He's So Handsome!

Cooper's hair is bright red - inherited I am sure from many of his relatives on both sides of the family.

He has worn it longer for most of his life, with a style that resembles somewhat of a 'bowl cut.'

Lately, however, it has grown very long, getting into his eyes and bouncing in loose curls around his head, especially in the back which has become unruly.  When he wakes up in the morning, his hair is all over the place, really.  In the past few weeks his bangs have been growing into his line of vision.

It was agreed, finally, that when Auntie took Tessa for a trim and Owen for a haircut, that instead of Cooper just riding along, an appointment would be made for him too. Pinterest comes in handy for ideas for styles for 4 year old boys who are growing up into little guys going to pre-school.

After quilting yesterday, I drove to the hair stylist's house and found all three kids plus Hilary and the stylist and her son in the salon which is located in her home.  Owen was in the chair, Tessa was being Tessa, and Cooper was sitting quietly, taking it all in.  Suckers were provided as a reward, a calming agent, and a source of bribery.  IPads and phones offered distractions while the little ones were in the chair.






 

After Owen was spruced up, it was Cooper's turm.

 Even though he was a little hesitant and his lip quivered slightly, he was a champ all the way through the process.  The stylist explained everything to him as she worked through his hair.  Auntie and I talked to him, praised him, ooh-ed and aah-ed over his new look, proclaiming him very handsome.

 






 

 


When it was all over, our little four year old toddler was transformed into a very handsome young pre-schooler.  He looked so grown-up, the perfect Big Brother for Lynnlee.

And too soon....it ended.

Every Tuesday in February.

When I signed up for the class at Rossville Quilts, I wasn't sure whether I would like it, if I would feel comfortable and accepted there, or if I would regret my decision and wish I had saved my money for other things.

Well, my fears were unfounded.

I loved the class.

No one in the class was from Rossville, and even though they knew each other from other quilting adventures, they were friendly and included me in their conversations.

I never felt like Tuesday was a dreaded trip to Rossville and that the hours would just drag along.  I was always ready to go, excited about the next steps of the projects, and amazed when it was 2:00 and time to pack up.  The hours flew by!

I also felt very comfortable wandering the shop, asking questions, and picking up things that looked interesting and chatting about the possibilities.

Plus I learned SO much about quilt patterns, fabrics, batting, thread, materials to use and not to use, and tricks of the trade.  It was just fun.

My project which was a sampler quilt using 9 different quilt blocks was really nice.  I loved it.

 

The next steps are to have it quilted then add the binding.  It was strongly suggested that we tackle the quilting part of it ourselves, but that is not my area of expertise.  I am too worried about puckers on the back of the quilt or uneven stitching.  Even though there is a cost to have it done professionally, I would rather take it to Betty for the stipple stitching to be done.

What I really liked was that all three of us used the same instructions with different fabrics and selected our own placements of the squares on the final quilt top---and they all look so different and unique!

 
Deb and her quilt top


Gretchen and her quilt top

Before I left the shop today, three of us exchanged FB information so we can remain in touch.  Then I roamed the shop---again.  I picked up a packet of labels and a fabric pen so I can add my own personal touch to each project I complete.  I also picked up two books. One is  Easy Quilts from Precut Fabrics which gives directions for making quilts using Layer Cakes, Jelly Rolls, or Charm Packs.  The other is Easy Layer-Cake Quilts which offers directions for 11 quilts that can be started with a layer cake.  I love layer cakes; I used one for Owen's dinosaur quilt. I have one featuring vintage campers to make something for Hilary.  I also have a jelly roll of blue snowflakes that I want to make into a lap quilt for me.  Moda has such cute packages that I need ideas to make several things using those cute prints.

Yes, it ended too soon.  But I am confident that I am starting now on a new journey, one that will be full of creativity and fun.  Plus I made some new friends along the way!

Too Much of a Good Thing?

At the beginning of February I was immersed in three (at one time four) Bible studies at the same time.

You Version App and Reading the Bible in 365 Days.

I Am Loved by Wendy Blight - Proverbs 31 OBS

Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst with the WW over 50 group on FB

Made to Crave 21 Day Challenge on YouVersion with Babette from DWLZ

My intentions were good.  But the time just wasn't there.

