The Year - In Review -2009

Some really great things happened this year, and some really bad things. Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first. Shall We?

My sweet Little Mama died. She was getting rehab and getting stronger and then she took a turn for the worst, as they say. They sent her from the SNF to the hospital, Leslie went to the hospital and spent the night and in the wee hours and scared the crap out of me and told me I better come. So I got up and got dressed and was 3 miles down the road and she called again and said it was a false alarm but to come on anyway. So I did and I was teasing her that as soon as she got home and laid down I was going to call her and wake her up, and Mom was up and laughing with us. She was hot all over though and kept yanking her sheet off. She was very agitated. Her body temp was low but she was hot. I asked the nurse for something for pain, and she said, if we give her anything it might take her out of here, I did not want her to suffer and even at this point didn't realize the severity of the situation. I called Leslie to come back. No joke. The morphine did nothing for her. The nephrologist came in and said the dye they used in the ER 3 days before had shut down her kidneys and she was septic, and not a candidate for dialysis. My sister said, how long are we talking? I was waiting for a week or something, I don't know. He said, 24 hours. She was gone 4 hours later. Am I angry. Yes. No one told us anything. We were totally clueless. Her stomach was distended and I had gone to a nurse on Saturday and said, look she is a little teeny person, her stomach does not usually look like that. They kind of blew me off. This dye thing we hadn't heard of until that moment either. We were in shock. She was dying and we didn't know it. I still can't think about her being gone. It comes in little spurts but not the emotional let go that I need. I am afraid it is going to happen in the grocery store or God forbid Walmart. But you know, I am blessed to have a family full of Christians and we all believe what the Bible says. And I know my Mama is with Jesus and the time in heaven is nothing like it is here. I will see my Mama again. Not here, but in a so much better place. I remember My Mama saying this to me after Gary's Mom, Janet died. I am so jealous that Janet gets to meet Jesus before I do. My sweet little Mama is free at last. And without Faith in God and Jesus I would truly be lost. She died on June 9, 2009. Just short of her 70th birthday. I will miss you Mama. Every single day.

It wasn't long after that, that my beloved German Shepherd, Beau, had to be put down. He had been sick for a long time and I just couldn't deal with it. There had been many family conversations about, is it time yet, and Gary kept saying, I can't say for you, because he is your dog. He was going downhill and losing weight, and I knew he was miserable. I didn't go, but Ronnie and Gary and took him, for me. He loved Ronnie, second best, and I was at peace with him going. Gary, he tolerated..... anyway, Ronnie took a picture with him there at the vet's office, and told me how kind the vet was, and that he said, he was sure it was cancer, and we had done all we could for him. He had never seen a case that bad..... We gave him hamburgers before he left, because he was having to eat special food that he didn't like for a couple of years. I felt good about that. Ronnie said, the vet gave him a shot to relax him and he fell against Ronnie's legs. Ronnie got in the floor with him and the vet came in knelt down and gave him his last shot. He was the best dog. He was loyal and true blue to me. He was hard headed and stubborn and determined beyond belief, and so very smart. He protected me totally. Even against Gary and the boys teasing me. He always got between us and gave a warning growl. They loved to pop me feet as they went by if I had them up over the arm of the love seat and he would get so mad at them. He wouldn't let Gary get close to my side of the bed if I was asleep and there were many arguments between the two of them. (lol) He was my good and handsome boy and I will forever miss him. I still dream about him.
For a month I mourned my Beau. I watched every SPCA sight and was looking for me a new baby. I wasn't sure what I wanted but I knew when I saw it, I would get it. Gary was opposed to this but I didn't really care. My heart hurt and I needed something to love. One Monday I was at work and my sister called with this story about this couple splitting up and they couldn't get an apartment until they got rid of the dog etc etc. So I said, Ok lets go take a look. I met her after somewhere I have never been before and as I turned down the street I could see this bullet of a golden blur running like a mad thing. She is a golden retriever (supposedly- but she had no papers and they have repeatedly not responded to inquiries and she sure doensn't look like a golden but has the personality of one. mixed maybe?) named Brandy and she was 7 or 8 months old. Well they wanted $200.00 for her so I pulled money out of every nook and cranny I my wallet and car and bra (just kidding) to come up with it, So I packed her in the front seat and off we went. I looked at her and said "this is the best day of your life that I came to get you" Her hair was sort of dull and dandruffy and she was skinny as a rail her ribs were sticking out. It was storming like crazy and lightening and thundering and she just laid in the front seat and didn't move around. I get her home and we come through the garage where Candy's bowl of food is by the door and that puppy gobbled up the entire bowl! She was so hungry. I had dinner plans with Leslie and another friend, Mike, I left the dog at home with Jesse and Gary and went. When I came back home, there was Jesse and Brandy all cuddled up on the sofa. She was laying all over him. He goes off to bed, and she goes with him. He gets up for work in the morning, she goes to work with him, and that is the end of the story. I bought Jesse a dog named Brandy. They love each other. It's insane. But she doesn't mind hanging out with us. She is sweet as pie and very flexible. she just lays all around and has to be with people constantly. She and Candy love each other too. When Brandy comes home for work at night you should just hear the huffing noises they make. (That huffing is dog laughter, or so The dog whisperer says) I still have no dog, but I am ok, for the moment.

