Chapter 3.1 The Start of Something Awesome

This is a pretty uneventful chapter, but I think that it is a great way to introduce Lincoln as the Generation 3 Heir. As much as I am going to miss writing for Stella I am excited to show you all what I have planned for Generation 3. Speaking of my writing, for this generation I have decided that I am going to switch to the first-person narrative, but it certainly fits Lincoln’s personality.

I​​,​ ​Lincoln​ ​James​ ​Charming,​ ​am​ ​awesome!​ ​​ ​There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​other​ ​way​ ​to​ ​put​ ​it.​ ​​ ​It​ ​is​ ​that​ ​simple;​ ​I have​ ​the​ ​best​ ​life​ ​ever.​ ​​ ​With​ ​the​ ​most awesome​ ​family​ ​ever,​ ​in​ ​the​ ​most awesomest​ ​house​ ​ever.

All​ ​awesome​ ​things​ ​are​ ​happening​ ​at​ ​once.​ ​​ ​My​ ​twin​ ​and​ ​I​​ ​aged up,​ ​and​ ​for our birthday we​ ​got the​ ​most​ ​awesomest​ ​gift;​ ​a​ ​horse.​ ​​ ​Autumn​ ​is​ ​scared​ ​of​ ​him,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​love​ ​my​ ​new​ ​pet.

“Don’t​ ​you​ ​think​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​too​ ​young​ ​to​ ​be​ ​riding​ ​horses?”​ ​Mom​ ​asked​ ​our​ ​Grandpa.​ ​​ ​She​ ​is​ ​always trying​ ​to​ ​ruin​ ​my​ ​fun,​ ​but​ ​Gramps​ ​is​ ​cool.​ ​​ ​He​ ​has​ ​my​ ​back.

“Nonsense,”​ ​he​ ​replied​ ​as​ ​he​ ​gave me a treat to feed to my new pet.​ ​​ ​“I​ ​was​ ​younger than them​ ​when​ ​I​ ​first​ ​started riding.​ ​​ ​And​ ​taking​ ​care​ ​of​ ​a​ ​horse​ ​is​ ​a​ ​great​ ​way​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​them​ ​discipline and responsibility.”

Since​ ​Autumn​ ​won’t​ ​go​ ​near​ ​the​ ​horse​ ​I​ ​got​ ​to​ ​name​ ​him,​ ​and​ ​picked​ ​the​ ​name​ ​Thor!!​ ​​ ​I​ ​was​ ​not looking​ ​forward​ ​to​ ​cleaning​ ​up​ ​after​ ​Thor,​ ​but​ ​having​ ​a​ ​horse​ ​is​ ​still​ going to be ​awesome!!

 

Thor​ ​isn’t​ ​the​ ​only​ ​new​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​our​ ​family.​ ​​ ​A​ ​few​ ​months​ ​ago​ ​Mom​ ​and​ ​Dad​ ​told​ ​Autumn​ ​and me​ ​that​ ​we​ ​will​ ​be​ ​getting​ ​a​ ​new​ ​sister.​ ​​ ​Her​ ​name​ ​is​ ​Willow​ ​and​ ​she​ ​comes​ ​from​ ​a​ ​different country.​ ​​

At​ ​first​ ​I​ ​was​ ​not very ​excited.​ ​​ ​I​ ​already​ ​have​ ​a​ ​sister.​ ​​ ​Why​ ​would​ ​I​ ​want​ ​another​ ​one?!​ ​​ ​But​ ​the more​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​about​ ​it​ ​I​ ​realized​ ​that​ ​having another​ ​sister​ ​might​ ​be​ ​cool.​ ​​ ​Autumn​ ​is​ ​not​ ​as​ ​fun​ ​to​ ​play with​ ​anymore​ ​like​ ​she​ ​used​ ​to​ ​be.​ ​​ ​She​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​spend​ ​all​ ​of​ ​her​ ​time​ ​reading​ ​her​ ​books,​ ​while​ ​I like​ ​playing​ ​in​ ​the​ ​tree house​ ​or​ ​at​ ​the​ ​park.​ ​​ ​Maybe​ ​my​ ​new​ ​sister​ ​will​ ​want​ ​to​ ​play​ ​with​ ​me.

