WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR APRIL 2019

Happy Passover, peaceful Good Friday and Happy Easter to all who celebrate. Welcome to all the newbies.

I have roots and religion on my mind as a result of making contact with a cousin I didn't know I had. Thank you, Ancestry.com. This second cousin and I are related via my paternal grandmother, who was sister to her paternal grandfather. She has a book all about our family roots going back to 1700's. Unfortunately, it's out of print, but she generously texted me 30 relevant pages. I have a book that picks up with my Sephardi ancestors who traveled to Curacao, St. Thomas and then established the first synagogue in Panama. Suddenly, I have a huge family! She lives in Philadelphia, and through Ancestry and other sources, continues to add to the family tree. I have to sit down and plot it all, then begin to share with my siblings and their kids.

Other than that, DH and I are preparing for a road trip: Las Vegas for 3 nights, then to Mesa Verde National Park for 2 nights. It's a beautiful time of year to traverse through the desert and the southern Rockies. I've never seen Hoover Dam, so that's one thing on the list for us to do. Other than that, I'm happy hanging by a pool with an audiobook or just people-watching. Las Vegas is just sooooo "unique". And Mesa Verde's ancient pueblos will make for a fascinating contrast. Our little trips provide me with a respite from day-to-day caregiving duties. DH enjoys the car ride, watching the clouds, and dining out. He might wake up confused as to where we are, but eventually I can get him re-centered. Our cat will be boarded at the PetSmart Pets Hotel, where he has stayed numerous times. If they gave points like the Hilton chain, he'd be Platinum level.

Hugs to you all. Take care. We can do this.

Rori
Colorado Foothills

I'm still alive, 4 months later ...

until I hit the step stool and fell .over it. Did not actually face plant because my hands were on the front of the walker, but I had a huge bruise across the top of my arm about the size of my hand and one on my breast about the size of something huge all the way down to my nipple. The taking a shower by myself and got shampoo in my eyes, turn around to get it out of my eyes and fell out of the shower and hit the tiles hard enough to break one. Sort of looks like maybe I won that one. After the fall, I decided to go to a cane. Never could get used to the metal one, stooped over and could not be adjusted. And an HS brought me two that her Dad had made from trees on their property. I took 2 of the 4 she brought to my 50th-year reunion. I now wish I had taken all 4 of them. Then I could have one in each corner of the house. So I can't go down the steps by myself. Well, then the dog was trying to get into bed, I stood up and she almost tripped me, either I would step on her or hit the mantle, so I side-stepped her and landed on my laptop. Had to get a new one. My Tech-2-Us had saved my pictures and documents. For the first time since I had it, my cellphone asked questions I never give to anyone; by the time I opened it - it had been wiped cleans. Had to take it to Verizon so they could do diagnosis - everything fine; but, I had to type in all my contacts again. But, now I'm healing.

Lenora I too have missed you. Good to hear from you. Sorry about your falls.
Haven't heard much from Mary lately.
Still up because had one of my two hour naps on sofa while watching T.V.

Sang for Good Friday. We sang the best we could given that we did not have much time to practice. Choir was wonderful to me. Admit when I came it was like when I sub and as children come in they all ask where their teacher is. I say I will tell the when we have morning meeting. I said I will say when we all gather. I told then how I felt their prayers as I left and son is beginning to come out of the worst.

I did not specifically tell the specifics of his illness. It is too hard to go into all the details.

I know he is starting to come back to reality because he asks about his car and his cell phone. We are waiting for him to show he wants us to visit. The first few visits can be quite awful. The best way I can describe it is think what is like when you had trouble with your teenage child now multiply that by 10 and that is what he is like to deal with. Often in this stage we just upset him more so we visit him when he is calmer. We do ask him if he wants us to bring him food through the nurse. I have also started sending him a get well card a day. The important thing is we hear he is starting to have more calm period and as I said asking about things outside of the hospital.

Because he signed the waiver this time. I did ask if I can be at his discharge meeting. What I mean by a waiver a patient has to sign a waiver so we can know about their medical condition. Often when he goes through this We can know nothing. Hence in the beginning when I knew he had not signed the waiver. I called the nurse and said I know you can tell me nothing I need to tell you he had a horrific experience with the police and if they show up on your unit to try and have him somewhere else or be prepared his symptoms will be far worse.

Yes I constantly take care of myself like I am training for a marathon. Everyday I do something for myself . Today I sang in the choir, took a walk in the park on a spectacular day, and bought myself some flowers that reminded me of my mother.

I do this even when son is doing well because I never know when he will relapse. This is why when I ever hear one of you going through a particularly difficult time with a loved one I always encourage you to do something to take care of you. Yes I know it is not always easy to do in the throes of a crisis. I just know from too much experience how crucial it is to give you the strength to be there for your loved one and to keep up your own health.

Tomorrow I will take a walk with a friend.

Margaret

Part of our yard ... yeah, we're on a bit of a slope.

And that bit of sidewalk with the stairs going down to the van are hazardous. I'd like to do something with railings and lights, but I'm not sure what. It would have to be relatively simple and not too expensive.



Machka in Oz