Day 248

Waited all morning for the papers and they arrived after noon. I distributed most of them. Della has a tooth infection and the vet prescribed anti-inflammatory medication. I’ll keep her on turmeric as it doesn’t damage organs. Hollie and I will walk to the last farmers’ market of the season. Her favorite apple guy will be there. Then the dreadful time change. Why don’t we just leave Nature alone and let the sun to tell us what time it is.

Day 247

Another beautiful day and I will be distributing senior news. It’s going to rain for the next few days so I want to get the job done in the sun. Yesterday was a good one. Even though my ear is still not clear, I felt good and had a silly streak at the senior center. After the papers I will take Della to the vet. She acts stiff and slow. I’m guessing arthritis but want an opinion from the doc. 

Day 246

First thing I do after my feet hit the floor is begin activating devices. The heater, the lights, the coffee machine, the cell phone, the TV, the computer, and I pick up the newspaper. Electricity connects me to inside comfort and the outside world. It’s like blood circulating through my system. Today I will connect with people at the senior center followed by a dog walk and a walk by myself. Must take full advantage of the beautiful fall weather. 

Day 245

 The warm refrigerator was my fault. I hadn’t pulled it out and cleaned the backside. The air intake was clogged with dust and dog hair. I learn from my mistakes and have made memos in my log book. I will keep it running. Mistakes are wake up calls to pay attention. I’m thinking of times I’ve trusted too soon in a relationship and rued the day. Still, I would rather be a person who trusted rather than a cynical one.

Day 244

Fran and I have been posting about aging on CJ where the others are all years younger than us. It has been revealing to express feeling about the physical and emotional issues that go along with adding candles to our cakes. Our members are following our dialogue and hopefully they will gain understanding and compassion from our revelations. Today I hope the warm refrigerator has an easy fix. And I dropped my cell phone and crazed the glass. Oh well.

Day 243

Received an e-mail from a woman in Eureka who reads senior news. She asked about writing groups as she wants one. It made me long for the groups I have belonged to and the journal events way back to Progoff. I enjoy group activity and the energy of others. Lately I haven’t written any personal words except here and publicly in the column. I guess if I want a writing group I may have to round up a few writers.

Day 242

Rain and wind. Yesterday I broke up another bale and distributed it in the rose garden, trees, and along the north fence. I wanted it on the ground before the rain started. All the garden tools are in the shed. It’s time to clear items that have been sitting outside for months. Today I’ll get to church. I missed last Sunday with the earache. Later I may attend the Adventist cooking class. I enjoy the people and the vegetarian recipes.

Day 241

Crisp clear morning. Hollie and I will walk to the farmers’ market. There are only two left this season. She buys apples and I’m hoping there are still pears. We want broccoli for the roasted broccoli garlic recipe. It works for Brussel sprouts too. I love the fresh produce and the event. Then we may find something else to do together. Lots of dreams. I wish I could remember them. I know they are busy dreams with lots of activity.

Day 240

Good fall day to work outside. The bales are falling apart and I will move the wonderful remains to places where I want to plant next season. The pear trees need attention to have unwanted suckers cut off. Besides a walk, I have no other agenda. An open day waiting for an invitation or initiation. I have a restless need for a social life. It’s up to me to figure out how to get started again. Sure sign of healing.

Day 239

Hearing in stereo again! Ready to jump back into my routine. I’ll start with a walk and trash collection, then Senior Center duty. There could be a dog walk this afternoon. They need exercise.  A week at home is a time to appreciate how full my life is. I have wide connections in the community. I get tickled with the buddy waves while I’m walking. Lots of chats at the farmers’ market and shopping. It’s a good thing to belong.

Day 238

My ears are crackling. Unpleasant but a sign that the gump is breaking up. I would like to spend a day when I didn’t focus on feeling unwell.  Wish I had some wise insights into the meaning of life. Today life seems to be about gratitude that I have plugged up ears and not something life threatening. Yesterday I traced the recovery of ferritin from August, 2013, 7 to May 2015, 75. That was an inch from total system failure.

