The 21st Century

Hot water recirculation pump 

That was a dream that did not come true. The plumber who checked it out told me some of the disadvantages: if the pump was on, I could get immediate hot water, but not cold. So I could not wash my hands in warm and then brush my teeth with cold water – just to name an example; plus, it needed weekly maintenance. Well, I did not need another maintenance job, so I decided against it. However, the plumber showed me that the water heater was installed in 2011. Its life expectancy is 8 – 10 years. So instead of a recirculation pump I have set up an appointment for a new water heater. And no, I do not get a discount for turning in the old one, even though it is in good shape 🙁

Car key trouble

Last week, when I left for Physical Therapy early in the morning, a message appeared on my dashboard: Car key battery low. That was new to me. OK, I decided, I will get some fruit at Lowes after PT and then go to the AAA office down the street. It did not work. When I got back to the car with my fruit, I could not open it. I knew there is a spare key in that key, but I could not get it out. Back in the store: I called a young man to the rescue (those young people know all  kind of technical stuff, right?). To make a long story short: he got the little spare key out, walked back to the car with me, but it did not work. With the help of another employee, who had a special tool, he opened the car key, bought a battery for me and put it in. No charge. “I like to do nice things for people” he said. Back to the car: it still did not open the car. I suggested I would call AAA roadside assistance. Yes, but my membership card was in the car, together with my driver license; I had only taken my credit card to buy fruit. He called the AAA number for me, I talked to them and arranged a tow to my house. It would take an hour and a half before they could be there.

It was then that I called Dennis. He told me to cancel the tow and wait for him. Did I have a spare key somewhere in the house? Yes, in a secret hiding place. He found it and together with his wife he came and found me in the parking lot. He got the little key out of the car key, and opened the door with it. Just like that! Then he drove my car home with the spare key and I went home with my daughter-in-law and the groceries.

Back home, Dennis discovered that the store employee had put the new battery in upside down; he advised to leave the spare key in a place close to the front door, and that was that. How wonderful to have a smart son within a five mile distance!

A Winter Storm

Yesterday, we had a bright blue sky and hard wind. I took a lovely walk in the neighborhood by myself. Dinner from the Chef was delicious and we had a nice evening. But they were warning for a fierce winter storm. I heard that the shelves in grocery stores were half empty, batteries were hard to get, a doctor’s appointment was cancelled, as was PT. People seemed really scared. But nothing indicated that a storm was brewing. Until this morning. The sky was overcast and the wind had died down. It was kind of eery. On my walk I did not see a soul, nor a car; all flags had disappeared from the homes, the blinds closed. There was not a sound in the neighborhood: it was waiting for the storm. And then, exactly as predicted, the snow started falling at 10:30 a.m. Very light flakes at first, and now, in the afternoon, there is a one inch layer on the patio fence. How beautiful! We’ll see what happens next.

Someone warned for blackouts when power lines are icy. OK, we have two lanterns and a lot of candles. Yes, but when Mike is stretched out in his recliner and there is no electricity, he can’t get out. Well, for today there is no threat of icy power lines and blackouts. So we hope for the best and enjoy the beauty of the falling snow. A home-cooked dinner tonight, André Rieu, on the TV and a good book!

Little things mean a lot

Just like the employee at Lowes Grocery store, there are other people that drop little moments of joy at the most unexpected times. An Amazon driver wrote on the outside of a large box: Thank you so much! Have a nice day! And a delivery boy left a note on a food order from a restaurant: Ronny   Hope you’re having the most amazing day ever! Spreading smiles and kindness. Enjoy! 🙂 Your dasher Kobey. Happy Holidays! 

Those little things warm my heart. They are gifts from people who care about others and show it. I have taped those messages on the inside of my front door; I see them every day and smile…

Until next time,

Ronny

Disasters

Unimaginable disasters have happened in the last few weeks. My heart goes out to the people whose loved ones have died in both the airplane crashes, and to the people who lost their homes, their possessions, their all, in the California fires. We used to live in Pasadena close to the fires in Altadena and we remember the neighborhoods, friends’ homes and the high school that burnt down. So sad!

Hot water recirculation pumps

How long does it take for the hot water to come out of your tap? I have not actually counted the time it takes here, but I know it takes long, and a lot of water gets wasted in the process. Or, I just wash my hands with cold water. Thinking back to our home in Prescott, Arizona, I never had that problem; we had that beautiful home built in 2001, and we had immediate hot water every day, any time. I discovered that we had a hot water recirculation pump in our water system!

Last Friday, I found the item online and placed a call to our plumber  – I left a message, because they were already closed for the weekend. I am hoping to hear back Monday morning and am so looking forward to get instant hot water again! The reviews I checked are unanimously positive: hot water recirculation pumps are a valuable addition to any home. They offer convenience, water and energy savings, and environmental benefits. Hot water circulator pumps are powerful for water conservation, saving as much as 1000 gallons per person annually. This type of pump does⁤ not directly impact gas consumption. Its main function is to regulate the ‍flow of water. If you’re looking to reduce water waste, lower your utility bills, or enjoy instant hot water, a recirculating pump is a worthwhile investment. Bottom line: Recirculation Pumps Are a Must. Well, that did it for me! I am so happy and excited! I can’t wait!

