Today I am mindful of my upcoming retirement as a nurse. Although I am excited I do find myself tearing up. I am starting the process of grieving a part of me that has been my calling for 40 years. As I explained to my son it has been who I am almost as long as being a mother. But I also look forward to the joy I have in becoming a new me. A new calling. And mindful that just as I did not automatically become a nurse it was born in intention and sharpened by pure action. These are the tools that I bring to my entrepreneurial calling.

Dear members, Today I slept as much as I could. I did naturally wake up when I was supposed to be at my two day job. I was on the schedule. I said I took the day off without pay. That is my sanity keeper for the day. Turns out I would have been passing meds. Nope not safe when I got in just before midnight. 😂 I am so thankful I am not there and home to unpack and wash all the laundry from the Tripp. I will work tomorrow.

Pic with me and the largest star fish I have ever seen. And the kayak. And my daughter. She did the lion’s share of the rowing out since I was sitting with my kegs to far out in front of me. And a Bohemian jelly fish.

So, I wanted to take some time out here and share a bit of my recent story. My brother who was the second born (I am the oldest) has thought he won his battle with cancer two years ago. I was called by my sister in law (they were divorced but we stayed connected) in June his health was not looking great. He had been stubborn and not seen a doctor or move on his VA benefits. So, this started a set up for care for forward motion to better health. His ex-wife and her finance moved in to help care for him. Then in Aug his health took a turn. We went from forward motion to planning end of life. He passed 8/24/25. Upon arriving to his home for the celebration of life I then became overwhelmed with grief that I thought I might die. When his best friends wife asked how she could help (all while I am puking in a trash can because it was closer than the bathroom and nope I was not going to clean up vomit from myself) I said pray because I feel like I could die and I choose life. Please consider your mind set as not just something to check off. I would not have been able to voice my needs and what I really wanted if I was not doing the mind set work. It works but you have to do the work. I do the work so that I can choose my life and the freedoms I want.

Another anecdotal from my years of experience. Picture 1 is the view from the nurses station into the dining room. Picture 2 is the sliding glass window to that we can talk to the residents when needed. Picture 2 the resident that comes up to the window I have nicknamed hi society (turns out she lived in Beverly Hills, CA before moving to Colorado) comes and knocks on the window. The following is the conversation that follows: Me: (sliding glass door open) “How can I help you Ms Hi Society? Hi: “I hear that you are the woman to get things done?” Me:” How can I help you? Hi:”I would like to have an extensive luncheon.” She then leans all the way into the window and whispering,”and put it on my tab.” Me:”I will certainly make that happen.” She leaves and enters the dining room. My back is to her and all of a sudden I hear “Hello, excuse me!?” I turn around and Hi Society is practically on the counter that sits below the open window. Me:”How can I help you? Are you alright?” Hi: “Along with that extensive lunch I would like to add an extensive cocktail hour!” Me:”I got you covered.” Fast forward to the meal. Hi Society enters the dining room just after I had clued in my CNA of the request. Here is the rest of the story…. Hi: “I would like a Martini” CNA: she has a pitcher of plan OJ. “I do not know how to make a Martini but I just made a mean screwdriver, would that be ok?” Hi:”Yes please!” Can pokes her the OJ and escorts her to a table. I hear later she had three glasses of “screwdriver”. Hi society eats her dinner and starts wobbling like she had liquor and I state, “Hi is cut off.” No sooner than I state that Hi falls. Me:”Looks like you had one to many screwdrivers you are cut off and maam you will be escorted to your room to sleep it off!”