Hi Knotties!

mrsmitten

I didn't want to just intrude on the daily WW post since it's been so long, but I wanted to say hi!

I was alerted to a bunch of hacked passwords today and TK was one of them - I can't believe how long it's been!  And this probably explains why I couldn't log in for the longest time!

Like most people, my 2020 has been the absolute worst - except it started in Italy - which was amazing. 

We've experienced a lot of loss (including my younger brother and I'm still a wreck), a lot of really scary moments (armed gumnen at Mr. Mitten's work), and I'm recently unemployed thanks to COVID (which explains why I have time to tackle all these passwords).

I've read through a couple posts and am sorry for all of the hard times you're all experiencing as well.  I've thought of you all so much throughout this past year (MrsConn anytime I see an advice column, Charlotte for all of the political drama, Varuna in neighboring Ohio, Short & Sassy with more hurricanes).  I hope everyone is doing relatively well and doesn't mind if I start popping back in again:).

mrsconn23

It's great to see you.  Sorry 2020 has been so terrible and especially losing your brother.  ((hugs))  Please jump on in.  We've missed you and wondered off and on how you're doing.  

ei34

Nice to “see” you Kimmi!  I’m so sorry to hear about your brother.  

And I love your summary of knotties and their specialties (although S+S is also the real estate guru, lol)

MNNEBride

Hi @mrsmitten!  Welcome back

banana468

Welcome back! 

MissKittyDanger

I saw your insta posts mentioning these things briefly but never felt it was appropriate to ask sorry to hear hugs

CharmedPam

Welcome back @mrsmitten, sorry for a crappy year :;  bright side?  It’s almost over?

missJeanLouise

HI @mrsmitten ! Great to see you! Sorry to hear about your struggles this year, especially the loss of your brother. Hope, for everyone's sake, that next year helps restore balance to the universe with more ups than downs.

ILoveBeachMusic

Welcome back Kimmi! Have that of you often over the last year and wondered how things were going. So sorry to hear about your brother, virtual hugs! Here's to 2021 being a much better year.

levioosa

Good to see you! I’ve been thinking about you lately. I’m so sorry for the loss of your brother. 

charlotte989875

Welcome back Kimmi!! I’ve thought of you a lot during the election (and watching some Lions games!). Was Mr. Mitten up for re-election?

Im so sorry for the loss of your brother, I remember you talking about some of his struggles. It’s all so hard. 

In other fun news, we had a baby this summer!

mrsmitten

Hi everyone!  I love how many familiar "faces" are still here!

Thanks for so many of the kind thoughts.  He OD'ed in late August so it's still fairly new, and yes Kitty, I definitely grammed about it a bunch.  It's sad to realize in retrospect how few photos I have of him, especially since I haven't seen him for 4 years (since before my wedding).

Mr. Mitten did have another election and won handily - so that's our good news for 2020.  That and continued health insurance LOL.

ILoveBeachMusic, Charmed Pam & JeanLouise - 2021 simply can't be worse, right?  So that has to be the bright side LOL.

Congrats on the baby Charlotte!

Levi - did you graduate yet?

How are everyone else's babies and grandbabies?

levioosa

@mrsmitten I did! I have been blissfully out of school for about a year. At some point I’d like to get my doctorate but I’m a little too burned out for that at the moment. 

I’m really sorry about your brother. My brother also OD’d back in July/August (I think? This whole year has been a blurry cluster). He was lucky the dog got scared and woke my parents up to make them check on him. It’s the only reason he’s still here. I know how awful it is and I’m so sorry. 

ILoveBeachMusic

Our twin grandsons are doing great - they are 2 1/2 now. DD is pregnant and due with another boy in April! She has been really busy at the hospital with Covid going on but luckily hasn't had to work with Covid patients since she has been pregnant. 

mrsmitten

@ILoveBeachMusic Congrats!  Yay for more babies - and for not having COVID patients.  I feel so much for all of our healthcare workers right now!

@levioosa I'm so sorry, and so glad he's still here.  How are your parents doing after experiencing all that?  My sis and I went to his apartment the next day and saw the aftermath and got what was left of his things so our mom didn't have to.  And I'm so glad we did.

That whole first week was a blur, it's less blurry now, but also way harder than anyone can ever explain or understand until you've been through it.  I was finally managing my life again and then bam - holidays - holy hell.

short+sassy

It's so good to see you!!!  We've missed you here.  I was worried about you and Mr. Mitten when I saw all the turmoil going on in Michigan.  It's good to hear he won his re-election.  I'm so sorry to hear about your brother and that you lost your job.

2020 has been an especially bad year for some many Knotties, not even counting the pandemic.  I also hope 2021 is a substantially better year for everyone!

mrsmitten

I've definitely missed you guys too!

Mr. Mitten's job has been scary.  Between the threats and COVID scares, it's probably even scarier than has been presented nationally.  Since H is a straight, white guy he hasn't received any death threats directly, but he has been threatened via email with physical violence.  The women and WOC, on the other hand, have had it bad.  A guy in the next city over was hand painting yard signs throughout the city threatening to kill a good friend of ours and other people we know have round the clock security now or are taking up offers to be escorted into the Capitol on days like today when protestors are out.  One of those militia guys who was arrested, or as we call them 'Ya'll Qaeda,' is one of Mr. Mitten's constituents and he lived less than 5 miles from us.  

levioosa

Ugh. That’s so scary and awful. I hope you all stay safe. 

And they’re okay. Definitely saddened and resigned to the reality that it probably won’t be his last OD. I think it was pretty traumatic to find him but tbh so much of his adult life has been traumatic that I’m not sure where that falls on the scale of “I need a moment” to “I can’t move past this.” And of course my pleas to go to therapy, Nar-Anon, or NAMI meetings fall on deaf ears. 

How are your parents handling it?

mrsmitten

We had different dads, but my dad has always been in his life.  My dad doesn't seem to affected though, TBH.  He had spinal surgery two weeks ago that we had to postpone so he's been so caught up in his own health, and I don't blame him for that.

Mom is okay.  She is easily the strongest, most positive person I know.  There were days upon days where I forget to shower and she somehow still smiles about something daily.  Thanksgiving was rougher than I anticipated and put me back into a depression spiral, and it was hard for her too.  My sis, mom and I sat and held hands and cried for a long time.  And then mom and my niece started decorating the tree and laughing.  I don't know how she does it.  She's currently taking care of my dad (her ex-H and roommate) without complaint!

Oh yeah, sis, her H and nugget (who is now 5!) now live with us.  They moved back and are looking for a home.

climbingsingle

I'm so sorry for the loss of your brother. Sending you love. 

kvruns

Thanks for checking in, nice to see you! Sorry to hear about the loss of your brother and the other crappy situations 2020 has presented

missJeanLouise

knottieeabe2d3ab160be53 said:

thanks for the words, i really liked you message.

You are a strange little bot

knottie0e36c3eb8e7ae162

I'm so glad to see you!  Sorry to hear about your brother and that you lost your job. We've missed you here.