The support and ideas we get from each other are inspiring. Many of us don't have the energy to do much of anything except exist. Then, I think we can surprise ourselves with fun and cool things we can manage to do.
Since I've been with Mom in her house for eleven months (man, has it been that long!?) I've been wanting to work on my writing. Since being here I bottomed out of energy and couldn't accomplish anything. I brought a draft screenplay. This past weekend Sister 1 took Mom for the weekend and I finally got the "umph" to finish the rewrite. I am so tickled!
What fun, cool, or activity you're proud of yourself for?
For one segment of the trip we stayed at a B&B with a delightful Japanese couple. Discussed elderly at length one night. Seems the elderly in Japan die of cancer and surprisingly of suicide quite often. Long discussion on how the culture of the family is such that elders have large savings and life insurance that goes to their children when they die. So many of the elders are concerned for their families well being due to the poor economy. The insurance pays even though it’s a suicide if the children continue to pay the premiums for like two years after the parents death. Rumors are that the gov is looking to change this law to try to prevent the elderly from committing suicide. According to our host, the wealth of the country is with the individuals and not the country. Healthcare is extremely affordable. Part of their longevity (according to the wife) is due to prolonged life sustained artificially. It’s not a POA choice as to care decisions but the doctors choice. Hospital fees for a three day stay for pneumonia about $30.
Average longevity is in the 80s for both male and female. (Online it says 79 men 86 women).
Eldest son’s wife gets the honors of care taking sons parents.
The husband of this couple was born in Hawaii. His father had a choice to go into the military or Japanese confinement during WW II. He chose the military. He is buried in the National Veterans cemetery in Hawaii.
The wife was born in Japan and her mother is care taking both her parents. Evidently the grandfather has dementia. He had a stroke and is now bed bound. Our hostess said that she felt bad for her grandfather being bed bound but now life was a bit easier for her mom not having to constantly search for the grandfather as he wandered.
The wife was into NASA. We watched the Space Shuttle zoom overhead one night. It circles the earth in 90 minutes. The few minutes we watched it went from Az to Nebraska. There’s an Ap of course. Amazing this world we live in.
I am getting ready to build a house. I have looked for a house already built for a year. The prices for already built homes are absurd! But, they are selling because it is impossible to find a half way decent rental here. Can build what I want for less than the same house would be if it were already built. I never would have been able to do this in the area where I cared for mom, the prices are through the roof!
L has found a really nice one story rambler totally redone with a fully finished basement and manageable yard. I fell very blessed in haveing such a caring daughter. It is a little larger than our current house but with a much smaller yard. Plenty of room for DH and I to get away from each other. For the first time in my life I am going to have granite counter tops. Does that mean I will have to cook gourmet meals?
Hubs, the dogs and I went for a hike at El Salto Canyon in Ensenada, Mexico (an hour from Tijuana) a couple of weeks ago.
It started off easy... flat dirt but then got a lot harder, crawling over huge black rocks. The payoff is a deep canyon where some brave souls rappel down the sides. (Not me!) We had made sandwiches and iced tea and had a picnic in the park afterwards.
It was nice being out in nature with the dogs. Kind of clears the cobwebs out of your brain.
I just love anything involving music. It just feeds my soul. Concerts are so expensive though. Even small acts are pricey. I paid $138.00 per ticket for Robert Plant, but, do you know what ticket brokers were charging? One fan, who flew in from the West coast just for the show, (she sat behind me on second row) told me that they were going for over $2000.! I guess because it's a short tour and only covered a handful of cities.
You ARE getting it done. Congrats. The concert sounds great too.
The last concert I went to see was Jimi Hendricks music about 3 years ago. My ears are still ringing.
I suppose that my latest adventure was last week. I went to see my favorite performer Robert Plant in concert! We were fortunate enough to get FRONT row center tickets, so, it was perfect. It was AWESOME!
And, I met so many nice people at the show! OMG. So much fun! I used to attend concerts all the time, but, stopped when life got so hectic and demanding. I have vowed to go more often now.
And, I've made some more moves on starting a new profession! I don't want to state what, but, I hope it will be amusing and a change of pace. I also hope it will enable me to retire comfortably. lol
AND, I'm now down by 50 pounds! Slow and steady is my motto, so, physically, I feel so much more better. Still some to go though.
Hard to believe half of February is over. I tried a new Texas BBQ restaurant and the food was so good.
I bet you ARE thankful!!
Two bouts of flu is really rough.
Glad you are on the mend.
I AM THANKFUL!
This is lovely reminder for all caregivers to focus on self care once in awhile.
Last year I was a bit better about going to paint nights and trying cooking classes. This year I haven't tried anything new yet. You've inspired me to think about this some more and I hope to write back with something soon.
It was a great break.
Thanks for asking MM.
May God bless.
The only cool thing I have done was gave some homeless people food today.
Not too often get to do cool and fun things. Hopefully as you have done I will be able to finish my writing soon.