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

Ah, nice out today so I'm going MOST of my car detailing. The far back ( the Equinox looks like a tall station wagon more than an SUV ) has a blanket covering everything so it didn't get dirty though I will wash the windows in a bit. I've swept out the front, wash everything down and will do the windows and than put Amor-All on all of it. It will seem nice, but of course, since we will have rain tonight and tomorrow --- it will not get washed on the outside. It isn't bad, but up close shows a lot more than when you are a few feet away.

Anne, I'm pretty much like you. What I know on and about a computer I pretty much taught myself. I do not consider myself very good at all but I will admit at least I'm no longer afraid of my computer. Like it might say in a menacing voice -- if you make that dumb mistake again I'm just never going to turn on anymore, so there !!! Can't believe how terrified I was of the thing, but now I will attempt lots of things and have learned so much. If I could just figure out why I can't put pictures on the blogs anymore that would be great. I really don't know what little quirk messed things up but I know it doesn't take much. Sigh !!!!

Chevy -- you said a mouthful again. We do want/hope/pray/think somehow people will rise to the occasion and especially those we really cherish, but they have their own ways and the truth is -- for some, they will do anything at times to NOT be who you think they should. Guess it is like little kids not wanting to eat certain things. I do believe that since partly we are here to learn and to grow it makes sense at times that we grow through people who won't listen to us or do the things we think best, and in fact, they do too. Either they make the very mistake we told them they were bound too, or they don't -- it doesn't matter -- either way they learn and we learn right along with them. STILL -- there are times when the older more experienced person really does know something is a mistake. So, we just have to go along and hope the worst times/mistakes are avoided.

Just can't believe how pretty and bright the sun for the rain storm that is on the way --- then again, this part of the country can get missed. I just don't think we will be missed for two days -- if nothing tonight surely then tomorrow. But I will be loving and enjoying the rest of the day.

"Someone once told me that our life experiences teach us how to behave. But I believe our life experiences give us the opportunity to strengthen our true character."

- Michelle Ernsdorff

Lovely and springlike up here by the lake, though not getting out of the 40s today. Unfortunately, the “s"-word has crept back into the forecast for Thursday (the evening we're going to see Hamilton downtown and our housekeeper will be driving down to B'ham, AL to see her grandkids for a long weekend). Natch, the day I leave for London, this Sunday, it'll be sunny and 70 here (and there); but upon landing Mon. morning throughout my trip, it'll be rainy in the low 50s. Typical for London. But at least I won't have to pack boots.

While there, I am going to the home of a local barrister & his wife for Passover Seder Mon. night. Most of his kids will be at their in-laws, but his DS & DDIL and their little son will be there. The hostess is also a musician, and we've been placed on notice that we will be expected to deliver memorable vocal duets on “Dayenu" and “Had Gadya" (two traditional songs that are part of the Seder). The Haggadah (traditional Seder “user manual") will be read in Hebrew—my Hebrew is extremely rusty, and I hope there's an English transliteration (which will no doubt be far easier to follow than the Spanish/Ladino one in Madrid two years ago). My temple is Reform, and we use a “progressive" Seder full of gender-neutral language, meditations, passages from literature, and modern socially-conscious alternative prayers (e.g., the recitations of the “ten plagues" include one that lists contemporary plagues such as bigotry, xenophobia, callousness, pollution, etc.). I assume that the hosts are Modern Orthodox and will be using a traditional Haggadah; unlike the Sephardic Seder I attended in Spain, which because it was large and full of congregants & tourists took less than 90 minutes, this one—being a family Seder—will run 2-3 hrs.

Wondering what to bring as a hostess gift—maybe the Boots superstore near my hotel has a floral dept. Pretty sure that since it's in Mayfair it won't have a Passover aisle. Will probably hit Mariano's this Fri. aft. (their kosher aisles are closed on Sat.) for a quality assortment of chocolates. (The Belgian chocolatier in Evanston doesn't do kosher-for-passover). When we were kids in Brooklyn, the Barton’s and Barricini’s chain candy shops sold top-drawer Passover chocolate assortments. The kosher bakeries in W. Rogers Park will probably have a nice assortment of sponge cakes, kichel (choux-paste cookies made with potato flour), and macaroons, but I’m sure that our hostess will have those (their home is in an upscale part of town with a Jewish community center).

ChiSandy - Hope the weather holds out for your Hamilton experience. Have a great time in London, you lucky lady. Passover Seder plans sound lovely. Macaroons are so delish. Missing the merry olde, even though I only spent a few years there, living in Muswell Hill (N London suburb near Highgate).

