HAPPY JULY 4TH !
You must read "Going Small, and Coming Home" by Shoreacres at Task At Hand
*****
Content on this blog is continuing to be an experiment with addressing several matters each post
-- mirroring my daily life which also revolves around more than just one
issue. Every day is infused with living in the
present through actions, thoughts triggered by daily experiences, occasional
unexpected influx of memories – this is basically what I write about. Perhaps
the unsolicited inflow of memories tends to become more prevalent in proportion
to my years of accumulating them. There are occasions when I have no one here with whom to verbally engage, so some of the
residual of that situation comes here.
POLITICAL COMMENTARY
My writings will
likely continue to include some political commentary on the status of our
government – more so than most of my previous years blogging which began in
2006. My reason for doing so is that our
current U.S. administration gives every indication of differing from previous
ones in our nation’s history since 1776.
Their governing is not simply a matter of differing political party beliefs from those of the opposition parties views. I perceive this administration's actions and stated intent pose a potential threat to the constitutional democratic republic principles on which our nation
was founded. I consider my moral and
ethical responsibility as a citizen to question such actions, words, behaviors that
I believe jeopardize my rights and freedoms and those of generations to come.
The President’s most recent demand under the guise of alleged voter fraud -- which is
undocumented -- to obtain private data on voters is an example of a violation
that, if allowed, is ripe for abuse of citizen’s rights by this Administration. Given the President’s vindictive nature
against anyone whose views differ from his own, his administration – or any
other, for that matter – but his, especially, should not have access to this
information. Likely an “illegal” vote by
his definition would be one other than for him and/or his agenda much as occurs
in despotically-ruled countries.
Then there are his automatic
condemnations of any factual news reports to which he objects coupled with his
constant lying. I won’t even discuss his most disgusting
modeling of offensive language in words and writing any self-respecting adult would
not admire – would not want their young children or youthful adults to pattern
their lives after. His words and
behaviors do serve to distract many (which may be partly his intent) from focusing
on his governing efforts that less than successfully address the needs of those
other than the most wealthy while, as some suggest, his family coffers may be
being enriched.
Readers are welcome to be selective in choosing whatever topic segments I might write
about that are most of interest to them and disregard those that are not, but
that’s always been true. I cannot avoid
writing about our government’s functions since it is very much a part of my
daily life, affects my future and that of my loved ones.
DAILY LIFE
My real time daily activities often aren’t referenced here until after the fact, if at
all, unlike the writings of many other bloggers. This is for the simple reason that as a widow
now, I live alone – as I have been for the past decade, but had not previously
done except for a number of years after college and before I wed.
Publicly distributing information on the Internet about my daily routines might not be
in my personal best interest should those with less concern for my welfare and safety
choose to abuse that information. Also,
my life is pretty routine and probably would be considered by others to be dull
much of the time compared to that of many I read about. While I’m still active, I confess to being
less so as I get older.
My family members’ excitements and activities are mostly shared via various
technical devices, even, occasionally, the old-fashioned standard postal
service mailings. This is because the
bulk of our time is spent physically apart since the few remaining alive live
distances, even across the country, from me.
Tech-wise, for example, my son texted
me this past weekend saying, “Whas up, Mom?
Wanna Facetime?” Timing was
perfect for me, so I quickly replied, “O.K.!”
Within minutes my iPad-mini screen was filled with my son’s presence in
real time, quickly followed by my 5 year old grandson’s coming into view. In the background I could see and hear my DIL
joining our conversation as she was wrapping up some activities on her laptop.
Soon my grandson wanted to read to me a book since his achieving this
ever-increasing skill had progressed even more in his kindergarten year just
completed. I was duly impressed as he
pretty fluently read long sentences (for him), successfully sounded out a few
initially challenging words, accepted some cues or prompts on others as needed
from his folks. All in all we had a
delightful conversation, then my grandson later went off to seek his own
entertainment and we adults, sometimes just my son and I, caught up with the
“doin’s” in each other’s lives.
Updates on my needs, concerns, welfare are always a basis of inquiry from my son or daughter
though I dutifully keep them regularly posted.
My daughter and I tend to have long phone conversations, preferring our
landlines when we talk, though all have smart phones (except me as I still prefer to use my old cell phone). Shorter
conversations from my now young adult granddaughter occur which I especially
treasure knowing how busy young people’s lives can be. In
between these contacts we all text and email, sometimes daily, occasionally
several times a day, individually or in a group dialogue.
What a contrast all this communication is compared with what I had with my
Mother, MIL and other family living then when we lived such a distance from
each other years ago. Long distance
phone calls could be expensive, though we had progressed past the time when such
a call meant some catastrophe had occurred or someone had died. We did make an effort to take advantage of hours
when reduced phone rates applied. We
wrote letters mostly. I often typed mine
on my Royal portable which I still have.
