Carnival Post: My Life Outside of Etsy

Ryan, Kelly, Me, Keith









This Carnival is going to be a little difficult. Our host, Joey, from Joeyandaleetha.etsy.com, has given us two options; other than Etsy what do we do; or, what do we do to relax. As I have never been one much to relax, I guess that topic is out; and, since I am not working, well I will have to improvise.

I stopped working in the business world almost six years ago. Not by choice, but for medical reasons, and have been on disability ever since. I was diagnosed with a neurological condition, of which I still have to get treatments for. At the time I had been working for a brokerage firm; and with job cutbacks, I found myself working three different positions, having three separate desks. So with the continued pain throughout my skull and running back and forth between 3 different full-time positions, I finally said enough and left. I had worked in the brokerage business for many years for firms such as E.F. Hutton, Paine Webber, Kidder Peabody, and Janney Montgomery Scott. Three of which are no longer in existence, and with the way the market is as of today, I don't know how many more will be left.

My life has mainly been my three children, Kelly, Keith and Ryan (13 months apart!). I raised the children on my own when their father left; at the time the boys were only 2 and 3 years old. Since their father decided that he didn't need to support them, we managed through many difficult situations. Instead of tearing us apart, it only brought us closer together. Some days with just pennies in my pockets, we always managed to find enjoyment in the existence of our everyday lives. Now grown, Kelly is 28 and has been happily married for 2 years, and the boys 24 and 23, still live at home with me; but we still have that closeness that many families will never know.

Like I said, I always try to find that silver lining within those dark clouds that sometimes float overhead. Since I have been on disability, I always refer to myself as "the busiest unemployed person I know." Thankfully, I have always loved being creative. So my days are filled with designing my jewelry, knitting or quilting. I am also involved, along with my daughter in a theater group. Although I have acted in a few of the plays; I leave the acting and directing to her, while I have been their costume designer for the past 7 years.

I would be truly remiss if I didn't mention the most fulfilling part of life. A few years ago, a neighbor who I have know for over 30 years, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Since I had always been close to her, and never having been married, only nieces and nephews who had their own families. They asked if I would be willing to care for her. It was the greatest honor to be able to care for her. I would cook her meals, make sure she took her medication, bathe her, and stay until she would go to sleep. Although she did have Alzheimer's, it was still in it's early stage, and her long term memory would provide stories of her childhood in Italy, and her job as head of Vogue magazine for 40 years, that would occupy many hours of our time. She always referred to me as the "child she wished she always had." In someways, I was that child. Towards the end, when the Alzheimer's completely took over, and her lung cancer came back, even in her final days, she always knew I was there. She passed away about a year ago, but it was her example of strength, that is something which will always remain within me.