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Comment by Cee yesterday

Agree with the driving at night. I don't feel as secure as I once did. Doesn't seem to be a vision problem but more of a concern that if something happened - I do not have anyone to call to come help me. Somehow I don't feel comforted by AAA.

 I have several younger friends that do not like to drive at night because of vision problems.  I think it also depends on where you live - it is easier to drive in a well lighted city then out here on dark country roads.

 Bottom line if someone else is willing to drive, I am willing to go. :)

 I also do not take on the long trips that I once did without thinking twice about it.  1 1/2 hours is the longest I have tackled lately.  There is a even  2 1/2 - 3 hours that I would like to go to but probably won't - again it is the not having anyone to call.

 So we make the best with what we have - I guess the important thing is that we do not sit home alone all the time.

  HUGs and peaceful days to all.

Comment by barbee on Saturday

Yes! I have read almost every book Debbie has written. She has several fiction series plus some Christian inspirational books, a cookbook, and a number of knitting books. Debbie is well known in the knitting world.Her yarn and tea shop used to be in Port Orchard, WA, but it has closed, I think.

Comment by elaine on Saturday

Barbee, how about Debbie Macomber for a light read?

Comment by barbee on Friday

There is a book I've started reading that may interest others of you in our age group. This Chair Rocks: a manifesto against ageism by Ashton Applewhite. I got the large print version from my library (non-fiction 305.26) and it is available in paperback through Amazon ($17.48) and other book stores.

This book is well researched and discusses many myths of later life. Some of it is quite funny! Published in 2016, it is relevant and up-to-date. I'm finding it enlightening to discover some of the things I thought were "normal aging" might not be.  For example,  we've all heard about a senior moment  when we can't find our car keys, but how many of us in high school or college couldn't find our car keys and and claimed a junior moment? Apparently not remembering where we placed our car keys is normal at any age.

I'm always looking for good books to read whether they be non-fiction, biographies, romance, mysteries, or just about anything else (except how to fix engines!). Do you have a book title or author to share?

Comment by catapan on Thursday

Only1sue - ah. I misunderstood. You wrote about "going out at night" and I didn't understand that you meant DRIVING at night. Different thing altogether.

Comment by only1sue on Thursday

Thanks for those wise words catapan.  I am fine going out in the day and do a lot of volunteering. I also go to the kind of social events that raise money for community projects.  I still go to a couple of stroke recovery groups I went to because of my husband's strokes, I go because I still have friends there.

I don't know what it is about driving at night than makes me nervous now, maybe as you say it is lack of confidence but it is also coming home to an empty house.  Through the day I just function as I always did..

Comment by catapan on Thursday

Only1sue - do you have to go out at night? What about daytime?

I'm 70 and I know it's not the weather that's isolating, it's attitude. But I don't believe it's "an older attitude" I don't believe it has anything to do with how long we have lived on this planet but much more to do with self image, the persona we create for ourselves.

I work as a voluntary Outdoor Education Tutor and we function all year round in almost all weathers. If we can't get through because of the snow we don't work! But if we can get to the Centre, we change the programme to use the snow for fun. Of course we don't work at night either. But there's all the rest of the time to participate in life.

I have dreadful periods of depression but when I'm NOT under a black cloud, I'm up and out because LIFE is out there! And when I'm free of bouts of depression it's like recovering from a headache - I realise it's no longer there but I didn't notice the point at which it disappeared.

There's solitude and there's loneliness/isolation. I think everyone knows and experiences both, to varying degrees. Sometimes we just have to roll with the punches. Here's a quotation I value:

Every day now is another day towards Spring- a new shoot,an unfolding leaf, a blossom and a bee . . . But first, winter must pass. And winter, whether it lifts your heart or tries your soul, still passes one day at a time."

Courage.

Comment by only1sue on Wednesday

I am finding our winter in Australia colder than usual this year and I am more reluctant to go out at night now.  I hope when the longer days of summer comes  that will change. I have just turned 70 now and I don't know whether I have got an older attitude n my mind now or it is just the winter blues.  Do make the most of your summer my Northern Hemisphere friends because winter really can isolate you. 

Comment by elaine on July 10, 2017 at 6:08pm

Hi LJ, still waiting re surgery.  Should know on Wednesday who can do this and which approach is better for me.  This is certainly on my mind.  Because it is so rare, there don't seem to be many surgeons who do this procedure.  Trust me to get something that 2 out of a 100,000 people get.  Should be grateful it is not life-threatening and apparently easy to fix.

Comment by laurajay on July 10, 2017 at 5:49pm

elaine...have you any definite  decision   from the physician specialist  regarding surgery?  It is  so very different as  we age  if we encounter   increasing  physical limitations  that prohibit  us from staying as active as we would like to- the way we did when we could be out and about with ease.  Sue you are fortunate you are still capable  of  getting out whenever you decide to----many of us  can no longer do that-  I think loneliness is a permanent  part of aging but you can stay busy  and distracted  to ward off depression a lot of the time...being  with others  guarantees  you will not be alone  but you can be lonely even in a crowd. I think  people  sometimes  over rate sociability-  we need other people  but as we grow older and older and friends die and move away   and opportunity  for making new  worthwhile friends  lessens  we can  still find  truth and beauty  to sustain us.  We just need  to keep on....thinking...doing...praying....appreciating...wondering...learning...coping...hoping...believing...a bit every day.   And mostly  knowing  we are loved  by the power  that  gave us  life.  That is enough.     lj

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