Caregivers

I had a change of mind about looking for an evening caregiver for Mike. Those nighttimes we have together, talking Dutch, are so precious. He needs me, and then to let him be getting ready for bed by yet another stranger – I can’t do it. But the problem is solved!

Last Friday, I had an appointment with the Apex orthopedic surgeon to discuss the X-rays and my general low back pain. He suggested wearing a light back brace during the most stressful times, and also  a warm pad with moist heat when sitting down for twenty minutes or so a day. Amazon to the rescue! I had a back brace in the house the same day and wore it at night. On Saturday, while I cooked dinner and had to stand for a long time, I wore it again, and then again on Sunday. The results are astounding. I went to bed without pain, had tremendous energy ever since Friday night (hence the cooking, which I hadn’t done in months), and I walked 3.5 miles both days. Oh Joy!

Last Saturday, and again this Saturday, I took Lani to the parking lot of Duke Primary Care at the end of our street. On one side of the parking lot, empty during weekends, is a bench. So we played ball! I sat on the bench and threw the ball for Lani to fetch. The problem is that she brings it back to me, but never wants to let go. So I have some treats in my pocket, and offer one in exchange for the ball every time, and thence lets me throw it again. Great fun! Afterwards, she carries it all the way back home.

Passport Renewals

Our passports will be expiring in April, that’s ten years after they were issued in Prescott, Arizona. Our son and daughter-in-law came over on Thursday to take care of that. It is amazing how many things you (they) can do online! There were forms to fill out and pictures to take. Official passport pictures! We used to go to Walgreens for those. But they did it! With a white board behind Mike in his chair, and a white wall behind me, they took a close-up headshot of each of us, according to the official measurements. It is the most ugly headshot I have ever seen of myself, and they took many headshots in my life! And it is not postage-stamp size either, no, it’s double the size of a rectangular postage stamp! The solace is that I will not be using my passport anytime soon. And I will carry my Driver License for an ID.

It’s dinner time, so until next time: be happy!

Ronny

Resolutions

Yes, I made them. Among other things, I was going to eke out pockets of time to do some blogging, to read at least one chapter in my new book per day, and to be in bed at 10:00 p.m. every night. Well, in three weeks, I was probably in bed at 10:00 p.m. three times. I think I read five chapters, and I wrote one paragraph in a new blog post. So I was not very successful. But I won’t give up. See? Here I am. Instead of taking a nap.

A visit to my doctor and an x-ray of my lower back resulted in clarification of my lower back pain: too much bending and lifting while taking care of Mike. I have to watch out. So now I am looking for an evening caregiver who can get Mike ready for bed. It only takes an hour, but most caregivers want to come for four hours or longer – some prefer eight hours. While I have nobody yet, I will be extra careful, I have added PT and muscle relaxers. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Friends

December 31, 2024

It’s the last day of the year 2024 and I can’t let it slip by without adding one more post. It has been five months and fifteen days since I last published anything. How I miss writing and reading. Life has changed, basically because as we get “over the hump of 85”,  everything we do happens at a slower pace and I need much more time to take care of Mike.

My physical limitations are minor: still once in a while a problem with my left leg because of the meniscal tear, and vertigo. I do exercises for both, and when there are no symptoms, I have my great energy back with which I could move mountains! Not literally however, because my lower back started complaining about all the bending and lifting I do all day long. I am going back for physical therapy to the therapist who helped me with my torn  meniscus, and just by adding a few more exercises to my early morning schedule, I hope to be able to function again properly and without pain anywhere.

Mike is a wonderful patient, who tells me often that he loves me and still does himself whatever he is capable of. Because of his mobility problems, we have Telehealth doctors’ visits. The dentist, physical therapist, podiatrist and barber come to the house and treat him while he sits comfortably in his recliner. Who has all that??

We have many more blessings. Every day, a caregiver comes to help me for three or four hours; I order groceries and dinners on the computer and they get delivered promptly, and a lovely “dog walker” takes Lani out for a power walk every day, while I walk her in the afternoon in the neighborhood. I am not even close to the 10,000 steps I used to take three years ago, but I am working towards that in the new year. I love walking and there is a lake and also a trail close by.

We had a lovely Christmas together – the whole family came on Christmas Eve, and a neighborhood friend came for coffee on my birthday. A week before, we had a delightful dessert party for two birthdays, our neighbor’s and mine. Let me tell you that having a party before your actual birthday is the best! You can live it up, but you don’t have all the preparations and the cleanup on your special day. We took it easy and had many delicious treats, wonderful phone calls and mail to read. I did not get to open my presents until 5:00 pm 🙂

A proud accomplishment: the poinsettia in the picture came from Trader Joe’s on December 1, 2023. It bloomed until Easter. I nurtured it according to its needs and now, a year later, this is how beautiful it looks.

And now I want to wish you all a wonderful, happy and healthy New Year. May there be peace in your life and on earth. And may you be able to create pockets of time to do the things you love – as I am intended to do 🙂

Until next year!

