Tuesday February 9 2016  BETTER THAN I THOUGHT

So far, today has gone better than I thought it would. I was up at 5:15 a.m.  Went to the gym, left from there at 8:15 a.m. and went directly to Dr. Doctor’s office regarding my shoulder.  GOOD NEWS!  Though I do have two tears in my rotator cuff, Dr. Doctor believes that I should try therapy.  The therapy may help my shoulder heal without needing surgery.  YEAH!  I am set up for my therapy appointment next week (another one of those “fit in” appointments).  I should only need one appointment because I will be issued the equipment needed, and then would follow through on the therapy at home.  I would need to do the right arm twice a day for about 6 months.  And then, to my “utter delight”, I was instructed to do the therapy, on both shoulders, once a day, for the rest of my life!  How’s that for adding one more thing to fit into my schedule!  But, if it will keep me moving, keep me strong, and I can do it at home, I will be more than happy to do it as long as I am physically capable.  I will incorporate it into my gym workouts on the days I go there.  The other days I’ll be diligent and do the exercise at home. 

I think the reason people need to retire is because it takes them so much more time to do upkeep on their body to just keep it tuned up.  When I asked my neighbor after he retired, “What do you do with all your time” he replied and said, “I don’t really have more time, it just takes me longer do everything I must do”.  Now I know what some of those “MUSTS” are.  But it seems my “must list” just keeps growing.  Eventually my purpose for getting up in the morning will be so I can do all the “musts” I must do, then eat my meals, and then it will be time for bed again. After all, I MUST GET TO BED EARLY so I’ll be able to do all the “musts” I must do tomorrow.

Well today I had a great big must!  I looked at my tile floors and said, “I MUST CLEAN THESE FLOORS!”  And so I did.  Surprisingly enough, it does not hurt my shoulder to sweep.  I think it is because it is below me and I don’t need to raise my arms much.  I then spot cleaned the tiles and they look a lot better.  And then I decided my cupboards needed wiping down so I did that too.  Then I decided to write a blog since I had a few moments before I do my Bible Study (that is not a “must”, but rather a “want to”).  I have a short speech presentation to do on Saturday morning at our ladies breakfast and I need a bit more time to think and pray and study God’s word. 

I will play it by ear tomorrow as to whether or not I’ll be writing a blog.  I’ll at least try to say hello and capture a poem.  Tomorrow is my day out with the Ladies.  I have two friends from the neighborhood that I have known for about 27 or 28 years and before I left on my trip last year we would meet once a month and have a fun day out.  Our fun days out may not be what someone else thinks of as fun, but we all enjoyed what we chose to do.  In the area where we live there are several different kinds of thrift shops, St. Vincent DePaul’s, Goodwill, Savers, Attic Angels, Boomerangs, and others that don’t come to my mind readily.  We will chose a few stores in neighboring communities and have a blast searching through all the old clothing and other items.  After I compiled a wardrobe for myself on our forays to the thrift shops, I began to browse the books more closely.  The books are my downfall.  Even if I don’t buy any books (which isn’t very likely), it is a great pleasure for me to browse throughout the day.  My friends have really taught me how to shop!  I LOVE IT!  And of course we always “do” lunch!

When I lost so much weight three years ago I just kept wearing baggy clothes.  My friends decided to fix that dilemma.  Our first shopping endeavor together was when they picked me to go shopping for a new wardrobe.  I had never shopped for clothing in second hand stores and I was amazed at what great items there were to choose from.  Of the three of us, Karen is the one that has an eye for shopping.  She knows quality, style, what size to pull off the rack for me, and gives me her opinions as to what colors I should, or should not, wear.  She is a great personal shopper!  However, she doesn’t agree with my choice of colors.  All the colors she picks out do look good on me, but I want colors she keeps telling me not to buy.  I usually listen, but not always, even though I do trust her judgement.  But I did sneak a few yellow items into my closet when she wasn’t looking.

Tomorrow is the first time we will get together since I came home in July.  I’ve seen Darlene once or twice since July (she moved away while I was gone), but I have not yet visited with Karen.  Darlene has been quite a bosom buddy over the years.  We have spent hours and hours talking together.   It will be so good to see them again after so long.  Tomorrow I hope to look for some Valentine decorations and favors for the party I am having on Sunday.  You might be surprised what you can find when you take the time to really snoop through all the shelves.  I have no intention of bringing more items into our house, but sometimes, even my best intentions fail me.  I want to see more “stuff” leaving the house instead of coming in.  But, I do look forward to tomorrow, just to be together once again.  We hope to resume our once a month adventure.  In the summer, we also like to browse beautiful gardens and arboretums in neighboring areas.  There are some magnificent places to explore, all within a radius of about 60 to 90 minutes away.  However, it is only 1 degree outside, and is not the time to visit the gardens.  

 

SPECIAL FRIENDS

By Kathleen Martens

February 9, 2016

 

There is a special something

About getting together with friends.

Especially the old ones,

That know you out and in.

 

Years ago so much younger,

And we all took it for granted,

Now we are decades older

And our eyelids a bit more slanted.

 

We used to talk at soccer games

But those days are long past.

Oh those sweet days of our youth

Just didn’t seem to last.

 

And now we three old biddies

Have wrinkles and loose skin.

And we never again need to worry

About the roving eyes of men.

 

No longer do we need to impress

Each other, or those we don’t know,

It’s just fun to be together

Without any hoopla or show.

 

And what we do really doesn’t matter,

What counts is that we’re together.

So we shop at second hand stores,

Our friendship tightly tethered.

 

And we drive from place to place

As we visit, laugh, and play.

We love to browse the vintage stores

All throughout the day.

 

Pants and blouses, dresses and slacks,

All uniquely one of a kind.

We search intently scouring each rack

For that perfect, amazing find!

 

It’s always there to be discovered,

That flawless hidden prize.

And what makes it even better

Is when it’s just the right size.

 

And then at lunch we eat and eat,

And talk and talk till we’re done.

And on every single one of our outings,

It seems we always have fun!

 

Three old friends coming together

To laugh; to shop; to share.

But the reason is truly because,

For each other we deeply care.

 

I love you Darlene!

I love you Karen!

 

Last night Dave and I went to hear a lecture at the University of Wisconsin.  I have much to say, but must figure how to present my thoughts on the subject.  The guest lecturer was invited by a student group that only brings in the BEST speakers.  He is a communist.  Needless to say, it was quite interesting to hear first hand what is being communicated on our local college campus.  It may take me a few days to come up with a summary of what I want to pass on to you.  Just so you know, Dave and I knew what his background was before we attended the lecture.  We just wanted to hear for ourselves what is being presented to the young on our University campuses.  You may find it quite interesting.  I just need to get up enough nerve to share it from my perspective.

 

Good night and God bless you.