Here we are. Another holiday season is upon us. January 1st is just around the corner and with it is a brand new year just waiting to be created, shaped, manipulated, and set in motion. It's a time for new things or old things to be revived and make them new again. 

I'm looking forward to many new things. This blog is one of my revived things that I hope to make new again. I won't make you any promises except for continuing to provide support and understanding to all my new and loyal readers. I didn't want to say "old" because it just doesn't seem appropriate to call anyone "old." Please know that for those of you still hanging around, I appreciate your loyalty.

A bit of a recap for those who don't know me:

From 2002 to 2017 I was the caregiver of my end-stage alcoholic, Riley. We had been separated for many years before his health was so fragile that he could no longer live on his own. I took him into my home and literally waited for him to die. But he did not die. He was very close many times and earned the nickname of the "Immortal Alcoholic." 

Those were an interesting 15 years and you can read about them in previous posts on this blog. You will find information here that you'll wish you didn't need to know. You'll also find humor and the chance to make fun of a serious topic.

I survived those 15 years and have found my way to the other side of despair and disappointment. It wasn't easy and it wasn't instant happiness. The effects of my husband's alcoholism left me with much deeper scars than I wanted to admit.

For those who have followed me and want to know how I am now:

It took me a couple of years to decide what I wanted to do with my life without alcoholism. I woke up each morning and wondered what I was supposed to do next. When Riley was alive I had a routine. Now my routine was no longer needed. I tried to focus on my daughter but she was a grown woman with grown kids of her own. She didn't need me to make her a part of my "routine." The truth was that my entire family was doing just fine without my "interference." They told me "Do what makes you happy." Huh? I wasn't sure what that was.

My many friends in Florida were encouraging me to move from my Virginia home to the Sunshine State. One day I woke up and didn't try to exercise any sort of a routine. I made a decision that I would start my life over at the age of 60+ years old and make that new beginning where it didn't snow. I arrived in Tampa, Florida on June 1st of 2020.

At my family's insistence, I put the alcohol part of my life behind me and moved on. I settled into my resort-like apartment just outside of Tampa and started writing my first mystery novel, "Temporarily Dead". I took my dog for walks. I had dinner with friends. I slept til it was no longer morning. I began a relationship with a man who had been a friend for many years. And... lo and behold... I was happy!

I don't want to mislead you. I'm basically a happy person. Even while caring for Riley, I found ways to be happy. I had a mantra that if I let myself fall into UNhappiness alcoholism would win my life. It already had Riley's life, I wouldn't let it get mine as well. What created the most happiness for me was being able to help others find some happiness or at least get some answers.

My inspiration for reviving this blog was created from getting lots of e-mails and requests for updates on what I'm doing. I thought that if I shared this happy way of life with those of you who are still struggling, maybe I could be an inspiration.

So here I am... ask me questions, write your comments, and let's see what happens.