On to some more good news. My son Ronnie's, girlfriend became pregnant this year. I was NOT a happy camper, but my Little Mama was excited. She said, If that baby is a girl I think you should name her Roxanne and call her Roxie. I just think that is the cutest name ever. Mom's middle name was Carroll (apparently there was a movie star in the 1930's named Nancy Carroll and that is who she was named after) Our Roxie Carroll was born on November 1, 2009. She is perfect in every way. And such a good baby. She hardly ever cries and is not cooing and smiling at us. She got to spend the night with BB (that's me - My name is Robbin in and I have been saying BB while spelling my name for people my whole life) two weeks ago so they could go to a party. I didn't sleep all night long. I wanted to make sure she was breathing etc. We love her. Being a BB ROCKS.

We went to Italy on a cruise this year for vacation. We left on Sept 30 and got back on October 15th. Flew to Rome spent a few days there then caught the cruise ship and went everywhere. It was simply amazing. I never thought I would be so blessed to be able to take a trip like that. I missed my Pops a lot while we were gone, because we usually cruised together. Nana, I know missed him. She was reluctant to go ona cruise with out him but this was a trip she couldn't pass up. We did so much in such a short time. We ate amazing food, saw amazing sights, I still can't believe we were there. I want to go back. Here are the girls at the Trevi Fountain. we threw some coins in, Not sure what's supposed to happen next. We had a fabulous driver that Jack found, through a company called BOB's in Rome. Lol His name was Salvatore and we all loved him. He was a character and nearly got arrested while picking us up, parking illegally and refused to show his documents to the polizio. Held us up an hour, but I have good pictures, to chronical the episode. We told him all about Thanksgiving and when he comes next year, we are going to cook for his family! There was a small incident on the cruise ship, with a can of Oust, that I might have sprayed in Gary's face by accident in the middle of the night, when I thought that a foul odor wafting in the cabin was him. The stench woke me up, 3 times, so I got the Oust from the bathroom and had it by my bedside and then it woke me up on the 3 time I just squirted and all of a sudden out of the dark I hear this voice say. "why did you spray me in the face with the Quest" Oooohh he was mad. And stomped out of the cabin in the middle of the night and slept on the deck. He got Ok though and we laughed about it the next day. In fact I am laughing now typing about it. He called it Quest instead of Oust and every now again one of us will make reference to Quest. As it turned out the stench wasn't him, after all, but some strange odors that would come through the pipes into our room. One day it was garlic. Nana and Jackie could smell it in their room too. The cruise portion of the trip actually sucked, as we were right about the Caliente Disco which boomed all night long. We didn't get much sleep. After complaining they compensated us for it, but it was still bad. They knew the rooms we were in were bad and they put us there anyway. Leslie and Jack were a mile down the hallway from us and he was in a wheelchair. Not conducive to a nice family cruise, but we managed. We really wanted the adjoining balconies but Carnival wouldn't accomodate us after they made the error. And then they lost a piece of our luggage on return. Then suddenly 6 weeks later it appears on my doorstep. My favorite jeans were in there so I was happy. We went to the Amalfi Coast which was simply breathtakingly beautiful. We had the best meal there too. Mussells for me. Just awsome. Prosecco and Limoncello and bruschetta de buffalo. Pizza, was to die for in Italy. Don't let anybody tell you it's not good. It's beyond good. I want some right now. Gelato. we tried to eat some every day. Also amazing. Leslie and I both got choked up at the Vatican. We went into that room you can pray in, and we both just walked right in, and I had tears just streaming down my face. We both got choked up at the catacombs. too. I missed Pops and I thought about all the Christians who died for what they believed in, and their bodies were RIGHT THERE. I cried again at the Sistine Chapel. I was overcome by it all. I never thought in my lifetime I would actually see those paintings and it was so unbelievable beautiful. Ok we are cry babies. I love my sister and don't know what I would do without her. I was so grateful to be able to share this trip, with her and her husband Jack, My Nana, and Aunt Jackie and my wonderful husband Gary, who has put up with my antics for the past 27 years and still loves me. ((Or at least he did, till I Quested him.))