When​ ​we​ ​finally​ ​got​ ​her,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​surprised​ ​to see that​ ​she​ ​was​ ​just​ ​a​ ​toddler.​ ​​ ​But​ ​we​​ ​still​ ​play together.​ ​I​ ​like​ ​taking​ ​Willow​ ​out​ ​to​ ​the​ ​park.​ ​​ ​Our favorite game is​ ​to​ ​play Knight​ ​and​ ​Princess.​ ​​ ​But​ ​Mommy​ ​was​ ​mad​ ​at​ ​me​ ​for​ ​taking​ ​Willow​ ​on a​ ​horse​ ​ride​ ​with​ ​me.​ ​​ ​Although​ ​Grandpa​ ​was​ ​watching​ ​us,​ ​Mommy​ ​was​ ​still​ ​mad​ ​at​ ​me (although​ ​she​ ​was​ ​mad​ ​at​ ​Gramps​ ​too).​ ​​ ​I​ ​told​ ​you​ ​she​ ​always​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​ruin​ ​my​ ​fun!

 

Did​ ​I​ ​mention​ ​how​ ​much​ ​Mommy​ ​likes​ ​to​ ​spoil​ ​my​ ​fun?!​ ​​ ​Of​ ​course​ ​I​ ​love​ ​my​ ​Mommy.​ ​​ ​She works​ ​at​ ​the​ ​hospital,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​like​ ​the​ ​coolest​ ​place​ ​ever.​ ​​ ​She​ ​took​ ​Autumn​ ​and​ ​me​ ​to​ ​work​ ​with her​ ​once.​ ​​ ​It​ ​was​ ​so​ ​cool.​ ​​ ​Autumn​ ​liked​ ​the​ ​Science​ ​Room​ ​with​ ​all​ ​the​ ​different​ ​lab​ ​stuff.​ ​​ ​But​ ​I liked​ ​the​ ​ER.​ ​​ ​Aunt​ ​Sarah​ ​was​ ​there​ ​too​ ​and​ ​I​ ​got​ ​see​ ​someone​ ​with​ ​a​ ​broken​ ​leg.​ ​​ ​It​ ​was​ ​all gross​ ​and​ ​bloody,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​guy​ ​was​ ​screaming​ ​in​ ​pain.​ ​​ ​It​ ​was​ ​SO​ ​COOL!!

What​ ​was​ ​I​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​before?​ ​​ ​Oh​ ​yeah,​ ​usually​ ​Mommy​ ​spoils​ ​my​ ​fun.​ ​​ ​She​ ​tells​ ​me​ ​to​ ​get off​ ​the​ ​dining​ ​room​ ​chairs,​ ​because​ ​we​ ​are​ ​about​ ​to​ ​eat​ ​dinner.

“But​ ​I​ ​am​ ​the​ ​King!”​ ​I​ ​announced.​ ​​ ​“And​ ​I​ ​hereby​ ​proclaim​ ​that​ ​broccoli​ ​is​ ​banished​ ​from​ ​this kingdom!”

“Alright​ ​Your​ ​Highness,”​ ​Mom​ ​laughed.​ ​​ ​“Go​ ​wash​ ​your​ ​royal​ ​hands​ ​in​ ​the​ ​royal​ ​washroom.”

Even​ ​though​ ​she​ ​tries​ ​to​ ​ruin​ ​my​ ​fun,​ ​I​ ​can​ ​always​ ​make​ ​her​ ​laugh.

