push my Dad’s wheelchair and even deal with a lunch room setting where honestly my Dad is leagues ahead of his other residents most of whom are non-verbal and non-responsive. Dad tends to be quiet and shy but he still responds and still wants to engage in what he’s eating or drinking. Other days, we get to have light conversations with him that seem to bring back our memories (Mum and I) of the ‘old’ Dad we know so very well.
On that note, our relocation feels minor and his continuing progress towards recovery remains forefront. I did find a moving company that can help us and is quite affordable – its the new style of moving where you hire labour and rent the truck yourself? I told Mum, this move is going to be very unconventional and we just need to keep an open mind about it all. After all, with such a short time frame of change – we can’t get locked into anything expected or conventional.
I am staying positive about it all that this point. As otherwise I’d be in a puddle of emotional duress. My stomach hasn’t caught onto that sense of bravery yet as its making my eating habits a bit dicey lately as my nerves and my emotional health aren’t quite as stable as my fortitude of spirit and attitude but I’m hoping that will balance out in the end. Mostly I’m trying to get organised in mind first because in order to pull this off I have to work doubles (day and night) whilst deconstructing the flat and packing after my night shift. I can forsake days off and sleep for the most part until after the 1st of April. Otherwise, the time will elapse off the clock and I can’t even contemplate that!
On being crafty: Ugh. Who could have foreseen the ways in which our lives would have unfolded between Sunday Posts, eh? Not us. Just when you set yourself up for a certain moment of time to elapse in front of you, something else derails your efforts, your plans and your intentions. For quite obvious reasons, we’ve yet to become crafty and my Mum has quite Crochet before it took hold as well. We’re tabling our craft goals until after this unexpected move plays out. I pray by the early hours of April I’ll be able to share I’ve attached myself back to the needles and my projects, but with a big QUESTION MARK on my heart and mind in regards to HOUSING, that’s just going to be left as an open-ended project.
IN regards to the CAT: If in fact we are unable to find affordable housing which would allow us the grace of adopting an emotional support cat, we are in theory, willing to sacriface that option in order to find housing as we’re quite literally on a time schedule which was not of our choosing. It saddens me to think we wouldn’t be given this option at all but worst of all is not having a place to live after the afforded deadline given to us by our current landlord. Sometimes life comes with making the hard choice in order to survive the adversities you NEVER see coming but of course know that just when life starts to calm down, a downpour of uncertainty might be knocking against your door.
In regards to my blog and readerly life:
“The Brass Key” by Caleb Wygal (prequel) : (see also Review)
“Death on the Boardwalk” by Caleb Wygal (book one) : (see also Review)
Turnt in an Interview for “A Shape on the Air” by Julia Ibbotson
Aye. I had SO MANY PLANS of what I felt I could handle reading recently and those plans wicked themselves out into the ether as soon as my father started to boomerang in/out of the ER with multiple falls within a week. On top of which, my Mum cut her had washing dishes and after work one night we had to visit the ER to ask an extern about the course of action we had to take to fix that issue as her skin on her hand looked like it needed stitches. Thankfully it did not and we were able to get OTC treatment options via a store open til midnight that night. A week later and her hand is well on its way to healing and I’m grateful for it.
I, did, however, read two installments of a series that I was wicked itching to read for the greater part of the last year (if you take into consideration I first started receiving the novels last Summer) which were the Myrtle Beach Mysteries by Caleb Wygal! I devoured the PREQUEL which is called “The Brass Key” which was such a delight of JOY of an entrance into the setting of this series but also the overall vibe the author writes into the background of his series. Whilst the first installment of course is “Death on the Boardwalk” which gives you a wicked good anchouring into the series as well as the lead character’s life as well.
One key reference of connection I did not yet share on my reivews of this series but will be sharing on my forthcoming review of the second novel in the series “Death Washes Ashore” is that Clark (his lead character) is a homage to the character of MONK in the tv series “Monk”. For those who are familiar, I am hoping if you choose to pick up this series you’ll start to denote the connections between Clark and Monk as much as I had myself as Wygal has a lovely way of making Clark a wholly orignal character who just happens to pay homage to Monk.
Whilst at the same time, I had a chance to create a lovely interview sequence of enquriy for a Historical Time Travelling Romance novelist who truly inspired me by her presmise behind her trilogy:
It was one of those interviews where I felt I was able to get lost in the conversation and just ask questions that I had as a forthcoming reader of the series. I cannot wait to gather all 3x novels and to soak inside them – breathing in the vision Ibbotson created for her characters but also, observing the science and mechanics she choose to use for the time shifting and slippage through time as she had dual characters inclusive of the storyline. I happen to fancy these kinds of stories and assembling my thoughts to explore her writerly style behind this series was a complete delight of JOY. This is a forthcoming interview this February and I cannot wait to SHARE IT.
