Yes, the tumbleweeds of family life —
A great phrase to describe a far-from-benign situation. But you have obviously come through with shining pennons. I watch via your photos the fraught situations which you navigate with aplomb and good will. (Not to mention enormous talent.) And a “let me through” attitude of your own —
I observe in the photos how people respond to your personality, which is both strong and well-wishing. I admire you very much as a capable and independent (and, I suspect, very kind) woman. I don’t like to use clichés on artistic grounds, but mostly clichés got that way because there’s so much truth in them. So hearing your story, I think to myself, Hmmm, what doesn’t kill us can indeed make us strong. Namaste!
(Actually, Patti — I am on a secret mission, to rehabilitate the word “old” to its formerly noble (?) place. Don’t blow my cover.)