Day 237

Stayed inside yesterday. Admitted that I didn’t feel well and sat as above. This morning I feel okay. The ears are still plugged and hearing is weird. I will get out and walk today although picking up trash won’t happen. Bending down is not an option as my head feels fragile. I enjoyed a phone conversation with an old friend, Jerry Beck. We had a catch-up on our activities and families. He is a busy guy with projects and volunteering.

day 236

I missed church yesterday. Between the headache and cold symptoms there was no room for going anywhere. I feel better today except for plugged and achy ears. The dogs go for a bath this morning and I’ll decide if I feel like going to the senior center. I don’t want to share my cold. Sure makes for long days when I’m just sitting. The dogs like it. They curl up on my lap and snooze. It’s a waste of time.

Day 235

The day went by with no connections but I did walk five miles in the rain. This morning I feel cold symptoms along with a headache. Darn it all. Routine day as far as I have planned: orchid care, walking, and church. If there is a break in routine, fine. I don’t seem to know how to initiate social activity. I turned down invitations for years when I wasn’t well. Now I have enough energy to reconnect and forgot how.

Day 234

Damp gray Saturday morning. I will walk to the farmers’ market later. More pears and squash and string beans. I hope to see friends and make plans. I want to make plans. I want more activity and socializing. There used to be regular times for group fun like dog club, womens’ group, dream group, writing group and now I have no connections on that level. There must be a place for me where I could find meaningful activity and conversation. 

Day 233

The hedge looks better. He trimmed the top although not straight across.  Woke up in the night with a migraine. Didn’t sleep well before or after the medication. I’m tired this morning. I did walk but felt like the Little Engine That Could. Block by block I told myself I could get to the next one and I did. Glad to come home and glad I pushed myself out the door. There are days when the gray outside comes in.

Day 232

I used my energy outside. It was warm and a good time to dig weeds and move some of the beautiful compost from the bales onto the lemon and pear trees. I need to get back to moving rocks and that will happen a bit at a time until I figure out how to get rid of them. I will run out of room along the fence lines. Today after senior center duty, Richard will come to trim the hedge. 

Day 231

Another beautiful day is starting with a starry sky and calm warm air. No agenda so I can fill the day as I wish beginning with the necessary walk. Mild headache that nearly went away with coffee. May medicate, may not. I prefer to have it go away with time and moving around. I’m on the lookout for new people, new place to volunteer, new ideas, a creative urge, even a housework bug would work. I don’t enjoy feeling restless.

Day 230

I picked up three bags of trash yesterday and took the girls for a walk in the afternoon. It was a lovely fall day and today will be fair and warm. The sky was clear and full of stars when I picked up the paper at 6 AM. I’m going to the board of supervisors meeting and Karen will give me a massage this afternoon. I’ll walk early and enjoy the day. I have fresh vegetables for the chicken soup. 

Day 229

I walked by myself. Did get 10K steps by evening. I ate all day. Good food but too much and when I was ready for bed, it was hard to feel self-respect. I am out-of-control with food at this time. I have self-discipline and can reflect on the health routine that I keep and enjoy. Today I will live such that I can end the day with a smile at my behavior. Mornings are always good starts for my day.

Day 228

I walked in the rain yesterday. I walked through the Sea Cruise car show and down to Battery Point to watch the surf, walked back by the museum for a quick visit, and home. I was dripping wet inside and outside of my slicker. I have pears and squash from the market and Hollie has her apples. Today will be routine Sunday activities starting with watering orchids and attending church. There will be a long walk sometime maybe with dogs.

Day 227

Damp outside. Smells fresh. All the brown spots are ready to sprout weeds. Today Hollie and I will walk to the farmers’ market. She loves the apples. I’m up for the pears. Both of us want the squash varieties. That’s it for an agenda. Karen is back from her trip to Arizona. She will be here for a few more days looking for a place to live. The surf is high from a southern storm. I want to watch it.

day 226

I did enjoy the center. Reminded myself that being there was a choice I made. Took the dogs to the harbor for a walk and it was a lovely afternoon. Today I’ll walk them at Wally’s before I dart in for a few items. Not my favorite place. It is an open day and besides walking I could use my energy around here but that isn’t calling. What can I do? The bales need to be pulled apart and distributed.

Day 225

Megan didn’t visit. She studied for mid-terms instead. Good choice. Today I am wavering about senior center duty. Some days I don’t want to be there. Some days I enjoy every minute and everybody. What’s true is I don’t want to stay home for a week without a purposeful activity. It is too easy to stay home, sit, watch TV and feel restless without finding a solution. OK, I’ll go and find a reason to smile and like being there.