I tried.  I really did.  One morning during Week 3 of the OBS study I spent the entire morning at the table with my book and my Bible, trying to catch up on the previous week of study and be right where I needed to be.  And I haven't touched it since.

Reading the Bible in 365 Days has become a great habit.  I start the day with the devotion and reading the Psalm or Proverbs passage plus the scriptures from the Old and New Testaments.  So far we have studied Genesis and Exodus and just today started Leviticus.  The Gospel according to St. Matthew is finished and we are reading Mark now.  I have been enjoying it and learning much. I realize too that I could have become very bogged down and discouraged if I had been reading on my own.  Too many cubits for building structures and sacrifices of first born goat and cattle and lambs.....  I am so glad I am enjoying this study and thankful to Deb Sizemore for suggesting it.

 

Made to Crave I had read before and we finished the last chapters during the first week of February.  That wasn't hard to do.  I was really disappointed, however, that the person who suggested the study and created the plan did not participate, nor did most of the 35 other women who had signed up for the study group.  Only four of us from DWLZ actually participated - Karen F, Beth Z, Babette, and me.  We still interacted, but it was sad that others, including the leader, did not follow through.



That led into the 21 Day Challenge with Babette.  I needed the re-enforcement of the material that we had just studied.  However, the questions for discussion became rather routine - "What is God saying to you in this passage?" was the norm.  After I recalled that Jim always said that God was speaking to us through him and his message on Sunday mornings, I focused more on what Lysa had written and responded to her thoughts instead.  That worked for me, and I think it worked for Babette too.  That study ended on Feb. 21.

But the I Am Loved study?  I failed miserably with that one.  I tried.  I really did.  And it was the perfect organization for me.  I like commentary and Bible study where we really dig into the scriptures.  I just didn't have the effort to put into it for some reason.  I also enjoyed the messages from Wendy as well.  I have to admit that her gray frizzy hair did bother me a bit and I thought it made her look so old (and when one video showed her with straightened brown hair she looked SO much younger!  but it was only in one video!)  But her messages were superb. 



Maybe I will work on it another time.  I hope I do finish it because I did like it.  Everything was just so overwhelming and I just quit. 

A new study is starting later this spring and i signed up for it.  This FB group was great and I enjoyed the daily prompts and the interaction.  Maybe the new study will find me in a place where I can participate more.

At any rate I have become a Bible Study girl of sorts.  That in itself is a step in the right direction!!

Weekend Getaway

We just returned home from a weekend in Indianpolis.

Other than the rain which hampered some of our plans for Saturday, it was a great weekend. 

Gary had never been to the state finals for girls basketball before, so that was our first event.  I had attended a couple of the games several years ago when Kathy and I took a group of West Central Lady Trojans to the game to try to inspire them to want to be there the next year.  It didn't work, but it was a fun excursion.

Our seats were great - at the end of the floor, top row of the lower level.  Lots of leg room, good view.  During the first set of games there were no other people close to us either. 

During the break between games the rain had stopped so we walked to Hard Rock Cafe for a late lunch, early dinner.   I found a salad that had low calories and ordered it.  Just after our food came to the table, Clay and Karen came in and joined us.

After dinner we checked into the Hampton across the street and spent some time in the room which had a bedroom with a king sized bed plus a sitting room with a pull out couch.  Nice room for the four of us!

The evening games were the ones I really wanted to see, specifically the 3A match-up between the Northwestern Lady Tigers and Greensburg Pirates.  Kendall Bostic is a sophomore on the Northwestern team and her dad Kevin (I worked with him at Ivy Tech) was an assistant coach.  We could tell why they are ranked #1 in the state and why Kendall has already been recruited.  It was a great game, albeit a lopsided one in scoring, so it was just fun to watch.

By the time Zionsville and Warren Central began to play, we were all ready to leave.

Rain, rain, and more rain prevented us from walking the streets and getting something to eat so we ordered a pizza and watched tv.