Returned last night from a 17 day birding trip to Costa Rica with a tour group of 12 birders and 2 leaders. Beautiful country, saw 265 new birds, and according to my Fitbit walked 103,938 steps last week. We were out birding at 5:30 every morning, lots of hiking on narrow uphill forest trails. Great trip but sure enjoyed not setting an alarm this morning. Lots of photos to post but need to unpack, do laundry, buy groceries, go through mail, etc first.

It need not discourage us if we are full of doubts. Healthy
questions keep faith dynamic. In fact, unless we start with
doubts we cannot have a deep-rooted faith. One who
believes lightly and unthinkingly has not much of a belief.
One who has a faith which is not to be shaken has won it
through blood and tears--has worked his or her way from
doubt to truth as one who reaches a clearing through
a thicket of brambles and thorns.

Helen Keller

Getting ready for my afternoon coffee myself. We had a huge thunderstorm overnight and off and on today -- so far a couple and it is not looking great outside right now -- more on the way maybe. I'm doing some overdue laundry and getting things ready to be taken out ( winter ) for packing away so will get those things washed again.

I'm donating a lot of things, but they have to be washed as well. The same clothes have hung in my closet since we moved here almost 20 yrs. ago now and it is time for those things that just HANG and get washed once or twice a yr. to find a new home. So, lots to do in the closets this yr. I also have lots of other goodies that do the same thing -- get washed and polished once or twice a yr. and seldom if ever actually used. Time to lighten up again. Something that Spring is good for.

We should go back to decent for a couple or three days before we start around round of rain. Oh well, April showers bring May flowers. Hope you are allhaving a good day -- and dry if possible.

Hi Ladies...suppose to get hit hard tomorrow here in the Philly suburbs........rain starting tonight, bad storm around 5am in the morning, and then hit hard again around 2pm in the afternoon........moderate chance for tornado....but we usually just get the horribe straight line winds.....when I hear about it I usually think "AUNTI EM, AUNTIE EM.......then run around looking for ToTo......oh sorry I don't hve a dog......but looking at that sunset above you would think tomorrow was going to be gorgeous.........NOT.............I hate all the rain we have been having...........good for the grass........ but it drowns the "ants"......and those little suckers are sure to come soon...........grrrrrr..........

Yes, I heard that a long time ago... "Red sky's in morning, sailors take warning... Red sky's at night, sailors delight!" It really works here.... We just got rid of another snow-storm! Sun came out, and melted almost all of it yesterday... The lawn looks beautiful!

We so appreciate the much needed water! Going to meet our Daughter somewhere for lunch today! Then come back & try & attempt to organize our spare garage... Get things out of there that I will never use again...

Deep in the soul, below pain, below all the distraction of life, is a silence vast and grand—an infinite ocean of calm, which nothing can disturb; nature's own exceeding peace, which "passes understanding."That which we seek with passionate longing, here and there, upward and outward, we find at last within ourselves. -C.M.C.

My Grandson Chase, in Orlando was driving in the rain to Miami for a job interview.... Bad rainstorm... He hydroplaned, and hit a Semi.... The Medics said most people don't survive that kind of accident, or are paralyzed... My SIL drove an hour to get him, and he is in the Hospital in Orlando getting x-ray's now... When Sheri called, I was so SCARED! You never stop worrying about your family.... I called Chase, and he was really shook up, but said he is alright, and glad his seat-belt & air-bag kept him safe!

Tried to post the picture of his car.... It is totaled.... but he is okay, I think.

Chevy, I'm so glad to hear that Chase survived his accident. So frightening! Years ago our middle child, Stephanie, was involved in an auto accident. A bystander called us in the early morning hours - dark out - and Mike took off to the location. I had to stay here with my son. Mike said he got to the location and all he saw was the Airlife helicopter and massive police presence with lights flashing. He ran to find Stephanie and passed three people covered by yellow tarps, dead. None was our daughter. He kept running up the hill and found Stephanie's car upside down on the opposite side of the divided highway. He said he could barely breathe! But then he saw her - alive. A wrong way driver caused the horrific accident. As Stephanie was driving up a hill, this car came at her, head-on. She was able to jerk her wheel and get out of the way just in time. He hit two cars driving behind her and killed the drivers plus himself. Stephanie's light pickup rolled across the embankment and came to rest on the other side of the road. People driving by stopped and helped to get her out before she could be hit by cars coming over the hill in the other direction. Her long hair was wrapped around the frame of the pickup so someone had to use his pocketknife to free her. She refused a ride to the hospital and said she was fine but an hour later realized her neck hurt. Mike took her to the ER and she had broken her neck! Obviously it wasn't a bad break but it caused pain and PTSD problems that have plagued her ever since. She also developed an anxiety disorder and insomnia issues. Chevy, hopefully Chase will have no problems but he should be taken to see someone who can make sure he doesn't have any post-traumatic trouble.

