Senior Citizens

Yep, seniors, or mature or elderly or whatever you call us. We are older and can't go as fast or think as fast or remember things that younger people do. Its a part of aging, getting older, things don't work like they use to. You get tired quicker, stuff you could do, even 5 years ago, takes so much out of you its a day or two to recover. I knew older people, my two aunts , my mother, my uncle. They were still funny, peculiar and annoying sometimes but they were family. Not like people you work with who can become family but real family, ones you could yell at, fuss with, laugh with and cry with. As they aged, I could tell things just didn't work as well as they use to and mistakes were made and laughed at and passed over. Stuff like momma wearing two different shoes to church or Amy setting the smoke detector off when she cooked in the kitchen and putting saran wrap on everything to keep the bugs off. And still , when I was 54 years old, coming in at night when i stayed with her, to cover me up and kiss me and make sure i was sleeping well. She never asked for help but we knew she needed it . So on weekends I would change her beds, wash clothes, sometimes trim her hair and take stuff that she wouldn't have to go to a big store to get like paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, hair color (yes, even at 83), and little things like a b ook to read or some new fingernail polish. You never know if something is wrong with them because they always think they are suppose to be the strong ones, the ones taking care of you no matter how old you are. We didn't even know she was that sick because it took her not being able to get her breath for us to really almost physically take her to the emergency room. She had a collasped lung, and it was full of fluid. They drained quarts of fluid from her and it had cancer cells in it. Never one to admit defeat, she refused to come stay with me so we had someone come in a help her out. She never wanted to leave her home or her "things". When she got so bad she couldn't get upstairs, we brought a bed downstairs but then she couldn't stand long to get dressed. We took her to the hospital, but when they put an IV in her hand for fluids and wanted to do a bioposy to determine what type of cancer it was, she cried and said , it hurt too much.

So we took her to a beautiful assisted living place where she had a room, tv, some of her own

"things" and she accepted that. She would reach in the air with her hands and look at the ceiling and we asked her why ...and she said there were angels there. So we let her have her angels and soon she was one herself. My mother was stubborn and brave and her back ached so badly she walked with a cane, again, not going to the doctor until the last when they found tumors on her lower spine and did radiation...another one who wanted to come home, even tho she was on the strongest pain meds you could take...she was loopy most of the time and saw cats on the ceiling and on the curtains....but she never stopped smoking...and we sorta knew where her cancer started. So, you never know how well they are. The picture of the 80 year old waterskiing is an exception to the rule. There is one like that for every million who hurt like hell when they wake up in the morning. Thankfully I am still doing ok at 68 and a half. Just ok, I just don't have the energy or the perkiness that I use to have and probably should be looking into a retirement apartment or some place like that with services like some meals or exercist rooms and no yard work ..but they cost ..some at much as 2400.00 a month and down to no less than 1200.00. I just don't have the money , even if they supply all utilities so it will have to wait a while, until the economy gets better, or I win the lottery or I run out of money and can apply for medicaid.

Its not sad, its the facts..how many older people would ride with you somewhere but would rather stay in the car while you shop? Or when you ask them to go somewhere, they would rather you just bring them a "little something to eat back"..even your leftovers help pay for a meal. I still have the energy to shop all day with my grandaughter and son and daughter in law and I love it and I hope nver ever to not be able to do that...going with them to eat out or just ride to wal mart is a bigger thrill than having a boyfriend!! They mean so much to me as do all children to parents...so again, call your grandparents, your parents and aunts and uncles you have living...it means so much to them. Amy was 82. We cooked steaks over the charcoal and made gin and tonics and got tipsy and even washed the neighbors dog one time because he "smelled" he loved it! we woke up the next morning with dog prints on our pajamas!!As long a they lived, I talked with them at least twice a day, sometimes more. If we had had e mail then, we would have sent it back and forth many times. I never not answered the phone when they called, if the machine picked it up, I called back. Because i realized that , no matter what, they needed to know i cared and I needed them.