This morning after the breakfast at the hotel, we went to the Indiana State Fairgrounds to the Boat and Camper Outdoor Show.  I had never been to anything like that before and I was impressed by how much I liked it!  Really.  I didn't think I would, but it was fun to look at all of the boats and especially the campers and just dream.  Maybe some day.....

After we left the fairgrounds, Gary and I drove up Michigan Road and stopped at Outback for a late lunch, early dinner.  Our first choice was Texas Roadhouse (packed), then Olive Garden (lots of cars there too), so Outback it was. 

Next stop was Kohls for some shopping for the cruise.

On the drive home we checked out a couple of houses that are for sale in Carroll County.  One we liked; one we dismissed quickly.  We are not really sure that moving is something we want to do right now, but at least we are talking about it and weighing our options.

It was a beautiful day today, even though the temps were still cool and there was some wind.  Much better than all of the rain that has been pelting us for many days now.

It was good to have a 'weekend getaway' and going to Indianapolis was something I had wanted to do for a while.

Good company. Good games.  Good food.  Nice weekend.

Finished!

Continuation of the post from January 12:

Owen's quilt is finished!

I stitched the last mitered corner about 30 minutes ago.

I love it.

The colors are so vibrant.

The dinosaurs are so cute.

This has to be the most detailed quilt I have ever made, and I created most of it myself (as in the color combinations and the patterns of the blocks).

I love it.



The border that Hilary selected is just perfect and fulls out all of the colors.

The backing is perfect also.

 

Perfect quilt for a special little boy.  And I love him so much!

Crafting in the Neighborhood

Jane and I always talk about getting together to work on some type of project, and yesterday it was time to work on the t-shirt quilts we had started to begin on last winter.

Yes...we went to a class at Betty's Quilting to learn how to make a t-shirt quilt.  Then we went to Walmart and picked up everything that Jane needed since I had most of my supplies already.

And that is where it ended.

The best laid plans and all....  Life gets in the way.....Other things took precedence....

But we decided after we took the quilts (Owen's dinosaur quilt and the quilt top that her grandmother had made) to Betty's and picked them up that we would do this.

Yesterday was the day.

We cut the shirts, applied the interfacing to the backs to stabilize, and cut again.  Each of us had our own process, but the results were the same.

Even though I felt terrible and my equilibrium was off, I enjoyed the afternoon of just working together and visiting.

Now on to the next steps which for me are adding sashing and a border to the blocks.

Valentine's Day

No, I have never been a fan.

Why?  Lots of reasons.

I remember Dad never remembering to get anything for Mom when we lived in t. Vernon and sending me to the drugstore to get a box of candy for her (or driving me there and I went in to buy it) and she didn't like it because it made her fat.

I remember listening to the girls in my high school classes talk about the gifts they received from their boyfriends---and I didn't have a boyfriend so I couldn't chime in with anything I had received.

Move on to college and living in the dorm.  Walking through the lobby on Valentine's Day was similar to either visiting a florist, a hospital room, or a funeral home.  Flowers everywhere, waiting for the recipients to retrieve them after classes.  There would be either a phone calls ("Flowers at the front desk for....") or a note in one's mailbox ("Please pick up a package at the front desk") but only once did I receive one of those.

Next - years at West Central.  Some of the same feelings with flower deliveries.  But the big thing was the delivery of cookies, candies, and flowers as a fundraiser for a club ---- and that club originally was mine.  It was a lot of work, it was a great fundraiser for us, but it was overwhelming so it moved on to another organization which is when the sadness moved in.

I watched when deliveries were made.  Some students received a couple of flowers or a cookie or two.  Some received a large pile (and were embarrassed), and many received nothing at all and were miserable.  Maybe it didn't really matter to them, but it is hard to sit there and watch  others walk up and down the aisles with cookies and flowers and receive nothing.  Not. One. Thing.  Yep.  Look at me.  No one cared enough about me to buy me a lousy cookie.  (I heard a student say that one time).

The sale also moved to the elementary school which created a similar problem.  How is it explained to kindergarten children that some of the other students are receiving cookies and candies and flowers but they are not?  Then there are the ones who receive a stack of cookies and a bouquet of flowers....  Often the classroom teacher would order enough cookies and flowers so that everyone in the class received something during the delivery. Just so no one felt left out

That's my problem ---  feeling left out or others being made to feel like they are left out.

