Cedar Rapids Flood

Hello,

The crest is past, but it will be about Sunday before the river is below flood stage. The crest was lower than expected so that was a blessing. Also it did not rain as it was coming closer so no more water was added to the total. The citizens of Cedar Rapids and the surrounding area pitched in; moving possessions, filling sandbags, creating earth berms, and HESCOs (which I had never heard of before). As a result the damage has been on a much smaller scale. There is still a threat from the pressure on the sewer lines so we have been asked to conserve water.

There will be plenty of work to do to return possessions, sandbags (What does one do with old/used sandbags?) and HESCOs. At least there will not be a sense of impending doom, but maybe that will make the work harder. Leroy said they will be able to return to work on Friday or Saturday, however he expects most of the time and energy going to putting things back in order.

Only one bridge is open in the city and that is the interstate bridge. I used that yesterday about noon to drive to work. They have requested that traffic use the two right lanes so emergency and perhaps city vehicles can use the left lane. Most drivers respected that requirement. Traffic was quite slow and it was thanks to others that I merged in. Going around the s curve we moved at 30 mph with a lot of gawking going on because as soon as I was past that it was a more normal traffic speed. I gawked a little, but I still felt that it was best if I paid attention to the cars closest to me, just in case I might miss some unexpected move. As I have aged I notice that my focus gets directed and forgets to return to whatever.

We feel fortunate for less damage than expected.

Paula

Leroy’s Eyes

Hello,

Leroy had complained for a couple days that his eyes seemed to be different. He got an appointment with the specialist this morning. When he came home he told me, “My vision had changed. Instead of needing 16 prism for focus I now have 12. The Dr. was upset that I had not been frequently seeing our regular eye Dr. as I should have called him after visiting with her.”

Leroy missed that instruction altogether. I did know that he was to call the eye Dr., but I was not sure why. I thought he had called the Dr.

At this point the specialist told him to take the therapy and got him signed up. So it is full speed ahead on that. We do not know if the insurance will pay, but he can make all of the appointments. We will pay if that is how it needs to be.

Leroy had been complaining that his thought process is slow. I did not notice because Leroy has never been a fast talker or a fast interjector in a conversation. When he mentioned this slowness to her this morning, she told him that the brain takes 70 to 80 percent of the body’s energy. Most of that is used to process visual stimulus. So that explains the slowness and his tiredness. With his new adjustment to his glasses he took about an hour nap this afternoon to help himself re-energize. He is doing museum work at home so this was easier and less embarrassing for him to do. I still think he should take naps at work because that is how he functions best.

He is not comfortable doing that, if the whole place napped he would be the first one asleep, but since he would be the only sleeper it is not acceptable to him.

Paula

Traffic Cones and the garden

Hello,

I learned what those traffic cones were for. Not for directing traffic, but repurposed as funnels, with the top cut off, to get sand in bags at the museum. The city is a bee hive of activity as people prepare for the crest to come through. It is now predicted to be at 23 feet instead of 24, but that is still high enough to reach a lot of things precious to many people.

Leroy and I did not go help today. Leroy’s knee does not like all of the activity that he has subjected it to for the last two days. He did walk to church this morning, but a bit more slowly than usual. On the way home we walked past the community garden. I saw a big zucchini that I picked. While we were getting it in the backpack, the grounds keeper at Coe College saw us and stopped to vent about his need to do more than he had time to do. We just provided the listening ear. His storage building is low enough that it needed to be emptied. Yesterday was a day of visits from high school students so he was running around taking care of this and that most of the day. Then he commented that the police had just texted him that the city bridges were closed.

Later in the afternoon I went back to the garden and picked two more zucchini. Two men stopped by to pick some veggies for supper. It was great to visit with them. One was a close neighbor to the garden. I have seen him several times. The other told me, “I met you and your husband where I was living before (and he told me the address). You stopped and introduced yourselves. What is your name?”

I was impressed that he remembered me. I will say he looked vaguely familiar, but could not remember why. I am glad to see that he is using the garden. Life seems to have been a bit of a difficult journey. He also told me that he does a little weeding from time to time. I believe that Leroy and I are known around the neighborhood as that old couple that work in the garden.

Paula

Flooding Coming

Hello,

Flooding will come to our town. How much and just exactly when is not totally known, but a close prediction has been made.

Friday, Leroy spent most of his work day at the museum moving things around. He also packed some books and his laptop that has library software on it, so he could work from home next week as the museum will be closed most of the week. I also went and helped in the afternoon. I did not feel that I did so much, but I helped move a few things. The second big task also involved Leroy. They wanted some traffic cones. I called a store to learn if they had any before heading out to get them. It took several tries to get an answer at the store then they wanted to know the size, medium or large. I am grateful for these portable phones we all have now, because I could run across the lawn and question someone.

