Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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We just returned from a 2 week stay at our vacation home in central Oregon, no Wi-Fi, so I'm catching up on pages of news. So much going on in everyone's lives!
Sandra, I just want to come through my computer screen and give you a long hug! As someone said......who knew that having an extremely high IQ could be a not-so-good thing. It's also very heart wrenching when our kids blame us for seemingly doing too much or not enough in their lives. You definitely do not need this stress right now, while dealing with Mike's illness. I can't believe there isn't something the dr. can't (or likely won't) give him that could help with his depression. I think drs are so afraid their patients might get hooked on drugs that they are now under-prescribing! I still suffer from a great deal of nerve pain from Guillane-Barre' Syndrome and my neurologist was in a big hurry to get me off even the low dose pain meds I was on. So I transferred my pain issues to a pain clinic where a dr. monitors my meds but makes sure I'm comfortable. Maybe you're the one who could benefit from something for stress......besides scraping popcorn ceilings, lol. When our oldest son was diagnosed with, and 10 mos. later passed from, cancer in 1998 I completely shut down. Instead of diving into projects I could hardly make it through each day accomplishing the most menial household tasks.
Chevy, I agree that you lead a very reality show life! I think you should be a writer. I know the incident with Cecil was black comedy but the way you described it definitely was my laugh of the day. Also, you DID NOT graduate from high school in 1942! I've seen your picture and you are not a day over 60 maybe 65! Carol is very lucky to have you as her friend as, I agree, many of her other "friends" have probably disappeared.
Carol, you're placemats are beautiful! I'm all thumbs when it comes to crafts and sewing and envy those who are good at it. How great that your mom found new carpet for her bedrooms AND they will move the furniture.......not many stores do that anymore.
I'm alone this afternoon as my DH is golfing and having lunch with our sons and the weather is so nice I'm enjoying relaxing on the deck. My thoughts are with all of you today, hoping that those of you struggling with health or family issues are finding some answers and feeling a bit of peace today.
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If it can be verified, we don't need faith. . . . Faith is for that which lies on the other side of reason. Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.
Madeleine L'Engle
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I'm busy these days with making the transition from house to 5th wheel camper. I have transferred most of the frozen food from the two house freezers to the camper freezer, which is quite large. Our camper has a house refrigerator with the big freezer drawer on the bottom. I'm also carting out pantry items and staples to the camper. The whole process would be similar to packing up to move to a summer cottage for three months.
Before I leave, I always like to clean up the house. So that job is ahead of me, too.
This year the preparation is a little different because we are planning to leave the camper in MN at Pine Hollow Resort. Normally I fill up my closet in the camper but I'm "trying" to take the minimum. Not easy for me. Everything we bring home will have to fit in the truck. So I'm taking some soft luggage for our clothes. We'll both leave some clothes.
Anne, that was nice of your daughter to fire the housecleaner and then break her ankle! LOL! If I had to choose between a yard man and houseclean, though, I would probably choose the yard man, too. I hate housework but just plunge in there and do it every so often. I always like the results.
We had a nice surprise today. A nephew who lives in Seattle had gone up to the golf course where the US Open was played this weekend and watched a practice round. He evidently bought DH a shirt there and me a visor with my name embroidered on it. That was very sweet of him. I know that merchandise is expensive.
Well, I'd better get back to work.
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I have not been posting but continue to keep up with all of you. My prayers are with you all. Thanks for being there ! Working on left arm and putting all this in its place so I can move forward seems to linger more then I would like! Shuf
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Good to hear from you, Shuf.
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Shuf, it is good to hear from you. I sure hope you are able to reach a point of some satisfaction with your arm.
We are having our hickory tree removed tomorrow. I'll be at work part of the time. I'll be glad to see it go. With all this rain things happen. We saw a huge ( very, very alive and just full of leaves and braches ) tree that just became separated from the ground enough to topple over due to the heavy rains we have had. Apparently the poor tree just sat in enough water-table water that it could no longer stay up-right. It was a gorgeous tree -- quite big and so well leafed out. We have seen this happen before but to the best of my knowledge not out here where we live. Still, when you see that and know why --- it gives you pause for thought.
