Day 42

I’m up and feeling OK again. Today after senior center duty I get to go to Carol’s with Chris for our J street journal group. I haven’t written anything to share or found anything to read. So, I will appreciate what the others bring. I would be happy if we just had a social hour since they are women I enjoy. I did step-ups with weights and marching to get back into PT exercises. I want to create well-being.

Day 41

The tired from Friday caused a jammies-wouldn’t-come-off Saturday. Old movies and that’s all. Today my eye feels normal, the headache is just a reminder, and my energy is rising. I’m still dithering about church. If the discomfort outweighs the experience, I will do the right thing and exit, hopefully, gracefully.  The check from Summit arrived. Tomorrow it goes to the bank for a few days and then off to the new account. I like the simplicity of two accounts.

Day 40

         

Yesterday was hard. Started with the headache followed by another IRS inquiry that sent me on a paper chase. I did find the letters that I needed and sorted the rest. They are now bound and put in storage. Jeff said he would take care of it. The dogs and I walked the long block. Minnie slowed down coming up Cooper street hill. Those two inch legs have to work hard to keep up. Too tired for Art Walk.

Day 39

Another headache. Good old imitrex to the rescue. I may feel dull but the stab is gone. I wish I knew how to prevent them from happening in the first place. Long ago Judy told me I could drive myself crazy trying to find a cause and still wouldn’t. Too many variables. Today I will dust and sweep and fill my refrigerator with fresh food. Hope for a walk and energy for the yard. I want a good day.

Day 38

I did get a brief walk yesterday, just long enough to finish the last four paper deliveries. It was a beautiful day and I wished I had felt better and had worked at pulling weeds. The rain and warm temperatures have brought lush growth of weeds. Today I plan to enjoy the senior center duty, be part of it, connect with people, and come home with a positive memory of the experience. My mood elevation is up to me.

Day 37

Yesterday’s good mood lasted until 11 am. Then it was over. I’m back to feeling limp, whiny, achy, and blah blah blah.  I did compose the second haiku for April. I know they get better as the month goes along and I get a groove. Soon I will be creating haiku while waiting at red lights and standing in line at the market. It’s a soothing mind quieting kind of pattern. It might improve my mood. I need it.

Day 36

Something shifted yesterday. Maybe a barrier that I had against enjoying what I have. Susanne’s coming adventures made me aware of my routine and I made it wrong to be in a rut. Then I had fun at the center, enjoyed my dogs and my home, laughed a lot, suddenly in love with my life again. Meaningful conversations with people I enjoy resonate and that’s very good. Today I’ll go out in the storm to distribute the senior news.

Senior News column
I have been on my knees digging in the dirt in front of my south facing fence making a bed for pea seeds. The net is in place for them to climb so now they need sun, water, weeding, and patience.

Meanwhile, I took a mini-survey of friends here and afar, neighbors, and total strangers. My questions: Why should older people take an interest in politics? Which elections impact us more, local, state, or federal? What would you like your elected people to do for you?

“Just because we are seniors doesn’t mean we don’t know what’s going on. I’ll support you but you had better not lie to me.” This was said to a candidate in an open house discussion. We need to attend forums, debates, read, and discuss the issues with our friends and neighbors.

One friend enjoys newsletters and e-mails from her senator. It keeps her informed about how he votes on issues. She is against the death penalty and for the rights of the disabled. Her senator feels the same way. The federal officials are in charge of medicare, social security, health care reform and those are vital areas of interest to us. One responded, “Tell the federal government to stop being the policeman to the world and look inside our country and its needs like the homeless population and cost of health care”. One said, “Take away the tobacco subsidies and put the money in the food stamp program. Fix immigration rules and get on with other issues.”

The Sheriff position is the moral conscience of the community. They support self-responsible behavior and take care of those who don’t follow the approved rules. It is an important office whose standards must be high. The District Attorney’s office must be even-handed and sensitive to any lack of fairness. They hold the scales of Justice and hold people responsible for breaking the law. The punishments must fit the crimes. In our community the local races seem to get the most attention. Maybe we feel the state and federal governments are too distant to feel our needs.

By the time I’m picking the peas, the elections will be over.  As I take care of their growth, I will take care of being a well-informed voter and I urge us all the take responsibility for knowing what’s going on and who we trust to follow through on their promises and work for us and our well-being.