One year my juniors were talking about things they missed from the elementary and the Valentine's Day parties were mentioned.  Finally I suggested that if they wanted to, they could make Valentine pocket envelopes from construction paper and decorate them, put them on the back bulletin board in my classroom, and fill them with Valentines, then have a party on Feb. 14.  They became like giddy elementary students!  I brought in construction paper and pulled out my tubs of markers.  Some students brought in ribbons and glitter and stickers to share.  One class started the trend; the others followed.  My only rule was that if a student participated, then he or she would give a Valentine to EVERY student in the class, not just a few.  NO ONE would be left out or forgotten.  Each class planned a party which included refreshments and a few games.  They would come in before school or between classes or sometimes after school and secretly place their Valentines in the packets on the bulletin board.  It was great fun and the way Valentine's Day was supposed to be!

Another year my Honors classes made Valentines for their mothers or grandmothers or fathers or aunts.  I received several nice notes from mothers, thanking me for assigning this project for my students.  Many had not received a card or a gift from their child for several years.   The sad thing I remember about this activity is that Deb died just before Valentine's Day.  Kacie put the Valentine she made for her mom in the casket with her.

But I have a husband, you might remind me. I have daughters too.  And through the years we have given and received gifts.  Gary sent me flowers several years at school.  And while I appreciated all of the gifts, there was still the memory of how hurt some are to receive nothing.

This year was rather low key.  We did some shopping at Target for the kiddos.  Legos for Landon and Cooper, bigger blocks for Owen.  Clothes for everyone but Landon. Some candy.  Packs of mini-muffins.  It was cool to watch Landon and Tessa open their cards and sit and read them.

Valentine's Day - not a fan.  I am more of a 'show them you love them all the time'  rather than just on a special day.  

Now the next one?  St. Patrick's Day?  Now THAT is one holiday I love.

JK

A Pop In of Memories

I am not sure why but the house at 1300 Barnes Drive keeps popping into my mind.  

Maybe it is because of Super Bowl.  We were thinking about what we did last year for Super Bowl Sunday and recalled that we picked up a pizza and some snacks at Buehlers and watched the game downstairs.  We put out the trash for the Monday pick up.  Later in the week we moved Mom from the rehab center to her new home at Chapel Hill in Canal Fulton.  I started going through more things, like the stacks beside her chair and some of the things beside the chair in the dining room.

I checked Zillow the other day and saw that the price on the house had been reduced again.  I am still disappointed that Kylie and her daughters didn't move into the house.  I was hoping that the house would have some life in it again, people to celebrate the holidays, kids to enjoy the backyard and to get on the bus with Faith and Alyssa.  That didn't happen.  The house is still empty.

We haven't been to Wooster since mid-September. I don't miss those monthly trips, but part of me, especially now when we were making monthly trips there and even more after Mom's death in May, misses part of the life there.

I did like Buehlers for shopping.

It was nice to have a variety of restaurants to choose from and for those to be so close to the house.

A movie theatre was close enough that we could go without planning extensively.  Just a 'oh what's playing?"  and "It starts in 20 minutes" so "Lets go!"  

Each trip it seemed like we visited with cousins.  I miss seeing Dale and Karen.  I really enjoyed visiting with Cindy at their house, and the time we met Mike and Kim and Dale and Karen in Canton for dinner was so much fun.

I don't miss Mom.  I don't miss her anger, her bitterness, her lack of love for everyone.  It was good, though that she did not erupt at either Gary or me, not even one time, during any of our visits with her from January until her death in May.  She did know that Lynnlee was expected.  She knew that Owen was still with Hilary and Blaine.  She knew that Landon was playing baseball and loving it.   But underlying it all was the anger she had shown us for so many years.  I don't miss that.  Only one time have I thought I needed to call her and share a piece of news with her. Never have I wished that we could go to see her one more time.  Why?  Because I didn't like to go see her when I had to.  She was angry.  She always found fault in something.  She would accuse us of looking around too much or checking something we shouldn't or prying into places we should not be or whatever she wanted to concoct in her paranoid mind.  No, I don't miss her.
 