 

But​ ​today​ ​was​ ​different.​ ​​ ​Autumn​ ​and​ ​I​ ​got​ ​some​ ​extra​ ​money​ ​for​ ​raking​ ​the​ ​leaves​ ​and​ ​for cleaning​ ​Thor’s​ ​stable.​ ​​ ​We​ ​couldn’t​ ​wait​ ​to​ ​go​ ​spend​ ​it​ ​at​ ​the​ ​toy​ ​store.​ ​​ ​I​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the pet​ ​store,​ ​but​ ​Dad​dy ​said​ ​that​ ​one​ ​horse,​ ​two​ ​dogs,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​cat​ ​are​ ​enough. Autumn​ ​picked​ ​out​ ​a​ ​chemistry​ ​set.​ ​​ ​I​ ​told​ ​you​ ​she​ ​is​ ​really​ ​into​ ​that​ ​science​ ​stuff.​ ​​ ​I​ ​had​ ​a​ ​harder time​ ​picking​ ​out​ ​a​ ​toy.​ ​​ ​Grandma​ ​said​ ​that​ ​I​ ​should​ ​save​ ​my​ ​money​ ​for​ ​something​ ​big​ ​later,​ ​but where​ ​is​ ​the​ ​fun​ ​in​ ​that?

I​ ​walked​ ​up​ ​and​ ​down​ ​the​ ​different​ ​aisles,​ ​but​ ​nothing​ ​look​ed ​good​ ​enough.​ ​​ ​Then​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​it;​ ​the coolest​ ​toy​ ​on​ ​this​ ​earth,​ ​a​ ​drum​ ​set!!

 

I​ ​totally​ ​thought​ ​that​ ​Mommy​ ​would​ ​say​ ​no,​ ​like​ ​she​ ​does​ ​all​ ​the​ ​time,​ ​but​ ​this​ ​time​ ​she​ ​said​ ​yes. She​ ​even​ ​helped​ ​me​ ​pick​ ​out​ ​the​ ​exact​ ​one​ ​I​ ​wanted​ ​with​ ​a​ ​cool​ llama on​ ​the​ ​front.​ ​​ ​​ ​As​ ​soon​ ​as we​ ​got​ ​home​ ​I​ ​started​ ​playing. ​ ​

Everyone​ ​was​ ​saying​ ​how​ ​good​ ​of​ ​a​ ​drummer​ ​I​ ​am.​ ​​ ​Even​ ​Aunt​ ​April, Aunt May, and Aunt June​ ​said that​ ​I​ ​was​ ​a​ ​natural​ ​talent.​ ​​ ​Pretty​ ​soon​ ​I​ ​got the idea to form a band; Lincoln Charming and the Little Ones.​ ​​ ​Willow​ ​was​ ​playing​ ​on​ ​her​ ​toy piano,​ ​and​ our cat Mittens​ ​was​ ​our​ ​singer.

 

And​ ​the​ ​day​s ​only​ ​got​ ​more​ ​awesome​ ​from​ ​there.​ ​​ ​One​ ​night​ ​Autumn​ ​told​ ​me​ ​something​ ​really cool.

“I​ ​heard​ ​Mommy​ ​and​ ​Daddy​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​you,”​ ​Autumn​ ​told​ ​me​ ​as​ ​we sat on my​ ​bed. ​

​Autumn​ ​has​ ​her​ ​own​ ​room,​ ​but​ ​sometimes​ ​the​ ​monsters​ ​in​ ​her​ ​closet​ ​scare​ ​her​ ​so​ ​she​ ​sleeps in​ ​my​ ​room with me to protect her.

“They​ ​didn’t​ ​think​ ​that​ ​I​ ​could​ ​hear​ ​them,”​ ​Autumn​ ​said.​ ​​ ​“And​ ​they​ ​said​ ​that​ ​you​ ​might​ ​be​ ​some kind​ ​of​ ​virtual​ ​lasso,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​you​ ​should​ ​take​ ​music​ ​lessons.”

 

