Adele Passed Away

I wrote a while back about a wonderful 93 year old lady named Adele who was such an inspiration to us all. Unfortunately, she quickly developed pneumonia and passed away yesterday. My last memory of her will always be her smiling face last Thursday at Thanksgiving dinner...so full of happiness to be where she was and surrounded by friends. The very next day she was admitted to the hospital.

Someone told me yesterday that Adele had to have her ladder confiscated last year because she insisted in climbing up it to clean out her eavestrough. Undaunted, she dragged her picnic table over to the house and climbed up on it to do the job. Everything I hear about this lady reminds me of the same strength and perseverance I saw in my mother-in-law. They never let age stop them from doing what they wanted to do. And maybe that's the secret of long life.

Goodbye Adele...we're all going to miss you.

2 Blogs in a Day

I still slightly have my cold so I can't go out and play with my friends. If the cold isn't all gone by tomorrow, I say to hell with them and I'm joining them anyway on the bus to the casino cruise at Cape Canaveral. Now I feel guilty!

The truth be known, I really am a very considerate person and have mainly kept my distance from people since I caught this cold but, since I'm not actually sick, there have been a few times I gave in and joined the crowd. My friends don't seem as concerned about my germs as I am because they keep coming in and visiting me. Thank heavens for that because being alone for too long inside a little trailer isn't pleasant...hence the 2 blogs in a day.

All that remains of my short illness is a tickle in my throat so another night of binge drinking water should flush the last living germ out. I hope!

Got a Cold

It amazes me that a person can feel perfectly healthy one moment and the next have a scratchy throat. Saturday had been it's usual busy day with coffee in the clubhouse in the morning, a bit of shopping in the late morning, sunbathing at the pool in the afternoon, dinner with 15 friends at another friend's trailer, and then home to discover my throat felt funny. This is the first cold I've had in a few years and I'd begun to believe I might be invincible. No such luck! I developed a slight cough and my head started to feel as though it would explode. I immediately started my husband's cure for a cold...gallons of water.

Sunday morning I felt well enough to go out for breakfast with friends but ended up sleeping most of the afternoon and went to bed at 9:30 P.M. This morning I feel human again even though I was up half the night going to the bathroom...result of drinking gallons of water.

We're all in such close proximity to one another here and germs don't have to roam too far before they find a new host. There is a large gathering at the clubhouse almost every day so it's kind of interesting that more of us don't get sick. The other factor is that we're seniors but, apparently, pretty darned healthy seniors.

Anyway, I don't have time to be sick for long because I have too much to do...like play games, swim, shop, etc., etc., etc.

American Thanksgiving

We Canadian snowbirds to Florida have the good luck to enjoy 2 Thanksgivings...our own in October and the American one in November. Yesterday our clubhouse was filled to overflowing with seniors and their young visitors all noisily enjoying the American Thanksgiving dinner.

Before any dinner we have a resident retired minister lead us in prayer in gratitude for the gifts of life and friendship. I, being a staunch agnostic, bent my head and gave heart felt thanks for all the good fortune I've been granted in my life. If nothing else, the fates deserve my thanks for allowing me this beautiful day with good friends.

After a huge dinner that made me want to crawl under the table and have a nap, we joined the kitchen crew and helped in the clean-up. I still wanted to go home and have a nap but my friends insisted we go up to the shuffleboard court and play a few games. The sun was shining and the weather had warmed up to the high 60's so I agreed. They were right...by the time we'd played a while I no longer needed the nap and was happy to be just where I was.

That was my Thanksgiving Day and I'm thankful for it.

Sick Old Age

My friend and I sat last night with a glass of wine and discussed our good fortune. We're relatively healthy, retired, and enjoying this time in our lives immensely. We also surmised that the reason we're enjoying ourselves so much is because we know how close we are to the ends of our lives, which could include illness.

Don't think this was a sad conversation because it wasn't. We both believe strongly in a life after death so death doesn't overly frighten us. All life has it's cycles and even a child knows that some day they'll pass on, hopefully to a better place than this.