I didn't like walking in the house and feeling like I was in a musty dungeon.  It was dark with all of the blinds shut and the curtains closed.  There was a black trash bag over the windows of the front door.  The counters were full of papers and clippings and bottles and dishes.  Foodstuffs were stacked on the floor in the corner of the kitchen.  Papers were stacked in the corner of the dining room behind Mom's chair.  Magazines and more newspapers were stacked around, next to, in front or, and behind Mom's chair in the living room.  The downstairs were covered with cobwebs and dust and more things stacked in piles.  Pictures.  Fabric. Books. More magazine.  The middle bedroom had one path to the chair and even that was very narrow for all of the boxes and stacks of things. 

Now I look at the pictures on Zillow and I am amazed that it is the same house.  Painted paneling.  All of the curtains are down. The carpet has been removed to reveal beautiful hardwood floors.  The kitchen has been gutted and new cabinets installed. The bathroom has been redone.  The blue paper has been removed in the front bedroom.  Every room has been re-painted except maybe the living room.  The carpet downstairs has been replaced.  The green garage door has been replaced by a white one (which looks weird). 

It isn't the same.  And that doesn't bother me.  It needed some updating and if we had been the ones to be moving into that house, we would have done the same things (maybe with different types of cabinets though in the kitchen). 

I guess it is just winter time.  Memories of last winter.  Trying to settle into a retirement routine of sorts.  Missing Dad.  Maybe it is because for a short amount of time I felt like I had a type of home in Wooster, one that I had never had before.  I owned that house (with Greta).  I was part of the neighborhood. People would stop by and say hello.  Melanie kept in touch (and she still does).  For six months that was our 'home away from home' because we were there so much.

The house was sold.  It doesn't belong to our family anymore.  Our connection to Wooster is over except for the two graves in the Wooster Cemetery.

Time to close the door on the memories.

I Can't Breathe......

Probably in December I thought I was getting a cold and starting taking Mucinex which nipped it quickly.  When I saw Dr. Hart about my swollen feet, he checked my lungs and pronounced them clear!

Recently I have struggled with sinus issues, at least I think that is what it is.  My nose is very dry.  I can't breathe.  My nasal passages hurt.  This may be TMI...probably is.  Sorry!  But my nose just hurt.  My eyes hurt.  I couldn't breathe which meant then that my throat hurt and I was so thirsty most of the time.

This morning something broke in my nose.  No..my nose did not break.  Something broke which meant the nose faucet began to run!

At least the dryness is gone.  The intense blowing to get whatever I can get out..out has slowed down.

But now the dripping has started.  TMI again.  My eyes are watering a little.  A cough happens now and then.  My nose is stopped up, then it starts to run, then stops up again. 

I am going through Kleenexes quickly.

Mucinex has re-appeared on the table.

And I can't breathe.

Quilting Class #1

Well, this was fun!

I was a little worried on Monday since the forecast was for heavy snow overnight.  Then Tuesday morning we awoke to about 6" of snow on the ground.  Most of the schools around here were on delays, but by the time we left to head to Rossville, many were cancelled, especially West Central and Winamac, North White, and Twin Lakes  --- and we were traveling through those school districts.

However, the trip to Hilary's house took only about 25 minutes more than usual.  The roads were snow-covered, but Gary drove slowly, we saw no cars in ditches, and plows had been out so it was a good trip.

When I arrived at the quilt shop, I was a little apprehensive because I didn't know anyone and thought everyone else would be friends or at least know each other and I would be the outsider.

That didn't happen.

There are just four of us in the class.  Becky is a grandmother also and lives in West Lafayette.  Gretchen, who wants to be called Greta ( not with a long e), lives in the Lafayette area also.  Debbie sat on my side of the table and lives in Montmorenci.  Charlotte is the instructor and lives in the Vinton Woods subdivision off of Greenbush in Lafayette.

My first glitch was that I had ordered the book but it was the wrong one.  She had extras, though, so I have the correct copy now.  It is a great book with all of the basics and instructions on 9 different types of blocks, then instructions on finished products to make with those blocks.

