Thanksgiving is behind us & Christmas is straight ahead, although it feels somber this year. Even with the neighborhood decorated in lights, the feeling is more serious. Sad really that a pandemic can grip us this much, with hold the meter rule ads on TV. One can tell it’s not a normal year.

It makes me sad, that we are so wrapped up in the meter rule & mask wearing. Over the weekend we went shopping & the store we went to was soo crowded-I was glad I had a mask on. The mall we went to was packed, I know people where out in droves because the R# had dropped significantly. Something I am really grateful for, but this year feels much different.

I doubt we’ll have a white Christmas-since it’s been pouring & the day time high is in the low 30’s or 5C. The ground is soggy & you sink in when you take the dog out. The dog doesn’t even like the weather outside, yesterday we had to put on his super cape with his harness when we went for a walk around the lake.

I wanted to mention the transition blog that’s over 12 years old, I have been cleaning up the entries I didn’t publish. But I really liked that one because it caught me off guard with how I described the terrible transitional program I was in. How a majority of the women that entered the program never completed the program & how the program didn’t offer you housing after that ONE year in their program.

2007-2008 was a hard year but it gave me a family I can count on namely my husband & his dog Sniffy. Sniffy is long gone but my husband & our new dog Flekk are not. That year taught who I could really count on & who I couldn’t. In a way I am glad because of the family I have a today began the Summer of 2007. When I was on the precipice of life someone pulled me back & took my hand.

It’s ironic how much I hated & dreaded Christmas as a child but now look forward to the holidays with my husband & our dog. Maybe it’s because he has never taken me for granted, even when things got rough in 2012-2013. That is the best Christmas present of all, to spend it with someone who truly cares is the best gift.

This post was written in the Summer of 2008. When I had essentially hit rock bottom in my life. It was written in the moment & is not my life today.

it has been almost a year since i started living in the closet, the small tiny room in the transitional housing program i am in. the phone sometimes rings incessantly outside of my room, doors slam. 30 women drift down hallways, argue over packs of cigarettes, chores. Anything. sometimes women in the house argue over Nothing just to have something to do. i live with shelter bullies. they are usually the easiest to spot as they tend to be accusatory over small things, their body language is always guarded & they rarely Ever leave the House.

hence, i leave the house whenever possible, take my laptop & escape. i am reminded that i can go get a coffee & use wifi & feel like i am not living off of $339 a month. one of the things i am proud of is that my rent has been on-time since i moved into the house & that i am in good standing with the staff, even though we could use a new coordinator who actually Gives a damn. i am grateful when i see the street homeless with their backpacks & unshowered bodies i am glad that i can shower whenever i want.

It’s the annual Thanksgiving post & this year I am especially grateful because we are both healthy & happy.

Since March it’s been a year like no other, the pandemic shut us in March & we didn’t feel we could breathe until June when we took our vacation.

June & July where months where we took a sigh of relief & enjoyed our freedom. Traveling up north for a little bit, where we went hiking & seeing friends.

The Fall brought on onslaught of restrictions & we have spent the last 5 weeks with home office & barely leaving the house.

I am still grateful however that we have our health & that we’re safe.

I also wanted to thank my friends who I see around town & the ones I see on Skype.

Last but not least I am grateful for my husband & our solid 10 year marriage, that we celebrated this Summer.

All in all it’s been a weird year but a good one & so far no COVID in our house.

Oh and Biden won in the USA so all is going to be good there too!