My new Roommate

This is Jack.....my new roommate.....my grandson Jack Stewart moved into my house yesterday afternoon and I think it's going to be an experience for both of us.  Jack is 16 going on 25....a very independent soul, but too young to live by himself.  He's been living with his Dad, but Dad is ill and Jack and his brother Augie have been living on their own in Dad's rental house until this weekend.  Dad has a longer stay in the hospital than planned and the boys need to split up and live elsewhere.  My daughter is Jack's mom and she's remarried and lives in a two bedroom home with her new hubby and his daughter....no room at Mom's right now.  They are looking for a larger house so in the meantime, Jack is staying with ole' grandma here short term. 

Jack is one of these kids who is old for his age...or I should say, more mature than most 16 year olds.
He's finishing school on line and works full time at a mechanic's garage downtown Sacramento earning wages and learning from a Master Mechanic all he can to become certified....he loves working on cars and specializes on Mercedes Benz vehicles, mainly old ones.  Both he and Augie
drive old Mercedes and Jack owns a second one now in storage.  Their interest in cars started with their Dad and has never stopped.  That and their love of the SF Giants!!!   

So, now Jack and I will co-exist...he works full time during the week from 10-7pm and I do all the things I do with the gallery, my bowling days/nights.  He's been living pretty much on his own for the last four months and I already notice his need to talk and work on things around the house.  I think we'll get along okay.

Not many of us get to have an experience like this with our grandchildren...usually I see my grandkids during holidays or birthday celebration, etc....especially now that they are older and mobile and don't hang around home very much.  And it's good for young folks to be around elders to learn from us and maybe even realize how it is to get older.  Time will tell. 

PEOPLE - What Do I Have To Lose?

Unknown "gals" from my collection of black/white photos I use in my art work....let's call this "Farm Wives"

Not sure it's the pull of the moon, or if I'm having one of those "I've had it weeks"....but I seem to have attracted some difficult people issues that I'm having to deal with and I'm getting to that point where I'd like to hide out and not deal with PEOPLE.    I think I am fairly known for being a bit of a softy and that I usually get along with just about everyone..............BUT for those who don't know, I do have a limit of what I can take and twice this week I reached that limit on two separate and non related occasions.  I know for a fact that I am a very patient person, will talk with just about anyone about anything and for the most part can negotiate myself through most issues.  But when people stick their nose into something they shouldn't and then give me their opinion, I become a mom ma bear for some reason and then it's all over for me. 

I've been told that people walk all over me, that I give people the benefit of the doubt far to easily, that I give far too much trust and probably that's the truth.  But on the other hand, if you break that trust, if you get involved in things you shouldn't be involved in or if you complain just once to often without a good sense solution, then I'm DONE.  I will separate myself with no way back into my good graces.  

For years I think I have suppressed this feeling, but I guess as I'm aging I'm thinking "what do I have to lose?  A bad friendship?  A manipulative friend?  I just can't use the energy that it takes to deal with these types of people and the turmoil it causes in my head leaves me unable to spend the time I need to use to create new art work.  When I go through these situations, my head swims with "what ifs" or "why did you do that" or "how could he have done that to me" or whatever drops into my brain and I find myself unable to concentrate, sleep, eat and more....so the best solution in my book is to walk away from the situation, take the hit in the friendship/relationship department and give myself the gift of "peace".   Be upfront with the person/people, announce your intentions and get it lifted off your shoulders so I can get on with my life in a relaxed and peace way.

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh       now I feel much better and I'm back in the studio creating new work.

Peace Out