Wow, some crazy things have gone on since my last post. I feel like, if I am truly going to be authentic, I need to write about them.

About a month ago, my cousin's parents lost their job as landlords of a small apartment complex. Because one of the benefits of the job was free housing, they also lost their home. I remember how devastated Charlotte was. She told me how helpless she felt being so far away, and having no control over the situation.

I felt bad for them, even though it was their own actions that cause their situation, but I really couldn't relate. I had never gone through anything like that before.

But then, a couple of weeks later, I was talking to my mom, and she casually mentioned that the factory where my dad had worked for the past 27 years was selling his department, and he was "permanently laid off".  I fired a thousand questions at her. What was my dad going to do? Where would he work? There were so many unanswered questions and I had never felt so far away from home.

My mom assured me that everything was going to be okay, and reminded me that my father despised his job anyway... so maybe it was for the best.

It was still scary though.

Now I knew how Charlotte felt.

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to go home to celebrate Colt's first birthday. Talking to my dad made me feel more at ease, though I still worry about him, and wonder if he will ever catch a break.

On the last night home, we planned an early celebration for my birthday which is in a couple of weeks. My dad came over and my mom ran to pick up the cake, when I got a call from my grandpa saying that he was in the hospital, and he needed someone to come get my grandma, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

So, my mom went to get her, and my dad and I celebrated my birthday in our own way.

My mom and I ended up staying with my grandma that night, and then after I left my mom was there a few more days before my grandpa came home.

Once again, I felt helpless. It seemed like my mom was taking the whole burden on by herself. None of her siblings were being very helpful. My cousins did what they could, but they have children and families of their own to take care of.

And I kept thinking about my grandma. When I say she is in the early stages of Alzheimer's, I mean really, really early. She can still take care of herself, but gets confused every once in a while, or gets lost, or accidentally leaves the water running.

I kept wondering how she felt, being babysat in some ways. Did she realize what was happening, or did she just think people were overstaying their welcome.

How helpless did she feel?

Anyway, I don't really know how to wrap this post up, but I just wanted to share.

My life has been really great lately, but we all have struggles, and life isn't always so happy.