Expectations

Hello, Maybe one of the big lessons about being an adult is that expectations are not always met. Or met differently than expected. This morning on the way to tai chi, I could see, up on the interstate, many cars in the direction that I wanted to go. They did not seem to be going as fast as usual. Sure enough, when I got up the ramp, many brake lights could be seen. Cars were still moving, but not at the usual speed. The on ramp is part of an off ramp. I just stayed on the ramp, getting off figuring I would cut across town. There was quite a bit of traffic on the streets so it took a little longer than usual to move along. It got better farther way from the interstate. At one point I could see traffic up on the interstate and it looked to be moving normally, but I was not close to an entrance. The street I chose to use to get across the river had almost no traffic on it. I soon learned why, the bridge was closed for repair. Then I had to backtrack a bit. I still arrived ahead of class, but not at my usual time. Is that a picture of life? We expect to be somewhere, but it does not work out so we have to make alternate plans. Experience helps in making those decisions. I was so comfortable on the city streets because I knew where I was and where I wanted to go. Leroy is finding that he is not bouncing back to health so quickly. He seems to have a pattern of good day, bad day. Keeps him humble. I tried to encourage him by saying that soon he should have two good days in a row. He just laughed. Paula

Library Day

Hello, Leroy “had” to go to the library today because he had read all the books that he brought home the last time. We are so grateful for libraries where we can check out ten books at a time if we want. It would be nice if it were a little shorter walk to get there. Leroy is not strong enough to walk fast enough to get there in a reasonable amount of time. It is about a mile and a half from our house. I had to browse and managed to find one more book to bring home along with two DVD’s. I look for those labeled comedy. Generally, I wonder who thinks they are a comedy as I have not laughed or even smiled. I used to think I had an ok sense of humor. I still had three other books at home plus I needed to pick up two more for book clubs. I do not always like those books, but the discussions always are interesting. I had been playing phone tag with the doctor’s office. They needed to reschedule. Actually, most days I did not have time or I forgot until they were closed to call back. This morning I made it happen. it took much longer than anticipated. First, I had an extension number. I got some department that I did not even recognize. When I looked back at the number, I realized that I had switched the numbers around. That is a trick of my brain. It seems that maturity makes that undesired skill stronger. Then when I did get through to the extension, I learned it was the nurse and not the scheduler. This required another call and I should say I was put on hold for several of these calls. I began to wonder if I really wanted to see this doctor. I finally got it all done, but my patience was about at the end of the line. Paula

Iowa’s President

Hello, We had an outing with the senior citizens who are members of our church. We went to the Herbert Hoover museum and library that is not so far from here. We had been there many years before, when our children were small. From classes in school, I had rather a negative view of this man because of the Great Depression which occurred in his presidency. Maybe all presidential libraries give a very positive view of the president they are representing, but this was certainly a more expanded look at his life.

He and his wife lived in many places around the world. He was a geologist who became more involved in humanities. They were both quite committed to the lives of others and their welfare, especially children. He believed that making sure children had enough to eat and education where extremely important for a strong country. He even gave up his fortune for others and the benefit of all. It amazes me too when you see his birth house where he spent the first eight years of his life. It is so small, just two rooms and one of those rooms was quite small. There were five people living there.

He became rich later in life because he was a good mining engineer. He was hired by a British company to take care of all their mines around the world. I should say too that the museum has recently been redone and is very well laid out. After spending time in the museum, we had lunch at a local restaurant. It was good to visit with people there. Paula

Open Wide

Hello, Today, my dental appointment was at 2:00 pm. I was sure of it. However, when I checked today at 10:00 am, the calendar had 10:00 am written on it. I panicked. I tried to call, left a message and raced to the car, got a block away when I realized I had not brought with me the replacement teeth that had fallen out. Turned on the next block, raced upstairs, grabbed what I needed, and hurried back out to the car. In the car, I took some deep breaths and told myself that an accident would not help. At that point, the dentist’s office called me. They said it would be alright to still come. I did not speed, but was at the limit all of the time. At the dentist’s office, he was just ready for me. He assured me that it was ok. He got right to work checking out the situation. There were still some pieces stuck to my teeth that he had to extract. Some came easily and some required drilling. Amazing how we put our trust in the hands of people who care for us. What steady hands. He did tell me that if there was any pain I should tell him. Aside from holding my mouth open for some longer periods of time, there was no pain. I realized when I left that, in spite of my lateness, he still spent an hour and a half with me. That 2:00 appointment is next week for my yearly check at the doctor. Do you think I will want to go at 10:00 am? Paula

