Life Changes

Hello,

When Leroy and I were raising our children, we always visited our parents. They visited us infrequently. My parents seldom came because my dad was a dairy farmer. He could not leave the cows who had a heightened sense of stranger danger. This fear caused them to yank their heads against the station when a new person came in the barn. It also meant they might possibly or probably refuse to let down their milk. Even though we do not think about cows as nursing mothers, all lactating mothers need a feeling of peace and safety to have the process work well. Leroy’s family just simply did not like to travel much and going across Iowa was too far to come often.

We would visit our parents at the winter holidays, alternating between families, one at Thanksgiving and the other at Christmas then switching the order the next year. Generally we would also visit each of them once in the summer.

Interesting that as empty nesters the ideas about who is traveling have changed. Our children seldom visit us, instead we visit them more.  Especially for our daughters it is expense as they live so far away. With the expansion of their families, airfare amounts increase. Consequently, two can travel cheaper than three or four. Brian and Jen have been in our home the most because of less travel distance being able to drive instead of fly makes the bigger group a mote point. One of my grandchildren has not been in our home and two were under a year old the last time they came. Miriam and her girls will come in August; their last visit was in 2009.  Both girls and their families will come this Christmas. Yes! I think is ironic that we are now living in one of the smaller places in recent years and they are coming. Where are those four bedrooms when I need them?

Another change, we have to ask our kids how to do techno things. “Leroy, did our parents ever ask us how to do anything?” I wondered last night.

We cannot think of anything.

Last night Leroy called Brian who did not answer then Andy to get some advice about transferring play lists to the IPod from the computer. This was after spending much time trying to figure it out by his own brain power. We did figure out how to send pictures from the IPod otherwise we would have had to call Stephen to learn how to do that since we believe it is similar to the steps he would use with his IPhone. It was not hard, but not knowing where or how to look can make anything difficult.

Paula

Cool Dress

Hello,

Today I wore my coolest dress. On the walk to church and it actually felt balmy outside so coolest was not necessary. It was amazing we were not sweating by the time we got to church. After that I was freezing as in church the AC seemed to be blowing for the entire service. One woman told me, as I was slipping on a light sweater jacket, that it was quite cold in the sanctuary even though the thermometer was set at 72. Personally I find 72 degrees to be much too cool as I prefer 75 or above in the summer when I am half naked as my grandmother would say I was. Oh if grandma could see all the skin these days she would think I was quite modest in comparison. And to think there was a time when ankles were sexually exciting if exposed. Perhaps that was grandma’s time as I cannot remember ever seeing her ankles without hose or stockings on them. Does anyone even think about an ankle anymore unless it is hurting? Much is to be said for attitude or culturization and acceptability. Amazing how persuasive advertizing can be along with the power of “others are doing it” so I might or must too.

Leroy and I did find the walk home from church to be a bit warmer, but it was still nice to see so many out enjoying the comfort as they sat on their front porches. I will say that even on the hottest days I saw people sitting on their porches. Judging by the fans in the windows or the open windows, I would say they did not enjoy the benefits of air conditioning.

Here Leroy and I do not control the furnace, but we have been quite comfortable most of the time. We have been grateful for the ceiling fans when I bake or use the oven.

I bought another sweet yellow banana pepper. It really was not reduced that much in spite of how stressed it looked, but I bought it anyway because I want to harvest some. Is that true optimism? My tomatoes are looking good and producing green tomatoes that I have great expectations of eating when they are red.

Paula

Visitors heat and exercise

Hello,

Last night we had company. It was friends from seminary days. They used to live in Michigan and they are now only about 30 minutes away. It was great to see them again and catch up with activities.

I have decided that living in the air conditioning is not good for me. The heat seems so much harder to handle than when we did not have such comfort. As with so many things in life it has pluses and minuses. I sleep better with it on, but my eyes dry out more. Also the heat is shocking when going out. Our mail carrier delivered a package today. I asked how she was handling the heat. “I like it,” she said, “I have to put on a sweater when I go inside because it is too much of a change.”

I have tried to get a walk in almost every day. Today I rode my bike to the museum (Leroy’s work place) for training for my volunteer job at the opening next weekend. My attempt to not sweat on the ride was not successful. Just hoped I did not smell like I had been to the gym. Leroy will work almost all next weekend and I will be there for several hours. We both feel the bikes would be the easiest method of transportation as they expect a few thousand people in an area where parking is somewhat limited. However on the sheet they gave the volunteers they talked about personal hygiene as well as the clothes we are to wear. I am not sure that I can ride and still smell good.

One positive about the heat is that we hung out three loads of clothes that have dried almost as soon as we hung them. That is great. We also have climbed our stairs several times today. Surely that counts as exercise along with the bike ride of six miles that we both took this morning.

Paula

Early Morning Bike Ride

Hello,

Leroy and I had tickets in hand for the Ely Fireman’s breakfast. On the tickets it stated serving started at 7:00. We left the house a little after 6:00, but not before we had eaten a light fortifying breakfast of ½ serving of oatmeal, granola, and a large banana each. There were a number of bikes on the trail both passing us and meeting us. We did not pass anyone. We must have been the slowest people out there even though we often clocked speeds of 15 mph.

In spite of the early hour it was easy to believe that it would become quite warm before we returned however at that point it was great to float along with a bit of wind behind and gravity working with us much of the time. The trail follows an abandoned railroad bed so the hills are minimal and shade is prolific.

