Dear Tom, Holy frakkin’ shite has my week been insane!

So first my youngest breaks up with her fiance. Which is traumatic to say the least. But the issue is that we are leaving for France in a few days… Did I say a few days? And he was supposed to come along. So now Mom, i.e., me, is rearranging everyone’s travel because the youngest wants to head to Europe early for some rest and relaxation (and a little alone-time) in Spain. She’s never been to Spain or to Europe on her own, for that matter. But at least she speaks Spanish. She spent a year in Costa Rica. Regardless, her plans are freaking me out! My mom radar only stretches so far before it enters panic mode. I ran to T-Mobile and put us on an international phone plan today.

Oh, to make matters worse, she left her passport at the ex-fiance’s house. Why? Oh why?

All I can say is this – God Bless the amazing customer service representatives at British Airways. If not for their calm kind cool demeanor and competence, I would be a bloody raving lunatic!

The other daughter and her husband are rushing to get their winter wheat planted and the fencing finished (keeps the cows from running amok) before they leave, and my poor 6’5″ rancher son-in-law could not get extended Coach, or whatever cabin it is that offers more leg room, for the trip. I’d mention the name of the airline but that’s bad karma.

I just learned that Oscar and I must transfer from Heathrow to Gatwick in order to catch our flight from London to Bordeaux. Pain in the ass! if I’d known I would have flown to Paris and caught the train to Bordeaux. Sorry, Tom. I refuse to bother anyone for a ride. I believe we can catch a shuttle. And by the way, I plan on returning to London a year from now so get ready! London first then a hike through Cornwall.

My cousin just had an emergency triple bypass and finally admitted his wife is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s after she crashed her car, head-on, into a family of five. Thank God everyone walked away without a scratch. Yes, her keys have been taken away.

My youngest sister and her husband are in the midst of a legal/financial nightmare related to the horrible flooding in Boulder, CO, the year before last. Really awful. They may have to give up their house because of continued problems. Guess they’ll be moving in with me… I’m not too excited about their dog. He eats poop. Jake would never eat poop.

Oscar is working his ass off. He seems to have no end of work. He leaves at 7 a.m. and doesn’t get home until 10 p.m. and then starts all over again the next day, and he works almost every Saturday. He’s so distracted he forgot we were leaving on the 3rd and scheduled himself to work. I straightened him out quick. Meanwhile Jake is stressed because he sees me piling shoes up in my study. When I pile up shoes, boots actually, he knows that means a stay at the kennel.

My son is sick with pneumonia. Started antibiotics yesterday. Fortunately he’s not coming to France. He can’t leave work and his dog for ten days. Besides… pneumonia.

If it wasn’t for bacon and tomatoes I don’t think I’d eat at all.

Then I remind myself – it’s not always about me. Right? I can only fix what I can fix. I’m praying, let my son be all right. Keep my youngest safe. Don’t let Jake lose too much weight at the kennel. Please don’t let us miss our flight out of Gatwick. Help my sister and her family and my cousins. I pray for world peace and, dear Lord, keep the bacon coming.

Oh, Tom, what would I do without you?

XOXO! Julia