The hickory tree seemed fine last yr. This yr. we only got a few sparse leaves on one tall big branch. Never even noticed that at first, as we waited for all the trees to fill out and then one day I looked up at just the right spot -- and nothing. That tree ( the hickory ) is fairly close to our house and if it came down we would have some super serious issues for sure. So as we are due for even more rain ( hopefully not in the huge amts. we just had ) I'll feel a lot more comfortable with it safely on the ground.
Jackie
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Tough week for me, hospice nurse told family it was time to come in for Lew's mom. She died early this morning, after 11 days of family taking turns sitting with her around the clock. We spent today cleaning out her nursing home room and meeting with the funeral home director. Loud thunderstorm going on at the time she died, Lew's sister says the angels were having a party to welcome her home.
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((((((Puffin)))))) It's hard but we all have to do it at some point. May peace and love surround the whole family.
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((((((Puffin, So very sorry for your loss. May peace be with you, Lew, and the family.))))))
Paula
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Oh Puffin... I was reading the other day about the last stages of our lives.... Because of my friend Sheilah..... Her Husband was having an awful time, fighting for every last breath... Even when they took him to the hospital... And the family watching what was going on...
I read what we go through... and it talked about how our breathing can stop for awhile..... and then....... it goes on and on about what to expect, when you are caring for someone facing their last days.... It's just that we have morphine to make this "passing" easier... It's just rough, no matter how you look at it... I remember my Grandma, then my Mom, AND my Dad, and us sitting there, just hoping and praying that they will soon join their loved ones...
I guess the folks at the Assisted Living where Theresa is living, are having a meeting about the "Incident" with old Cecil and his SIL.... It's about a week too late, but so many rumors going around... I think people think that when you get shipped away into Nursing and Assisted Living places, that your mind has also checked-out, and you can't THINK, or have emotions! That's just plain stupid!
Theresa and I have the MOST fun talking about News topics, and what we did when we were "girls".... So we should include these oldsters in what is HAPPENING! They are not kids, and deserve respect and honesty, about life, and what is going on around them.
Old Cecil had a "gathering" last night... Theresa's Son went... because they all knew each other... We all figure he is in a better place now anyway. Hope his SIL had his running shoes on, because if Cecil caught a glimpse of that twerp, he would be AFTER him! Bad shot old Cecil was... bullet-holes in the ceiling???? But only one caught his HAND? SIL probably thought he could reach out and grab that bullet... I just feel bad for the Daughter... She was/is MARRIED to his SIL.... Or maybe she put her Dad UP to it! We just don't know these things......... best we don't pry.
No, I graduated in 1955... Theresa graduated in 1942... Isn't it neat that she still wants that year book??? I think her DIL thinks she is balmy, but we don't care.... If it makes her happy, it makes me happy.
Have you gals ever gone to classmates.com and looked around for your year books? You can see the pictures, and all your friends from your High-Schools! I mean if you are of reasonable age, and they still PRINT them.... Ha! I printed off the receipt, and noticed they somehow changed the year to 1924... Ah Geez, I know she can't SEE, but she SURELY would have noticed THAT one... And also she would not have BEEN there! So AGAIN I had to email them back, and hopefully we will get the RIGHT one!
I've been painting the big fence around our property... NEXT I'm painting the house! It is in such bad shape, I am embarrassed... The North side needs it the most, also the front... So it's going to get all snazzied up. I have our new paint gun, big and little brushes and rollers.... So I can reach it all... without too much ladder work.... It's just that I love to paint.... always have... and when DH paints, it is EVERYWHERE!
I COULD have someone do it, but I would miss out on all the fun! I will if I have to.... or if I plummet off the ladder.... but I'm really anxious to start on the house.... then the garages. I'll take pictures... and send them from the hospital.....
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Puffin, I'm glad your MIL has reached a peaceful state. It's wonderful that she had caring family members keeping vigil with her.
Chevy, please be careful. Painting the outside of your house sounds like a lot of work.