My second glitch was that I had two of my fabrics labeled as different than what I had wanted them to be - no biggie, but it did mean that I had to shuffle some measurements around a little.

We completed four blocks.  One was the Four Square, which is basically what I do, but I sew mine together in strips instead of blocks. I like the block method, then I can arrange and sew the blocks together.

The second one we did was a Rail Fence.  I always thought this was a cool block and now i know how to create it.

Next was the Log Cabin, and I really like it also.  It was easy to put together.  The trick is in the cutting.

Finally we did the Nine Patch which I had already done with the queen sized quilt I made for our bed.  This however used larger blocks and I liked the way we put it together.

 

Next week we will add in three more blocks, then the following week we will work on appliqued blocks and start to put it together.

I do know how to sew. I know how to put together a quilt and have created several.  But I needed to learn how to polish up my techniques.  I wanted to learn how to create new blocks.  I needed some simple ways to make items that look complicated.  I needed to learn terminology.

Some things I did learn -

• If I am working on a quality project, then my supplies must be quality also.  Buying fabric at a quilt shop is the best thing for the final product to be a long-lasting.  The same goes for thread and batting and backing and equipment.
• Pinning is not always necessary ( I did learn that, but I haven't put it into practice yet. I  am a pinner).
• The machine needle should be changed after each project is finished.
• The three most important things in making a quilt are these:
• Precise cuts
• Precise seams
• Pressing 

I was so excited when I returned to Hilary's after my class.  And I am really looking forward to next Tuesday.  Some things I know I will do before that time though are these:  change the needle in my machine.  Cut the pieces for the next three blocks before class. It will save me time and I can do more sewing!

Diet? Weight Loss Journey? Way of Eating? New Lifestyle?

What happened to the days of high school where I could eat anything I wanted to eat and not gain any weight? 

What happened to the days of wearing size 7 or size 9 in junior sizes and weighing only 117 pounds when I was married?

What happened?

Life.

Changes in metabolism.

A mother-in-law who was a great cook and always had 'farm hand meals' every evening and always invited me to stay.

Lack of exercise.

Age.

Whatever the reason, I sure am not wearing size 9 clothes nor do I weigh 117 pounds now.

Through the last 25-30 years I have tried numerous ways to rid my body of excess weight. 

Will power.  (really didn't work too well)

Diet pills (effective for killing appetite but didn't do too much for my nerves!)

Weight Watchers - once with dedication with Kathy and down to my lowest weight in a long time, Lifetime status, and wearing a size 8 again.  An unsuccessful return, followed by another unsuccessful return, then an online try, then another unsuccessful return.  All of those were interrupted by change in career, conflicts in meeting times, closing of the Winamac site, other activities on Wednesday meeting nights in Monticello. 

Will power on my own  (didn't work before, not working again).

The latest journey is with Lysa Terkeurst's book Made to Crave.  I read it in an OBS with Proverbs 31 several years ago.  WW over 50 FB group started a group to study the book, but only four of us, all from DWLZ, are participating.  I am also going through a 21 Day Challenge with the book through YouVersion.

I think I am to a place where I know, I really know, that I just can't follow my own willy-nilly plan and expect to be successful with this.

I felt so happy when I was at size 8, but happier at size 12.  I could eat food, didn't feel like I was depriving myself, and felt comfortable in my clothes.  A size 12 is my goal.

How to get there?   I really think I need to make this a spiritual journey.  Through all of the Bible studies I have been doing recently, I feel like food is just what I need to nourish my body.  It isn't what I need to feel good about myself. It isn't what I need to celebrate a success or to heal whatever is making me feel bad either emotionally or spiritually.

I need food to nourish my body.  That is all.

Diets don't work.  Like Lysa (Terkeurst, the author of Made to Crave) stated, diets are restrictive.  We can't eat this or should eat that or have to weigh everything or watch carbs or eliminate sweets.  I want to eat a baked potato once in a while, not every day, but occasionally without feeling guilty about it or think of it as forbidden food.  I want to enjoy a piece of chocolate cake for my birthday. On a hot summer day I want to eat an ice cream cone from DQ and not feel bad that I did.

