I have a 83 year old mother who I am legal guardian to due to dementia.  I had to fight my older brother to get her out of her own house and into a safe environment.

Last year she fell and broke a hip, but after nonstop hospital, rehab, and $17,000 in sitter fees we ( older sister and I ) we got her back to her facility.

So then Thursday, the one day I try to keep for "ME", I was informed I had to work over......I was angry, but hey, it is "the job" and you have to have the income.  So I am loaded up and driving out to my route and my cellphone rings.  Now we know we are not allowed in the Atlanta area to be on the cell phone while working, but when this number (the facility ) shows up, you pull over and answer it. 

Mom fell again.

So I tun around, head back and leave the mail in the truck for the next carrier....who....I don't know nor care.

I then spend two days at the hospital, running tests, sleeping in chairs (as if my back wasn't already bad) only to find or should I say luckily to find out that she doesn't have anything broken.  My sister and I then take her back to the facility and will have rehab coming in during the next few weeks.

I guess we are lucky that it isn't worse, and there are a lot in wheelchairs where she is so that is not an issue.  But it is hard to say goodbye to that last parent.  She may back bounce again, and luckily she has the income to live comfortably. But it is work.  We are stressed out, working past dark.  Most days because of visiting Mom I don't get home until 9pm.  This strains any relationship, and it is starting to show there also.  I commited myself to the guardianship and will see it through, but my life is making so many changes because of it. I am out of shape because I have not time to work out, I no longer do the things I love because I have other obligations.  I mean I want to get something for all the staff that cares for my mother, so I guess it will just be gift cards to hand out.  I haven't been out for a month now because of work keeping me out so long that I am just tired. And there is no longer a relationship either, hey, they take work and I don't have the time.

To top it all off, I had an MP3 player ordered for my nephew.  The post office got it on the 23rd of November and said they delivered it on the 24th, to a po box where I work, I NEVER GOT IT. The clerk shows it being in Phoenix Az and my branch manager doesn't care.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Oh well, back to work monday, but hey.....I got a lot of half days scheduled and a lot of extra annual leave to roll over......I see me putting in for one hour for a lot of Monday's, Friday's and Saturday's next year........try to make me work over then boss man.

Well, the newly installed rain barrel is full after a good solid two day rain.......yeah.....I get to put in bedding plants......

 We are working 10 to 12 hours on a regular basis here.......well, it will be nice to pay the bills when they roll in......