Jackie, I have seen many huge trees toppled over. So much of the root system is actually fairly shallow.
We're off to the gym this morning.
Hi to everyone.
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Puffin,
Jackie, yes, not on the house!
Chevy, stay off the ladder!
Husband and I heading out to see Jurassic World then grab a bite to eat after the movie.
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“With awareness there comes choice. And so you are able to say: "I allow this moment to be as it is". And then, suddenly, where before there was irritation, there is now a sense of aliveness and peace. And out of that comes right action.”
Eckhart Tolle -
Puffin -- thinking of you and your family this a.m. and hoping for peace for all of you. You never quite prepare for the finality of loss, but healing will come in its own time.
Blessings
Jackie
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Thank you all for the kinds thoughts and words. Wake and funeral will be Sunday afternoon and Monday. We'll be heading home in about an hour, then need to prepare a photo board for Lew's line of the family and finish putting together the slide show. As the genealogist in the family I've also inherited all the old photos. We've tagged the photos with the names of who's in them, so hopefully all that work will pay off in making it easier to locate the photos we want.
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Puffin, those photo slide shows are wonderful at a funeral service. They're a reminder of the fullness of the life of the deceased.
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Puffin so sorry...l wonder what it will b like. But i am good now
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Good morning, all. Another hot, humid day here but it could be worse. Like a hurricane headed our way, for example. If all goes well, we will be departing Friday and heading to more comfortable temperatures in MN.
This morning I hope to get some cleaning done and make some more trips out to the camper transporting items. The plan is to have lunch with my mother and sister today. Yesterday my mother had new carpet installed in her two bedrooms, which are adjacent. It looks very nice and she is thrilled. She had lived with the old carpet for many years and really disliked it.
Wishing everyone the best possible day under whatever circumstances exist.
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"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for those who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. "
Jose N. Harris -
Good morning everyone,
Carole, I hope your weather holds and not too much of any storms before you leave. The weather in general ( one of our favorite topics here ) seems to really be un-settling in so many places this year and it is fairly early. Will be nice for you Carole to have your get-away to a state that is more tolerable in summer. I do think the winters in MN are fairly dicey -- maybe I'd move there and go to LA for the winter.
We are hanging on here to our no rain pattern. Well, I think that is due to change. They guys were here and got the tree down yesterday. Made me happy. I had begun to fear a bit after seeing the tree in town just uproot out of the wet ground. Not sure I had to worry THAT much. Ours only had a very, very slight few leaves -- nothing that could make it top-heavy -- but as much as that I did worry about wind as well. Our parking area looks sort of bare now. I'm hoping at some point to be able to start parking back in the garage -- but that would not come until after Fall if then. I'm hoping Dh will get serious about his garage clean-up project though it does need to be cooler. It is sort of un-believable that we have a 4-car garage ( though you'd have to park one car behind the other on each side ) and no room for cars in it. What is wrong with this picture Dh ????Eh !!!!!! Sigh --- I could take charge but then I'd be in real trouble -- the other two times I did this it got a little heavy around here for awhile. I took everything out of the garage and let Dh put it all back --- in better places.
By the way, I forgot to say that I loved the graphic about still being able to get into the earrings you wore in high school. That is about it for me. The only thing I can say is that as far as I know --- some of the IN gals in high school are shall we say blessed with a lot more poundage as well. In fact, though I didn't go to our last reunion.....I think it possible though that a couple of them have more on them than I. But I have to say ---- I was taller than most of them so I can carry a lot more before I get described as pudgy or something akin to that. I've adjusted to my girth and it is not so bad though I do constantly watch so that it tends to decrease --- even if very slowly instead of increase. I would like to dump about 25 more pounds some time, but there are more compelling things on my list -- like getting things closer to how I want and need them to be inside here at home -- and thinning out some of my outdoor storage as well.
Hope you all have a really great day.
Blessings,
Jackie
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Hi to everyone here on this thread...I only have 13 pages to read....so not sure what I have missed.
End of the school year is always hectic (mid May) then another month of work. I traveled to Dayton OH to see my brother - I had not been there in 17 years and only saw him at weddings and funerals. We had a great time visiting some hiking trails and beautiful parks.