Day 224

Oil Can Henry was a fun place to go. They checked the lights, washed the windows but didn’t change the oil because it didn’t need it. Hollie and I found the items we wanted. I have new walking shoes, brown pants, sweat pants, new purse, and lots of little things too followed by a delicious lunch. Today I’ll get my hair cut, walk a lot, and Megan will come for a short visit. It will be a good day too. 

Day 223

I did walk and pick up four bags of trash. Senior center was noisy and I wanted to run out the door and never go back. Maybe it’s time to move on but I’m afraid of staying home all week without a volunteer duty. Today Hollie and I are going to Brookings. I need new walking shoes as these have over 3 million steps on them. I want brown pants and shoes too. The car will visit Oil Can Henry.

day 222

I felt like all seven dwarfs plus weepy yesterday. All over the place with emotions. Finally settled down and relaxed. Don’t like these hot days. The bales are still producing even though they are falling apart. I want to save the chard and hope it lasts all winter. I ate a beautiful red bell pepper and there are more ready to pick. The garden has been the high point of the summer. Today I will walk before senior center duty.

Day 221

The wind was fierce. I let it move the trash. Today is Sunday. I’m hoping the church will have more people. It was uncomfortable to be the only one sitting in the pews. Later is the blessing of the animals in honor of St. Francis. Don’t know if I want to go. Maybe Fr. David would bless the dogs here. I did bring home pears and apples, and vegetables from the market and make a delicious soup with beef broth.

Day 220

And it was a semi-slug day. In spite of low physical energy, I accomplished house stuff and a walk to the post office. Today is starting with a mild headache and coffee will probably take care of it. Hollie and I will walk to the farmers’ market. I want pears. She wants apples. I enjoy seeing the changes in produce as the seasons change. Later, depending on the wind, I may pick up trash. It makes my walk more attractive.

Day 219

I accomplished all I set out to do yesterday and ended the day early. Woke up in the night with a migraine that is now retreating thanks to Imitrex. I’m glad that I did it but the aftereffects remind me of my age. Today I will take a walk but it’s doubtful that any trash will get collected. Bending down won’t feel good. I may have a slug day and that’s okay as long as it doesn’t become a habit.

Day 218

My second walk yesterday was full of chatter. I ran into Anita, Sheila, Eileen, and Mitzi and had lots of news exchanges. Today I’ll get my flu shot before grabbing up the Senior News and distributing some of them before senior center duty and finish up later in the afternoon. It will be a busy day with contacts and more catch-up time. Hollie and I had lunch after the last museum duty. I enjoyed her company and the Rueben sandwich.

October Senior News column

 Staying healthy is a life-long commitment. We all know that exercise and nutrition are the tools we have for building strong bodies. And there is one more important ingredient to a good life.

Two years ago I was diagnosed with non-anemia iron storage depletion caused by donating blood. It was the 107^th pint that brought a reaction that nearly did me in. For the previous eight years I went from doctor to doctor, had way too many x-rays, blood tests, was stuck in tubes and shot full of stuff that glows in the dark without having a diagnosis. I was losing the battle gradually but consistently over the years giving up physical energy, normal breathing, clear thinking and bone strength. 

Once I knew what was going on I was able to go forward with vigor to restore my body and my health. Nutrition, exercise, supplements and a healthy attitude were my priorities. One thing I know for sure is that while my health was failing, I continued to volunteer, walk, and eat well. I know I kept going because I did not sit down and give up even though I had updated my will, and written my obituary.

Giving of oneself as a volunteer, serving in whatever capacity is possible is a positive way to stay healthy. There is no substitute for service. It gives a reason for getting up in the morning and having a meaningful day. There are so many opportunities to help out in our communities. Most non-profits depend on volunteers to keep their doors open. It would only take a few minutes to find a comfortable place where skills and interests could fit in. By the way, I have found other volunteers who became best friends and a source of mutual support. Finding like-minded people provides whole new relationships.

Yes, I eat well. During this season I have been at every farmers’ market in addition to the produce from my straw-bale garden. The garden has provided the greens that are full of iron and calcium. I walk nearly every day with a five mile goal. I have had a fitbit tracking device for a year and find it motivating to get moving. At first I was happy to get one mile and day by day it became easier to walk longer and faster.

The best ways I know to get healthy and stay that way are being aware that each day brings chances to improve, praying and having faith in the life force. The Dalai Lama says, “Choose to be optimistic. It feels better.”