My worst fear is that I'll become a burden to my children. Some of them would say that I'm already a pain in the ass but that's beside the point. One night last summer, when my ex-sister-in-law stayed with me for a few days, we sat drinking wine (seems to be a common thread) until 5 A.M. and talked about everything under the sun. One of the topics was how I'd handle being old and sick and living on my own. Mary adamantly said "if that ever happens, one of us will be right here to take care of you". She was referring to herself and my sister-in-law, Faye, and I realized how lucky I was to have good friends like this. We know we'll take care of each other when the time comes...for any of us.

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy every day that I'm allowed and thank my lucky stars for giving me my wonderful family and friends.

Sisters

My mother was one of 3 daughters in her family and they all hated each other. All of their lives! I've often thought what a waste that was and how much they all lost. Hatred is an emotion that not only drains you of strength but also must change your chemical makeup. Hatred colors your complete personality.

I was fortunate enough to give birth to three daughters who all love each other dearly. It wasn't always the case because my two oldest girls fought constantly when they were young. It worried me to think they might carry their disagreements on into adulthood but things changed when they left home. Over the years their bonds as sisters have strengthened and give them immense happiness to be in each other's company. They know they'll always have each other to lean on.

Isn't it sad that my mother and her sisters missed that opportunity? They lived out their lives in stubborn refusal to forgive some wrong (probably forgotten) and lost the opportunity to add a little more love to their time on earth.

My sister and I have had our spats but we're in this world together and we'll leave it as the best of friends. We're the lucky ones.

Being Happy

My daughter, Kim. loves to read my blogs...you can't imagine how flattered I am that she enjoys them. So, for my Kimmy, I thought I'd write a bit about being happy.

Really happy people take it for granted that each day will hold pleasant surprises that can only add to their happy little lives. Those of us who have suffered severe unhappiness in one way or another know that some days can hold bad news. I remember days in my life that were sheer misery followed by more days just the same.

I've been a happy camper for quite a while now after discovering the secret. I read an article once that said "no-one can hurt you unless you let them" and that simple statement stuck with me.

Here are a few hints from this old girl about how to be and stay happy: Appreciate whatever good fortune comes your way but don't take it for granted. As often as possible, be in the company of people who build you up...and never miss the chance to make another feel good about themselves. Lose yourself occasionally in the unbelievable beauty of nature. Learn to like yourself even if you'll never reach perfection. Love and laugh and never forget to enjoy the moment!

Burkas

With so many immigrants from all over the world, we're all familiar with seeing them dressed in their native garb. This adds color and interest to our society and, for the most part, I enjoy the novelty. But this doesn't extend to burkas worn in public.

There has been much discussion about banning the wearing of burkas in public and I'm on the side of banning them because they present a clear danger to our security. Wearing a flowing cloak that covers everything but the eyes could hide just about anyone and anything...man or gun!

A friend told me that he'd seen a burka clad figure sitting on a curb at the mall with legs crossed. Those legs were large and as hairy as a man's and the person was wearing combat boots. Maybe this is normal for these women but it could have been a man. Think of the possiblities! There's also something terribly abnormal about a woman who hides behind a burka. Is it her natural choice or a way of her culture repressing her as a human being?

I'm sure that the next generation of women won't tolerate wearing burkas but, in the meantime, our security could be at stake. If these women are allowed to have their I.D. photos taken while wearing the burka...and that wouldn't surprise me at all...then we're just asking for trouble. Do you think????

Cost of Wintering in Florida

One of the big topics of conversation in Florida is the cost of out-ot-country health insurance for Canadians. Each year it becomes increasing more costly for a Canadian to leave the country and it is this high cost that eventually makes it impossible for us to spend a comfortable winter in Florida.

My cost, at age 66, was just under $600 for 5 1/2 months. This is peanuts compared to one of the men here who, at age 85, had to pay out $5,700 for 4 months coverage. Fortunately, he can afford it but I'll have to stop coming here long before my cost is that high. The sad thing is that it's better for our health to be out of the cold and icy conditions back home.

