Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

Wow...thank you Illinoislady, Anneb1143 and Chi Sandy for your input.

I am going to take some of this and go with it and use it daily in my life.

Such storms last night and I hope anyone affected made it through. I think some tornados in Missouri and Illinois. We were okay here in south central Illinois. It looks all right outside and I think still fairly warm out. Hoping for a quiet day and praying for those who may have had problems of any kind.

Danville is about two and a half hours north of where I live. Many yrs. ago people from around here would go north to find work a lot, but nowadays the area 75 miles to the west grew enough to start people going that direction. That is more towards the river and the city of St. Louis, Missouri. When I was first out of school a lot of the younger guys from high school would go a bit farther to Joliet, Illinois to the big Caterpillar plant and work there.

Where I live is a real Podunk so to speak but it feels just right to me. I think there are roughly 13,500 people or so -- maybe a bit less. Our little town puts on big parades every year, hosts an annual Balloon Fest in one of our parks, and a winding trail of Christmas scenes during Christmas. Farmers markets in summer.

Sun has come out. Gray and blustery this a.m. I'm recovering yet from the bronchitis ( oh hurry please ) but did make out some bills and deliver them around town. Hope our rain is over for a bit now.

Chicago is not a “war zone." Yes, there is gang violence—and sometimes innocent victims get caught in the crossfire—in parts of the West and South Sides (and until two gangs pretty much annihilated each other over a protracted “drill rap" social media battle, a small corner of the far northern reaches of Rogers Park), but no more than most large cities. Los Angeles, Detroit, Miami, and the part of Brooklyn where I grew up have just as many if not more shootings. I know it sounds callous to say this, because it implies “black lives don't matter," but the city is essentially two different worlds—with the vast majority of it safe. Bonnets, unless you grew up in those affected parts, you might see a different demographic but you wouldn't see a “war zone" should you revisit.

And after years of declining gun violence in Chicago, the rebound began just after the city & state adjusted its gun laws (and established concealed-carry permits) to conform to the Supreme Court's Heller case; these laxer laws and new permits have allowed "straw purchaser" sales and other illegal means of getting guns into the wrong hands. So the legislature has before it bills to limit sales to be via only federally-registered dealers running background checks with waiting periods, requiring owners to promptly report all gun thefts & losses, and revoking permits of owners who have had too many guns “stolen." (Gangs get their weapons not just by actually stealing them but by purchases from permit-owners who fraudulently report them lost or stolen, as well as from nearby states with laxer laws).

Hyde Park is still pretty safe—with the U. of C. all around it, it’s too gentrified for gangs to infiltrate (heck, I can’t afford to buy a house there), and until recently it and the part of neighboring Kenwood where the Obamas lived was very heavily guarded and barricaded (much to the consternation of the neighbors who were detoured on their daily commutes). Englewood, Roseland, Garfield Park, Marquette Park and Lawndale are where most of the violence is occurring on the South Side, and Austin & North Lawndale on the West Side.

Ah, a view of a golf course! So DD isn’t as far “off the grid” as you’d feared. Where there’s golf, there’s a clubhouse…and perhaps members who have small kids.

Sandy- yes, in someways it is MUCH better than anticipated, in others, not so much. She is in a four plex, then there is another apartment building across the road, but no other apartments in sight. There are some beautiful single family houses across the street on the lake. Her building looks out of place and is dated. My brother has to go home for a week later this month, and, if my sciatica is under control, I may go up and put the rooms together. It could be a very cute home- tight, but nice.

Anne

Sally, en route to Folk Alliance when it was in Memphis and I was on a low-carb (mostly carnivorous) diet, I used to stop by a little BBQ, “BJ’s,” located in a BP station (smoker out back) in or near New Madrid. Haven’t been out that way since 2013. Is it still there? (Not that as a heart patient you could safely eat that stuff any more).

Hi to my oldies friends. Anne, the new home for your daughter and grands sounds nice. And surprisingly conventional.

Chicago is one of the unique American cities. I love visiting the downtown. Unfortunately, most of our visits through the years took us to the suburbs. The many small towns still retain some historic neighborhoods.

I picked up my new glasses at Walmart yesterday. Put them on and looked out into the store. WOW! Everything was crystal clear. I bought clip-on sunglasses and have begun wearing the glasses for driving. My vision is "legal" for driving but much sharper with the correction

I trained in Evanston and my Mom came from Wilmette. But I grew up on the South side.

Evanston’s less than 2 mi. n. of me. Our son Gordy went to school there (grades 1-12, Roycemore) and both of us took bass lessons there (and I also studied guitar and taught dulcimer there). He studied at Piven Theater Workshop for 8 yrs (3 of them in the Young People’s Company). Until we got a Whole Foods of our own, we grocery-shopped there. I bought my car there. We went to the Rose Bowl when it was Northwestern’s year. I get my cancer care and Bob his GI care there. When he was little, Gordy asked me “Mom, do we live in Evanston or Chicago?” I replied, “Evanston, but we sleep in Chicago."

Sandy, Evanston Hospital was and I imagine still is a wonderful hos[ital. Loved being near the lake. Cud walk to the house where my Mom was born. Love to eat at Walker Bros! Difference between the 2 ends of the L. Last time I was there , don't think it even ran all the way to Stoney Island on the south side .

I go to Evanston Hospital/Kellogg Cancer Center and Bob's gastro team & surgeon is at St. Francis. St. Francis had been part of Resurrection Health Care, but because the system’s name was false advertising (I’m kidding…maybe), it’s now Presence Health System. And my PCP is at Presence St. Joseph down in Lakeview.

Sandy, I worked for Resurrection Health Care for over 20 years. I've been receiving my cancer treatment at Resurrection Medical Center. I think the care has been first rate. The system is staffed by competent, caring, compassionate people. St. Frances was purchased by RHC several years prior to the merger between Provena and RHC (now called Presence). Many dollars were put into the St. Frances facility to make improvements. It is a facility that serves many of the area's poor/uninsured residents. The RHC purchase probably saved it from being shut down completely. Both RHC and Provena are owned by communities of Catholic nuns. Due to their dwindling numbers, they joined together to form Presence Health Care. Although I'm now retired and their name has changed, I still believe Resurrection Health Care does actually provide "Health Care."

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can.Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. - Ralph Waldo Emerson