August 27, 2026

Today’s post is actually going to start with something I meant to post yesterday.

I got distracted.

Shocking, I know.

So I’m combining yesterday’s post about something I learned while caring for both of my parents with today’s update because I think it’s worth having here.

The Grab-and-Go Folder

One of the most useful things I learned while caring for my parents was the importance of having a grab-and-go folder.

It sounds incredibly simple, and honestly, it is. But having one saved me an enormous amount of time and frustration, especially during emergencies and when dealing with new doctors or hospitals.

When you’re a caregiver, you spend a ridiculous amount of time answering the same questions over and over again. What medications do they take? What doses? When did they last take them? Who is their doctor? What insurance do they have? Who is their emergency contact? Do they have a healthcare power of attorney? Are there advance directives?

When someone is sick, confused, scared or being rushed to the emergency room, trying to remember all of that information off the top of your head is incredibly difficult.

So I kept everything together in one folder.

For my parents, I had copies of their IDs, Medicare cards and supplemental insurance information. I kept a current medication list that included what they were taking, the dosage and when they took it. I had emergency contact information, a list of their doctors and health conditions, along with copies of their healthcare power of attorney and any advance directives.

That folder went with us.

And I cannot tell you how many times it made my life easier.

Instead of standing there trying to remember every medication Mom was taking while someone at the hospital was asking me questions, I could hand them the information. Instead of digging through a wallet looking for insurance cards, I had copies. Instead of trying to remember the name of a specialist we hadn’t seen in months, I had it written down.

It didn’t eliminate the chaos of being a caregiver, but it eliminated some of the unnecessary chaos.

And honestly, I wish I had made one for myself sooner.

You don’t have to be a caregiver to benefit from having one.

I have my own folder now. In addition to the basic information, I keep a copy of my medical records in it so that if I’m ever unable to explain something myself, there is information available for whoever needs it.

Obviously, this is sensitive information, so it needs to be kept somewhere secure but accessible. The important thing is that someone can find it when they need it.

Emergencies don’t happen when it’s convenient.

You don’t know when you’re going to meet a new doctor or end up in an emergency room trying to answer questions while your brain is running on fear and adrenaline.

If you’re caring for an aging parent, especially someone with multiple medications or complicated medical needs, having this information ready can be incredibly valuable.

It also gives you the opportunity to think through things before you’re in a crisis.

Who should be called?

Who has medical decision-making authority?

What insurance do they have?

What medications are they taking?

Who are their doctors?

What are their wishes?

Where are their important documents?

They’re not necessarily fun questions to think about, but they’re much easier to answer while you’re sitting at your kitchen table putting a folder together than when you’re standing in a hospital hallway at two in the morning.

I learned a lot during the years I cared for my parents. Some lessons were incredibly difficult, and some are things I wish I’d never needed to learn.

But this is one I’m genuinely grateful I learned.

So if you’re a caregiver, make yourself a grab-and-go folder.

If you’re not a caregiver, make one for yourself anyway.

Because someday, someone may need to grab it and go.

And when that happens, having all that information in one place could save someone a whole lot of time, confusion and stress.

Sometimes the things we learn while caring for someone else end up being the things that help us take better care of ourselves, too.

And Now, Today’s Update

Today was a little bit of everything.

I did the basics, took care of Beaker and made it to therapy. I also spent some time talking with multiple attorneys.

One of them is helping me get my estate affairs in order, which is something I’ve been meaning to do for myself. The other is for some personal matters that I’m not ready to discuss publicly yet. Nothing bad, nothing dramatic. Just something private that I need to handle.

And honestly, after spending so many years making sure my parents had their affairs in order, it feels a little strange to finally be doing the same thing for myself.

I guess that’s another thing caregiving taught me.

Prepare for the shit you hope you never have to deal with.

Speaking of shit, Beaker has received an assortment of new toys because apparently I can no longer trust him within the general vicinity of a garbage can.

He would much rather shred paper than play with a toy, but I’m hoping these will provide enough distraction to keep him from finding new ways to destroy my house whenever I leave the room.

He’s adorable.

He’s also a dickhead.

I love him anyway.

Halloween Has Begun

I also made a trip to Dollar Tree today to start looking for supplies for 31 Days of Halloween.

I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed with their selection this year. I managed to find some things I can use for my projects, but not nearly as much as I was hoping for.

And the prices aren’t quite what they used to be either.

Nothing is $1.25 anymore.

We’re looking at $1.50 and $1.75 now.

I know that’s still cheaper than a lot of other places, especially when I’m buying supplies for projects, but I remember when Dollar Tree really meant everything was a dollar. Then it became $1.25, and now here we are.

I’m getting old.

Get off my lawn.

The upside is that I usually buy multiples of things when I find something I know I’ll use. Over the last six years, I’ve managed to amass quite the Halloween supply collection. I have enough random seasonal craft materials sitting around that I could probably open a tiny Halloween Dollar Tree of my own.

So yay me!

If I’m feeling up to it tomorrow, I’ll make a trip to a larger Dollar Tree and see what they have. I’m hoping their selection is better because I have some ideas floating around in my head and I need supplies to make them happen.

That’s actually one of the things I’m enjoying about thinking about 31 Days of Halloween again.

It’s creative.

It’s silly.

It gives me something to look forward to.

And right now, I need things like that.

Tomorrow’s To-Do List

Tomorrow I have a shitload of medication to pick up.

My Adderall is ready, and unfortunately that one can’t be delivered, so I’ll have to go get it myself. Which is actually good because it gives me another reason to get out of the house.

I also need to stop at a mailbox and finally send the funeral thank-you cards. I had to wait for stamps, so they’ve been sitting here ready to go.

I also need to mail the confirmation for Mom’s name placard.

More little pieces of unfinished business getting checked off the list.

Today was relatively productive.

Not wildly productive.

Not I conquered the entire world productive.

Just enough.

And I’m learning that just enough is actually enough sometimes.

I’m trying really hard to pace myself because when I push too hard, I burn myself out and then I’m useless for the next several days.

I’m no longer dealing with the blood loss that was draining me before, which is a good thing, but my energy is still low. Some of that is recovery. Some of it is grief.

Sometimes a heavy grief day can drain the absolute soul out of you.

It doesn’t matter if you physically did anything.

Your brain did.

Your heart did.

Your entire nervous system did.

So I’m trying to be patient with myself.

That’s not easy for someone who would really prefer to control everything and get shit done immediately, but I’m learning.

A little each day.

Today that meant therapy, lawyers, Beaker, Halloween shopping and getting a few things handled.

Tomorrow will be medications, mail and whatever else I have the energy for.

For now, I’m going to lie down and look for some inspiration for 31 Days of Halloween.

Because apparently it’s almost that time again.

And if I’m going to spend October surrounded by ghosts, skeletons and creepy shit, I might as well start planning now.

On that note, I’m off.

Toodaloo.