A few years back my husband had an emergency procedure here in Florida that included receiving heart artery stents. The total cost of the procedure and 3 days hospitalization was $40,000 U.S. Because we didn't immediately contact our insurance provider and ask permission for the procedure (remember, it was an emergency) they refused to pay the bill. We went through 9 months of appeals with them until they finally agreed to pay. We presented them with hospital records which described every procedure as an "emergency" but they wouldn't back down until they discovered we also had x-rays of the arteries showing the blockages. Our Ontario Health Insurance Plan only contributed slightly over $1,000 Cdn to the $40,000 U.S. bill.

What I learned from this is that you have to contact the insurance provider before any procedure, even an emergency. They can insist that you fly home for treatment which costs them only the flight home. I know of one man here who broke his hip and his insurance provider made that poor man endure a flight home instead of allowing him to be treated here in Florida. In my husband's case, if they had told us to fly home I would have refused because it would have endangered his life. We have to know when to stand firm and demand what we paid for.

*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*

I just listened to a news report stating that Walmart is now encouraging it's employees to use the dreaded phrase "MERRY CHRISTMAS". Last year they were so afraid of offending just about anyone and insisted their employees say "HAPPY HOLIDAYS" instead. This has been such a sore point with me for the last few years because the whole reason for this celebration that brings Walmart and so many other businesses their biggest profit of the year is that it is "CHRISTMAS". A "HOLIDAY" is when we go camping.

I love the diverse cultures we have in Canada and the United States but we have our own culture also that we have every right to preserve. It's wonderful for people of all religions and nationalities to carry on their traditions but please, PLEASE don't take mine away.

*MERRY CHRISTMAS* to all!

Rainy Day in Florida

I woke up this morning to rain and cloudy skies and thought I was back home in Canada for a moment. On further inspection, the grass is green and the hibiscus is blooming so it must be Florida.

We have very few rainy days here in Florida during the winter so we snowbirds just grin and bear it knowing the rain is sorely needed. When it becomes too dry there is a danger of brush fires. 3 or 4 years ago there were so many brush fires in the spring that grey ash scattered down like snowflakes over much of Florida for a few days.

I think I'll spend this rainy day just the way I spend them at home. I'll curl up with a good book and maybe even have a nap.

Changes on the Internet

Blog.com now requires I have a google e-mail address and password. Talk about confusing to toss this at me the computer illiterate! I followed directions and then couldn't get into my blog, e-mailed them for help, tried again and couldn't get in, changed my password and managed to get in. I still don't know what I did wrong and if I'll be able to access my blog tomorrow.

I hate change. It's terribly difficult for me to learn anything on the computer and I've never seen anything in my life that is so full of changes. I just become confident that I've learned something and then someone, somewhere decides it should be done a different way. Damn, double damn!

Ebay is a prime example of change for the sake of change with no redeeming value to the damn change. I have my own opinion as to why top executives of any company make changes of any kind. They have to justify their jobs, their salaries, and their existance. If they left well enough alone they wouldn't be needed.

That said, I think I'll go to bed!

Red Hat Ladies

I belong to the Red Hat Society. I'm not sure if you have to be 50 or 55 years old to become a Red Hat lady but, needless to say, our group here in the senior park are over qualified. We go to lunch once a month all decked out in our purple and red outfits, some wearing outrageous hats with multi plumes, and thoroughly enjoy the attention we draw. I have yet to see anyone greet us with derisive laughter but we seem to bring happy smiles to people's faces. I think they admire our bravado for daring to dress silly and still enjoy ourselves and our age. We've paid our dues and we don't have to be anything other than what we are. We're enjoying life and anyone seeing us knows that at a glance.

One of my favorite moments as a Red Hat lady happened a few years ago. We were all going to lunch in old Kissimmee so our little train of cars pulled into town and we parked across the road from the restaurant. Our "Queen", beautifully clad in a long purple dress with flowing red boa and one of the most elaborate hats possible, stepped into the busy street and held up her hand to stop traffic so that the rest of us could cross safely. Cars backed up for a few blocks but all of the drivers I could see were smiling broadly.

Sometimes, showing the silly side of your personality makes everyone around you happy. The Red Hatters do that with style!

