WAKE-UP CALL IN SO CAL -- SHAKIN' -- BLOGGING

There was a loud cracking noise as I waited in the drive-thru for my brunch July 4^th.   I kept looking around, wondering what might have caused that sound.    My car hadn’t moved so I ruled out the SUV behind me having bumped me.   The restaurant structure ahead under which I was to drive appeared normal.   The all news radio station broadcast I had on wasn’t announcing anything unusual.   When I returned home, sat down to eat and turned on my television the stations all were reporting an earthquake of 6.4 magnitude had occurred, so I concluded the noise I heard must have been that quake.    

Eventually, the epicenter was announced to be about 150 miles north of the Los Angeles area in and around the small Mojave desert community of Trona and nearby larger Ridgecrest.   Some mobile homes were red-tagged since they were knocked off their slabs leaving one older couple featured in the news with regrets they hadn’t purchased earthquake insurance, despite the not inexpensive cost Reports say only 10% of Californians do have the insurance.  Homeowners Insurance doesn’t cover earthquake damage.    

The California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) seismologists featured on TV provided the expected explanation that given the quake’s size this was likely the earthquake for which earlier smaller ones we hadn’t felt in the L.A. area had been foreshocks.   Of course, there was a small percentage chance this 6.4 quake could be a foreshock for a larger one, but seemed unlikely.     

That evening as I sat in my recliner I began to feel slight movement I recognized as an earthquake beginning, then a seeming brief pause which I thought was signaling the quake ending as I’ve experienced before.  But then the motion didn’t stop and an easy rolling motion resumed with increasing intensity, finally giving me reason to think I’d better act, but just then the movement abruptly stopped.   Did I “feel it” – yes, I did -- which the U.S. Geological Survey wants to know about.

We’re told to drop under a sturdy table and cover the back of our head.    My table is next to a large dining area window, so any breaking glass could be a problem.  Plus walking during the shaking often causes people to fall so all are cautioned to avoid doing so.  This is especially problematic for those of us in the older population who may already be less secure on our feet, or some not capable of walking at all.  

I have concluded to remain in my chair, then just cover my head with pillows I have within reach – much as I will do if a quake occurs when I’m in bed.   There could be challenge enough after the shaking stops to move as quickly as possible to leave the house if that is judged to be safe and necessary. 

Jerry Lee Lewis and Tom Jones

A Whole Lot of Shakin’ Goin’ On

This was a 7.1 earthquake Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones “the earthquakelady” announced on TV and the earlier 6.4 had now become a foreshock.   Fortunately we had no power outage or I would have switched to my battery powered combination light and radio for my L.A. all news radio station KNX 1070.

USGS suggests there is a small percentage chance we could have an even larger quake and the 7.1 is a foreshock.  These odds diminish with every passing hour.   We’re told these quakes have no bearing on the much larger San Andreas Fault (runs near me) which is of concern as one site for a possible “Big One” earthquake for which California is long overdue and could be quite damaging if it occurs in the L. A. area.

Los Angeles Times writers provide a Saturday evening 7/6 update to their account of what some quake epicenter area older residents and their pets experienced.  I feel especially sensitive to what they must encounter as I consider my own situation should a damaging earthquake occur where I live, though I’m in a single family house.     

Once the quake ended I responded to this “wake up call” and reviewed my emergency preparations.  Surprisingly to me was that a couple of my portable lights and radio were dead.  They worked when last I checked them, but I thought the charge was declining so should have addressed the issue sooner.   There are some additional actions I need to take around my house in addition to updating my emergency kit items, plus wanting to add a kit for my car. 

As I physically age accomplishing some of these tasks disappointingly takes me longer than it once did.   I’ve recognized for some time that I’ve gotten behind for a variety of reasons on a number of activities needing my attention.  This “wake up” notice prompts me to decide I need to get busy on these overdue tasks.   What that means is that I will probably blog a bit more erratically, including my visits to others blogs, but please know that I haven’t forgotten you.   

FOR THE BIRDS -- LIVING IN PLACE -- THRIVING

FOR THE BIRDS -- UPDATE

Simba, the surviving one of two Big Bear Bald Eaglets, has reached an age when he could make his maiden flight any day now.   After his first flight he is expected to return to the nest, as he will do following each of his practice flights for a week or two before finally departing to seek his fortunes and fish in the big wide world.  

When I tuned in late Saturday afternoon 6/29 Simba was quietly resting in the nest as a parent was perched nearby surveying the surrounding wooded area and scenic lake.  Suddenly Simba arose, repeatedly spread his massive wings, flapping them as he would need to do in flight,  hopping about, balancing, evolving into an airborne short flight-like bounce onto a heavy branch on the nest’s perimeter, then back to the nest’s center to scrounge about in the twigs seeking snacks and to prune his feathers.