There was a terrible accident in a nearby town a week ago. A driver who was texting crossed the center line and ran into a small church van with 14 elderly people. 13 of them died immediately. One is still in the hospital. The 20 year old who caused the accident is out of the hospital and fine.

On a happier note, Puffin your trip sounds fun but exhausting! Don't know how you do it. ChiSandy, I enjoyed your explanation of the Seder. I know a little about the Jewish faith, but obviously not enough. Mike's ancestors were Jewish (Asher being a prominent name in Jewish history) but abandoned the faith when they came to this country in the late 1800's.

Chevy............all I can say is "God is good".........If only we could wrap them in bubble wrap when they leave the house regardless of what age they are.......

Last year my grandaughter went with a couple friends to Penn State University...she goes to Penn State in the suburbs of Philly, but went to the main Campus in State College for a game.......she drove up in a very safe car (if there is such a thing), went to the game and then was suppose to come right back.....a couple of her (so called friends) decided to stay for the night.....she didn't want to stay so decided she would drive back, but only one girl would go with her.....(nice friends)........on the way back it began to snow.....she was scared to death and had never driven in snow....the car skidded, and she had no clue what to do.........the car went off the road, down an embakement.and landed upside down on the roof of the car..........someone who saw it happen called ;911........thank God seat belts saved her and the one (true friend) who said she would ot let her drive home alone...........imagine that call in the middle of the night............again "God was good".........

Keep us in the loop about how he is Chev....he might feel a bit crappy in the next day or too.......Alexis did from being jossled around in the car.....

Ducky -- you are so right that God is good. Everyone ( whether they believe or not, as belief isn't necessary ) have Angels assigned. So, things that happen are tempered a little or a lot, if that is the plan. People may or may not laugh at me and I'm not bothered either way --- but I've believed for so long now that we make a life plan before we are born ( any life, as naturally I think we don't learn it all in one measly little life ) and the time for the events that happen to us is set. Angels ( people usually have more than one by the way --- and a guardian ) help us along the way -- subtle at times, other times not so subtle.

I recall driving when someone/something told me to slow down immediately -- and as I approached a stop -- a car sailed right through. Sometimes we hear ( though we might not realize it is coming from outside of us ) and respond and sometimes not. It was not a STOP for me, but I was able to stop and save myself and my car --- not that the car was so important.

I also personally think we are HERE on this wonderful, beautiful Earth to learn -- to grow. Took me a long time to figure out that I wasn't just randomly dropped here to wander around and NOT know why. There was a plan -- it just took me, I think, a lot longer than most to figure it out. Once I GOT the why I became so much more amenable and comfortable with life. For so long I felt pulled by everything that took place, and could not assign myself any reason for life because it seemed life was always something of an uproar.

It is easy now for me to welcome my days for the gift that they are -- another chance to learn, maybe to help, to observe, to change and hopefully to keep understanding so that I really do grow in some way.

Smile -- your life is your work of art.

Carole, I understand what you mean.... sometimes things go so wrong, that when we try & "understand" the "why," then we tend to accept things the way they are.... But we need to go our own path, and not let the antics of others involve us, or else we will "buy into' their behavior....

I know "families" can lead us down their own troubled paths.... Even in-laws! But I don't buy into their behavior.... I DID when I was younger, and more interested in not causing an uproar.... but that, to them, meant they could do whatever they wanted to! They said whatever they wanted, even though they KNEW it was hurtful,....... but that is their control over us.

Just recently, being around one of his SIL's, I looked at her and thought.... "Is this moron for REAL?" She lost all her brains! If she ever had any! She was a spoiled child, and always had everyone wait on her, and evidently it continues into her 60;s! It's kind of laughable! But again, I am only around people that are kind, who find value in me and others, and are easy to be around.

Beautiful day here too..... Haven't heard from anyone in Orlando..... Maybe they don't really think I am worried.... But after one text message, and an email to all of them, I am just waiting to hear that everything is okay.... Guess it's just natural to worry, right?