I read recently typewriters are gaining
renewed use and appreciation much as long playing vinyl records (LPs) -- news reports Sony is now pressing LPs again. Increasing numbers of discerning music listeners desire the fullness of LP sound over that of digital just as I determined and told skeptical others so many years ago after listening to CDs.
Sometimes when tape recorders became
more reasonably priced and reduced in size with cassettes, we dictated verbal
letters to my Mother (as her vision was failing), and brother in Hawaii – the
rest of us were scattered about on the Mainland -- mailing them to each
other. I still have one tape (if it
hasn’t disintegrated) of my mother’s voice and wish I had saved more, including
one with my now-deceased only brother and sibling.
GARDENER
Today, I succumbed to a personable young gardener I didn’t know or had never
employed. He unexpectedly
came to my door offering to spread a combination mix of mulch and fertilizer to
my yard as partial protection against our excessive summer heat. His English was limited but he said he’d
return in 14 days to see how the grass was doing. I think he’ll be as good as his word (left a
phone number), but if he doesn’t come, that’s okay with me. I never
respond to the rare solicitor at the door as they have to be licensed in our
city. I usually confront them to show me
the license they’re required to carry, and I even phone the local non-emergency
police number as we’re urged to do with any uninvited strangers. “See something – Say something!”
I still
have some semblance of grass in all front yard areas but the parkway I
converted to bark several years ago, disconnecting the sprinklers to that area. Drought effects had a severe deleterious
effect on my yard, but the grass never was in the pristine condition as it had
been before when my husband was living and supervising the care once he could
no longer do the labor himself. I have
the same gardeners but think I may not have been as meticulous in following a
schedule fertilizing and whatever else my husband might have been doing. He had
written instructions on everything but that in his notes, so I assumed the
gardeners automatically took care of the treatments. I will convert away from this grass
eventually for less watering which I already restrict.
My gardeners are limited English speakers (Spanish) but we communicate well
enough. I’m very pleased with the tall
hedges, shrubbery trimming they do, personally like any of the gardener’s young
helpers with their good-natured humor and manner, so retain them. I can always phone his home, where an
unaccented native-English sounding speaker daughter will take my message which
she relays to her father.
Perhaps part of my attitude somehow reflects a connection to my husband I may feel on
some level – knowing they knew him. He
was discerning of human-kind. He trusted
them. I trust them and have not been
disappointed in their fairness. They
seem most anxious and responsive to pleasing me, whereas I’m more inclined to
have them “just do it” and expecting them to know what to do without my
direction. I’m sure my husband had been
very directive.
LIVING IN PLACE
Being free of house and yard upkeep
inside and out sometimes becomes a very attractive idea. I review in my mind all the services
available to me here in our city that will be of help if I ever need them – transportation,
house-keeping, Girl Friday for errands, near by grocery/pharmaceutical/restaurants that also offer home
delivery, home health care, close proximity to my top quality hospital and
doctors, Meals On Wheels and even a socialization group for home-bound people
if I choose to join.
I consider the reputable licensed electrician
and another who is a carpenter I’ve occasionally hired, that have demonstrated
their trustworthiness and assured me they’ll provide any handyman services, to be important
members of any needed support team. I’m reminded of solicitous neighbors though we
interact infrequently – but like yesterday, I found outside my door a sandwich bag full of
cherry tomatoes my young neighbors across the street must have harvested from
their garden before leaving for a long holiday weekend since I observe their car is gone.
Most days I think only of how much I enjoy
continuing to live in my home even though I’ve been so remiss in not yet undertaking long delayed much-needed redecorating of the interior. I still need to downsize my “stuff”, sort
through clothes I’ve saved in different sizes, dispose of work-related
materials I likely won’t use in the future, cull my book library, just to name
a few attack areas. I don’t want to
leave all this for my children to cope with.
I continue to remain dedicated
to the “living in place” concept, living in my home.
I leave open the possibility of moving closer to either of my children as they have encouraged me to do for many years now. Neither of them have any interest in returning to live in California, though I think it might be a possibility in the distant future for one of them -- I could be wrong. My philosophy all my life has been to "keep my options open", so if circumstances warrant I will acquiesce to leaving this more desirable climate. But I've told them both, that if my mind completely goes it won't matter much where I am.
No doubt you have future plans or arrangements for retirement and/or older age living should you find yourself suddenly living alone, becoming less mobile, or in the event you experience unpredictable health changes. If not, it's never too early or too late to consider.