I was dearly grateful for Wygal’s stories as they served as a way to re-attach back into my readerly life in such a pro-positive way! As they are gently told and yet stirringly entertaining Cosies!! I am grateful that I received news from the author (Mr Wygal) I will be receiving two more of the stories in the series to read and review whilst I make headway into the second novel of the series. I had originally intended to read and review it this week but with everything going on with my Dad and the sudden need to relocate from my current housing situation – you could say, my readerly life took a massive shift to being on the backburner! I was also monitoring our @WyrdAndWonder feeds via Twitter and I admit, I haven’t logged in a bit over a week right now. All will start to re-balance but this last week alone, I went from feeling as if I were handling the crises of my life to living in a SOAP OPERA which I feel I need to take a sharp exit left of stage!
Which is my way of saying, sometimes you wish you could retreat somewhere calm and just have a bit of a holiday of distance away from what is stressing you out the most. Yet, life isn’t always like that and you find yourself having to re-adjust as life is being lived forward. Praying for calmer days and for impossible situations to just resolve to where you can not just breathe again but breathe well and find the joys of life resume without always feeling the angst of another blight of adversity to derail your efforts of moving forward.
As foresaid, this is a work-in-progress in respects to my return to blogging and even to a greater extent to my return to reading and/or reviewing. If I make small steps of progress I’m okay with that – and this week, I’m truly proud of the time I spent in the Cosiness of Wygal’s series. I look forward to building on that momentum and continuing to find the stories I can focus on right now that are both positive to be reading and a bit of a respite from everything else consuming me as well.
Towards that end, think of me and Mum as we seek out housing options and sort out a way to relocate with a very short time window of opportunity. I appreciate all the well wishes for my Dad and the continuing support you’ve all have shown me in recent weeks and months. I truly appreciate it. Here’s to better days but mostly, here’s to the resolute attitude of realising that life can’t hold you down unless you choose to allow your circumstances to override your ability to rise above the obstacles they create on your path.
Although this is more of a life update than a readerly one,
Kindly read through my archives for #TheSundayPost
REMEMBER: IF you’ve read a story this February you feel I might enjoy myself as I love reading Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, relationship-based romances, and Mysteries — kindly leave me a comment with a link to your post/review on your blog and I’ll be glad to visit you in return.
{Sources: Blog graphics created in Canva: #TheSundayPost banner and the Comment Box banner. Book cover and promo banner for “A Shape on the Air” and the Dr Dulac series were provided by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and are used with permission.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2023.
I’m a social reader | I share my bookish life via Twitter:
FYI: #amblogging my latest #TheSundayPost🗞️ the working title of choice is: Hallo, Hallo I've decided – my life is a SOAP OPERA and I need to exit stage left!🙃Oy. Anyone else feel that way at times? Since I'm sporadically online, I've found writing these lovelies to be cathartic
— Jorie Story 📖🎧 (@joriestory) February 19, 2023
* Is your life a soap opera? Mine is!
* Continuing updates about Dad
* Soaking into a wicked #CosyMystery📖🗞️https://t.co/Ari7wH9cny@foxesfairytales | #TheSundayPost pic.twitter.com/JGfbEPccQB
— Jorie Story 📖🎧 (@joriestory) February 19, 2023
Comments via twitter:
Oh Jorie! I can’t believe how much you’re having to deal with all on top of each other right now! 😞 I’m sending you all the best wishes I can. Let me know now if there’s anything I can do to help.
— louise (@foxesfairytales) February 19, 2023
Oh my goodness, Jorie – just read your post. This is unimaginable. I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. And to be working such long hours too, whilst coping with so much. I’m thinking of you & your fam & wishing that you will come through this to a better future soon. 🤗🤗
— Clare Chase (@ClareChase_) February 19, 2023
What a whirlwind of a post, Jorie! So sorry about what you’re going through.
