widow'15

Shirley: Sorry you are experiencing discomfort with spasms. You made me smile with your walker's name, "Gladys" - that was my mother-in-law's name who lived to be 95. 😊 Through each day for the past 3+ years, I have had to tell myself to "Take One Day at a Time" not only because that is the sensible thing to do, but because at my age, it is the only way I can manage my day and myself. My poor old brain can only do "One Day at a Time." Gone are the days when I could keep more balls in the air. Take care. Dee

Shirley: Here's hoping the best for you. There are treatments for MD but do hope it's cataracts. Dee

Gwen: I guess I was feeling pretty comfortable these past years as my dental insurance was in place and as far as I knew I was satisfied with it. My husband had set it up prior to his illness. Now of course, open enrollment is changing my comfortable place. Need to decide what dental insurance I will go with and if I want to invest in vision. Haven't taken the time to compare and at my age, who knows what's next. LOL. Oh well, "One Day at a Time, or should I say, "One Worry at at Time." Dee

Karen K: Don't know if "halos" are due to my macula degeneration for sure. Just seemed to be discovered shortly after I was having my eyes examined for new glasses and the optometrist referred me to the retina specialist. There were no problems with "halos" and night driving until after my husband passed in 2015. Of course, my age doesn't help, am now 77 years old. Up until then, I was driving anywhere I wanted to go daytime or nighttime. I can still drive in daytime to my appointments and grocery shopping, but with all the "crazies" out there in such a hurry I would rather be home. Am always feeling like I am not going as fast as everyone else wants me to go. Yes, I know what you mean about medical insurance and paying for glasses. Hopefully, your family is there to help you if you need to go somewhere in evening. Dee

Shirley: Don't mean to upset you, but I had the same symptom of the "halo" around the moon shortly after my husband died in 2015 and since I had not had my eyes checked for awhile as we were dealing with his illness, my annual appointments to my eye doctor were well past two years. One evening as I was letting my dog out for her last bathroom break, I was talking to my husband looking at the beautiful full moon, and saw the "halo" and commented to myself, "Now why does the moon have a halo?" Shortly after that I went to the optometrist to get new glasses and discovered I have macular degeneration in my left eye. I have stopped driving at night as well. Google macular degeneration and you will find a Amsler grid that will help you determine if you should see a eye doctor soon. Hopefully, new glasses will solve your problem. Just a suggestion. Dee

Gwen: Hopefully when you have a chance to talk to the other volunteer you will have an understanding of this what happened. None of us need additional "bumps in the road" dealing with life without our "Love". Take care and know you have support. Dee

No Marg M: Never happened to me and don't think I would be in control of my tears as you were if it did happen. I'm not out very often except for grocery shopping and doctor appointments and am usually concentrating on how quickly I can get back home. Thanks for sharing this, made me smile. Dee

Gwen: So very sorry you're having anxiety attacks. How frightening for you being alone with no one to assure you instantly that you will be ok. My daughter has anxiety attacks and thankfully her husband is there with her. You know how you feel, so if you need to call the crises line, might it be a good idea? Your nicotine withdrawal would be enough to put most of us into anxiety attacks. "The never ending errands that never seem to end". This past week I had a long list of errands and a follow up doctor appointment for myself to get behind me before Tuesday. My sweet fur baby, Maddie, has an appointment with a canine oncologist Tuesday. Then yesterday, discovered a pool of rain water in my garage. The never ending fir needles are clogging my downspouts. Top of my list tomorrow will be to call a Roof Cleaning Service. Hope the good sleep you had sleeping in the other bed, will give you the energy and strength to take care of yourself. Thinking of you. Dee

TomPB: Sorry you had to go through this. You are fortunate to have friends that support you - You are blessed to have them around you. Continue to be with them. Take care. Dee

Darrel: There is no need to apologize. Since my husband's passing, I have managed to say some things, and have made decisions that have confused and made people wonder, "Now, why would she do that" ? During this time of having to re-do our life, we are allowed to be just who we are and how we feel at the time. Was happy to get to read once again: " One foot in front of the other....." Take care. Dee

Katie: You and your boys are in my prayers as you search for peace, guidance and strength. Dee

CairnLady and Darrel: "One Foot in Front of the Other" is repeated daily in my lonely life without my Bob. Darrel, you have helped me each time I read one of your entries. Please know this. With sincere thoughts for you. Dee