I​ ​didn’t​ ​know​ ​what​ ​being​ ​a​ ​virtual​ ​lasso​ ​had​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​me​ ​playing​ ​the​ ​drums, or what a virtual lasso even is.​ ​​ ​Either​ ​way,​ ​I​ ​was proud​ ​that​ ​Mommy​ ​and​ ​Daddy​ ​were​ ​proud​ ​of​ ​me.​ ​​ ​Gramps​ ​even​ ​told​ ​me​ ​how​ ​impressed​ ​he​ ​was at​ ​how​ ​quickly​ ​I​ ​learned​ ​a​ ​song​ ​that​ ​I​ ​heard​ ​on​ ​the​ ​radio.​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​always​ ​listening​ ​to​ ​the​ ​radio,​ ​and he​ ​liked​ ​how​ ​I​ ​was​ ​able​ ​to​ ​drum​ ​along​ ​with​ ​the​ ​song​ ​even​ ​only​ ​hearing​ ​it​ ​for​ ​a​ ​little​ ​bit.​ ​​ ​And Gramps​ ​doesn’t​ ​listen​ ​to​ ​any​ ​old​ ​type​ ​of​ ​music.​ ​​ ​He​ ​likes​ ​Rock​ ​&​ ​Roll!! I​ ​told​ ​you​ ​he​ ​is​ ​cool!!

Versatile Blogger Award

Once again, it is tagging season where wonderful bloggers like to encourage other bloggers with praise and “awards”. This time I have been tagged the uber talented Jowita author of Never Do It Again. As well as the amazingly awesome Sempreviva author of Sempreviva’s Sims: A Sims 3 Romance Legacy. But that’s not all. The wonderful Rose author of Gravity has nominated me as well.

There are not enough kind words that I could use to say enough nice things about y’all. What I will say is thank you for always being so encouraging and supportive. Your constant likes and encouraging comments from you mean more to me than you know. Thank you.

The rules for accepting this award are simple:

• Write 7 interesting facts about yourself
• Nominate 15+ amazing bloggers for this award. That’s a lot of bloggers when you’re a newbie. I won’t be offended if you choose not to “do anything with it.”

Alright, now on to the tough part; finding 7 interesting facts about me. I am pretty sure that these are different facts than before, but if I have repeated myself just bare with me. Alright here we go:

1. I drive like an old lady. I am probably the only person on the road who is ​actually driving the speed limit.
2. My favorite color is pink, but my favorite color to wear is blue or purple.
3. My husband is a retired professional motocross racer. I know that isn’t a fact about me per say, but I am including it here because I am so proud of him.
4. Speaking of my husband. Even though I call him my husband, we are not officially married. We have been together for 16 years, and we have been living together for over 10 years. For one reason or another we have yet to tie the knot.
5. I completed my first half marathon last October. My time isn’t going to win me any awards, but I was still proud of myself for actually finishing the darn thing.
6. My user name, socallucyfan, coms from the fact that I come from Southern California and I am a huge I Love Lucy fan.  socallucyfan has been my user name since the first sims game.
7. I feel like it has taken me longer this time around to come up with these facts (that I am afraid are not as interesting as last time). I also think that I said that the last time as well.

 

But wait, there’s more. The lovely and talented freja64, author of The Grey Witches, has nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. I am such a huge fan of this story, full of rich characters that will have you hooked from the very first chapter.

Freja64’s Questions for me:

1. Why did you start writing?
   • I have always used writing as a way to help me deal with the things going on in my life. Putting them down on paper (or on the computer) is a therapeutic way of letting go of all of the negativity.
2. Where do you write your stories?
   • I write where ever the inspiration hits me. Recently, inspiration has been coming to me on my morning runs.  When I get an idea I have to stop and take notes in my phone. Which is good for my story, not good for my time.
3. Do you write the story first or are you inspired by your gameplay?
   • I do a bit of both. Generation 1 was more game play, Generation 2 was more story based, I think that Generation 3 will be more balanced.
4. Have you ever used a version of ​“yourself” in a story?
   • Not in the story, but my simself interviewed the cast of characters during my past blogiversary. I never took myself out of the town, so I will still find myself wandering the town every once in a while.
5. Do you listen to music while writing / playing? If yes, what kind?
   • I can’t listen to music while I type, or read, or do homework. I need silence for that. But I do like to listen to music when I play. Usually whatever is on the radio.
6. What kind of books do you read and why? 
   • I love reading all types of books. If it a good story, I’m there. Recently though, I have been into biographies.
7. Which of your characters could be your roomie?
   • I would love to have June as a roommate. She is the adventurous type to get me out of my shell.  Plus I could borrow her clothes, since we have a very similar sense of style.
8. Have you ever imagined getting your story published?
   • No, I don’t think I am that good.
9. Have you already cried while writing something particularly moving?
   • Yes, actually I have. Spoiler: G3 will see a character’s death that sort of mirrors a recent loss in my personal life. And as I was writing that chapter I did get emotional.
10. Is there someone who reads your stories and who gives you feedback before publishing?
    • No, but I probably should. If nothing else it could help me next time I have writer’s block. Or, help with grammar (since I am so bad at that).
11. Have you ever wanted to be like one of your characters?
    • I think that all of my characters have something that is to be admired. Cindy’s compassion, May’s cooking skill (I ​hate cooking), or Brandon’s bravery. Even Maleficent and her unwavering self confidence is something that can be admired.