— Caleb Wygal (@calebwygal) February 19, 2023
I hope your dad is ok. Hugs
— Serena Agusto-Cox (@PoeticBookTours) February 19, 2023
Hugs! I’m sure thus is overwhelming for you. So glad about your dad’s progress, even if some doctors fail to recognize it. But so sorry about having to move. You’ll find just the right place! Praying for strength for you all. 🙏
— Edale Lane (@EdaleLane) February 19, 2023
Oh my friend, if trials do make you stronger, you’re an amazonian goddess! With everything crashing about you, you still manage to keep your optimism and wit. You and your mum are amazing. I’m sorry for this latest hill to climb, but I know you’ll triumph, cuz that’s what you do. pic.twitter.com/DXwQGx13aX
— Carolyn Steele (@CarolynSteeleUT) February 19, 2023
And bravo to your dad and his progress!! Prayers for him, as well!
— Carolyn Steele (@CarolynSteeleUT) February 19, 2023
It sounds as though life is giving you one blow after another! It seems terribly unfair and I really hope that it works out for you and your family – particularly with regard to finding housing that will also let you have the cat you and your mom want. The landlord’s timing is absolutely terrible and I hope your next landlord will be a little bit more human.
Also sending all my best wishes and good thoughts to your dad, it sounds like you and your mum have been amazing pillars of support for him!
Hallo, Hallo Eustacia,
I will admit, at one point it felt so very unreal that we lost our housing and on the next breath, I just wanted to find a way to resolve it. Despite the slim offerings on the rental market and the difficulties of finding the right landlord, we’re still trying to encourage ourselves to find the positives even if they seem a bit dim lately. I agree with you – there is a lack of humanity in the world of rent.
Bless you for your supportive note about Dad. We just amazed at what he has accomplished in such a short time. I am so thankful I lost sleep one night to run searches online to find him a better place to live as the staff truly has his best interests at heart. Their an incredible staff and that has been one blessing out of the recent storms of chaos. I’m hoping we can get some good news to share soon about our housing situation but as I’ve been revealling a bit of the struggles in these comments overnight, it has been a very hard road.
Thanks for blessing me with your visit and your words.
Oh no! I hope you find someplace soon. Why does everything happen at once? Hang in there.
Hallo, Hallo Jill,
Gosh! I hope so, too! Today that felt near impossible because there are so many hurdles to go through to find housing these days. I wish I knew the answer to your other question – about why does everything happen ALL AT ONCE rather than giving us a break to handle each crisis individually?! That would be grand but unfortunately life just keeps coming at us and we just have to dig deep and find a way through it all. I’ve shared some more insight into what we’re going through in other comments under this post, too.
Thank you for visiting with me and sending such an encouraging note! Bless you.
Hugs, my friend. When it rains, it pours, but remember that there is always a rainbow at the end. I am hoping positive things come of the move and that your Dad continues to improve and enjoy each day.
Hallo, Hallo Kimberly,
I’m praying there is a rainbow that we can see soon because each new day brings more anxiety and uncertainty because despite having jobs and able to pay our bills, there aren’t as many opportunities to rent as you would think. The moments we can spend with Dad are precious to us as there are a few days where his spark returns and we can peak into the past thorugh the present and see my Dad again. We hold onto those moments and new memories, even if his days are limited, we still have a bit of time with him now. Of course, some of those hours are affected by chasing after securing a new place to live but I’m hopeful things will work out before the end of March, to where we can all breathe easier.
I’ve been revealling a bit of what we’re facing in other replies in the comments on this post. All of which I know many people go through themselves every month, too, and it is just a sad state of reality where housing is very limited and very difficult to resolve. I look forward to not worrying over housing once it gets resolved as like you said, the stress factors will severely reduce at that junction and perhaps, allow Mom and I the grace to pick up our hobbies and maybe even find a new ones to divert any leftover stress and find our joys again.
Thanks for visiting with me.
I’m sorry to learn of the stress you are under, I hope both situations will resolve in your favour.
Wishing you strength for the coming week
Hallo, Hallo Shelleyrae,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with me — sorry the topic of the hour is a bit less bookish than usual but I appreciated your wishes for me throughout the coming week as I definitely needed an extra boost! As you’ll read over in the other replies I’m sharing on this post, sorting out a place to live is not just an uphill climb but one that nearly feels impossible to resolve. Not that I’ve lost hope or anything but its depressing the more you search of a place to rent and realise you don’t have as many options as you hoped you’d have to rent. Housing insecurity is as dearly hard as food insecurities and I definitely re-appreciate those who have walked this path before me. I hope to pass forward the blessings and kindnesses we have experienced through all of these months we rallied behind Dad but also, the few times where people have crossed our path in a kind way as we sort out our housing situation, too. And, that includes the outpour of support I’ve been receiving lately online.
You might not realise it but even these lovely notes of encouragement are a balm to our souls lately. I pray they resolve in our favour, too.