Marg and Karen: I am becoming well acquainted with duct tape. Had to make use of it when my downspout broke away from the metal "thingy" connected to the drain from roof a couple of weeks ago. Thankfully, my son found the time to repair it correctly last weekend. Since then, I discovered there is another possible connection problem on the other side of the house where I will attempt to duct tape - hopefully before the heavy rains become a daily activity. Might look into purchasing some gorilla glue for some other annoying problems in the house. My husband was probably smiling at me as I practiced my "fix it" plan. Dee

Gwen: So happy to see you were feeling well enough and strong enough to do your volunteer gig. You were brave. Also, so appreciated your statement about playing with your food. You made me laugh out loud. You sound like my kids. I was one of those Mom's that would not hardly ever buy my kids sugared cereal. And they both told me once they moved out that is all they ever would buy. Oh well. Bad Mommy! Dee

KayC: You are not alone living a boring life. I keep telling myself, living a Boring Life is sometimes better than being in the middle of turmoil. I once had a dear Aunt Cora who lived way up in North Mississippi all alone most of the time who used to say, "There were a lot more things worse than being lonely." Dee

Marg: October is coming fast. You sound so strong in your road trips going here and there following the clouds. Envy your ability to get in your car and drive your country roads. I am able to drive to doctor appointments, grocery shopping and the such, but don't go near the interstate highways. My vision limits my confidence to drive outside of Tacoma. You were fortunate to have known and loved your Billy for such a long time - Dee

Gwen: Your Steve's picture shows a gentleness in his face that I'm sure you had no problem falling in love with him. My Bob's beautiful blue eyes and his sense of humor made it easy fall in love with him. The 51 years went much too fast unfortunately. Am sure you feel the same about your 37 years of being with Steve - not enough time ever. Hope your weekend is bearable and you are rested. We are getting into the Pacific NW cooler days. Pretty colors but dreading the leaves that are beginning to fall. Dee

My husband's name was Bob. I don't think I ever mentioned his name. I am naturally an "introvert" and usually keep my thoughts and information to myself not because I mean to be that way, it is just the silly way about me. Bob was not that way at all. We were so different, but we seemed to manage to stay together for 51 happy years. My Southern way of describing him, "He could talk a dog off a meat wagon". Maybe Marg has heard that saying? Hoping you are feeling better tonight. Dee

Gwen: You're so correct when you say sharing here is so "consoling". Please know: Love hearing about your Steve. Dee

How frightening for you. Pray today you are resting and feeling stronger. Even tho I have a son and daughter, can't reach either one quickly at any time. Recently tried to call my son for some help and his cell phone would not take anymore messages. Had to text. Was not a dire emergency like yours, but reminds being so alone is not easy. Take care and rest. Dee

Marita: So sorry to hear about your sadness. Animals are such treasures. I hope you will find comfort in knowing how much your being with Scout must have meant to him. When my daughter was growing up she always wanted a horse, but living in the city it was not possible. During her teenage years she did have friends who had a horse who would invite her to ride. You sound so much like her with your love of horses. This past month, some friends of my daughter and son-in-law are boarding a pair of horses on their acreage in Oregon. She is in heaven caring for the horses and despite her back problems was able to take a brief ride on the gentle horse. My heart goes out to you. Dee

Marg: Now that is interesting. Makes me more eager as I await my results. Dee

Marita: I so love this little encouragement message. Will try to copy and hang next to my mirror. Dee❤️

Gwen: Thinking about you today and sorry for your difficulties. Today was the pitts for me too. The off and on downpours knocked one of my downspouts loose and I had rain gushing all over the back wall of my house. My son was too busy to come help so I attempted to connect it the best I could but another downpour knocked it loose again. Tomorrow I'll be on the phone talking to downspout people. Oh the joys of living in a house. Would love to be in a one room apartment somedays where I didn't have to worry about what I don't know about the house. Dee 😡

Marg: Coincidentally I am waiting to receive results of my DNA. One of my uncles told me many years ago my great grandmother had Native American heritage. My roots are from Mississippi and Arkansas. My sister in law had hers done this past year and was not totally happy with the results. She knew of her Scandinavian heritage, and French Canadian heritage but was surprised of other bits and pieces. We got a big laugh out of it. Dee