Challenges of Aging

I have not blogged a lot lately. Our lives have been preoccupied with health challenges. This is one of the difficulties of aging -- our bodies begin to decline and we experience a variety of medical conditions. Without going into detail, in recent weeks medical treatments, procedures, and/or tests have occupied three to four days of each week. We are extremely fortunate that this care exists and that we have adequate insurance to pay for it. Still, it is a time that requires major adjustments in our lives.


Last Monday we were putting out ice melt on our walkway and today the temperatures were in the 70s! I spent three hours weeding and cutting down the remnants of last season's garden (I always leave the seed heads of plants such as rudbekia and coneflower to feed migrating birds). Now that the buds are swelling and the shoots of bulbs are pushing up through the ground, it is time to get rid of the leftover materials and get the garden ready for the emerging greenery.

However, after three hours weeding and cleaning up debris, I was so tired that I feared I would not have the energy to put away all of my tools (I did, but it wasn't easy). The reduction in stamina is one of the most troubling things about aging. In my mind, I can still do as much as I ever could. But my body gets weary long before my brain is ready to quit. And everything I do seems to take twice as long as it used to.

My mother once told me that in her mind she didn't feel old, but she was trapped inside an old body. Now I understand completely.

Still, I love working in the garden. It is my therapy, and along with music, the thing that keeps me able to retain my sanity. Sure, I could hire someone to do the work (and I do for some of it), but the hands-on activity of weeding, raking, pruning, and planting satisfies a need so deep inside that I can't put it into words.

The cat's new plaything

We took our cat, "Trouble," to the vet today for his annual checkup. We adopted him a year ago this month. He will be two years old next month. The vet said he is in good health. She gave him his shots and he does not have to go back for another year. He weighs 15.4 pounds. She said he is not overweight for his large frame, but she would not want to see him gain any additional weight.

After we took him home, we went to the pet store and bought him a "cat condo."

He took to it immediately and spent a good portion of the rest of the day on it (you can see my pink stepladder in the background. I will put plants back on it when the weather warms enough).

As you can see from the photo above, our family room is primarily the cat's playroom! In the photo below, he sleeps comfortably in the top level.

We are so glad we adopted him. He had been at the shelter, in a cage, for over two months. It took him a while to feel at home here, but now he rules! He is such a joy to us, and a beloved member of our family.

Joanie

Lunch on the River

The other day we visited Sanford, FL and went to a little restaurant along the St John's river. This is not a fancy place by any standard, but it is one of our favorite places to go in Central Florida. My sister, her husband, and his sister went with us. Below, my guy faces the camera. River view in background.

Below, my sister (on right), her hubby, and his sister. More river view in background.

This is not a chain restaurant. The food is simple and delicious. I am particularly fond of grouper, a fish that we don't have back home, but it has grown more expensive. Still, I splurged and had a grouper reubin. It may sound weird to some but it was excellent and I wouldn't hesitate to order it again.

The service is not the fastest, but the food is worth waiting for, especially when you're enjoying the breeze and the casual ambience, watching the boats, and are in good company. If you're ever near Sanford, stop in and try it. Shorts, sandles, and t-shirts are appropriate attire, although it was a cooler day when we were there and people dressed accordingly.

Joanie

Presidential Inauguration

I love to watch the inauguration of a U.S. President, and have watched, via TV, the inauguration of each President starting with JFK. Maybe it's because I majored in Government and Politics (and maybe too because as an employee of the Federal Govt in the D.C. area, we always got the day off!). I love the pageantry and the patriotism of the day. Whatever one's political views, the peaceful transition of power from one leader to another demonstrates again and again the strength of our Constitution. (Above: White House photo by Paul Morse.)

While the storm clouds gather

far across the sea,

Let us swear allegiance

to a land that's free,

Let us all be grateful

for a land so fair,

As we raise our voices

in a solemn prayer.

God bless America,

land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains

To the prairies,

To the ocean white with foam

God bless America, My home sweet home.

This "unofficial national anthem" was written by Russian immigrant Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised in 1938. A 1938 recording by singer Kate Smith initially made the song a huge hit, and it remains well known to this day.

God bless the United States of America.

Joanie

Cold Weather?

Here in central Florida, where we are vacationing, people are complaining about the cold. It has been in the 30s at night and 60s during the day. But everything is relative -- look at the above photo from my son about the temperature back home this morning! Above, another picture from home. Our little pond is frozen solid. So I can take this "cold" weather here in Florida. After all, how much of a hardship is it to wear a long sleeved shirt and a sweater!

We will be returning home in a couple of weeks. Am hoping that temperatures will return to normal by the time we get there. I don't mind winter, but zero degrees is a bit much even for me!

Joanie

The Cat

Last year when we were in Florida, we started looking at the website of the Humane Society back home for another cat. We had lost our old cat, Amos, in Nov 07 and after grieving were thinking about getting a new pet. The Humane Society had a photo of a kitten named "Trouble." He was only eight months old when his previous owner left him there to be adopted. When we returned home, we visited him at the shelter, and also looked at cats in other shelters, but something about this cat called out to us, and we decided that, despite his name, he would join our family. The above photo is from the Humane Society's website in Jan 08.

We decided not to rename him, despite recommendations from friends, so he continues to be called "Trouble." (He also goes by "Fatcat" and"Bratcat.") He has been an endless source of amusement and entertainment.

The little kitten we adopted has grown into a "big dude," to use the words of our Veterinarian. Trouble likes to sit on his perch that we bought him, and look at the birds and squirrels that visit our trees and our deck.

He is a big cat, especially from a rear view!

He plays hard, but then he falls asleep at a moment's notice. His favorite sleeping place is in the box Cliff's new shoes came in. It is a tight fit.

It is not a great idea to get a cat who is the same color as your kitchen floor, especially when he likes to lie near wherever you are working.

He prefers scratching on furniture, but likes to lie on his scratching pad.

My son is taking care of "Trouble" while we are in Florida. We can't bring the cat with us because the Autotrain doesn't permit animals. We miss our dear pet very much.

Pets enrich our lives in so many ways. I know we would be poorer indeed without our feline companion.

To all pet lovers in "blogland." Joanie

New Year's Day 2009

I used to make New Year's resolutions, but every year they seemed to be the same: lose weight, get organized, etc., etc. It is hard to break this habit. This year I still have things I would like to achieve: practice music more; remember birthdays in time to send cards; continue downsizing; be more charitable; plant more flowers; be less impatient; be more expressive of feelings for family and friends.

Our lives don't always progress smoothly. As we age, health issues intrude on our hopes and plans. Coming to terms with the changes aging brings is not easy. In our minds, we are as young as ever, but the image in the mirror is of an older person. I find that I still have ambitions, but everything takes at least twice as long to accomplish (if, in fact, it can even be done). One can easily become depressed unless we focus on what is good -- we are alive, our minds are relatively alert, we can see (with glasses), we can hear (isn't closed captioning wonderful!), we can walk, we can remember (maybe not as quickly as before). We have some precious advantages: we have experience, and we are wiser as a result.

My mother used to say "old age isn't for sissies" and she was right, for sure!

I wish a wonderful 2009 to everyone, but especially those of us who can rightfully claim the moniker of "senior citizen."

Warmest wishes for the new year. Joanie