
When I first arrived here full time over four years ago, Mom had several services in place.
• Paula, a gal across the street, had been cleaning house for over 25 years. Although I've since told her I didn't need her for the house anymore, we go way back to the time before I moved so we still chat and go on exercise walks together.

• We have the older couple that have mowed the lawn since I left. I've kept them on, too, since my brother took my Mom's lawnmower somewhere along the way. Honestly, if I'm going to do yard work, I'd rather spend it in the gardens planting flowers.
• Then there's Terry the Orkin man. We've had carpenter ants here in the house since I was little. At some point, Mom hired Orkin Exterminators to come in and finally get rid of them. They're gone, but we've kept Terry on because we don't want them back. Turns out that Terry is the son of my Mom's best friend when they were growing up. She and Iva would have sleep overs all the time, go swimming in the river, etc. Of all the things that Mom has forgotten, she'd remember Iva when Terry showed up. (She thinks Terry is her husband, though, and not her son.) She'd send her best and ask him to have Iva stop by to visit. He would but they are a half hour away and too much for Iva to make the trip. But, the good news, is that she is five minutes from the assisted living center and Terry told me that Iva intends to stop by and see Mom.

Terry and I are now out to each other and have grand conversations when he comes over. No sexual tension between us...he's 15 years older than me and likes young Asian men.
Anyway, to the point of my story, he told me that I have lost 5 years off the look of my face since the last time he saw me. He can tell that the stress is melting away. I'm still a bit on the nervous side, and would probably be a total mess without the new script of Pristiq, but it was nice to get a compliment and know that others are noticing a change.
2 comments:
Judging by the way your profile pic has changed recently, I'm inclined to agree with Terry. I'm glad to hear you're de-stressing.
I wonder what will happen when Iva visits your Mom, though. If she thinks Terry is Iva's Husband, she may be a little surprised to find that Iva has gotten so old...
I saw an Orken truck today when I was out for a walk at lunch and thought of your posting. Funny how blog postings float around in my thoughts!
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