Life Returns to Normal

Hello, Life returns to normal, but what does that mean? For one thing I was able to get a haircut. Little did I know there was a special going on. Including the tip, my haircut cost $10. It has been quite a while since that was a price. There were a lot of people taking advantage of this offer. Luckily, I could check in on line so I knew when to go. We like canned salmon. The store where we usually purchase it has not had any for some time. Since I was close, I went there after my haircut. No salmon cans to be seen. Leroy thought he would like some more meat. I was able to find some organic turkey. Hope he likes it. Another stop on the way home, at the pharmacy to pick up a refilled prescription for him. Is this guy now the pill consumer? It was not that long ago that he did not take any prescriptions. It takes a mental adjustment to get to a different phase in life. I must be too careful with some things as I do not want to be wasteful. I have some spot/stain remover in a spray bottle. It has become difficult to spray. It seemed to be about empty. I washed some rugs today. One had a spot on it. I took off the top, turned the bottle upside down and a rather large glob of gelled substance came out. At least it was on the spot. I spread it around a bit, hoped for the best, put it in the washer and started it. That rug looks so much better. We even think it lightened the entire thing. With a bit of water in the spray bottle, I should be able to use it once more. This is me conforming to the rules I grew up with. My mother would be pleased. Paula

Help At the Library

Hello, Leroy feels so much better today. He even took a short walk or two. That was between the rain events. I had to stop at the library to get books for him. He has raced through quite a number of them. They are all light reading. He thinks I do much too much serious reading. Sometimes fiction, sometimes nonfiction. I can do some light reading, but not for long. He gave me a list. I was able to find quite a few of them. Then he asked for a series which I had not heard of. I did not know who the author was, but assumed it was the one on the page he gave me. It is always nice to get help from the desk for what is what. I told the friendly person that it was my husbands writing. “Oh,” she said, “so we will blame him?” She found the series and it was indeed that author. “I will come help you look for them. Two sets of eyes are always better than one.” She identified several books in the series. When we went back to the desk, we checked out the books on my card, since I did not have Leroy’s. Then she asked if I have the library app on my phone. To my negative response she told me the value of having it. She helped me get it on my phone, got me checked in, and showed me how to use it. What great help. Now if I can just remember it when I am in the library. At home I use the computer too look up things and I do find the same information. Now I will have it with me when I wonder if I have read a certain book. I should mention that the app does not have the name of the library on it, but a set of three letters that seem unrelated to this library. Don’t know if I would have ever thought that was the library app. Paula

Leroy is Home

Hello, Leroy came home yesterday afternoon. He felt fine. In the evening his stomach did not feel so good. During the night he made more than one trip to the bathroom. He is feeling better some minutes and not so much others. We learned that he did not react to the medicine, but had Noro virus. It was such bad timing for him. He probably got it because it was compromised by the surgery. I have felt fine. We are both a bit grumpy that he could feel so good when he came home and it should return to some degree. It is not as bad as it was. We have managed to keep him hydrated. That has probably helped his heart. I kept thinking that there must be something in the house that caused it. I have washed the bathroom floor three times. Sanitized this and that, more than once. Washed two loads of clothes and used the dryer for more sterilizing heat. At least that was my idea with it all. I have used up all the bleach I have in the house. I suppose I could go to the store now as Leroy seems good. Earlier I did not want to leave him in case he needed something. I am learning a little bit about being a caregiver. We are both taking seriously the dictum to wash our hands thoroughly. One article about this virus said that the sanitizers do not always take care of it. Running water is the best because it moves the germs on. We certainly want them out of here. I am treating water like an expendable commodity. Not my usual self. Paula