Your a survivor, granny. I don’t think any of us know how we will react until we’re faced with a challenge. Our oldest says, “Expect the best but prepare for the worst.”
My parents had a restaurant the whole time I was growing up. I worked there, and I do mean worked starting at 12 years old. Started waitressing at 15. No pampered “boss’s daughter!” Saved money, bought a car, paid for school, etc. I learned from an early age that no job was too menial.
I’m glad to hear you have a brother close by. Take care.
Your waitress training is the most valuable training that you have, it has as a rule, found me a job the first day I went looking.
I once figured up the cost of taking a job in an aircraft plant, or remaining a waitress in a neighborhood coffee shop.
My shoes cost $5.99, the black taffeta skirt was $5.99 and the black and white checked blouse $2.99, I wore cheap nylons.
Added to that was snacks and drinks and one good meal a day and then I would have to have nice clothes to work in an office, decided that I could not afford to take the ‘better’ job, and I am a good waitress.
Worked at Sheldon’s for 8 years, met Bill there.
So goes life, you do what is right at the time and some day you will understand it all.
LOL, my brother shows up once a year or not at all, he lives closer to you and this year is building a house for himself, something he wants to do before he dies.
He has beat off a bunch of heart trouble and kidney cancer.
I have no idea how he passed 70 years so quickly.