I traveled to Connecticut for my grandson's elementary school moving up day...then off to Chicago to visit my son there. We had a great visit. Now that summer is here, I am having a string of house guests (kids & grandkids).
Meanwhile, we are having central AC installed this week. It is a big job that entails every room and attic and basement.
I lost some closet space so have to make room for the displaced items.I really liked your quotation this morning about "losing" the people who bring us to not so great places...life is too short.
I do hope I can keep up here.
Have a wonderful rest of the week. -
Joan, So happy to hear from you and that all is well. Central AC will be worth the disruption.
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I second the statement that it's good to hear from you, Joan. Sounds like you've been having some very meaningful experiences.
Today was another busy day. More trips back and forth between the house and the camper. Most of the food that is making the trip with us is in the camper freezer, refrigerator, or cabinets. Most of the clothes and shoes and other necessaries are stowed in their places. With any luck, we should be on the road by 9 am tomorrow.
Psychologically I'm ready to make the transition between life in the land house and life in the camper home.
Jackie, I can empathize with your relief at the removal of the dead tree that posed a possible threat to your house.
Hello to everyone and hugs as well.
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Carole - safe travels. We'll be thinking of you as you roll along.
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Have a safe, healthy, happy trip to MN. Hope you have fine weather along the way and enjoy fantastic weather while you are there.
Jackie
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Puffin, So very sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family
Blondie, enjoy your time with your family in florida
Carole, have a safe trip and enjoy your travels
Joan, enjoy all your visitors
We had three of our gd with us this past weekend. Ages 6,5, and 1 yr. They are so much fun and I love having them here but am so tired when the weekend is over. The baby was cutting teeth (about 5 coming in at one time) so I was up with her a few times during the night. We decided to take them to a restaurant close by for dinner on Saturday night.(not sure how this would go) They were so good and we enjoyed the meal with them. The baby was so good and happy even while cutting her teeth. But I was early to bed Monday night.
Hope everyone is enjoying this week
Emma
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puffin, I am so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Shuf
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God has not destined us to be rich, diseaseless, and deathless, but has given us trials, in the form of poverty, disease, the death of our friends and of ourselves—for the very purpose of teaching us to center our lives not in wealth, health, and this temporary existence, but in serving him. And he has given us foes not in order that we should desire their ruin, but that we should learn to overcome them by love. He has given us a law of such a nature that it is always well with us if we fulfill it. -Leo Tolstoy
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Sitting here this a.m. while a dandy storm with lightning and thunder pour loads of water on us. Knew it was coming --- I think it will be an interesting day. It will dry later, but I'm not sure when. Dh goes to work today, and as he has his truck in the shop -- transmission rebuild, I will take him to work. I don't have anything pressing to do, but the minute the weather cle3ars I can get out and do the feral cats.
Termite, it is great when things work out well with the grannies. I think it is one of those things when you attend "something" and because you didn't put any kind of negative energy there --- it turns out almost perfect. We had that happen the first yr. we moved back home here. Had a little family reunion in the park not far from us. The weather was perfect ( though normally sort of hot that time of yr. ), the people were perfect, talkative, happy and smiling, the food was delicious and the afterglow of the afternoon while the men played games just enveloped everyone while a cool breeze played through the air.
I'm glad it went so well. Hope you get plenty of rest though. We need it after doing wee ones for a concentrated stretch. Heck, I think we need it after doing a concentrated stretch of anything, don't we ????
Joan -- you will love that new a/c. I don't know how we got along all the yrs. of growing up without it --- but there are not many homes here now that don't have it. Of course, back then we were all tougher I guess. The parents were young as well as the kids. I don't think we even had a fan -- but the weather ( even if it were not so good ) seemed a little more predictable ) then and now you can't figure much of anything. Enjoy, enjoy. Your vacation time sounds like it started out with a bang and will just keep ongoing with lots of activities.
Anyway, hope all will have a good day today. As well that things go well for any travelers. See you all later.
Blessings,
Jackie
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