...recently move in with my Mom. I'm kind of like George on Seinfeld: Hi, my name is George, I am unemployed and I live with my parents.
So why am I writing this blog? Because a lot of you suggested it after reading my posts on Facebook about my relationship with my Mom. For example, one day I posted that my Mom, who is 76, asked me to step outside so she could challenge me to a fist fight while we were arguing about how to hang blinds in my condo. And one of my friends actually put $20 on my Mom to win.
She's great. My Mom that is. She moved to the DC area in 1999. after spending her entire life in Michigan, because both of her kids at that point lived here. Or, I should say, both of her grandkids lived here. Soon you will read that I call her Goggs, not Mom. My Mom and my sister-in-law's mom had settled on their grandmotherly names, Meme for Dory and Gram for my Mom. But my nephew had something else in mind and started calling my mom Gaga when he was little. Gaga turned in to Goggs. She pleaded with her grandkids to try Gram to which they responded, "It is Goggs for life." And now they are both teens and they still call her Goggs. Sometimes they still say Gaga. So do I. So does everyone else in our family. So do all of my friends. I'm sorry Mom, but it's Goggs for life.
So I am going to write a blog about our adventure of living together starting, well I guess, right now. The setting will be Arlington, Virginia.
Her condo is pretty small; we have 2 bedrooms, thank goodness, and 1 bathroom. My brother and his family call this her "Gnome home" and now there are 2 of us living in close quarters. I've upgraded her cable tv package, we are now all set with 800 sf condo-wide wifi (she had an iPhone but no computer before I moved in hence no previous internet) and so far we are getting along pretty well. It's not perfect nor is what either of us would choose but it makes the most sense, and, frankly I am pretty darn lucky to get to live for the next 12 months with my Mom while she is still in great shape. Goggs may be 76 but she takes no meds, drives confidently in DC traffic, and even with cat allergies, allowed my orange tabby cat, Hobbes, to live with her.
I haven't really lost anything moving here, not even my pride. I still have my condo, but I am renting it out to someone who was willing to pay me boatloads of money for 632 sf. I miss my neighbors but seem to be socializing with them, albeit in a more organized fashion, more than we did when we lived 20 feet apart. A few times I've driven to my condo, see my neighbors' cars and realize I came home to the wrong home.
I have plenty of friends who are moving in with their families, friends, etc. I'm not alone in this messy economic situation we are currently in and continue to face. I lived in Michigan for 23 years and I know what it's like up there. And the world of trade associations and non-profits isn't great right now either and that's what I've done professionally since 1992. Many people have it a heck of a lot worse than me and any of you. Don't get me wrong, I wish things were better for me, but I don't feel sorry for myself. I could but I don't, neither should any of you. I have everything I need though, since you asked, I could have used a trip to Hawaii. On second thought, George Clooney is done filming the recently released movie, Descendants, so I am good right here in Arlington.
But let's face it: WE ARE GOING TO DRIVE EACH OTHER CRAZY. Goggs has a "one-butt" kitchen. The litter box is in the bathroom which annoys me but I guess it's better than being on my bed. I don't get to park my car 10 feet from my condo. I have no control of the thermostat. I have to take my shoes off at the door. My golf clubs are currently in the trunk of my Miata because my Mom doesn't think there's anywhere in here to put them. Except my driver which doesn't fit my trunk but I don't think she realizes that it's hiding in my closet.
As I sign off for the night, I will tell you about our dinner this evening. I made a big pot of veggie soup and baked a loaf of bread. The house smelled yummy. Goggs had her first bowl of soup before the bread was done. She had her second bowl of soup as the bread was coming out of the oven and then continued to have a third bowl of soup with a piece of bread. So I asked her how the soup was as I had yet to have any to which she responded, "Oh, it was ok". I am pretty sure she thought it was better than just "ok".
Goggs for life.
