My 2021 started out on New Year's Day, rather quiet with my traditional meal with black-eyed peas for luck and greens for cash. It went on pretty well until January 6th, when a neighbor (and Riley's former owner) stole Riley. I was arguing with her and demanding him back when our manager came by and took us to the office.

I saw a friend as I went to the office and asked her to go get Brenda, my neighbor who knew Riley's story. The former owner was freaking out in the office screaming and cursing, so the office called the police. I was in shock and could not talk. The stupid officer, I am sorry, he was, said since she was holding the dog, it was hers. SHE STOLE IT - OF COURSE SHE WAS HOLDING IT!

Long story short, the next day, I asked a neighbor to drive me to my vet's to get records for that last two years. Why? I do not know, but I felt that it was important, if I went to the police about it. Providence stepped in when I was coming down the elevator to my floor after visiting with another neighbor; the doors opened and there was the thief with Riley. Even with my damaged right shoulder I was able to grab him back. I immediately went the a friend's on the 4th floor, leaving my door open and my keys on the counter.

A little later my friend's husband went down to get my keys and my friend Brenda and when they came back, he told me that the police were at my door. Brenda went with me back to the first floor and she had my papers for safekeeping since I was not thinking right.

One of the sheriffs walked up to me and said he was disgusted to be called out another day about this "dog." I was afraid to say anything but when I tried he told me to shut up. He berated me for a while and then said - "you can talk now." (I wonder if he talks to his mother that way- I am 74) I told Brenda to give him the papers from the vet. He looked at them and I could see he was shocked. He then asked the woman if she had anything showing ownership from the last two years. She shook her head. HE THEN SAID TAKE YOUR DOG, TO ME.

Riley is back and we both are recuperating. He is not his usual self, but I am not either. It will take a while for us to get over it. We are both old. But we will and I can tell you with truth, I have gotten so many kisses  since he came back. I know he is happier. And of course I am.

As the new year 2021 approaches, I am anticipating a better year. It would take much to improve over last year - too many falls and too many muddled moments.

This year I plan on staying upright more often and I plan on  living a little more. I have three stray cats that depend on me and of course, my wonderful little Yorkie, Riley who will be 12 in a few days. He is still is all Yorkie and plays just as much, but not as long. We both are getting older.

I am glad that I am still here this year. As I said, last year was hard. I would like to have more adventure in the way of trips that I had last year. I want to explore a new place to live. My apartment is getting more and more expensive here in Pensacola and unless I can qualify for some special funding, I will eventually have to move.

If I move, I am investigating Alabama to the north, near my relatives. Or I might go back to sotuher Georgia, since my family is there - a new great niece and nephew.

Merry Christmas my dear followers. The ham is baking. pre-cooked with added pineapple, cherries, and brown sugar glaze added. Asparagus casserole and baked potato and onion casserole with lots of butter are there, too.  I already have a pecan pie, I bought at the store earlier.

So dinner is almost ready and if my guest is coming, she should arrive soon. A neighbor asked if I was doing anything and I invited her.

Riley has "unwrapped" his presents from me, and picked a favorite immediately - a small white lamb. But then my neighbor and friend came by with home made goodies for me and a longtail fox for Riley. He has been chewing on it since he got it.

I just watched It's a Wonderful Life and a Christmas Story is on now. Have to see the old classics on holidays.

Dinner is ready, so I will sign off. Have a wonderful holiday.

​I imagine your holidays will be much like mine - nil. Now that it is not healthy to gather with anyone not in your household, my neighbors and I communicate with masks, six feet apart, and in the hallways. 

I miss having warm chocolate pudding this time of year with a dear neighbor on the fourth floor. We have talked about doing it outside at the pool, so we could social distance, but it is raining (yes, in sunny Florida) and looks to be doing that for a week - through Christmas. 

I do talk to my neighbors and still do not have the word to drive yet - if I would just stop falling on my head I could live again. The last time I fell was during Hurricane Sally.

I had let my dog out in the activity room and when I brought him in the heavy door slammed against me knocking me to the floor on my head. Later that day I was social distancing with a neighbor in his apartment and I got up from the chair on wheels and my feet hit a throw rug and down I went AGAIN. Hit head AGAIN. Later I closed the windows I had opened in my bedroom and I fell again. I had to butt walk (I could not get up) to the phone in the living room to call for help. I butt-walked to the front door and opened it. My dear neighbors grabbed my arms and pulled right  me up. 

Some say I should get a walker - but I always fall backwards now. It would not really help. So I am trying very hard to remain upright. And I must ask for help to take me anywhere. Maybe the New Year will bring me independence again.  We will see.

I am cooking Christmas dinner with all the fixings, but this time, no guests. I still will have "It's a Wonderful Life" on while cooking. My traditions will go on, as much as they can. I definitely will have lots of leftovers to eat until the New Year.

So my friends, I request you stay safe and healthy through this difficult time and I will try to do so, too. And please, try to enjoy whatever "events" you can have, even if you are the only guest. We must keep positive that "this, too shall end." 

Not much going on here as I imagine it is with you; the virus has everyone keeping so close to home. I still venture out to the grocery shop or pick up  meds but that is all. I am getting cabin fever so I am thinking about driving to the beach and back or driving around looking at sites I have not seen in a while.

I have a neighbor whose husband and she go to the beach all the time. This time of year there are many places to go and no one is around.  Labor Day is over; I imagine most beaches are free. We did have a bunch of Spring Break visitors. I hope they are all still well and alive.

I am going to do something because I am so bored with reruns on TV and email. Some of my neighbors and I talk via phone and occasionally a friend's granddaughter comes to see my new little kitten. Persephone had a another litter and there is only one baby. It is now almost 3 weeks old and all over the patio. 

