Posts: 2

Title: New Kid On the Block

Joined: 13 August 2006

Gender: female

B-Day: 08 August

Interests: Reading, Writing, Cooking

Work: Ret.Substance Abuse Counselor

Bio: I am 61 years old, but don't get it -- I still feel like the "Sixties" girl I always have been. A native Tennessean who lived many years in Atlanta, GA -- married a professor after I graduated from college and we moved to his first teaching job in the mountains of Western North Carolina. We had one daughter, divorced after ten years. He is back in Atlanta teaching; I have been married 29 years to a wonderful man from here and he and I have one daughter (now 25 -- the oldest daughter, age 37, is in Wilmington, NC and is the mother of my only grandchild. (I will mention here that my youngest daughter is 3 months pregnant and debating marriage...)

I was a substance abuse counselor for almost 20 years, working in both the public and private sectors. I am now retired on disability -- partially a result of a ruptured brain aneurysm I experienced in 1991 -- the damage was late in life showing up and is primarily in the form of nerve damage; i.e., neuropathies.

If anyone reading this wants to know what my biggest problem is I can easily say that it is not being/feeling productive. I do not work; my children are grown and out on their own -- and somehow being "grandmotherly" doesn't quite seem to be the whole answer. I will respect any advice, suggestions, comments regarding that -- as I am having a terrible time feeling isolated from the "adult" world. I understand that it is all up to me, but "me" has no energy for any of it. I only remember being so busy I didn't know how I'd manage -- but I always did -- now there's nothing to manage. I'm sure, I know, I have driven my poor, sweet husband crazy. He does the very best he can to help me and be supportive, but in the end it really is all up to me -- and I don't seem to be moving (except through glue).
And yes I'm on (and have been on) antidepressants; I have had a therapist for years. But the answer is so simple that only I can make it happen. Get the lead out of my a__. I think I'm hoping that something will happen, something positive, in terms of communication in these writings (if I haven't scared everyone away)to help me get some energy going and start doing -- doing for others.

There is, of course, more to this story...so, please, if you have anything to suggest, feel free, I will listen in my heart.

Thank you,
Carolina  

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