The View from Here

Old Friends

One of my former college professors died this week. She was also a dear friend and mentor. We’d kept in touch for many years, but I hadn’t seen her in about five years. She was only 68 so I guess I just assumed she would be around a while longer.

Another old friend recently turned 90. I’m amazed that she is still relatively healthy and active. Still drives. Still volunteers one day a week at a local museum.

Two friends I have known since 1972 will be married in a few months. Both lost their previous spouses years ago. We’ve all kept in touch in a variety of ways over the years and are now Facebook friends.

A high school friend posted a picture of her great-grandchild yesterday. I quickly searched my files and found a photo of us together in 1967 and showed it to my husband.

A couple I’ve known since childhood celebrated their 68^th wedding anniversary last week.

Yesterday I had a brief encounter with a woman I’ve known for about fifteen years. Because of COVID, we hadn’t seen each other in about a year, but we quickly found ourselves enjoying a lively conversation with lots of laughter. That’s the beauty of knowing someone for many years. A long history of conversations and shared experiences compensates for unexpected absences. And of course, email and social media options make it even easier to maintain friendships from a distance. I haven’t seen one of my high school classmates in person in about two years, but we communicate on Facebook almost daily.

My one regret regarding my older friends is that some are now too old to communicate. They are in care facilities far away and no longer online or able to talk on the phone or write letters. They are still alive and enjoying their limited existence, but I’ve lost access to them. Just another reminder to enjoy my circle of friends while I can and to communicate with them as often as possible. None of us knows what changes tomorrow will bring.

Weather or not...

I can’t recall a time in my life when the weather has played such an important role in planning my daily activities. What began as a “wet spring” has become more of a dreaded daily deluge. I awoke at 2am this morning to the sound of thunder and lightning and the drip, drip, drip of a leak in the kitchen that can’t be repaired until this rain cycle is finished. Unfortunately, this cycle is becoming longer and longer.

I never concerned myself with the weather when I was a child in California. My memories are of mostly hot sunny days working in the fields or playing in the park. Occasional rain showers were welcome because they meant a respite from the cotton fields. The only “dangerous” weather was fog and we seldom had any reason to be out driving in it. The one day of light snow that occurred when I was twelve caused our local schools to declare a holiday so that we could enjoy it. Weather was a minor factor in the background of my life. I never remember my parents saying, “If it’s dry on Monday we’ll go grocery shopping.”

My appreciation of weather conditions changed dramatically when we returned to live in Oklahoma. Weather dictated activities as well as health and safety. I learned about sirens and storm shelters, hail and lightning. I acquired “rain gear” and boots. I learned how to style my hair in the humid air of my new environment. I listened to my elders’ advice about avoiding frostbite and chapped lips. I learned to deal with the disappointment of postponed or cancelled plans.

These days the morning weather forecast is essential for planning my day and week ahead. Doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, club activities, and even short trips to the gym down the street are affected by heavy rainfall. I still must navigate parking lots with my cane, and though I have a Disability Parking Permit (the current term), there are seldom any spaces available. So, I may need to dress differently or wear different shoes or allow more time, or all of the above. The report this morning is that some areas are receiving at least an inch of rain per hour. Two motorists stranded in high water have been rescued by the police. The local mantra is “turn around, don’t drown”.

Even my indoor activities are often affected by the weather. As I began writing this the internet (satellite) service was interrupted. Our television screen often goes blank during storms. Sometimes our power is off for short periods. I write a weekly column for one of the local papers, so if the weather forecast is particularly bad, I make an effort to turn it in at least a day ahead of schedule.

I try to keep a good attitude about the weather. I’m thankful that it isn’t worse. I’m thankful that I didn’t have any appointments this week. However, I have an appointment and two meetings next week, so I’m waiting to hear if I’ll need my raincoat.

BTW, my husband and I had a discussion the other day and concluded that we don’t know anyone who carries an umbrella. I can’t remember the last time I even saw one in a store.  I have one in my truck, but it’s been at least three years since I’ve used it.

So…I hope the weather in your area cooperates with your plans today. If not, you’ll just have to do what I’m doing…make new plans.

Gypsy Shelving

        Sometime around 1974 our friends Jan and Randy bought a unique set of display shelves. They were constructed from sturdy apple crates that had been joined together and painted white. The whole shelving unit covered about a third of one wall of their living room and contained a mixture of objects and books.  I thought they were attractive and practical, but I wasn’t that fond of the apple crates. Seeking something similar, I bought some wooden grape crates for 50 cents each. The boxes that I had filled with wine grapes during my childhood in the fields held much more of an emotional appeal.