Oh.My.God. Jorie!!!! This is TOO MUCH!!!! Getting kicked out of your apartment at a time like this??? Wow.
I was once kicked out of my apartment for the same reason. Owners were upgrading the apartments to condominiums. But at least in Los Angeles they have to pay you if they kick you out like that. That was in the 90s and at the time I think I got $4,000 for moving costs. Not sure what it would be now. Nothing like that for you wherever it is that you live?????
But yah, that’s my biggest fear right now, that I’ll sell this house, move back to L.A. and get kicked out of my apartment for whatever reason, AND THEN WHAT??? And yes, I’m on a month-to-month least there and have been since 1998 when I moved in.
Girl…hang in there! At least you and your mom have each other through all these various nightmares. You will both be ok! Everything will work out.
I’m glad your dad is making little improvements here and there and don’t let the STUPID doctors get you down. You focus on what YOU see and what the therapists see.
Hugs to you!!!!
Hallo, Hallo Jinjer,
They gave you moving expenses?! Whoa. Yeah. Not the same circumstances here at all. We’re facing a lot of closed doors in regards of finding a place to rent and secure a lease whilst we’re navigating this on our own. Our current landlord isn’t going to help us at all — which includes not extending our time to find a place to live nor with any kind of financial assistance to relocate. We’re not even sure if we’ll get our desposit back because they haven’t confirmed that yet either as they wait until after you move out and even then, there is a delay of two days. Aye.
I’ve been sharing bits of information in the comments under this post – it has been exhausting trying to muddle through it all and find any inch of hope out of the chaos because none of us realise how close you can become to not having a housing option at all. We’re not giving up — but it is just dismal out there in regards to what is available and what is available to us to lease which is bird of a different feather. I agree with your worry/concern about returning back to where you were — I’d say, be cautious of anyone who lets you stay month to month because from what I’ve learnt out of this — your rights are forfeit when your month to month and they can non-renew your status at any point they choose to tell you to vacate. In our case, we had a year lease for six out of eight years but when the ownership changed for our flat, that changed the terms out from under us and hence, we were forced to go month to month for the last two years.
I’d almost say, keep your Mom’s house if its free and clear and your able to stay on. It sounds like a more secure option. In our case, we don’t have family to turn too in order to find a safe haven whilst things work themselves out. Not that they wouldn’t take our call, but because we don’t have any living relatives as we loved and lost them years ago. We’re a small and mighty family of three nowadays. I’m in the Southeast (same as you) but I never heard of the aide and help of relocating that you described. When my parents were younger, they were forced out due to similar circumstances (ie. renovation and conversion to condos) and were not given any assistance either. It is a blessing if some states/cities offer those options but for the rest of us its a hard road to walk and sort out day to day.
Thanks for continuing to read my journals of this adverse situation and for giving such encouraging words as well. We definitely agree with you about what to hold onto and what to ‘let go’ in regards to doctors, etc. It just rankles when you find one that doesn’t see what we see and also, to cross-compare the changes in the medical community from the days of my grandfathers’ who lived with different conditions until they died and how compassionately they were treated to how things have changed in regards to how my father is treated himself. That’s a bit of a harder pill to swallow most days.
I’ll be feeling more relaxed once I button down a place to live… though, this the closest I’ve come to realising that none of us are too far off from living in our cars or a week/monthly hotel if the budget is right.
I really feel for you, Jorie – I’m so very sorry for what you and your family are going through. I can’t believe the way your landlord is behaving – it’s so grasping and cruel. Sending every heartfelt good wish for your dad and you and your mum too. I dearly hope that things will improve for you soon. As ever, I’m filled with admiration for you and your mum’s bravery and strength. Your care is clearly making a world of difference to your dad. Take care. Sending prayers and wishes. x
Dearest Ms Chase,
I’ve been slowly responding – mostly as everything keeps changing out from under us this week. As I was just sharing with Cindy in these comments, the hardest part of all is finding a lot of difficulty in securing a new lease and rental. I knew the market was a difficult one (even eight years ago!) but it would appear that its become doubly harder now to find an affordable place to rent and there are less opportunities to rent from someone who will let you rent from them as well. I wish our management company had more compassion or at least, more flexibility, as I tried to pay a bit more to stay or even to get an extension to give us time to pursue a new place to live — but no dice on all counts.
Earlier last week we thought all we had to worry over was Dad and his Medicaid approval which would allow him to remain in long term care — I am so grateful we didn’t have foresight to realise that we’d face a housing crisis of our own. The hardest part is realising that we’re close to not finding a place by the deadline and with those fears/concerns, each day we try to talk it out and find a path forward — even if it doesn’t appear to be one available. It is a very stressful time because there are too many variables and most of them are out of our control.
