A Most Popular Dear Abby and My Reply

Happy Wednesday everyone!

How is your week going so far? We are officially, halfway through another week. Halloween is only 23 days away. Thanksgiving is only 50 days away, and Christmas is 78 days away. We are winding down 2025 and soon it will be 2026. Whose ready for another trip around the world? January 1st, 2026, is a short 85 days away. Crazy!

Things around here have been busier than I thought with John being gone. He’ll be home tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see him.

Today I spent my entire day working on paperwork for my attorney and for my doctors. UGH, it was a long day, yet I am happy I finished everything per their timeline; however, I didn’t get much done as far as cleaning or decorating. I did get my mantel almost done. I need to add a few more decorations, but that shouldn’t take too long.

Below is a photo of what I’ve done so far. Hope you enjoy:

With John and I still having no kitchen, coffee lounge or dining room, I’m having to scale things way back as far as decorations are concerned, plus, so many of our belongings have been moved to storage that I don’t know where a lot of my outdoor decorations are.

Fingers crossed we get some news soon as far as how much longer we’re in limbo with no kitchen. It’s been hard, but I am thankful to family and friends who’ve welcomed me into their homes to stay during the chaos and my recoup time from my procedures.

I wanted to thank everyone for the incredible response and support regarding my desire to start my Dear Dawna page/blog. I’ve received some really amazing messages that have touched my heart. Your faith in me is overwhelming and I will always do my best to give loving and honest advice. I will research before writing and I will reply to your questions with tenderness and compassion, no matter what the topic.

Below is a photo of how I used to read the Dear Abby column. In an actual newspaper, go figure. Those were the good old days.

I love this poem on how a pet owner and fur-baby meet on the Rainbow Bridge and cross over never to be seen again. This was such a beautiful poem. I love how when the fur-baby passes before their human, they wait for them on the Rainbow Bridge much like they do when their human leaves the house.

Our Oreo has separation anxiety whenever John or I leave the house and she cries and cries when we get home. Like we’ve been gone for a lifetime. She jumps and kisses and just needs her hugs when we come home, even if we’ve only been gone for a moment or two.

When I’m home and in my loft writing, I sit on my chase portion of my couch, and she literally sits next to me almost on my lap or legs. She has to be touching me all the time. Molly loves to be on my lap, but she’s okay to just be near me too.

Oreo is getting older now and I can see her slowing down just a tad. She won’t be my first pup to pass over to the Rainbow Bridge before me and she won’t be my last, but it’s comforting to know if there is such a Bridge, I have no doubt her, along with my other fur-babies will be waiting for me when my time comes to cross over. Each and every one of my pups in my arms or by my side. Tipper. Storm. Hunter. Jade and Rocky and by then, perhaps Molly and Oreo too.

While they wait for my turn to come, they’ll be together with all the other pups who’ve gone on before their special person. They’ll enjoy playing, running, chasing one another and living a wonderful life while in wait.

Our animals are our kiddos. They become family and when you think about it, they’re only with us a few short years, yet in that time, they are right there by our doors, waiting for us to come home from wherever we were. It’s a beautiful thought thinking they’ll be waiting on the Rainbow Bridge, waiting for us to come home to them.

I’m a pup lover and losing one of them hurts. They are my babies, all of them and I love them dearly.

They drive me crazy, but they give me more love than I feel like I can sometimes handle. They are worth the nuttiness they bring into my world and their personalities melt my heart.

The second article in the above column was sent to Dear Abby as an alternative thought to something she had written in a previous article. Chris De Napoli shared a poem written by Marianne Neifert, M.D. and it was originally published in Readers Digest, 1994 (Points to Ponder).

In this article the poem gives insight to how much a parent sacrifices for their child or children. Sleepless nights. Tears a parent never thought they’d shed. Heartbreak. More worry. Yet, on the flip side this same parent who gave up so much, gained even more.

As a mom I haven’t ever pampered myself. John’s pampered me, but to say I’ve pampered myself, I really haven’t. Even on spa days with the girl tribe I’m always worried about what to make for dinner or how a kiddo will get picked up from school. It’s hard for me to quiet my mind to take care of me. I’m always thinking of my kiddos, grown or not and I’m thinking of my pups and of course, John.

I’m hoping once I retire from driving, I can take more time for my writing and crafting, but again, I’m working towards a goal. Becoming published and using my crafting business as my side hustle. I suppose it’s a form of pampering, just a different kind for me. Writing and crafting are two things I enjoy doing and lately, I don’t seem to have enough time to concentrate on either or give them the attention they deserve in my world. Three more weeks and things will become calmer for me, I think. Knock on wood. Knock Knock.

As a mom, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It’s the hardest, yet most rewarding job I’ve ever done. Actually, it was never a job, it was an honor. Being an influencer in the lives of 4 boys, it’s truly been a blessing. I thank God every day for my 2 bio babies and for my 2 bonus boys.

In the final note sent to Dear Abby in the column above, the titled “Struggling Writer in San Francisco”, yup, the words written were true.

As a writer, I know when I receive positive feedback I’m driven to write more, however, when I gain criticism, I’m pushed more to perfect my writing and sometimes in that mindset I lose track of my passion. I become a little obsessed with being a good writer, so I sometimes cloud my creativity with a lot of buzz words and in the meantime, while doing that, my writing lacks its passion and the message it was intended to pass along.

Being a creator and creative doesn’t mean everyone will like what I write or how I write, and that’s okay. That’s the beauty of being a writer and crafter, they’re my type of art and I need to remember that. Write what I know and create what I love. Easier said than done, but it is good advice, don’t you think?

Keep those comments coming, even the ones where you think I need to look for improvement. I honestly do read every comment and I take everyone into consideration.

I appreciate you all.

I’ll leave you with a final message my dear friend Jan sent to me yesterday: “When you are motivated it’s a short trip to success.”

I’m motivated and I’m becoming more motivated as my days of having to be away from home so much are ending. Three more weeks until I can embrace home again without having to leave every day. I am thrilled and excited.

Those words from Jan couldn’t be truer along with something else I heard, ‘failure is only feedback for what doesn’t work.’

Feedback is actually a gift, especially for a writer, so keep it coming because I know you care.

Well guys, I hope you enjoyed tonight’s blog. I’m going to get ready for bed, but remember this: Until next time, don’t forget, Love Life++ Hugs.