The dust is still settling…
Wow! This last month REALLY zipped by. I’ve been home from my writing residency for 3 weeks now, and the dust is still settling from all the tornadic changes around here. First off, my elderly father-in-law, Bob, moved in with us.
He’s in great physical shape but has some early stage dementia issues, so we have to keep a close eye on him. Sometimes, though, it’s humorous. (The other morning, for example, he told us he’d fed that cats. The cats, however, were meowing as if they had not been fed. Turns out Bob had put pellets for our wood stove in their dishes rather than cat food!)
Another big change in our household is that I adopted a stray cat. She is a young tabby named Miss Otis who is eager to win the affections of our resident black-haired queen of the castle, Ms. Kalliope. I kept them apart for the first couple of weeks, but switched their cat beds every day so they would get used to each other’s smell. It really worked! They aren’t exactly best buds, but they are being civil. Mostly, the younger one lets the older one call the shots, and backs off the moment she looks even slightly annoyed.
A big change for me is having someone around 24/7. As it happens, Bob’s favorite place to sit is in the chair next to mine. He likes to read books, stare out the window, and sometimes he’ll watch TV. I bought him a puzzle to work on and he enjoys that, too. Even so, he gets bored easily and when that happens I do my best to find something for him to do.
Bob’s a sweetheart and I don’t mean to complain, but it is challenging for me to concentrate on my projects right now. The other day when I co-hosted a podcast, for instance, Bob sat and stared directly at me for the entire hour-long show. It was a little disconcerting, but I figure it builds character, right? I know it will get easier, though; we are all still adjusting.
One thing that is kinda cute, actually, is that now when I write, I am flanked by the two cats on my right (as you can see in the photo) and my father-in-law on the left (I don’t have a photos of this)!
I guess I mostly vented for this IWSG post! Thanks for listening. My main insecurity at the moment is that I’m kinda frazzled and unfocused. Hopefully that will change by next month as our household settles into new rhythms.
***That’s it for me this month! How are things with all of you?***
What is IWSG?
IWSG stands for “Insecure Writers Support Group.” It’s a monthly check-in for writers of all stripes. Its creator, Alex J. Cavanaugh, describes ISWG like this:
“Purpose of IWSG: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!” – Alex J. Cavanaugh
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Tui Snider is an author, speaker, and photographer who specializes in North Texas travel, cemetery symbols, and haunted lore. As she puts it, “I used to write fiction – but then, I moved to Texas!”
Snider’s best-selling books include Paranormal Texas , Understanding Cemetery Symbols, and 100 Things to Do in Dallas - Fort Worth Before You Die.
Snider has several more books in progress, and enjoys connecting with writers and readers all over the globe through social media, her newsletter and her website: TuiSnider.com.
Wow, you’ve had a lot of changes in your life recently!
I had a relative who had Alzheimers disease, and another who had some other kind of dementia before he passed way. (It was never officially diagnosed, but we could all see big changes in him). It’s a tough thing to deal with for sure. I hope your father-in-law adjusts well to living with you and that you’ll be able to take care of him until his needs change again.
Your cats are adorable, by the way. :)
Tell everyone to make arrangements for your companion animals, it is important. You could get hit by a meteorite, or get diagnoses with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Make sure your pals are cared for, in writing. Your human children, as well, if they are under 21.
September flew by, didn’t it? I’m glad we had the guest posts on StoryDam, but I didn’t get any relaxation I wanted with my blogging break. =(
September AND October have flown by! Enough with this flying by crap. I need a pause button! ~Tui