 

Again, thank you for all of the kind words of support. I am so happy to be part of this community of like minded writers who are all so encouraging and eager to offer up advice or an ear to listen to your problems.

I am so late with this post, so I won’t nominate anyone. But if any of you have 7 more interesting facts about yourself or your story I would love to hear them. Thank you again, and hopefully this means that I will be posting chapters more frequently.

 

Epilogue: Reflections & Transitions

First off, I need to say thank you so much for all of your kind words of encouragement as I struggle with my personal life. Everyone’s support has been so positive, it has been overwhelming. I feel so blessed to be a part of such a supportive community. The words, “thank you” don’t seem to do justice by how appreciative I feel. I am at a loss of words, so again thank you. From both my husband & I thank you. ❤ ❤ ❤

And now here is the much anticipated epilogue to Generation 2. I wanted to post this before things got too crazy, but when does life ever work out 100% to how you plan? Anyway, I still have a few things to set up for G3, but that won’t take too long. I feel like I am rambling on, so I’ll just end this side note with have a great day, or night depending on when you are reading this. 🙂

 

Sitting on my patio in the early morning hours, sipping my coffee, puts me​ ​in​ ​a​ ​reflective​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​mood.​ ​​ ​My​ ​therapist​ ​always​ ​says​ ​that​ ​I​ ​should​ cherish​ ​the​ ​people​ ​in​ ​my​ ​life​, and be​ ​proud of​ ​what​ ​I​ ​have​ ​accomplished.​ ​​ ​When​ ​she​ ​mentions​ ​my accomplishments​ ​I​ ​know​ ​that​ ​she​ ​is​ ​probably​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​my​ ​PHD​ ​in​ ​Pediatrics.​ ​​ ​But​ ​my​ ​life has​ ​been​ ​so much more​ ​than​ ​becoming​ ​Dr.​ ​Stella​ ​Charming​.​ ​​ ​You​ ​could​ ​say​ ​that, from the moment I was born,​ ​my​ ​life​ ​was​ ​destined​ ​to​ ​be​ ​extraordinary.

 

How​ ​many​ ​people​ ​can​ ​say​ ​that​ ​they​ ​have​ ​survived​ ​an​ ​evil​ ​curse?​ ​​ ​Not​ ​only​ ​did​ ​I​ ​survive, and​ ​therefore​ ​beat​ ​Anastasis​ ​at​ ​her​ ​own​ ​evil​ ​game,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​am​ ​a​ ​better​ ​person​ ​​because of​ ​the​ ​evil curse.​ ​​ ​As​ ​strange​ ​as​ ​it​ ​sounds,​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​hate​ ​Anastasis​ ​for​ ​cursing​ ​me.​ ​​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​even​ ​hate Maleficent​ ​for​ ​giving​ ​her​ ​the​ ​curse​ ​in​ ​the​ ​first​ ​place.​ ​​ ​That​ ​evil​ ​curse​ ​set​ ​off​ ​a​ ​chain​ ​of​ ​events​ ​that brought​ ​me​ ​to​ ​where​ ​I​ ​am​ ​today.

 

Because of Anastasis’s curse I have an extended family that I love and adore. Aunt April, Aunt May, and Aunt June are more than just the three sisters who took me in. They are my family. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for these three selfless sisters. Three very different, but strong, female role models I look up to.

