Empty Nest Syndrome

"Empty Nest Syndrome refers to feelings of depression, sadness, and/or grief experienced by parents and caregivers after children come of age and leave their childhood homes. This may occur when children go to college or get married. Women are more likely than men to be affected" - Psychology Today

I think I have this. Nobody is ever home. Nobody ever wants to do anything with me. Nobody comes home for dinner. Nobody wants to watch a movie with me. Nobody needs me. One of the reasons I think I have this is because now while Tom, Pete and Drew do their own thing... I spend alot of time (and money) on the following: Fanny, Joshua, Sally, N.B., Harold, Kumar, Ants in the Uncle Milton's Giant Ant Farm, and the latest addition... Cornelia Marie


Did I really need to buy Cornelia today at the Reptile Expo for $40? Not really. Did I really need to stop at PetSmart today on the way home and get her a fancy cave to live in? Not to mention the dozen crickets I bought to feed her. But then the crickets were feeling the water with their little feelers and taking little sips from her water bowl... Now I feel like I should give the crickets names too. ... I am afraid I may bond with them.... and take them out of her tank before she can eat them. I was thinking I can put them in the original little plastic turtle case. But what the heck would they eat? BTW I bought Fanny and Joshua a new pool the other day. And I planted a pot of grass so Sally and NB can have fresh greens to snack on. I keep telling myself I am not using the critters to replace my kids. I'm not convinced though. When I left for work the other day I had to unlock the door and come back in the house because I forgot to say good bye to Fanny and Joshua.

Bye Bye Butterfly

I was walking from Rite Aid today and as I passed the park I thought about all the times I went there with my cousin when I was a kid. We played Dark Shadows and he was always Barnabas Collins. I would be whoever the victim of the day was. Anyhow, when we weren't playing Dark Shadows we looked for caterpillars. There is a little stone ledge around the whole park and that was the best place to find them. Sometimes we brought a few home in a leaf filled shoebox with air holes poked in it.

I have not seen a caterpillar in years. In fact, I am not even sure my son, Andrew, has ever seen a live one…. and he is 14.

There used to be a, ACME where the Rite Aid now stands, right across the street from the park. One time I was there with my mom and there were so many caterpillars they were even inside the ACME.

When we left the store they came. It seemed like a whole army of them although at the time but it was probably only one or two. I am talking about the spray trucks.

There was a phone booth.... another thing you don't see anymore... right outside the ACME and my mom threw me in there and slammed the door shut so the "poison gas" wouldn't get me. I remember when they drove down my street. My mom ran through the house slamming all the windows closed so the poison gas wouldn't get in. I remember the same thing happening down the shore.

Whoever drove the truck.... and his boss.... and the guy who decided it needed to be done.... all probably have kids and grandkids who they take to the same park. It's so sad that they can't bring home shoe boxes of caterpillars... and there are no more butterflies to chase.

I thought about planting a butterfly garden in my yard.... but the poor little things would have to fly miles and miles go get here.... if any came at all.

Only Annie - This n That

Hello. My name is Annie and I have alot to say.

My mind is always full of thoughts, questions and ideas. I'm going to put them here so they don't get lost forever. I'll switch from topic to topic because my attention span is like that of a ladybug... and you know what the ladybug did... she actually forgot her own kids were at home and then the house burned down. (I always wondered if it was one of the kids who set it ablaze)

Moving right along....

I call my blog "Only Annie" because over and over again I hear "Only you would think of that.".... "Only you would ask that question.".... "Only you would come up with that idea." If you know me you have probably said that yourself. If you don't know me yet you will probably be saying it soon:)