Riley, my 11 1/2 year old Yorkie is still active and demands a couple of walks a day. The rest of the time he sleeps. I hope all of you are staying well and happy. I will post occasionally so you will know I am OK.

​

Well, I have started driving to the store, since the Coronavirus has cancelled all other activities. I ventured out to the Dollar General for food and supplies. I drove myself, alone. I did find and even parked my car where I had parked before.

As I told you, I now have three stray cats that I feed. The little black and white one is called Oreo, suggested by a friend. She is looking better - does not seem to be sick. She was probably just starving. My neighbor, upstairs, has started giving me a can of tuna every week to feed just her, Oreo. It is very rich for her, so I just give a little at night. She gets dry during day and any of the other wet food, my longtime strays refuse to ear. My neighbor who has had cats. said that this is a normal procedure for in house cats. Picky eaters.  Since Persephone is my porch cat and Sebastian is a part-time porch cat I guess they are considered "house cats." And Sebastian is coming in on occasion, but it upsets, Riley too much for him to stay inside.

My routine is to drink coffee in the morning and watch the news after I walk Riley. I then watch a few movies (I increased my cable for this "in house isolation.") Midafternoon, I have to watch my British shows on my laptop, since my Roku and I are not speaking. And when the twilight begins, I retire to the bedroom to read. I have read over 25 books in the last few weeks. Neighbors have given me all of them, and one told me she is getting some more ready to bring me. I will be happy, because I am rereading some old Lisa Jackson books that I read years ago. Luckily I do not remember all of the plot.

I can go to the library for books, but I have to give them a list or the titles and the author and one of the librarians goes to the stacks and gets them. I was up to the "J" authors in fiction scanning the shelves for mysteries. I judged the books by the cover and the print inside. Now I have to guess. That is why I am glad that my friends are helping me out with their books.

Well. this is long and "much ado about nothing," but nothing is going on. I saw a neighbor who lives across the hall this morning. I haven't seen him for quite while. He has a doctor's procedure and asked me to drive him. He said he is only working two days a week.

I hope all of you reading this are safe, well, and occupied in some way. If something happens worth posting I will write again soon.

Well, we all are in the midst of this coronavirus and life is changing as we know it. Of course, we are  "living in place," not going out unless necessary, or visiting in person with anyone, unless masked and even gloved. This is a new experience for most of us. And it has created a whole new atmosphere in doing what we need to do.

I needed a new prescription for a medicine that I take. No refills were available. I called the doctor and had to go through all kinds of steps on the phone, pressing numbers, etc. to be told by a recorded voice that I needed to call the pharmacy.

I called the pharmacy and went through another variation of steps and numbers to push and finally got through.. It rang and rang and rang until I hung up. I am not sure it is even open with the limited hours everyone is using.

So I called the doctor's office again, and again pushed all those numbers until I finally got a human. I told her that the prescription had no refills, and firmly stated that I needed a new prescription. She eventually looked it up and repeated what I needed. I agreed and finally hung up.

I know this virus is going to be with us for a while, and I suppose, eventually, we all will work out some sort of schedule to do what we are supposed to do and to do what we can to get through this.

Keeping our sanity is going to be harder than usual, I believe. I know I am going to have to create a whole new routine for my life. I will be indoors and at home, more than before. I have upgraded my cable, gone to the library and requested books on the computer. (I did not get to go to the stacks like I usually do.) and I have stocked up on food and snacks. 

I will have to pick up that prescription tomorrow. But after that I guess I will be "home" most of the time for a while.

When I was younger, not too long ago, I thrived on change. I moved all the time, I made new friends, but I kept the old, too. I had quite a few special men in my life, but I changed them out, too.

Today, I am 73 and pretty staid in my life. I have lived in this apartment for 5 years, a long time for my housing history, but I am winding down. I plan on staying here, for as long as I can afford it. AS I get older, though, I need less and less.

One change that is happening here is our management staff is changing. On the surface that might sound unimportant, but as I have gotten older, I have interacted and become fond of several of the staff.

One in particular is very good man, who is our Mr. Fix It. He is retired military, has a beautiful wife and several lovely daughters, all of whom I have met. And he worked this job to put them through college.I have been close to him over the years, calling him the son I never had. And I find I am going to miss this wonderful man tremendously when he leaves.

So change is not so pleasing now that I am old. It is not always something good now. I guess I will just have to settle down and accept it - OR NOT!!!

​Maybe it is a time for change to visit Peggy once again.

I got a call last week from a law firm in Gulf Breeze who handled my last will and testament when I was married to my last husband. That was done in 2004. He was the one who wanted it done. That was the first sign I should have paid attention to.

I told them we had divorced 10 years ago and it was not valid. They sent the will, power of attorney, and living will to me. I just received it.

Oh, what a memory this brings - not all bad, because at that time I did not know what he was doing behind my back. So we went through the whole thing, since he wanted to and got it done. He was my beneficiary and I was his.

I had made out a new will, leaving all my  assets to my brother when I moved to Memphis. But it was funny to see all of this past written down and the memories it brought back.

Because- my husband behaved until I got a job and then got bored with me at work. It just so happened that we had a female neighbor living behind us and her husband was in the Navy and out at sea.

Well, Mr. Charming misbehaved and I found out.  I was working and he was playing. spending money that we really did not have to entertain lonely ladies. It is funny, too, because a very much older couple who lived across the hall from us, told me about what was going on.

We had a big argument and eventually moved into the house we were building. He did not see her any more as far I know. Her husband did come back into town so that helped.

Long story to tell you why I have changed my will.

I really have nothing to leave my brother. But maybe he can sell my car and all the furniture I have to pay for my cremation. In Florida it is cheap.

​Well, back to present time. I must walk the dog.