Merry Christmas to all my family and friends. My year started badly with the sudden death of cousin Tammy after 2 ½ months of fighting pancreatic cancer. Then on to the family Christmas at Mom’s house (last one there) where Great Aunt Katie had sent a cd of old photos we watched on TV. Niece Annika loving the Barbie Swan Lake video I gave her decided she wanted dance classes and sister Sylvia found someone to start her at midterm. Soon sister Sylvia’s family cat Scout died from ingesting a toxic substance which lead to kidney failure. Perhaps I was still in shock when my company’s owner decided to sell out and we had to interview to keep our jobs. I was dismissed. I should have won an Emmy for my last day performance pretending nothing was wrong in front of customers I helped. The next day Sylvia took me out to dinner and I entered a drawing for a free week at a local gym to actually win. A couple days I exercised with my friend April explaining my routines based off high school dance lessons. While unemployed I babysat Annika, did sleepovers with her, and removed my things from Mom’s house. Next had Easter with Sylvia’s family and later visited Mom’s chosen retirement home.
After that my uncle Bob died after 2 years in a nursing home from having strokes. Before long Niece Abby graduated college with honors to become an English teacher and Niece Tory graduated high school as Salutatorian to major in Psychology. Cousin Brian and wife Kathryn got us excited when they blessed our family with their son Daniel Brooks. Then it was time to take Mom to the cemeteries, Annika’s dance recital, and Niece Alex’s dance recital. As expert former ballerina I was assigned to twist Annika’s short hair in a bun. It eventually fell out. Annika and I bonded more as her parents held a garage sale and I took her to the beach at Gray‘s Lake in Des Moines. The 4th of July brought a family reunion on Mom’s side where it rained all day. Had to wait for the next day to see fireworks. Soon found out a friend I knew from work, Jackie, had died after a 2 year battle with colon cancer. Next discovered my great aunt Katie died. Mom with her sisters conducted a cemetery ceremony since her funeral was in North Carolina and her casket shipped to Iowa. Better news came when Sylvia and husband Lance left for China to pick up their adopted son Lukas Grant Xinke. While they were away, we held the estate auction removing the last items from Mom’s house and settled her into her retirement home apartment.
Took Nephew Lukas to the zoo for his 6th birthday and he was eager to hold my hand. I had plenty of opportunities to baby-sit the kids taking them to the park and my apartment swimming pool. School started before we knew it and Lukas got accustomed to Kindergarten. Annika in 1st grade is a very good big sister and started dance lessons again, which Lukas enjoys watching. I received my last unemployment check making me dependent on Mom’s generosity to keep me from living in my car. Went to a pumpkin patch with Sylvia’s family and helped Mom list her house for sale with a realtor. My apartment got smoke from a grease fire downstairs causing me to hastily remove my wheezing cats just before a job interview that resulted in another rejection. But finally, after 7 ½ months of searching and interviewing, I got a temporary holiday job as a cashier at Kohl’s. Thanksgiving was eaten at Sylvia and Lance’s house with an extra honor of Annika’s birthday. Sylvia and kids made a Barbie cake together. Christmas soon upon us the family will celebrate it at Mom’s apartment community room. Next year Cousin Brent and wife Shiela are due to have a baby in February. So you all have a Merry Little Christmas and Happy New Year.
Seasons Greetings.
Jordan
Precious and Frodo say Meowy Christmas.
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