I had ridden to the museum with Leroy and did not bring my purse so I could not buy these things. Leroy did not know either how to purchase them so he did some swift walking to find out how to get them. He was given the museum credit card. He also found someone to talk about the cost. I knew how many they wanted. Because we were going to a store on the side of town where we seldom go, we went together. I suppose someday we will have to buy a smart phone. For its own mysterious reasons the GPS would not turn on.  At the store it was a struggle to find someone to get these things down from a high shelf. As many people were buying equipment for the impending floor they were quite busy. Then it was a problem to fit two large boxes in our small car, especially since the trunk was already filled with all of the things Leroy was taking home. We finally emptied one box so we could fit them in in a different manner. I asked a worker who was getting shopping carts if he would take the box or if I should. He told me it would really help if I took it. He would have to take it all the way round to the back of the building. He jumped on it to flatten it and we jammed it into the car too.

Because of so much traffic with all of the extra people in the area it was a struggle to get around.

Leroy went back this afternoon. I stayed home feeling guilty, but baking some sour cream twists because I had some sour milk that needed to be used or thrown. Guess what? I dislike throwing.

Paula

Long Weekend

Hello,

It was a good time. We visited with seminary friends that we have not often seen, but they still have a good connection with us. We learned about their families, health, joys, and sorrows. When we saw the entire group of the seminary class there were two people I did not remember from the past. All of these graduates were men, because that was the rule back then. I asked one man, “I am sorry I do not remember you. Did I know you and just forget?”

“I do not know you,” he replied, “You probably did not know me because I would come to class and then go home or go to work.”

From the update at the seminary, I suspect that, today, with all of the online students many of them will not know each other and a 40^th class reunion will not hold the same attraction that it does for us.

It was a nice coincidence that Sophia’s birthday party was on the same weekend and we got to share in that time with her.

All went smoothly. Leroy even did not complain of his hip hurting him on the way home. Course I drove for three hours at a stretch and he just drove 1.5 hours. That might have contributed to more moving around and keeping it easy.

We did not see any exciting wildlife except in the park close to Brian’s house. Early in the morning a great blue heron was checking out the fishing possibilities. We also heard some owls.

One afternoon we took the kites to the park and tried to persuade them to go up in the air with the light breeze of four mph or less. We did a lot of running and for some brief moments they did get off the ground and teased us with the possibility of flight. On the next day, we noted that the wind would have easily kept them up, but we had no time for such frivolity.

Paula

Old Friends

Hello,
Yesterday we had a great lunch with three other couples. Leroy graduated from seminary with the guys because at that time it was only men who could go to seminary. It was a pleasure to see their dear faces and talk about our lives at this moment and in the recent past. The others have all retired, but still seem to be quite busy and occupied. Life must just move in new directions. Two things hold us back from retiring. One is that we both like our jobs and gain satisfaction from them. The second thing is that we do not know where to go when we do finally say it is over.
Later we spent some time taking a tour of the seminary buildings, but many of these were in a former part of the church. Lutherans keep shifting their organizations. One surprise and joy was for us to see Brian's picture in the building where Leroy spent most of the time when he was in school. Now the PA program is using that building although Brian did not actually take many classes there. Somehow it seemed as if a circle had been completed.
Leroy and I went shopping today because the kids were in school. Leroy who does not often shop found a pair of shoes and a pair of dress pants. I do not know how it happens that he can find things. Maybe it is because there is not so much variation in men's clothing. He just wears it out and gets new in almost the same style.
We are babysitting with the kids. There has been a bit of giggling, bocci playing, and getting ready for bed. Sophia did her fun run yesterday and Logan did his today. Luckily my bit of money has been given correctly.
Paula

Long weekend

Hello,

Leroy and I are going to MN tomorrow for a long weekend. Somehow leaving always means a push to get everything done. I washed four loads of clothes today because Friday and Saturday are my main laundry days when I can hang clothes on the line. In the winter when I do not put them out it is easier to get it done in a shorter amount of time so I more frequently wash a load before going to work. Going up and down the stairs was my workout for the day. I also delivered some of the neighborhood newsletters down here in the flatlands helping someone else finish their share. It would also have to add to my exercise total. Then tonight I will walk to church for choir. I am grateful for these legs that work for me.

In addition I got some green beans put in the freezer as well as some okra. These were rather small amounts of each, but they would not keep until we got back.

Then I did a little bit of cleaning in the bathroom with the idea that I really should do a complete clean of that room. When the garden is done I resolve to work on those tasks that are not so much fun, but have satisfying results.

We will see Leroy’s seminary classmates as they graduated 41 years ago and the January reunion did not work so well in a snow storm. I had the idea that I might get some new clothes just for this, but could not get myself to the store so it will be whatever I can put together. There are days when I wish I had a personal clothes buyer, one who would know what would look good on me and that I would feel comfortable wearing. There is a pipe dream.

Paula