 

What’s more, without​ ​that​ ​curse​ ​Anastasis​ ​would​ ​not​ ​have​ ​sent​ ​Maleficent​ ​and​ ​her​ ​family​ ​to​ ​Twinbrook.​ ​​ ​And​ ​I would​ ​never​ ​have​ ​met​ ​Brandon.​ ​​ ​We​ ​have​ ​had​ ​a​ ​long​ ​and​ ​bumpy​ ​road​ ​together,​ ​there​ ​have been​ ​many​ ​ups​ ​and​ ​downs.​ ​​ ​We​ ​both​ ​have​ ​had​ ​to​ ​overcome​ ​personal​ ​obstacles,​ ​but​ ​those obstacles​ ​have​ ​only​ ​brought​ ​Brandon​ ​and​ ​I​ ​closer​ ​together.​ ​​ ​I​ ​can​ ​say​, ​without​ ​a​ ​shadow​ ​of doubt,​ ​that​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​one​ ​in​ ​this​ ​world​ ​that​ ​I ​would​ ​rather​ ​be​ ​with​ ​than​ ​Brandon.​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​love of​ ​my​ ​life.​ ​​ ​My​ ​sole mate.​ ​​ ​He​ ​has​ ​literally​ ​seen​ ​the​ ​worst​ ​side​ ​of​ ​me,​ ​but​ ​he​ ​loves​ ​me​ ​still.

 

We​ ​have​ ​two​ ​beautiful​ ​children​ ​together.​ ​​ ​Lincoln​ ​looks​ ​so​ ​much​ ​like​ ​his​ ​father.​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​strong,​ ​brave, yet​ ​very​ ​caring​ ​and​ ​protective​ ​of​ ​his​ ​twin.​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​rambunctious​ ​adventurous​ ​one.​ ​​ ​He​ ​loves​ ​to​ ​be outside​ ​running​ ​and​ ​playing​ ​as​ ​loudly​ ​as​ ​he​ ​can​ ​be.

 

Autumn​ ​looks​ ​so​ ​much​ ​like​ ​Mother​ ​that​ ​we​ ​have​ ​started calling​ ​her​ ​Mini​ ​Cindy.​ ​​ ​Autumn​ ​is​ ​quiet​ ​(the​ ​total​ ​opposite​ ​of​ ​her​ ​brother). We were worried that she wasn’t developing as fast as her twin, but Autumn’s quietness isn’t a sign of a developmental disability. In actuality,​ ​she​ ​is​ ​very perceptive​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world​ ​around​ ​her.

 

I​ ​am​ ​also​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​announce​ ​that​ ​we​ ​are​ ​expanding​ ​our​ ​family​ ​once​ ​more.​ ​​ ​The​ ​paperwork finally​ ​went​ ​through​ ​and​ ​soon​ ​we​ ​will​ ​be​ ​adopting​ ​a​ ​little​ ​girl.​ ​​ ​Brandon​ ​and​ ​I​ ​talked​ ​about having​ ​more​ ​children,​ ​and​ ​adoption​ ​has​ ​always​ ​been​ ​on​ ​the​ ​table.​ ​​ ​I​ ​was​ ​given​ ​to​ ​a​ ​very​ ​loving and​ ​supportive​ ​family​ ​to​ ​raise​ ​me​ ​as​ ​their​ ​own.​ ​​ ​Most​ ​children​ ​are​ ​not​ ​so ​lucky.​ ​​ ​They​ ​are bounced​ ​around​ ​from​ ​foster​ ​home​ ​to​ ​foster​ ​home with no sense of stability or the idea that someone actually cares about them.​ ​​ ​I​ ​wish​ ​that​ ​I ​could​ ​help​ ​everyone,​ ​but​ ​we know​ ​that​ ​isn’t​ ​possible.​ ​​ ​Still,​ ​if​ ​I​ ​can​ ​help​ ​at​ ​least​ ​one​ ​child​ ​then​ ​I​ ​will.