            I decided right away that I didn’t want to permanently join the boxes together, so I experimented with nail sizes and methods until I had a wall of shelves that seemed strong and appealing, yet could be dismantled easily and moved. I didn’t paint them because many were stamped with a date or company. I simply brushed them and washed them as necessary. Then I filled them with a variety of objects that had been hidden in other rooms or in storage. I instantly fell in love with that wall!

            Over the years I re-constructed my display wall to fit the restrictions of different rooms in different houses. A couple of times I used the boxes behind my office desk. In one house they were in the dining room.

            A definite advantage for a gypsy like me was that when we moved, the boxes could be used for packing those same objects they displayed. And a sturdy wooden box could hold books that a cardboard moving box could not.

            The boxes eventually began to break down after about a dozen moves and thirty more years of use, and I had to discard some of them.  As they dwindled in number, I began to use some on the patio and even in the garden. I still have one in our storage shed, just for sentimental reasons.

            I was reminded of my gypsy shelving yesterday when I was dusting my more modern shelving, purchased as a DIY kit from Walmart. Then, today I Googled the crates and found them for sale online for $45 each! Wow!

 

Gypsy Shelving

        Sometime around 1974 our friends Jan and Randy bought a unique set of display shelves. They were constructed from sturdy apple crates that had been joined together and painted white. The whole shelving unit covered about a third of one wall of their living room and contained a mixture of objects and books.  I thought they were attractive and practical, but I wasn’t that fond of the apple crates. Seeking something similar, I bought some wooden grape crates for 50 cents each. The boxes that I had filled with wine grapes during my childhood in the fields held much more of an emotional appeal.

            I decided right away that I didn’t want to permanently join the boxes together, so I experimented with nail sizes and methods until I had a wall of shelves that seemed strong and appealing, yet could be dismantled easily and moved. I didn’t paint them because many were stamped with a date or company. I simply brushed them and washed them as necessary. Then I filled them with a variety of objects that had been hidden in other rooms or in storage. I instantly fell in love with that wall!

            Over the years I re-constructed my display wall to fit the restrictions of different rooms in different houses. A couple of times I used the boxes behind my office desk. In one house they were in the dining room.

            A definite advantage for a gypsy like me was that when we moved, the boxes could be used for packing those same objects they displayed. And a sturdy wooden box could hold books that a cardboard moving box could not.

            The boxes eventually began to break down after about a dozen moves and thirty more years of use, and I had to discard some of them.  As they dwindled in number, I began to use some on the patio and even in the garden. I still have one in our storage shed, just for sentimental reasons.

            I was reminded of my gypsy shelving yesterday when I was dusting my more modern shelving, purchased as a DIY kit from Walmart. Then, today I Googled the crates and found them for sale online for $45 each! Wow!

 

An Hour a Day

Is your health and well-being worth an hour of your time? I’ve decided that mine is not only worth it, but dependent on it. I’ve vowed to spend an hour each day “purposefully moving”. Not exercising Not working out. Moving…with intention and for the express purpose of keeping my body functioning.

I go to a fitness center three days a week. It’s not your typical gym. One side of the building is devoted to physical therapy patients, who also use some of the machines on the “gym” side. The other side is a gym, open to the public, and contains most of the standard equipment. About three years ago, after an eight-week PT session for an injury, I decided to pay the small monthly fee to continue to work out in the gym. I haven’t always been as consistent as I am now, due to my job and my location. However, now that I’m retired and live only five minutes away, I love to go to the fitness center. I spend an hour each time, doing a variety of exercises.

My problem has always been those “other days”. Three days at the center leaves FOUR days of too much sitting. For the past year I’ve filled in at home with “chair yoga”, but my routine only takes twenty minutes and I don’t feel like that is enough. So…I’ve been doing a little problem solving.

I recently learned a new set of PT exercises to keep my shoulders mobile. (I had a pinched nerve that was causing some pain and preventing me from sleeping soundly.)  That routine takes about ten minutes. I keep 2, 3, and 5 lb. weights here. I have a set of pulleys. I always wear shoes, so I’m ready to walk. Rather than try to move for an hour, I decided to complete my yoga and shoulder routines, then fill in the other thirty minutes by moving whenever I get the opportunity. As an example- while my current cup of coffee was brewing in my Keurig, I went to the spare room and lifted weights. Instead of just waiting for a pot of water to boil, I walk around the kitchen table. When I’m sitting at my desk I flex my ankles.

