The troubles

Historically, the Troubles are a thirty year period of low intensity but constant war in Northern Ireland. Spanning from the late 1960's to 1998, the conflict between Irish Nationalists and British Unionists resulted in over 3,700 deaths and more than 50,000 injuries.

In the early aughts, the model horse hobby also experienced a period of time referred to as the Troubles. This was a NAMHSA thing. Those directly involved can not speak of it publicly because of a non-disclosure agreement that is still in place, even after the primary offender's death.

At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, I am now calling this part of my life - the last couple years, anyway - the Troubles. 

This is not to say it's all been terrible. 

Of course, there have been good times.

Of course, there have been great times.

But also, there have been hard times.

So,

so,

so many hard times.

It feels like my life has become one long series of crises without any extended periods of normalcy. 

I am so sad. 

I am so tired.

On Wednesday, I finally fulfilled my obligations in the attempted murder case against my neighbor. This has been hanging over me for several months - the original subpoena was for a court date in October - and I have have been carrying a lot of stress over it. Fortunately, everything went fine. I walked out of the courthouse and thought, "Okay, I can breathe again."

The relief was short-lived. Yesterday my father-in-law - who I love dearly - experienced some kind of a cardiac event and was admitted to the hospital.

Jingles for Tom and for me, too. This has been a long hard couple of years, and the Troubles just keep coming.