Here I am planting another blog post. I found that today of all days, would be a perfect time to do so. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and one I feel gets swept under the rug. I'm going to change that, at least for myself this year. Let me expound in the next paragraph. This year has been a whirlwind of activities. I feel blessed in so many ways. I accomplished things that at the onset thought would be impossible. When I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis over 34 years ago, I thought my working days would be over in a matter of months. I was encouraged by my first rheumatologist to go on disability and have my husband take care of me. By the way, that husband never showed up. He did not know me at all. He wanted me to essentially give up. As hard as it was those first few months, that was not going to be an option. Fast forward to this year, I was honored at our annual recognition banquet celebrating 36 years of service with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. What a ...

Hello, my fellow readers. I realize it's been many months, since my last planted blog post. So much has transpired since May 29th, which was the last time I sat down and planted a blog post. That evening the wind was taken out of my sails. Let me expound in the next paragraph. I was getting settled for the evening and watching TV, when I had a knock at the door. It was my neighbor from down the hall. What he was about to tell me would rock my world. That's where the turbulence comes in. It appeared that all 12 of the apartments were going to be refurbished and that would mean that I was going to have to move at some point. He was only given a 32 day notice or legal action would be taken. It essentially was a termination of lease. He felt the need to share with me, because of the fact that I was single and did not have a car. It was kind of him to think of me. My head was spinning and I was in disbelief this was even happening.  April 1st had been 33 years that I had resided at ...

Well hello, my fellow readers and dog friends. Yes, it's the one and only Trevor or T Man, bringing you this special planted blog post. Brenda asked if I would be so kind to share this time around and I was only too happy to oblige.  This one is going to be about thriving. Gardening was a special activity for Brenda's mother and seeing things grow and thrive, was a great source of satisfaction for her. Brenda got the idea for this planted blog post because of that.  Brenda is currently on what she calls mental health days or a few staycation days off from work. Next Monday will be her 37th work anniversary, something she thought would never happen, when she was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 34 years ago. In spite of all that she has been through, she has managed to thrive. Get where we are going with this? BOL Hi Seth, we have missed you. He loves it when I do that.  Brenda had a nice conversation with someone after the employee recognition banquet, where...

Hello, it's Brenda here, planting another blog post. This one is going to be much different and personal. A couple of years ago, I penned a letter to my best friend in life, my late mother and I'm going to do that once again. I've been missing her something awful and have so much to share with her. I thought it was also a good and healthy way to get my feelings out. I hope my readers find some help and solace from it as well.  It's Arthritis and Brain Tumor Awareness Month, so you will understand where I'm going with this. I haven't had the desire to write or share anything for months now, so I thought this would be the best way to convey it in a letter.  Dear Mom, It been almost 14 years since you left this earth on May 31, 2011. It was a Tuesday afternoon and I had spent the better part of the day by your bedside along with several visitors, one being a cousin, who visited you many times while you were in the nursing home. We cleaned out your room after you ha...

Hi, it's Brenda once again planting another blog post. I realize it's been several months since I've shared anything. A lot has been going on with work and my personal life.  Yesterday marked 16½ years, since I became a brain tumor survivor. It's also Brain Injury Awareness Month, so what I'm about to share comes out of living with an acquired brain injury. I believe in being real here.  The past few months have been challenging. I lost my kindred spirit who I was connected with for over 16 years. We never met in person, but we talked on the phone, primarily on weekends. She would usually initiate the calls, but they were meaningful every time. I miss her so much. We got each other and now I feel lost and alone in all of this.  I've tried to keep busy and organize things around the apartment. How does one accumulate so much stuff? I'm proud to say that I've made some great progress thus far. We had inspectors come into our units several weeks ago and tom...

I hadn't planned to plant a blog post because lately, I haven't felt like there was anything of substance to share. It's funny how life can throw you a curve ball. Let me explain in the next paragraph. I was listening to Dionne Warwick singing 'Heartbreaker' on YouTube, when I received the text message that would take the wind out of my sails.  I was informed that my friend and kindred spirit had passed away on November 19th from complications of her recent surgery. I knew she had had this surgery and we messaged one another a few days after. I thought something was off, because it wasn't like her not to keep in contact. She would call on the weekends and we would chat a bit. They weren't really long conversations, but meaningful.  I felt like something bad was about to happen. I had experienced this same feeling when my sister ended up passing away from colon cancer over 20 years ago. You know when something is off.  I sent my friend a text message on her b...