I appreciate your kind words and support. These notes have been such a balm of encouragement to us both whilst we’re trying to remain positive despite the chaos at our feet. Thank you for blessing me with your prayers — they truly do make an impact. And, I am blessed to have them.
Thanks for your reply, Jorie. I wish you didn’t have to go through this. Sending hugs.
Good grief, Jorie! You do have a lot on your plate! I hope you and your mom are able to find an affordable place to live in your short time frame! Good luck with it all.
Hallo, Hallo Cindy,
Oyy. That is the question of the hour — finding a place to rent and also, finding a place to rent from – as so much has changed in the years since we found our flat. There are moments like these where I see the fractured ways in which housing options due not specifically address the needs of everyone but only seem to address the needs of the few. Again, things I’ve always have known but its doubly hard navigating it when you’re being affected by it. I still struggle to reconcile the fact we’re both employed, both pay taxes and have always paid rent on time (8yrs worth!) and yet, we’re finding a lot more closed doors than open ones to get into a new rental and lease.
Blessed for the encouraging words.
I am so sorry!! I do hope that something comes available soon!
Hi Jorie!! I am so sorry to hear this news- both about your dad and the relocation. How unfair! And I know you’ve been through the WRINGER these last couple years- I am praying and wishing you all good things, in spite of these challenges. Funny too, your blogoversary (the 31st) is my birthday. Ha ha which is apropos of nothing but thought I’d mention it. :)
Anyway… and I just have to say I’m so impressed with how you and your mum have rallied around your dad and are absolute rocks for him. I’m going through similar things with my mom (although not as serious) and it is challenging- so I salute you and what you are doing. Doctors definitely make a difference too- one might say let go but then another presents a ray of hope. Yes, hang on to that!
Also hoping that as terrible as this is, that you find a place you enjoy and that this- somehow- becomes a silver lining type deal. Take care, my friend, and always here if you want to vent!
Dearest Greg,
I read all the notes and supportive hugs as they came onto my blog – however, I needed to take a bit of a breathing space to respond. Each time I journal out my heart and thoughts about what is evolving through my life right now takes a lot out of me as it is a different kind of vulnerability than I usually share but at the same time, it is a carthertic release for me as well. I was looking over them recently (as there are 4x since October) and I realised that these posts are helping my own mental health whilst they are also I hope, putting signals of alerts out for others who might face similar circumstances lateron in their own lives. It isn’t the first time I’ve gone through a massive lift shift over the decade I’ve blogged here but it is one of the few times I’ve encouraged myself to share more than just keeping quiet about whatever was going on. The messages I’ve been receiving have truly been a blessing for me and for my Mum, as a lot of you all have shared kind replies on her behalf, too. My heart truly has appreciated all the kind support we’ve been receiving and I just wanted to reaffirm my gratitude again to you in particular as you’ve been one of the mainstays of support all along.
It is interesting you mentioned a silver lining – we’ve come to look at this ourselves as a chance to redirect our path into a potentially ‘better place’ where we’ll have a bit less worry in regards to our landlord and housing situation. Just to go without repairs for months at a time has been insane and I can’t remember if I said this on my post, but not having lights outside has been the worst. I’ll never understand why some landlords refuse to maintain their own properties or why if you assert your rights as a tenant that automatically puts a mark on you. It is a bad situation all round for everyone out there who rents and it is something I’ve known about for a long time but living through it made it even more personal.
Aye! The WRINGER was very apropos! Couldn’t have exclaimed it better!
Ooh! It’s your birthday?! Smashing! Happy EARLY birthday, dear friend.
When I first developed my blog I decided to anchour the dates a bit more uniquely than others – so technically, the 31st of March I’ve always referred to as my blog’s birthday *and!* the day it actually launched live to the world as my blogoversary (ie. 6th August). However, more than not, everyone confuses the two and I’ve sometimes referred to the 31st as the blogoversary, myself. Laughs. It was just one of those moments where it took me longer to sort out how to blog and how to do the Admin stuff behind the scenes, so I was literally sorting all that out from March to August and then, when I felt I was comfortable enough with it all, I published the blog.
It is a tidal wave of emotions and responses, that is for sure. Thanks for understanding how/why I’m sharing everything and for being such a supportive friend and listener. And, agree — if I need to vent and just get out my frustrations, I’ll know whom I can turn too! Blessed!
PS: Equally, I’ve been hoping things would turn round for your Mom.