Oh and here is some other big news of the year. Gary Retired after 34 years in the Shipyard. I was so proud of him when he brought home is plaque and flag that they flew in his honor on December 11, 2009. He has been home burning off his sick leave for the last few months. Its really nice having a house husband. He changes the sheets on the bed and does the laundry and runs errands and whatever else needs doing. He has been offered another job, but he is on the fence about it. IMHO he is way too young to retire, but if we want that lake house...........

Gary and I bought that lot on Lake Gaston. It is another dream come true. It has a boat house with a party deck on top. We got such a good deal. We had been looking and looking for years. Here and at OBX but could never find what we wanted at the price we wanted to pay. This was a, well lets look at this lot after a day of dragging all around the lake looking at everything. We offered something so low we couldn't believe they accepted it. Our real estate agent is the bomb. (Lynn Raynor at Sunset Realty in Littleton, NC) My only regret is that My Mom and Dad aren't not here to enjoy it with us. But wait, Enjoy what? Yep, we haven't even come up with a house plan we can agree on, so who knows when all this will take place. Hopefully in 2010 but you never know what the future holds. I always think about this Bible verse:

James 4:13-14Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Oh and of course this one

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I haven't been to church since the spring time. I am lazy and I don't want to get out of bed on Sunday's and since Mom died I don't want to go and have a break down or something there. Me and my BFF Susan are going to read the Bible all the way through this year, together. Attempt it at least. I made it through one year, I can do it again. It's not as daunting as you might think. And I need to get in touch.

Susan, and I did lots of fun things, this year. I heart my BFF. She is wonderful to me, and I don't know what in this world I would do without her. She is kind, and considerate and always there for me, no matter what, and to top it all off. She's FUN. We have so much fun together and we laugh and act like we are 12 and it's all good. This year, we went to the Parrot Head Ball, where I proceeded to come down with the Norovirus and she had to get a wheelchair and get me out of our hotel room with a hurt back and drive me home and get me in the bed and get me ginger ale with a straw. Poor Susan. We went to OBX a couple of times. We stayed at her Mom's place once and we played bananagrams all weekend. And got awesome sandwiches from the Stop and Shop to eat on the beach. We went down for girls weekend and stayed at Nana's cottage with Leslie, Tracy and Donna. Drank lots of wine and laughed and laughed. Made some prank calls to ourselves using the text to land line feature. How mature was that? It was hysterical. The way that mechanical voice interprets words..... lmao. You will have to ask them what we said, because my lips are sealed. I went on all the holidays, Memorial, July 4th and Labor day and spent that with Nana and the family. In the fall, the same girls, went to Donna's Mom's house on the Eastern Shore. We took a ride around the Harbour on Capt Dan's Charter Boat out of Chincoteague. Again, lots of wine and laughing. My dear sister, and Tracy, her accomplice decided to scare Susan and I, so they waited until we got into bed then snuck outside and took one of those decorative scarecrows out of the ground and tapped it on our bedroom window! OK Even I will admit it worked, They scared the pooky out of us. Revenge my friends. That's all I am saying. We took our annual trip to New York City before Thanksgiving. We went to see a play called Oleanna and then we waited outside the theater and saw Bill Pulman and Julia Stiles up close! star struck. Yes we were. We walked 10,000 miles and went to Serendipity to eat, frozen hot chocolate. It was the best thing on the planet. Went to see the Rockettes, Magnolia bakery, Hell's Kitchen Flea Market, China Town. (got massages there) We were everywhere and had a blast. I was so tired I was actually ready to come home. Those 7 hour bus trips will kill you though. Went to Richmond for a Christmas party and then shopped all the next day. ((We only got lost a little bit, this time)) We both got Garmin Nuvi's for Christmas so I am sure we will have much better luck getting around in either car in the future. We had Cupcake Day, where we wrecked my kitchen and make cupcakes all day. And Gingerbread House Day, They were good this year. Gary built us a base out of boxes ( I know that cheating but I don't care, I just want to decorate not build) and we could just go to town this way. We started way early, and it took us 2 days, but it was worth it. Love Gingerbread Day!! We had lots of other little projects going on too. Hopefully this year, I will really blog and keep up with all these activities.
So that's my year in reveiw. Big stuff, Bad stuff, Good stuff, Life altering stuff. By the grace of God, I made it through and am grateful to all my friends and family who have supported and put up with me through this emotional roller coaster that was 2009. I am looking forward to 2010. If anybody is actually reading this blog. May God Bless us all, Everyone!!