Cycles

 

I guess life really does move in cycles.  I'm planning the 3rd annual Awards Dinner for the newspaper and once again, it's taking a ton of time to put together.  The event is in April, 2023, but if you don't line up your venue and food vendor right away, you might end up with nothing. It seems like I just finished up doing the last one.  

I've started working at the Arbor Landing Senior Living facility.  If it kills me, we're going to get the house paid off while we can still enjoy it!   I work 3 days a week from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. as the receptionist.  

As I have told many people, by 7:30, everyone is in bed, so it's not a tough job.  I have met many "characters" there and really like what I am doing.  Today is Wine Wednesday--they meet in the bar in the facility and sing and drink.  I always say they are "boozin" again and they laugh.  Last night, one of my favorite residents, came in with her son.  He will be out of town for a while so he took her to dinner.  I was teasing and asked how she always managed to have good looking dates.  As her son was leaving, he said, "I'll be back soon.  Just try and have a good time and don't get into trouble."  She just rolled her eyes at him.  He continued, "maybe you and Jan can sit down one night and play a board game or cards."  Again, she rolls her eyes.  I said, "hey, that's a great idea--do you play poker?  We could sit at the bar and play strip poker and see if we can draw a crowd."  Well, she just cracked up at the idea and he said, "MOTHER!" Just the way Jenna used to say it to me.  There was an older gentleman in the area--he just visited his 14th great grandchild.  He laughed at what I said and asked if I had heard of the 3 "H's."  I said no.  He said, that's what a man gets when he gets old--horney, hopeful and harmless!!"  Somehow I think my friend's son is going to worry the whole time he is gone. 

It is sad though, to see the shell of people they once were.  This is not a nursing home, but I think that some of the residents should be in a place where they get more care.  We have nurses on staff, and each resident has their own one or two bedroom apartment, but some of the people just can't handle living alone.  

The weather is finally getting to be tolerable.  It's 73 and sunny today.  We got rain and wind after Ian, but nothing like Florida got.  I know people who have their Christmas tree up already and I just laugh.  Nothing like pushing the year to an end.

Health wise, we are OK.  Tony is good.  He had his labs and doctor visit today and his numbers look great.  He still gets light headed, but overall, he's healthy.  I am OK, my skin is still a problem and so are my legs.  Being on my feet at the facility makes them swell and then I walk funny.   How many times this year have I said that it's hell to get old?

David and Brenda are coming up for Thanksgiving and then we will be travelling to attend her investiture as a judge in January.  David and the girls actually get to help her into her robe as she is being sworn in.  

And with all of that said, it's time for me to get to work.  I wonder if I will ever truly retire?