Just before dusk Shadow, (Simba’s father) flew in presenting a fish that was enthusiastically received.  Simba was able to feed somewhat independently but continued to accept being fed occasionally as the two ate together.  Later Shadow departed, Jackie (mother) flew in, rearranging the nest’s small branches.   Simba soon appeared desirous of settling down for the night as darkness closed in.   He moved head first to go under Jackie’s wing as had been the positioning for sleep when he was younger though he has been sleeping alone for some time.  Jackie paused only briefly, then quickly moved away, grasped a small branch in her beak, moving it aside.  Then she hopped to the large branch outpost where the parental birds generally have taken turns standing watch and from which they launch their takeoffs and landings.   

Simba could only accept that he was on his own now as appears he continues being prepared for the separation process, so snuggled down in the nest all by himself.   He’s only a little over ten weeks old but already more mature in a bird’s life, I guess. 

Live Feed 24/7 Video Cam:  https://youtu.be/5b2dUgK6VV4

LIVING IN PLACE PERSPECTIVE  

Some of us have been dedicated to the concept of living in place – remaining in our own residences alone or with another as we age.    A commitment with the ability to carry out this type of arrangement can be easier said than done given aging’s challenges.   We all may encounter some of these issues sooner or later. 

Some of the unpredictable considerations revolve around finances when unexpected expenses occur necessitating house and property upkeep.   Health needs due to physical changes may cause us to reconsider our options including recognizing and accepting we have a need for help.    Hiring dependable, trustworthy, caring, competent assistance from occasional to regularly scheduled periodic aid, or even a full-time live-in caregiver can be no easy task,  often is a trial and error process.   

The support available in my community and nationally in this digital age has significantly improved compared to that of only a few decades ago.   The large number of Baby Boomers has likely prompted increased responsiveness to meeting the needs of older people.   Predictions include an expectation of high demand for independent living accommodations,  more medical personnel and those who can provide home assistance -- possibly with a shortage of such individuals. 

Health need changes with aging can be expected, though to what degree can be unpredictable.  How likely will a person(s) be able to remain in their single dwelling residence given all the variables?  

What kind of living choices may be prevalent in the future though may have limited availability for my present generation?

I recently read this HomeHealthCareNews interview with Gerontologist Dr. Bill Thomas who has directed his energies with innovative ideas about our older lives you may find of interest.  (Dr. Thomas authored a seminal still pertinent book some years ago "What Are Old People For".)

"The houses we’re creating [at Minka] are really meant to be plugged into sophisticated approaches to home care, so that we’re able to actually optimize the housing and care in a way that can help people stay out of the hospital, out of the nursing home, out of assisted living and live the life they want to live."

THRIVING IN PLACE

I wrote here months ago about starting a support/conversational/educational group at our local senior center to address needs, experiences, sources locally and otherwise to facilitate successful living in place with a group we call Thriving In Place.  We haven’t wanted to just live to age in place,  but to thrive in the process.  Initial explorations of some of the aging choices, in addition to living in place which some wanted to learn about have been explored.

As we’ve ratcheted down to focus on topics related to remaining in our residences the number of our active participants has dwindled.    Individuals simply did not, or were no longer able, to attend  (as a couple participants noted had occurred due to health issues) to engage in the specifics to learn and aid one another with information, seek answers to our questions.   We are taking a hiatus for the rest of the summer and disappointingly to me, may not resume this fall.   Living in place blogger’s comments and reports, as many write about here and on their blogs, will continue to be of interest to me. 

One of the bloggers I follow, Jean,  who lives in Michigan and blogs at “TheMisadventures of Widowhood” has been living in place for a number of years, but in June made a decision to adjust her plan – sell her home and has made a commitment to move.   She is sharing her rationale for doing so, the experiences she is having – all of which is food for thought wherever we live.   Those interested in learning from her experiences may want to begin by reading her first post on the topic at the beginning of June, then subsequent ones – click on this link: “Visualizing My Next ChapterAgain”.

I wonder if others are encountering situations where they are re-examining their living environment  choice, may be considering making a change, or think it might have been better if they had chosen a different setting than their current one?

LIFE WASTED ON YOUTH -- LIVING BACKWARDS

Reflections on life when we regard events and choices we’ve made could give us reason to consider the thought “Youth is wasted on the young” attributed to twentieth century dramatist George Bernard Shaw.    That seems counter to what life is about – a never-ending learning process.  

I’ve also heard the suggestion we should live life backwards but I could never figure out exactly how that would work. 

A twentieth century tune even had lyrics recorded by numerous popular singers of the time that spoke of youth being wasted on the young in relation to being in love.  Here’s Tony Bennett from that era singing still in our current twenty-first century:

What do you think – is youth wasted on the young whether or not in terms of falling in love? 

How could we possibly live life backwards?