Part time jobs, volunterring somewhere, hobbies, are not substitute for knowing that family cares. Even if you just call when you are out to see if they need something or when you eat out, call back to see if they want you to bring them something, or go to the store and ask if they are out of anything. Because getting up and getting out and driving to the store or to eat is harder and its not so easy anymore to get in and out of a car or walk somewhere. Most of the time, they would say No, but thanks for asking. And it makes them feel so much better to know, just for that short period of time, they thought of you. It hard being older and elderly, you do need for someone to care for and about you and look out for things that you use to look out for when they needed you. Its really tough now , money is tight everywhere and people have little time or cash to spare but remember this : time is the most important thing you can give someone and it only takes a minute or two to call and ask "how are you doing, do you need anything?". I am a senior now and elderly or whatever they call it and sometimes you are just tired and really need that phone call or a hug. So call your seniors, your grandparents, your mothers and dads and be thankful you can pick up a phone or cell phone or e mail and make that call still.

4th of July!

We had a great time on the 4th! Warm sun, cold drinks, great friends and a scooter parade. A little shower didn't dampen the spirits or the parade. Cooking out and swimming in the neighbors pool was the perfect way to celebrate.

WE din't have to use any gas to go somewhere or fight the traffic just enjoy., The fireworks later

sent some small kids and a couple dogs to the inside but those of us who went in with them could still see them out the windows and it was a good show even with the little drizzle that was.!

So now the rest of the hot summer except now we are haveing some t-storms and rain and that gives us a show every evening!! not the kind i particularly like! Enjoy the rest of the summer gang!

MOVIES

I love movies. When the gas cost so much and you have to do things close to home, theres nothing better than hunkering down in the house and watching a movie. Lifetime and LMN have some good ones, even in the daytime. And i don't mind fixing myself a big on pepsi and crunching on a box of milk duds or chocolate covered rasins.

Hey, movies played a huge part of my growing up. It was a special treat, not induldged in often and cost only 50 cents to get in. When i was oh, about 7 or so, there were the cowboy movies and the Sat. serials that we watched in the Movie house in West End in Atlanta. My mom would take several of us and pick us up. We thought she left us but i found out much later that she always stayed and sat in the back row keeping an eye on us. I went with her a lot too...i remember one fated time when she took me to see Bambi and I cried so much she had to take me home.!! hey, bambi's mom got killed , you had to cry. Oh, most of those , except Bambi , were in black and white. Then as i got older, i went with girlfriends and Mom still pulled the old "I'll be waitin out front when its over" We were so dumb, we just thought she was really good at being there right as the movie got out! Then about 14 or 15, we got to go on the bus to the movies and be on our own. They had ushers back then and they kept an eye on the younger girls and so did the boys from our grammar school, throwing popcorn and making farting noises with their armpits. Hey, it was allllll innocent back then. Truly and safe too. We got to go on one bus, then changed to a trolley for the big movies that were at the Lowes and the Fox Theatre in downtown Atlanta...still safe then..and that was the most special treat. The Fox had a huge lobby and great big doors with gilded paint on them, inside you had balconies and velvet uphostery and a huge stage before the screen, velvet drapes, trimmed in gold shash, the ceiling had built in stars that lit up when the lights were out and the drapes pulled apart for the movie. The stage had a door in it that a great huge organ would rise up and play during intermission on special occasions. Man, that was something else. Later when I was 15 or so, I went to see Elvis at the Fox and the Lowes too. WE got introuduced to drive ins as soon as one of us dated someone who could drive or one of us could drive! We did, in fact, put people in the trunk and sneak them in. Hey, a 57 chevy bel air had a huge trunk! We double dated, made out in the front and back seats and ate like little pigs in intermission and that went on until our 20's. So much fun, so innocent. So i still like movies and watch them a lot on tv. Its better than most stuff on tv and actually cheaper than the ol 50 cent. I like being in my little house and safe and confortable and watch a good movie. I can get up when I want and come back. I don't have digital tv so i can't pause or start over but heck, they come back anyways.

Its hot now and a good time to stay in a watch, the formal attair for summer in sc is a new bathing suit and make up is lipgloss with sunscreen...nothing else stays on, it melts! So enjoy, its almost the 4th of July and some great stuff is on tv!

Fun in d 'hood

We had such a fun memorial day on that monday. Mandy, Jill , sent out fliers and invited all the neighbors and some across the street and just about all came and brought food and water guns and little kiddie pools and we had a good time, talking laughing and just hanging out. Watching the kids swim and play. Lane cooked all the food and we had some gooooood burgers and hotdogs.