Flea Markets and Dollar Stores

A few friends and I went to the flea market this morning and I found a couple of items during my wanderings that I really need. It seems like the "flea market" phenomena is fairly recent in our culture...I don't remember going to one till I was possibly in my 40's but they were probably around long before that. Still, anything so ingrained in our culture that hasn't been around for 50 years can be considered new.

Another thing that I think of as a fairly new arrival is the dollar store. I've never gone into one yet and come out empty handed because they carry all the little doodads that we need but don't necessarily replace immediately.

Before these additions to our world we had to buy everything in regular stores at higher prices so sometimes progress actually is good. The only downside is that the quality suffers...but we're a throw away society anyway so it doesn't matter too much.

Just a thought!

Thank You, Readers

I started blogging just last spring (after learning what blogging actually is) and have been constantly surprised and meekly grateful that a number of my relatives find my writings interesting. On the rare occasion that a complete stranger takes the time to make a comment on my writings, I am beside myself with joy. This is just a strong and heart felt "thank you" to anyone who finds my stories worthwhile reading.

Lost Kitty

This morning I heard a yowling outside my trailer and thought it was a lost child. A bit worried, I raced outside just in time to see the tail end (literally) of a cat disappear into the bushes. We have the odd stray cat roaming around so I didn't think too much of it until a bit later when I heard that strange yowling again. This time I surprised the pretty little kitty sitting on my patio and crying for all he was worth. Before he could race off, I saw that he was a really beautiful Siamese cat. Knowing he couldn't be a stray and that his owner must be frantic to find him, I placed a saucer of milk out to try and lure him closer.

Now I'm allergic to cats but love them to death and would have a few if they didn't make me sneeze and itch. I realized that this little kitty could easily get eaten by an alligator or wander onto the road if he wasn't caught soon so I decided to take him in if I could catch him. I was willing to take the chance of a few sneezes. His owner had to be somewhere in the park and should be easy to find so I wouldn't have him long.

Apparently even a lost Siamese cat will turn his nose up at skim milk so he continued to wail but kept his distance. I left the milk out anyway and went to the pool. When I returned, I heard a lady hurrying up the road calling for her pet (I assumed it was her pet she was calling for because she was promising him a nice treat!). She was frantic as I'd expected and was very relieved, but weepy, when I told her that her cat had been around the area all day. She continued looking for him and I could hear different neighbors saying they'd just seen the cat in one place or another. Moments later she hollered out that she had found him and thanked everyone within hearing distance.

Pet lovers are very considerate of one another because we know how very much we treasure our pets. They become like children to us and we refer to ourselves as their Mommy and Daddy. Sound silly? We don't care! Pets can provide us with more happiness than anyone could ever want. They are ALWAYS there for us. They are thrilled when we come home to them (they actually look up). They ask for nothing but food and water (and you don't have to cook it or make it colorful on the plate). They're warm on your feet (some let you place you feet on top of them but my dog only tolerated my feet underneath him).

At my home in Canada I have a lovely ink drawing of the dog we had for 15 years until he passed away. It is framed and hanging on the wall where I can see him many times through the day. When I look at that picture it brings back so many memories of him...like how smart he was, how good he was, and how loved he was. Pet lovers will understand.

Bingo at the Park

Until I retired and came to this park in Florida, I might have played Bingo once or twice in my whole life. When I'm at home in Canada I have no interest in playing Bingo...but once I arrive in Florida I count the days till the next Bingo game.

We play twice a week and the clubhouse is always filled with familiar faces so we usually know the lucky winner/winners. This is what makes the difference. It's easy to lose to a friend. Not so easy to win their money!

Last week I played the two nights and won enough to pay for my games until mid December. This week has been a complete loss, though. Never fear...our next Bingo night is only 5 days away and hope springs eternal.

I'm Going on a Cruise!!

I am so darned thrilled because I'm finally getting to go on a cruise...always wanted to do this but my husband didn't. It's only a 4 day budget cruise to the Bahamas but this is a big deal for me. There will be at least 44 seniors from my park going and they're all people who enjoy life so we'll have a wonderful time.