But I don't need to splurge each and every day.  I can eat sensibly, make wise choices, and hopefully see the number on the scale decrease.

I hope this works.  I must find a way to make sensible eating habits my lifestyle.
 

Slipping and Sliding into Seniorship

You  know, life is full of transitions and changes.  Always has been. Always will be.

I look at our lives and those of our friends, plus those of our children and grandchildren, and am sometimes in awe of the transitions that I see happening right before my eyes.

For us....moving into retirement and senior citizenship.

I don't feel old.  I hope I don't look that old, but sometimes there is a rude awakening when we automatically receive a senior citizens discount at a fast food restaurant or when someone treats me like I have witnessed my mother-in-law be treated in recent years.

For instance - catching the shuttle from the economy parking lot to the terminal at the Indianapolis International Airport.  As we approached the door and I was pulling my carry-on and Gary had his carry-on slung on his shoulder and was rolling the larger suitcase to check, a man hopped off and helped us move the suitcases onto the shuttle and stow them. I was thankful for that, since the two suitcases were new and we were not quite used to how they rolled and moved.  But I noticed that others who boarded the shuttle at stops as we made our way through the parking area were not offered the same service.  The women and men were hefting their suitcases onboard themselves with no help whatsoever from the kind gentleman who was just riding along, chatting with the driver.

Yes, we spent several days in Orlando last week.  It was great, warm, sunny, relaxing, fun.  But one thing we noticed was the absence of school age kids.  Most of the people we encountered during the day were people our age or older or couples with small pre-school aged children.  This was particularly obvious at the resort pool where the noise level was very low and several older guests were walking backwards around the inside perimeter of the pool or swimming laps---at 2:30 in the afternoon! 

Two more 'smack in the head' realizations happened on Friday.  Gary had his regular appointment with Dr. Hart and I had a re-check to see how my BP was doing with the change in medication and if my feet and legs were still swelling.  As I sat in the waiting area, I noticed that most of the patients were old.  All of them, as they were checking in, showed their Medicare cards since now was the time to update information.  One elderly gentleman explained that he was early for his appointment ---by two hours!  He didn't care that he would need to sit and wait, and he waved away the suggestion that perhaps he could be 'worked in' if there were a cancellation or the patients with appointments were moving quickly.  Since I always like to speculate about people and their stories, I felt sad because I could imagine him awaking in his house, eating breakfast alone, dressing and driving to the clinic, then sitting in the waiting room, chatting with other people who were waiting for appointments also, just because there was no one else at home for him to take to.  This was his social time.  This was his chance to be with people. And he was taking advantage of it.  He could sit in the waiting room and visit, observe, be warm, and maybe even read the paper.  The other thing that happened at the appointment was being asked if I were depressed.  I was shocked, and expressed my surprise to the nurse, laughing because we are far too busy with activities and grandchildren to be depressed. Plus we had just returned from a trip to Florida!  Gary said she asked him the same question, and he gave a similar response.  After checking with a few friends, I found that this is a routine question for senior citizens or those with Medicare medical coverage.  Jane, our neighbor, asked me if we had had the 'checklist' yet about throw rugs, smoke detectors, life alerts....  No. Not yet.  But good to know that one might be coming.

Finally on Friday - Three Dog Night concert.  Gary mentioned that the audience would be an 'older crowd' and he was quite correct.  Most of the people gathered at Honeywell Center in Wabash were in their 60s and had probably graduated from high school in the late 60s or early 70s.  I wouldn't call us all senior citizens though.  I didn't see too many walkers, oxygen tanks, or canes.  But the gray hair, the stocky physiques, the receding hairlines....all too common.

On the other hand there is the relief that we can watch the snowfall today and not care one iota about the accumulation or whether the roads will be slick tomorrow for my trip to Logansport or Rochester or Kokomo or wherever I would need to travel.  No reason to leave the house except to deliver a salad to church for a funeral dinner.  Other than that, I can stay home and sew all day.

Perks?  Yes.    And that is the way I want to look at it!