Happy 63rd Birthday in heaven, a day late, beloved friend.
I still miss you and think of you all the freaking time, Muff.
I wish that you could see how many of our fellow Clarke grads have fared well in the world, among them Amy R, remember her? She used to dress up like you out of admiration and a desperate wish to be as popular and wise as you always were.
She's a theater teacher, and has been helping kids all over the US develop their inner acting geeks for decades!
Laura is doing well and Tracy Ann is an empty nester who has four adult sons and pretends she was a delicate and prim lady in college, LOL! Can you imagine?! I've also heard from Mary Rose that she has had a long and satisfying teaching career and Alice N teaches tech stuff to teenagers. Karen R is still married to Sarah Jo, and Sr Carol has dementia, while Ellen takes care of her and some other old profs from the college. Oh, and Janey has been a librarian for decades in Colorado, I believe, and I think she's retiring next year.
Meanwhile, my husband, the alcoholic, is dying of end-stage kidney disease and diabetes and a whole host of other health problems, not the least of which is that he often falls and breaks bones (due to his refusal to use a cane or a walker) and is often not in his right mind, where he doesn't know who he is or where he is, and he becomes incontinent and vituperative, especially towards me, who he likes to blame for all his troubles. So my role as caretaker has become envervating and horrific, and my life has gone downhill faster than a tray sled behind the cafeteria at Clarke on a snowy day. Since I'm disabled and haven't been able to work, I can't divorce him as I have nowhere to go and no money to establish myself (we live on his SSD, which he was granted but I was not). The only thing keeping me from complete despair is my 24 year old son and his live-in trans friend Sera, who helps out with Jim and laundry, and is a complete blessing to have around, as she's usually calm and unflappable...She calls me "Mom bunny" which makes me so happy.
So anyway, my life is something of a dumpster fire, but I appreciate that I had a long and satisfying career as a journalist, and that I was able to be a good mom to my son and his rag-tag group of delightful friends.
I think of you often, Muff, and I was just telling Sera the other day what a wonderful, giving, caring and kind person you were in life. I never would have made it through Clarke without your help and your wisdom.Thank you.
I am still keeping a book blog that has over 900 posts on it to date, of reviews and tidbits about books and movie adaptations. Due to the arthritis in my wrist and hands, I am thinking about quitting my book review blog after it reaches a thousand posts. But, who knows what the next couple of years will bring?
Anyway, take care, and have fun on your special day.
LOVE YOU, amiga
DeAnn