 

As​ ​I​ ​said​ ​before,​ ​my​ ​life​ ​was​ ​always​ ​destined​ ​for​ ​extraordinary​ ​things.​ ​​ ​​ ​I​ ​guess​ ​it​ ​runs​ ​in​ ​the​ ​family. We​ ​Charmings​ ​are not​ ​meant​ ​to​ ​lead​ ​simple​ ​lives.​​​ ​However,​ ​this​ ​doesn’t​ ​mean​ ​that my​ ​story​ ​is​ ​over.​ ​​ ​For​ ​now,​ ​I​ ​am​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​see​ ​what​ ​life​ ​has​ ​in​ ​store​ ​for​ ​the​ ​next​ ​generation.

 

Life Update

It has been far too long since I posted any sort of update to either one of my blogs, and I felt like I should let you all know why. This is a very long story, and if you want to skip all of it (And I don’t blame you if you did) just know that I will be posting again real soon. Well, on with the story.

Not too long ago my father-in-law passed away. Ever since then my mother-in-law has not been processing her grief well. And by that I mean she has not processed anything at all. Think of it like a child throwing an tantrum when they are told to take a nap. They don’t want to do it, so they cry and fight it. My mother-in-law doesn’t want to accept that he is gone, and lives in a state of denial and a sort of tantrum about it. As a result, she is showing severe signs of dementia and early onset of Alzheimer’s. With my father-in-law gone my mother-in-law is in a giant house all by herself. That she never leaves. The neighbors buy her groceries for her, so she has nothing to do by sit in front of the TV all day. My husband is an only child, so he felt like it was his duty to go and help her. In fact, she practically begged us to come and help her. We could live in her huge house, rent free, while we looked for new jobs.

So, that is what we did. We uprooted our lives, moved from Texas to California, to live with her and to help her out. But when we got there, we were in for a rude awakening. The house was a hoarder’s nightmare. There was trash, and junk everywhere. The house wreaked of cat pee & poo. I couldn’t tell you the last time the litter box was cleaned, so her cat went to the bathroom everywhere, and her potties soaked into the carpet and into the tons of boxes that were all over the place.

There is only one working shower in the entire house, and it is in the master bathroom. Asking my mother-in-law to use her shower is like asking her to cut off her right hand. I really could go on and on, but the point is that living with her was not at all what we expected. Still, we made the most of it. We put our stuff in storage, keeping only some clothes and the pet essentials in the small room that used to be my husband’s old room (that small bedroom was the only room in her giant house that we were allowed to use).

But the living condition wasn’t the worst part. It was the way she treated my husband, her only son, that really got to me. At 3 in the morning she would wake us up demanding breakfast. If my husband or I weren’t up right away, she would continue to yell at us calling us horrible names until we got up and breakfast was made. All throughout the day she would say horrible things to him like, “your father never loved you,” or “I never wanted children”, or “you have never amounted to shit in your life and you are only here because you want my money”.

After the longest 5 months of my life, my husband and I knew we had to get out of there. The mother-in-law wasn’t getting better, and we soon came to realize that she doesn’t want to get better. She never listened to the doctor who encouraged her to go to a physical therapist. She wouldn’t take the medication she was prescribed. She wouldn’t listen to my husband or I when we encouraged her to come with us to get out of the house or to eat healthy.

It was not a healthy living environment for us or for our pets. We had to leave, but neither one of us had a job and we were left with very little money (most of it was spent on moving halfway across the country and then on a storage unit for our things). Thank god that my parents don’t live too far away, and they were able to help us out. I was able to find another good job, and we are currently living in Nevada. As for the mother-in-law she is still about the same as she was before we moved in with her. She still calls us leaving horrible messages about how terrible my husband is and how she is not going to leave him any money when she dies. My husband is not a money grubber, it has never been about the inheritance, but the way she treats him still gets me upset. Even as I am typing this I can feel the tears start to well up.

Anyway, thank you for listening to my rant. It feels really therapeutic to have someone to talk to. My husband is going through hell right now, and I try to be brave for him, but it is hard. This post was longer than I intended, so I will close with a very big thank you! Thank you for listening to me, but also thank you for your posts. You couldn’t have realized this, but your updates in my Reader have meant so so much to me. It was the one constant thing in my life when everything else was turning to shit. And it was the one thing that I could look forward to during my day. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you!! ❤ ❤