This morning Leroy saw a blue bird of some kind perhaps Eastern or perhaps Indigo Bunting. I saw the bird, but not the color as I was behind and it was flying. One of the last trips I saw a beautiful blue bird sitting on a fence. I think that was an Indigo Bunting.

It was fun to see some of the people that we had known when we lived in Ely. We visited a little, but not too long as the sun was warming and the humidity making its presence apparent made us realize it would be a bit more work to get home.

Leroy found the ride easier in both directions than I did. All that riding to work helps him out. Before we got home I could tell my face was turning red and I did not feel so terrific. I stopped two times to drink copious amounts of water and cool off in the shade. At home I had Leroy give me a misting of water from the hose in the back yard. It was great, but we still took cool refreshing showers.

Isn’t it marvelous that at ages 63 and 64 we can still do things like this and live to tell about it?

Paula

Morning Time

Hello,

I need more morning time. My “to do” list has much on it before breakfast. Breakfast has to happen by a certain time so Leroy can get to work. Not a problem for me as I only go at 9:00 one morning a week.

I would like to write in my journal first thing. At this point I like to do stream of conscious writing, I used to fill three pages, but have cut that back to one as it takes so much time. I want to exercise for about 15-20 minutes. Then there is that thirty minute walking time in the early morning while it is still cool. Leroy generally leaves by 7:30 or before if we are ready. He likes to get to work early so he can get more done while the work place is quiet. Also on the list is shower time, Leroy fixing his lunch, fixing breakfast, eating breakfast, and devotions.

Either we have gotten older and slower or these things take more time than they used or did not do them all. Somehow we are having a hard time getting to all of it. We often get up before 6:00, but not as seriously at 5:30 as we used to do. I have decided that I must not let my lack of progress before breakfast color my perception of the entire day.

Perhaps it would help if I could change my rhythms and become a night person. It is harder for me to sleep when I come home at 8:30 at night. Leroy was never bothered when he had meetings at night. He could still come home, read a little, go to bed, and snore in about two minutes. I do not have such skill, but of course women do not snore, so it is hopeless to expect such change. I will just have to prioritize my wants and not be too hard on myself when I do not get it all done in the morning.

Paula

Leroy's Bike Rides

Hello,

Leroy has now ridden the bike to work for a few weeks, maybe even four weeks. He has been navigating his route quite successfully. It is just a little over three miles that he has to go. Even though we are close to the bike trail most of the trip is on the streets. Because of construction he is able to find some less traveled streets that he can traverse rather easily. I, who keep a record of all monies spent notice the drop in our gas expenditure. That is so nice. He has been wearing his bike shorts and then changes when he gets to work. He keeps some pairs of pants there as well as shoes. That is good except when he wants to wear those clothes or shoes somewhere else.

Last week he called me to ask if I would come get him. He had a flat tire almost as soon as he left work. He figured it would take him about an hour to push his bike home in the 90+ heat. I obligingly hopped in the car and picked him up. Then we had a discussion about his broken tire pump that attaches to the bike. Apparently I earlier had given him the impression that he should not buy another because they are rather expensive for such a puny item. Now I certainly told him to buy it. It costs much less than a tank of gas. In addition two nights out of the week I am at work and unable to rescue him.

Friday at 4:45 I was home and had heard that there was a strong storm coming. Sometimes Leroy comes home a little early on a Friday. I decided if he were already on the way home, I should not slow him down by calling. Then it was after five and he still had not arrived and it was starting to rain. Surely he would call if he needed help. It was perhaps 5:30 when I looked out to see him pull up to the garage with a soaking wet body. He said someone had offered him a ride but he figured it would not be a problem to traverse the twenty minutes home in the light rain. Just after he got in the house the sirens went off. We went to the basement, but it was not truly necessary, however I was so grateful that he was home and not trying to maintain balance in the brutal winds.

By the way the bike ride only takes him about five minutes longer than the trip by car. Isn’t that a good deal? He gets some exercise, enjoys the fresh morning air, saves money, and helps the environment.

Paula

Low Rise Briefs

Hello,

On that shopping trip Saturday I was looking at some other things at Target when I spotted a package of 6 Cotton Low Rise Briefs for women marked down to less than half off. I am getting a bit low on my stack of underpants; rather I have some I should throw out, some that I have been wearing off and on for more than six years. Now I have decided to wear them frequently so that I can declare them worn out. Before we left the store we noticed that it looked as if there were only five pair and not six in the package which stated it was repackaged, but even for five the price seemed too good to pass up. Oh and it states a size five and I usually wear a size six, but I do not like anything tight so I thought this is perhaps the right size for me as my outer pants are size six or eight depending.

At home I proceeded to take the briefs out of the package. It was interesting indeed. The first pair was a Hanes size five that fit me, but maybe I really do need a size six. Because it is low rise it will not bother my waist, but it does look a little stretched. Moving on to the next pair I discovered it to be not Hanes, but Fruit of the Loom size 5. It is a little higher rise, but still ok at the waist. Next it was another Hanes size five as the package stated. This was followed by another Fruit of the loom, but size 8. This fits my idea of loose comfort and it is low rise too. I showed Leroy the last pair before I tried it on. “Wow, can you hold those up?” was all he managed to say about these silky, lacy larger bottom covers.

I can keep these up these panties that do not slip down over my hips even though it is a Hanes size 9 low rise that sits up at my waist. We think someone had some instructions to get these back on the shelf and they improvised. I decided to keep them. I will probably even wear them just for the laugh a day even if no one else can see them. Life is always an adventure, even in the underwear department.

Paula