" THE RESTAURANT "

      I can't believe it has been almost a month since i have posted, I cannot say time sure does fly by at least not in my life anymore, but it kind of  has, I put the house on the market a little over a week ago, five showings so far but no offers yet, I know a lot of people say to wait at least a year before you make any major decisions but I have been wanting to downsize for the last three years, hubby was just not ready, after all he did have his  "God's Little Acre" here and at the farm between the two of them I don't know which he loved more, aw c'mon I know it was the farm !  Well this place is just way too much for me to take care of, hell, I don't even know how to start the riding lawn mower. I would have to hire out everything which I have been doing already as far as the lawn maintenance, I just cannot imagine the pickle I would be in without family and friends and even neighbors. Such blessings ! A winter here alone scares the bejesus out of me, SNOW removal, electrical outages, sure we have a generator, can I operate it  HELL NO !  It will break my heart to leave this humble abode, thirty years in this home but it must be done.                                                                                                                    I have found another abode, they call it a paired villa, perfect size, maybe still a little too big but all maintenance will be handled by an HOA, I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and believe me I have been looking, I have a contingency with this new place so wish me luck all !                                      We are preparing for an estate sale so that is why the time has been slipping away from me, they will be here in a couple of weeks to  "clean me out" they will take everything to their warehouse and have an auction there, a bit costly but so worth it to me and my son.  Here is where family and friends have been another blessing, so much help from all, feeling humbled again. A special thanks to each and every one of them.                                                                                                                                    My son is a minimalist, after all he and his wife reside in a one bedroom condo in a major city so he kind of has to be but he likes it that way. When he came to " help" his mother out he asked me "How could you and dad do this to me".  He was not prepared for 47 years of accumulation, I was so grateful first of all that he didn't disown me and that he didn't run away.  We have been picking and choosing and discarding since the beginning of July, I must say we have made a  "big dent" in this madness, but progress is being made and light is at the end of the tunnel. After a grueling weekend I decided to take him out for a special dinner.  The place we chose was where hubby and I went every year for our wedding anniversary probably for at least the last 25-30 years we have been going there, hubby always getting his lamb or veal chops, I always got the pepper steak braised in a wine sauce, appetizer meatballs, relish tray, soup, salad and then the special entree, an exquisite gastronomical feast was had by the two of us, the price was always a sticker shock but what the hell it was only once a year we always had a gift certificate a christmas gift from our son and daughter in law every year, but it was still a bit pricey !   however this was not a good idea i came up with, OMG the memories, I was totally not prepared for the shock I felt when we first walked in, seeing all the tables we dined at on our special occasion, now, what was I thinking bringing my son to our "special place". It was a very hard time for me, my son sensed something was wrong and asked if my meal was alright, he said his lamb chops were delicious, lamb chops, trying to hold back the tears, I did not eat much using the excuse I was just too tired to eat, I have enough leftovers for 3 more meals. I was trying to concentrate on our conversation but just could not focus thinking of things hubby and I talked about over our special dinner, future plans were always discussed for our many more years together, future trips we might take both definitely saying how we wanted to go back on the Natchez Trace Parkway maybe we could do the whole route, talking how we would never go back to Florida, just way too hot for us. Our hopes and dreams were always discussed over those special dinners at our restaurant, we sometimes did share going there with family and friends but it meant so much more to us when it was just the two of us. Now those hopes and dreams have vanished forever, gone by the wayside, up in smoke, I know I will not be going back to the restaurant for quite a while maybe never again, but then again maybe in the distant future I will be able to go there and have a nice time, smile , enjoy myself, it was a happy place for us, but for now I cannot share that happiness with no other.  I love and miss you desperately my sweet man!!!!   That is all for today 'MY SPECIAL READERS !'      Ta-Ta  for now !!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
                                                 
                                              OH HOW I MISS THIS !!!!