I’ve just read thru this thread. Wow @SassyRocks you are a bloody warrior. Wishing you well and that all things get easier soon. You have been thru it all! Sending good vibes, you really deserve them. 
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You remind me of how Vermont pulled together after a very rare tropical storm event, Irene, back in 2011. Life was impacted in large and small ways for up to 3 years.
In so grateful you are safe and sober - we need you!
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Amid all the crisis and devastation, I just realized that you have four living generations in your family, @SassyRocks, that’s amazing! 
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I just love you so much. That is a lot you have going on in addition to the devastation in the mountains. My daughter is beside herself, she wants to run up and help out. She went to WCU and her fiancé went to App State, so they are pretty torn up about and plan to head up if their jobs allow. I’m so glad you’re ok, I tried not to panic and said she won’t be able to respond quickly lol. I hope your mom feels better, falling suck, I know this because I’m a professional haha. Sending love and support telepathically your way lol. XO
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Yes, we were still in Vermont for Irene (left VT after about 30 years in 2014). It was a lot for sure. The covered bridge floating down the river was heartbreaking and all the devastation to farms. This year hasn’t been much better flood wise up there. I sure miss Vermont and ‘the mountain’ tho.
I so appreciate your concern. And yes, very much sober thru this. 
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Awww, thanks!! There are so many people wanting to help…it is heartwarming and overwhelming and I am glad to not be in charge of that!! 
Falling + brain bleeds is not good…so y’all need to cut that out. My grandmother (My Mom’s Mom) died from that, so it particularly freaks my Mom out. She is using her fancy walker outside now, a big positive.
My daughter’s generator got fixed at her rental, so hopefully her and grandson will be set there tomorrow. He is supposed to get back to 4th grade on Wednesday. We were at the Principal’s office 2 days b4 the hurricane for a stressful situation, so hopefully he is on good behavior once back.
Yes @Dirk …4 generations here, my family has been lucky in having 4 and 5 generations for a long time.
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I thought a lot about how to respond and the best way is with this gif. I know you’re not complaining but my gosh you’ve had a lot for a long time. And you’re still standing. I’m sending a hug. I am rooting for you and praying for things to ease up soon.
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Oh, as hard as it is to imagine what you’ve been through firsthand, it’s soooo good to read from you!
More later - I just wanted to send a big virtual hug and huge thanks for giving us this update. I read the glass is still half full in your post, of course!, but it can take a long time to rebuild one’s energy and verve after this stuff. Go easy on you please!
Dang it I wish we could just show up and take away your to do list for at least a few days, get some Sassy-approved meals in your frig (and some for your folks), leave you with your yoga mat, a big comfy chair and a blankie… 
All the hugs 
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Big props to all y’all who have navigated tending to their elderly parents. I feel like they are sucking the life out of me. I think the fact that they moved here, so setting up home, moving accounts, financials, banking (their bank doesn’t have a branch anywhere near + hurricane road damage)…and a zillion other minutia. I am exhausted. Obviously the hurricane did not help. Still no internet for them, thankfully they have power. Thankfully the cell carriers opened all networks for us all. Grateful for the satellites, and most especially our old satellite provider …or else we would still be without phone and internet. Super duper grateful to the power company. I digress.
My Mom definitely has more issues since her fall. We are scurrying around to be sure things are as they should be…my Mom has always been the one who handles financials and that is going to be my role as well soon…so we are laying more groundwork for that.
It is a lot. We do share some fleeting nice moments when we don’t have ‘to do’s’…but man, there are so freaking many to do’s. Sigh.
But of course we are all doing so much better than so many, so I feel shitty for whining when the next town over has literally been wiped out and being rebuilt ground up…sewer, water, roads, moving the river back to where it was, buildings…the list is endless. A lot of trauma there and everywhere around us. Our tiny communities pull together tho…and we all take sustenance in that.
Blessed that the yoga studio opened and was able to hit a class. We all literally cried thru it. Alice and her husband literally had only the clothes they were wearing when evacuated. She is amazing.
Thru it all sober AF. Drinking is definitely not on my mind. M&Ms are tho. Hoping to get back out into some chilly sunshine and take a spin on my bicycle. Plantar fasciatis is still keeping me from running or Jazzing…which blows. But the wind in my hair and going REALLY FAST downhill is nice. And a bath…a nice warm soak. Dinner out at the pizza place in town with my folks, daughter and grandson tomorrow. 
That’s my prattle update for now. Miss you all. Did someone say let go?
May you be happy • May you be healthy
• May you dwell in peace
May I be happy • May I be healthy
• May I dwell in peace
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That’s some update Sassy. I’m exhausted for you. All I got is - tackle those tasks one at a time (just like our sobriety, one day at a time). Trying to get it all done at once is too overwhelming. And keep making time in your schedule for you. Sending you some hugs and love 
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Great minds! I had that exact conversation with my parents yesterday. Slow your roll!! I am not sure we can change the stripes on that cat tho!! 
