Hi All! I am Gigi, a ‘seasoned’, single lady who lives in the north Atlanta ‘burbs’. Gigi is my nickname that I’ve had since I was born. My real name is Yvette and people always ask, “How did you get Gigi from Yvette?” Well, you don’t – LOL! But, my Mom loved the (now classic) movie, “Gigi”, which had just been released before I was born and she thought it was perfect.
I am an only child who was born in Connecticut, moved to California at age 19 and then to Georgia 18 years later (with my daughter) in 1996 after my second divorce. Full disclosure, I got married a third time since moving here and the third time was NOT a charm. But, I still believe in love and I’m waiting for my “Hallmark” man to show up! (wink)
My Mom passed away in 2005, gone too soon at 67 years old. She and I were very close, we spoke almost everyday even though we lived miles apart. She was my biggest cheerleader and the perfect example of unconditional love. I miss her dearly and continue to remember the life lessons she taught me that I have passed on to my daughter.
Two years ago, when I started to get serious about starting a Blog, I wrote this:
“In my spare time (I use this term loosely) I take care of my elderly father who is in an Assisted Living facility after suffering a stroke just after Christmas in 2016. Being that he’s single and I’m an only child, I am responsible for him. It can be stressful at times (worrying about his well-being, trips to the ER and financially), but there is something sweet about how our roles have reversed and I feel honored to take care of him.
I have an only child, Chelsea, who is married to great guy that she knew in high school, but didn’t start dating until after she graduated. My son-in-law, Zane, is a Builder and owns his own company, while my daughter (who was a preschool teacher and then a Nanny for 7 years), is now a busy wife and Mom. They have blessed me with a beautiful granddaughter who is perfect, of course! She is smart, funny and is a dancer on the ‘mini’ company team of her Dance School and competes a few times a year. I’m a proud Dance GrandMom to say the least.
They have blessed me with a beautiful granddaughter who is perfect, of course! She is smart, witty and has a great sense of humor. She is a dancer on the ‘mini’ company team at her Dance School and competes a few times a year. I’m a proud Dance GrandMom to say the least. She swims like a mermaid, loves reptiles and American Girl dolls just to name a few of her favorite things.
Until recently, I worked full-time in physician staffing and was ‘let go’ after 23 years due to (let’s just say) a difference of opinion. I stand by my decision and feel everything happens for a reason. So, here I am and can’t believe I am using the word ‘retirement’ more now than ever! Time has truly flown by, as it seems like yesterday I used to feel like the day I could choose how I spend my days and my time would never come. The topics I had planned to write about for the near future, are happening now. So, time to pivot!
I love music, movies, dancing, travel and shopping. I have a knack for organizing and styling – outfits and my home. Oh, and I have this odd obsession for packing lists – LOL! I would say I am pretty good at maximizing money when it comes to shopping, and online shopping has become a forte in the past two years. Whether it be catching sales, using rewards or store ‘cash’ to get the best deals, I am on it! Though, now that I am unexpectedly semi-retired, I have to return to the days of budgeting when money was tight. Back in the day, my Mom used to say that she was ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ when she sat down to write out bills. I pray that it doesn’t quite get to that point, but I definitely will need to ‘recalculate’ my direction – as the navigation systems say. Maybe it will be the scenic route – a slower, but more beautiful road to getting there.
So, those are the ‘Cliff Notes’ on my story. As we continue to spend time together, I will surely share more and I can’t wait to hear from all of you!