It was so nice to be with such good people and all my family. Love em to death! Lane had his dj set up and we had the best music all day long! How simple and easy a fun day ..with the price of gas, we might be doing more of that..wonder if you can cook Ramin noodles...hehehe......

Its feeling like summer now, the days are getting hotter. We had to repair some of my deck or I would have wound up on the ground at some point. Lane did all the work and he is really good at building and cutting and fixing stuff. He is a very talented son and has a talent for "hands on projects" I know he hates doing stuff like that but he is sooo good at it. I do appreciate him fixing it for me. The cats are all about all the time and i am finding various bird parts they have not eaten after catching the little stupid birds. Hey, we have many bells on all of them but the birds just keep on getting caught! Some lizards too and a couple moles....they can catch all the moles they want to, i wish they would catch them all! Kids are wanting to swim all day , the water is still a little cool for me yet....but they can turn blue and shiver all they want. Enjoy the days , the nights and all your family and friends....eat much fried chicken and burgers and hot dogs, this time of year passes quickly!

Older n hell!

Oh gosh, I just turned 68 and I looked in the mirror and what did I see??? An old lady lookin back at me! I just don't look good nekkid anymore! Say, when did all that happen. Just glad to be here and around and upright and able to do all the stuff I like to do...so happy Spring everyone and feel blessed to have friends and family and pets and stuff to talk about and people to wave at! My little but special family made dinner for my birthday, some of my favorite cheeken on the grill and cupcakes and they gave me some really great gifts! A picture book...you know how old people still like to hold things in their hands to look at...a family charm made by my special Jilll and a little carry bag made by my adorable Logan....and a garden gnome that we hope is heavy enough not to steal!! thanks, Lane , Jill and Loggy.... My buddie, Mandi, gave me a card with a really HOT guy on it...hey, its ok, I can still see good! and a cute coffee mug..that she wanted..

lolol! Thank you, thank you all!

Hooray Spring

The trees are finally getting pretty and the pollen isn't so pretty! But it feels good and the days are a little longer and we get to stay outside more.

Except today which is cool, really dreary and cloudy. Its "blackberry winter" as my grand use to call it. It turns cool when the blackberry bushes bloom. Look around, you can really see the white blooms all around on the fences and in the thickets. All is good and everyone seems to be doing well. Don't talk to people much unless we are outside. I work in yard, read a lot, watch movies on tv..I love tv really, I do...someday i want a big hdtv or small one..might even put the darn thing in the bedroom and watch tv from there! Sweet! Fell and hurt my ankle a couple weeks ago and it still hurts real bad when i walk a lot on it. I think some small bones in the foot were broken , it will just take time to get better but its weak and I have to be careful on it. That sucks! Still walk every day with my son's dog and we go and mile and a half. She wants all the little squrells,squrrels, or whatever and stops dead in her tracks, ears up, being so still and quiet and she

really points at them. We saw a dead one today but i didn't scoop it for her!! could have been a crock pot supper! Might have to start that, can't go anywhere or buy groceries everything is so high. Love being with my grandaughter but her time is short, she has so many friends and people to do stuff with. I just appreciate the time I do have with her. We talk a lot and look at pictures and play. We both got all bent out of shape on Easter Sunday . She had to sit at the kids table and it hurt her feelings and mine. She was already pissed because some of the neighbor kids had been in her room and messed it up when she wasn't there. She likes her space and has a plan in place for taking kids up there and letting them play with certain stuff that she lets them choose. I guess we have to be mindful now that she is a pre teen and her "space" is hers . Its just going to get worse the older she gets. I still remember when she was about 6 and loved everything you bought her. Man, its not like that now! Best just give her money. The food was great, Jill and Lane did the cooking and it always turns out to be the best home cooked meal that I have had in a long time. I really enjoy eating with them and being with them, I wish I had the money to take them out more.

I need to think about getting a cell phone. I don't have one but now that i have a hurt foot, I think about taking one when I walk or even have one out in the yard or if I go to the park. for safety sense.

Looking at that Jitterbug, but its not a camera and has no choices in ringtones or such, I don't need much on one, just a camera, a choice of ringtones, don't need internet or music or such, so I will have to look around and think real hard how to get one thats cheap! Maybe a pre pay? I just don't know. Too old, too stupid. Oh well, maybe my family can put up with me a couple years more..just think, this april, I will be close..real close..to 70!!!