How about this one…I send update emails to my 2 older brothers + my SIL, and she is almost always the only one who responds. (Side nite: I also send messages to my younger brother in prison, he does respond). Anyway…my SIL and her husband (my oldest brother), we have a serious history…too long and convoluted to go into…I think heads would spin hearing it…suffice to say me being in contact with her especially is a lot for anyone to ask of me and my older brother is a clueless twerp. I am venting here. Anyway…do I keep sending updates? I have let go as much as I can of the past, but my wish has been to not be involved/interact with them. I feel like I am doing it to keep my parents happy…but at what expense? On the positive side, she actually has been helpful thru this process … but it annoys me my brothers cannot be bothered to even acknowledge my updates. C’est la vie?
And thanks for the love and hugs!! Back at ya!!
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And haha that I posted this in May on the first post of this thread. What was I thinking? My brothers are my brothers, seemingly at the same space/literally at the same place they have always been at. 
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If they don’t acknowledge your updates, I’d stop sending them, but I’m an outsider who doesn’t know how it will impact your parents. Sounds like the time is coming to set boundaries and reinforce them. Family dynamics are extremely difficult.
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Both true!!
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First and foremost sending you a warm hug.
I am so glad for your updates and sharing how you’re feeling. As you know from the program, we can’t compare our situations to others so feeling badly for saying how you really feel “because it’s not as bad as others” only further robs you of your legitimate feelings, which already seem to being moved aside enough. Long way of saying, please keep talking. You have every right to feel as you do.
Something I’m sure you’ve already thought of and are doing … but sometimes I apply the principles to situations and people other than just drinking. Maybe you could do that with your to do list or your mom or any of the facets. Maybe something like admitting you’re powerless over the enormity of this move and its impacts on your life … and go from there. It’s only a suggestion. I just know when I am completely overwhelmed and my life feels like it’s been taken over by alcohol, ailing parents etc. I go back to the Big Book and “apply those principles to all my affairs.”
All suggested out of care and respect having been there.
You will get though this as you know. Please just keep prattling while eating m&m’s … and don’t forget YOU are important too. 
. Good news is Lisa and I and others will be here to remind you.
As my grandmother used to say … this is a rainbow somewhere in this shit. (Or something like that 
).
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Love this all so much. Will definitely be re reading and (hopefully) absorbing. Thank you!!
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Sounds like you are doing a great job coping with the every day challenges that you have right now.
You’re not whining, you’re just talking about these challenges that you’re dealing with.
ODAAT
Glad that you were able to go to your yoga class and that you’re having dinner out tomorrow night, Friday night.
Those are nice things to do during these times of hardship and uncertainty, the personal familial challenges, all of it, then with a huge natural disaster thrown in on your community’s doorstep.
It’s overwhelming to think about it, the unthinkable that turned into all of your reality.
You are dealing with it all in a wonderful way. You are doing what needs to be done and that’s all you can do, one step at a time.
Lots of admiration for you for your resilience and the way that you are getting through it.
Big hugs, lots of love and continued thoughts.
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Oh Sassy! This is all a lot! I have wanted to respond more to your update before this one, but… the exhaustion part…
My story isn’t even half of yours, but it’s been quite the ride here too. Will share more soon! I think it’s so important to, because I can’t tell you how much strength I drew from yours. Thank you for sharing it, and for your honesty in it.
Ahhh, I don’t know, but I think for me it’s felt at times like such a challenge, like i’m trapped on one level in a stupid video game (i’m not a gamer except for scrabble lol) until i crack the code. And the stupid code has turned out to be… acceptance. I think my default is to unquestionably fight against acceptance, at least in this situation. But even micro-amounts of acceptance seem to bring more ease.
Accepting my own (aging!) limits and abilities is part of this fun mix too!
Hugs, strength, ease, peace, and some joy in there too - sending all your way.
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I was laying in bed at 3am when I woke up and started box breathing trying to calm my body/mind…vs thinking all the thoughts like, wait a minute, I don’t think I even have the most updated copy of my parents wills and did they ever update them to include the 2 new great grandkids, and why am I thinking about this after I just got up and looked at what I did have…and…back to box breathing and letting go/acceptance…which you, @Alisa, @Lisa07 and @Laraellelarissa all reminded me of. 
And…gratitude…I woke back up at 8am!!!
@M-be-free49, exhaustion and trying to crack the code I get. Acceptance comes and goes…I still have many days of squirrel running about and that infernal to do list. I hope to hear more of what is going on with you, I know your journey is adjacent. Many hugs and much care to you and Mom as you navigate.
Thank you all for brightening my morning. 
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