Leaving Lilburn, Ga.

 

It’s been a hectic couple of months. After many ordeals to qualify and finally get an apartment in Charlotte, I left Lilburn, Georgia. Regrets, none, except for leaving my cousin and family and new friends that were so kind to me. That year in Lilburn allowed me the time and space to sort out things that I needed to discard, and others I needed to keep. I finished transcribing my mother’s and aunt’s memoirs of their family and translating the life of don Andres, the Pellerano Alba cousins’ grandfather.

This new place, located in a town called Pineville, southwest of Charlotte, is just what I was looking for. It’s an independent living facility with a few apartment buildings. Mine, on the third floor, has four rooms: a kitchen, a living area, a bedroom and a bathroom. The kitchen is quite spacey and well equipped; the living area has a space for my small dining table and chairs; with the best feature: a huge window which gets the morning sun. My bedroom also has a big window on the same side, and I have to close shades for the sun shines through all morning long. Now that it’s winter, it is lovely. We’ll see how it is in the summer. The bathroom has enough space for a chest of drawers, a closet for clothes and one for linen, etc.

Due to the Covid-19 virus, I have not been in touch with other ‘inmates’ although I’ve met a few at an exercise class twice a week. Apparently, there are many activities during normal times. We shall see how that goes. The staff is friendly and attentive. I have no complaints.  I do laundry one floor down, which allows me to walk up and down the hall three times, at least. And, I also walk 56 steps to dispose of my garbage. So I move, in lieu of two sets of stairs in Lilburn.

After a few busy weeks, I have almost finished organizing everything. No more boxes or baskets filled with photograph and frames! I got rid of a lot of things I was attached to. So far, my days have been spent putting things away so that I can find them later, no small task. I’ve also created a filing system which lets me find things easily. I’m really proud of myself.

I’ve kept in touch with my friends, but will not see them until I get both vaccine shots, and they get theirs. The same goes for my family, although I’ve seen Florence and Brian, who are careful, but still it worries me. This new strain of the virus is very contagious. I am scared of getting it and then having after effects.

I’ve delivered two packages to my son, one for Christmas and one for his birthday. He acknowledged the first one only. So that has left me with the determination not to contact him again, unless an emergency comes up, as he still pays for the car insurance and the mobile phone.

I told one of my cousins that I have no future. She could not understand. See, those who are lucky enough to have children and grandchildren close, take it for granted. I figure I’d have a future and I would be able to look at the life ahead for my son, and my grandchildren. Now, as it is, I just wait for mine to end.