As a post college graduation trip, a friend took me on a cross country trip from Maryland to California. He was a professional athlete and we drove out in a baby blue Jag. While I was there I was going to see the Fifth Dimension with someone I had met. We were chatting and he…
Routine Testing
While this is an unusual topic maybe, as one ages, some of you may be able to relate. Access to medical care is a significant component of all of our lives if we have aspirations to live to be older. As we accumulate medical screenings, routinely recommended, the appointments pile up. And, as we leave…
In My Heart
As a child my parents took me to see my grandmother in Rochester on a regular basis which was about a 9 hour drive from our home. My mother was one of 9 children and most of them still lived near my grandmother. The gathering of my aunts (seven) at her house was a joyful…
Coping with Caregiving: A Personal Journey for the New Year
Welcoming the new year has been special for me this particular year. I have had a few difficult years, 1997-98, and survived. This year, I have been thrust into a caretaker role for the first time since my three children grew up and entered professions that were self-sustaining. My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer.…
Life Is Strange
This will not be a political post. This is likely more of a scratch-my-head type of post. I grew up in the late 60s, multiple assassinations were part of those years, along with rampant unrest on campuses and in cities. During this time period, the Vietnam War created a forum for the expression of radical…
California Living: Highlights and Challenges to Consider
California Eureka (I Have Found It) Moving here to warm weather has been a life gift. I had lived here in the 70s and forgotten the appeal of summer wear almost year-round. I moved back to the East in 1978 to take care of my parents. In 2011, I retired and moved to the ocean.…
Social Connections and Aging: The Super Ager Lifestyle
In the last three years, I have been so fortunate to have developed a friendship with a neighbor who qualifies as a “super ager,” which is a specific category for the aging population. She is 99 1/2 years young and has the cognitive functioning of a person in their 50s. “Super agers” is a term…
Boost Your Motivation with Daily To-Do Lists
Some of us determine our daily priorities by listing what we are planning for the day. While flexibility is part of the implementation and adjusting how we spend our time, the list is the anchor for the day. Using a list to organize time is a simple process to create motivation. Many people hesitate to…
Retirement Bliss: Adapting to Life in the Desert
Living in the desert brings many challenges, some too stressful, while life is getting better (hahaha). The heat in the summer is 100-124 degrees. This summer, the average has been about 109, easier to manage. We do outside activities in the early AM and run errands. Midday is time for paperwork, reading, puzzles, writing, online…
Effective House Cleaning Tips for a Tidy Home
Regular house cleaning tasks involve a combination of daily, weekly, and monthly chores to maintain a tidy and healthy living space, no matter the type. Having access to housekeeping services is a gift, but many of us trudge through this process by ourselves. Many divide the cleaning process into daily, weekly, and monthly. I have…