That sounds simple enough. You might be capable of dancing or jumping or doing sit-ups. But as a disabled person who walks with a cane, I have to give some thought to what I can do that will NOT cause more harm. And I have to think about my body parts that either don’t get enough use, or get too much repetitive motion. When was the last time you tried to complete a task with your non-dominant hand? Have you tested your balance lately? Walked heel-to-toe across a room? Raised a 2lb weight over your head? Touched your toes? We fall into habits…

Not ready to devote an hour a day to moving? Okay, then how about thirty minutes? Trust me…it will be worth it, and so are you!  

 

 

Changes...

I changed my profile photo this morning. I truly don’t care that much about how I look. I just wanted you to see my “happy and healthy” face on the day of my “graduation” from PT. I haven’t felt this good in over a year! Looking back, I know that my weight was having more of an effect on my joints and general pain level than I was aware of at the time. I also think that my cancer was playing a part in my fatigue, dry skin, and brittle hair long before it was diagnosed. I also had two old injuries that had not completely healed until this round of PT. I’m now seventy pounds lighter, much healthier, stronger, and down from a 24/7 level #4 pain to level #1. I don’t think I can ask for much more than that at my age! In three weeks, I’ll be re-tested for cancer cells, so we’ll pray about that. In the meantime, I plan to enjoy every moment of this and continue to modify my diet. I’ll do my daily exercises and go to the gym three days a week. This was never about looking better…all about feeling better.

I hope this will encourage you to think about what you might do to improve your own health. I promise not to preach, but TODAY is the day to start making changes.

Between the Showers

We have a brief break this week between spring storms. Three days of sunshine sounded like a good excuse to visit the wildlife refuge, so we went yesterday. There wasn't a lot of wildlife, perhaps because of the high water. There were a lot fishermen! 

Back to Normal

I did something yesterday that brought me tremendous satisfaction and encouragement. I walked in the rain. Yes. That’s it. Nothing more exciting. Just walked on a gravel road at the cemetery.

I met with a group of women from the Caddo Civic and Cemetery Club to discuss an upcoming project at the cemetery. It was lightly sprinkling by the time we finished our meeting and I walked back to my truck, a distance of about half a block. On the way back I couldn’t stop smiling. I was outside. I wasn’t concerned about my strength or capability. I wasn’t in any pain. I didn’t even mind getting a little wet. It felt normal to meet with the group, to get caught in the spring shower, and to casually walk to my truck.

I’ve had other “normal” experiences lately: attending a library meeting without a mask (all six of us have been vaccinated), agreeing to attend a small luncheon in June, walking on the treadmill at the gym, hugging my son, talking in person with a friend.

There are still things I probably won’t do for a long time: go to a theater, attend church in person, shake hands with anyone, go to the grocery store or pharmacy without a mask, get a haircut at a beauty shop, eat at a buffet or potluck.

This is how we find our way down the path to a new lifestyle. We embrace the things that bring us joy and avoid the things that cause us concern. Isn’t that what we’ve always done? Yes. I guess this past year our decisions have just taken on much more urgency and importance. Returning to normal means that each choice isn’t a life or death one.

I hope that we all do something today that seems normal and brings us joy.

Mothers and Others

Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy:

³ I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. ⁴ Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

I am feeling blessed this morning as I recall the sacrifices my mother made to make sure I was always as safe and healthy and happy as possible. She faced a lot of challenges and she wasn’t always able to overcome them, but I have no doubts about her love for her children.

I’m also thankful that I was privileged to know my grandmothers and two of my great-grandmothers. They were all strong, intelligent, creative women who were wonderful role models for me.

I am grateful that I was blessed to have children of my own. I wasn’t always the best mom, but I did the best I could with the knowledge and skills that I had at the time. I think that’s all any of us can do in any situation. My children and grandchildren have enriched my life in a thousand ways.

I pray that your mind and heart are filled with mostly good memories and good feelings this morning.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Birthdays

Today both of my granddaughters are celebrating their birthdays. Although born years apart, they share the same day on the calendar, and one of them was actually born on Mother’s Day. I’ve been miles away for most of their celebrations, but we’ve still managed to share some great memories over the years. I pray that each of them has a wonderful day. Happy Birthday!