I married young and money was hard to come by. Raising 3 children and buying a house on just my husband's salary (I only worked part-time) doesn't leave a lot for luxuries. I wouldn't change any part of it, though, because what you go through in your lifetime is what makes you the person you are. My husband and I both came from relatively poor families so the few luxuries we were able to come by...like owning our own home...were never taken for granted. I know that being able to go on this wonderful cruise was all made possible by the blood, sweat, and tears of both me and my husband over a great many years.

My mother-in-law sort of set the stage for me when it comes to grabbing the moment. She had the most wonderful attitude about life and couldn't wait to try new things...like going motorcycle riding when she was in her 70's. All anyone had to say was "do you want to go..." and she was out the door, not caring where she was going but just happy to be having a new experience. She, unfortunately like me, had little time for housework because there were always so many other interesting things to do.

This is what I've found retirement life to be like. Our children are grown and our worklife is done so now we have the time to play again. Life is good!

Adele

Adele is a 93 year old lady in our park who gives all of us hope and inspiration. She's a tiny little thing, a bit bent over from the toils and tribulations of her long life, but she's a ball of fire. Until this year she drove her big white Cadillac down to Florida from Connecticut but this year her daughter insisted she fly and send the car down by train. She is the one to beat on the shuffleboard court and she also plays a mean game of bid euchre. But the most wonderful thing about Adele is that her mind is sharp as a tack and she always, always has a lovely smile on her face.

It's a fact of life that we gravitate towards people who are smiling and appear happy because they make us happy, too. As we age we develop little aches and pains that can get us down a bit but most of that can be overcome by simply having a good attitude. If you are at all able to, you should keep away from people who bring you down and lower your self esteem.

They say that laughter is the best medicine and, when I'm with friends and family, I get an overdose. My daughter has a charm on her necklace that says "Live, Love, Laugh" and that says it all!

Strange Sights

I'm very interested in human psychology and this makes me a veteran people watcher. I sometimes think that others are looking at me and seeing a fat old broad wearing too many rings, clam diggers, and ugly crocs...but I don't care. Maybe the people I've been watching and finding kind of odd don't care either.

On my second day in Florida I went shopping and stopped at an Arby's for lunch. In came a woman in her 50's, skinny and ill-kept, wearing pants deliberately pulled low on scrawny hips (they were hanging crooked) in order to show off the tattoo at the very top of the crack in her butt. What was she thinking?

The same day I was in Walmart (sorry, I'm a shopper) and in came a young man with pants pulled way low below his bum and kind of silly looking underwear most of which were hanging above his pants. They were also very crooked and not too clean. What was he thinking?

Today I was in McDonalds for lunch and the lady in front of me was wearing see-through white pants that showed very clearly she was wearing thong underwear. She was older (and fatter) than me. What was she thinking?

One of things I've noticed here in the park is that older men with large, large bellies have no shame about walking around in a swimsuit slung under their stomaches. Women, on the other hand, do their best to minimize their bellies by wearing skirted swimsuits. Interesting behaviour, isn't it?

Most Embarrassing Moment

My daughter just told me that she's applied to be a contestant on "Deal or No Deal" when it comes to Toronto in a few months. One of the questions asked on the questionaire is "what was your most embarrassing moment?". Here is mine!

My husband taught me to drive when I was 16 years old but I never tried to get my driver's licence for one reason or another until I turned 44. I diligently took driving lessons to help me unlearn all the bad habits my husband had taught me and soon felt confident enough to take my driving test.

I was very nervous and the cold eyed "tester" didn't help matters. He was about my own age but looked as though he'd never cracked a smile in his life. I felt like a real loser just applying for my first driver's licence at such a ripe old age. We both got into the car, me at the wheel and he in the passenger seat. The whole time we drove he led me through all the maneuvers necessary while he wrote crisp little notes on his clipboard. I thought he was a pompous ass and was certain he found fault in everything I did.

When we finally returned to the DMV office, I parked the car and nervously awaited his announcement. He took his sweet time! After what seemed like hours I asked him how I had done. He said, unsmiling, "you passed". I yelped, "oh, thank you!" and slapped him on the knee. My hand hit so hard it accidently slid up his leg and onto a place I should never have gone near. He packed up his clipboard and exited the car...with a smile on his face!