And the road goes on forever...

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

On Death



It seems to me the end of our lives is never pleasant, however it happens. I am working with so many seniors now who have been through so much agony with the death of a spouse. They carry it years later on their backs like a parasite which sucks the good times from their faces. So many seem to go on thenceforth without purpose, much like my mother is still doing. Their health fails; they regale their current state of affairs; there are no longer any daily interests of note save for the passing TV shows flickering on the screen in the background as they relate their stories.

Of course, in case you wonder, I am doing a take-away from all this. The moral of the story is that one does not want to live forever; indeed, one does not want to live for a long time even. Truly—I suspect, one does not really wish to even outlive one’s good health. At least I don’t. I look around at scattered pill boxes which contain sometimes up to 20 pills a day which these seniors take to stay alive. They all complain of dizziness and how they hate it. Where is the boundary between a satisfying, engaged, fulfilled life—and what I am seeing with so many who suffer from ailments beyond comprehension to deal with, as they cling to life like a Remora on a shark. What is the purpose and what keeps them going?

I haven’t found out the secret as yet. Perhaps one will tell me someday. Who is it that coined the phrase “Hope springs eternal in the human heart?” Hope. Such a fragile word.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Score!


I just got my first regular weekly client today; an 88 year old woman who has health and mobility problems which interfere with her ability to cook for herself so she wants me to come in five days a week every morning for two hours to make her breakfast and prep something for her dinner. She has a lovely home about three miles away and as she tells me, a kitchen well stocked with pots and pans! So get to it girl! Just kidding; she was very sweet and it will be nice to have a regular gig to attend to.

Meanwhile, our cat deals with the daily heat by lying on his back all day on the lino with his legs spread like some sleazy hooker. The only thing we can guess is that somehow this position must help cool him off. I can’t imagine wearing a fur coat when it is 100 out.






The fuel economy has fallen so badly on the Dodge with the demise of its exhaust system that Marc decided to spring for a Banks system which he plans to install in a couple of weeks. I don’t even want to mention the thousands it cost! Still better than a new diesel one ton he keeps assuring me. On an added note, I held the light and he worked until well after dark the other evening on my Saturn, which had suddenly lost half its transmission fluid and was shifting badly. Why those engines aren’t made with a dip stick to check that stuff is beyond us. We’re hoping I dodged the bullet of ordering up a rebuilt transmission for it, as so far the leak appears to have been arrested and it is shifting better.

Just life as normal, in good ‘ol hot Yuma, AZ.

Monday, May 9, 2011

With the Heat of the Day

We have this (at most) two inch tall cactus that decided to mightily put forth a bloom. I noticed it at 11:30 and here is how it appeared:


By 1 p.m. I rushed out with my camera again, thrilled to find it fully opened. What a beautiful color and an amazing feat for such a tiny thing!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Kudos to My Mate


Beyond being a builder, a computer geek, a welder, an electrician, a car mechanic, a fabricator, a jack of all trades, my loving husband has become a baker extraordinaire. Now he has all the neighbors begging for his loaves of bread. These are some just before they hit the oven and then as they came fresh out of the oven. Beautiful aren’t they? Loaded with big hunks of garlic and made of heart-healthy whole wheat.



Remember I told you recently about the smoked meats he’s been doing in our magnificent smoker that my son bought us? Well, this is what happens when you have ready to use smoked turkey and chicken: great home-made pizza and even better smoked turkey tostadas. Yum.


Sunday, May 1, 2011

Desert Wind


It’s come in blustering the last two days but keeping temperatures oh so cool. What a welcome relief this time of year, despite the gusts. We can keep the door wide open just like all winter and enjoy life without air conditioning. The wind isn’t enough to stir up all the dust (11 mph sustained, gusts to 13 mph) but just enough to clear out the air so my morning walk showed a fine relief to the cutting edge of the mountains. That was further enhanced by no one else being visible in the street relief of the landscape—they are all escaping to climates farther north, where as friends tell us, it is still COLD. Our last northern neighbor is escaping tonight to head back to North Dakota. My boondocking cousin outside of Goldfield, NV has had highs of only 49-57 degrees so far. Are you sure you’re correct in heading north yet, Cousin?