Flash Forward: 2020

I feel like I may have just stepped into a time machine and traveled back in time.... or did I travel into the future?    

Either way, I decided to resurrect the old blogger account.   Perfect timing really... I mean, what better time to start blogging again than in the middle of a world wide pandemic?  

A lot has changed in 7 years.  Not just a lot.  A LOT.

First of all, I have completely forgotten how to write.  I'm not as witty as I used to be.  Being middle aged makes a person cynical and dull, in my humble opinion.  

Secondly, I don't know how to operate the new blog formats.  I couldn't figure out how to edit my profile and "about me" section.  So I just opted not to show it - I could figure that much out.   I mean - I can't show it because it's totally not even who I am anymore.  

So so so much has changed.

And yet, some stuff has stayed the same.  The "stayed the same" list is smaller.  So, I can comment on that easily.  

I'm still a mom of 4 girls. I'm still a wife to Shawn.  I'm still a Grandma.  I still work from home.  

Those are literally the only things that are the same. 

How does a person sum up what has transpired in 7 years... AND jump to the fact that we're living in a global pandemic at the moment?  There is so much to say about that alone...let alone the last 7 years.  So, how about list form?   Here are some of the highlights from the past 7 years... in a list.

Granddaughter

Granddaughter

Focus One Graduation

California

Garden Shed

Hoedown

RAGBRAI guests

Pigeon Prom

Girls Trip

Europe trip

Chuck

New York City

Justin Bieber

Granddaughter

Engaged!

Married!

Meet Max

Surprise - it's a boy! Grandson

Graduation 

Good bye sweet Shelly

Grandson

Grandson Strawberry 

Wedding

Granddaughter 

South Dakota 

Downsize

John Deere

Living separated

Gastric Sleeve

Polk City

Costa Rica

Des Moines

World Wide Pandemic (present day)

And in the midst of all of that, lots of birthdays, holidays, family photo shoots, picnics, day trips, and general work-related life events.  No big deal.  Just seven years of life.

Today, when I pick up this blog... (did I mention the pandemic?)... we have moved from our acreage in rural Iowa to a small rental home in a big city.   This is our third move in 2 years. All the kids have moved out of the house.  We have a yorkie named Max.  Three of the four daughters are married with children, and they all live within 10 miles of us.  I work for a Rehab Agency as an Office Administrator.  I work remotely from my home office. Shawn works at a manufacturing plant in a city nearby.  We've only lived here now a month and I don't know my way around much at all.   

And somewhere along the line, my mom learned how to text.  So, she texts me every morning "Good Morning".  Nothing else.  Just "Good Morning".  It's been going on for a couple of years now. Sometimes I get bored with the conversation and say something wild like "What are you up to today?".

My current favorites are: Mid Century Modern, Gray furniture, white walls, hydrangeas, eggs and avocado, gin and tonic, the word boujee, wool socks, thieves oil, Romans.  

See? Lots of changes in 7 years.

But, I have to say, one of the most beloved experiences of the past seven years is the reason I changed the name of this blog to "Gram's Place".  Each one of them with their own individual personality and temperament.  Each one of them is a breath of fresh air.  Being a Gram is like finally tasting bread with butter, or coffee with cream, or cookies with milk.   They are so. fun.  Meet the Sassy Seven.