Ronny

A Geode, Shots and Supplements

Two months have passed, and, like I mentioned before, I have been reading more. What joy! It does come at a price though. I am usually not in bed before 11:00 p.m. because the evenings are so cozy, Mike with his music and I with my book. The summer evenings often bring some rain, refreshing for the border. I trimmed and repotted my Poinsettia, which bloomed until April, and it is sprouting new leaves. In September, I will give it 16 hours of total darkness, according to the rules and then I hope it will bloom again in December.

When we lived in our cottage at Waltonwood, a few years ago, the daughter of one of the residents gave me a geode. It has lived on my desk, a small rock, with a few cracks and a hidden surprise inside. The right time to open it came when my daughter and grandkids were over for ten days. We tried putting it in water in the freezer – it did not crack when we defrosted it. We put it in the grass and hit it in the crack with a screwdriver and a hammer. Nothing happened. Finally, we hit it directly on top with a hammer. Hard. It split in two! It is white inside and has a brown edge. I will try to find a gem store in town and see if they have something I can polish it with. It already sparkles in the light.

If anyone can tell me the name of the white crystals inside, please let me know.

Have you ever heard of PRP?  It stands for Platelet-rich plasma, also known as autologous conditioned plasma. It is a concentrate of plasma protein derived from your own whole blood, centrifuged to remove red blood cells, but leaving life-giving platelets.

I found that an injection with it can help my torn meniscus! After a year, my knee started bothering me again, and I was thinking of another cortisone shot. But then I heard about PRP. A week later, I had found a Naturopathic doctor, got an appointment, and received an injection “under guidance”, in my left knee. Ten days from now, I can either ask for a second injection or, if all pain is gone, wait to find out how well it has worked. I am full of great expectations!

Have you ever heard of Hyaluronic Acid? What it does:

Changes

Hello again, dear friends! I hope this finds you well and happy, because Life is a wonderful gift, no matter your age. The things to enjoy in life are different in each stage; to realize and appreciate that is a gift as well. Being 85 brings not only memories of joy and traveling, but also consequences of the limitations of an aging body. We are not traveling anymore, and most of our enjoyment comes from the shared travel and activities of children and grandchildren. To name a few: one grandson, on his nineteenth birthday, flew as co-pilot two passengers from Raleigh, NC to Tampa, Florida, first time in a jet. He is now studying to become a flight instructor. At nineteen! A granddaughter won third prize in a running competition of a district of fourth graders. Yet another granddaughter sings in an acapella choir and traveled to Carnegie Hall in New York to perform. We watch the collegiate rowing races of another grandson on TV, and the excitement of watching his boat of 8 pull through the finish line as number One is real. I am on the edge of my seat, pointing out the yellow shirts in the third boat: that’s him! This time of year, proms and graduations are happening, and we are getting lots of pictures from near and far.

The last all-family reunion we had was for our 60th wedding anniversary, three years ago. Eleven of the fifteen family members our de Jong family has grown into could make it. Our joy these days is that the three siblings have mini reunions whenever there is an opportunity. And once or twice a year our daughters fly to North Carolina to see us. We are staying in the loop.

Shifts

While my writing had already changed from books to articles to Blog posts, it is now re-routing to reading more. Not only good books, but articles on exercising, staying healthy and improving memory. Right now I am reading The Women, a cannot-put-down story about nurses in the Vietnam war. Why another war story? Well, I know nothing about the Vietnam war, and although I have read several good books about WWII in Europe, stories about the war in Asia interest me more.

Lumosity has been a favorite mind strengthening program for years, and now they are offering a special online class in improving your memory 100%. It requires commitment on the computer for six or seven weeks. But since I can see and hear Mike from my lovely, sunny office, I should be able to do that.

Soon, I will resume the exercises on my yoga mat. Right now, I am recovering from a fall. On April 15, on an early walk with Lani, she saw another dog and dashed around me, her leash pulling me down. And I fell. Supported by my guardian angel, I fell in the border on my side with my hands out. It took the wind out of me, so I sat for a few minutes, but then got up and walked home. Not a single bruise, no pain, I could just go to work. The pain came a day later, in both my sides, and was so severe, that I got the strongest pain killer Google suggested: Aleve. I took it twice a day for five days. Then, when I did not feel so well and took my blood pressure, it was so high that I had to go to the ER. Our Apex hospital is only 4 miles from here, so we were there fast. All tests were good, so I was home again in time for dinner. Apparently, the Aleve conflicted with one of the two medications I am taking. From now on I will check interactions whenever I get a new prescription for whatever! I have my own cuff now, and store it in a rattan basket that I used to keep my Hawaiian leis in when I was still dancing, just a few years ago, in Waltonwood. See the shift here? From garlands around my neck to one around my upper arm. 🙂

Quiet contentment

Mike loves to watch the many concerts of world famous Dutch violinist André Rieu on Television from his recliner and we usually watch the news during our lunch hour. I love to do some gardening outside in the border and inside repotting plants that are doing well. I have a beautiful red poinsettia that dates back to December 1, 2023. I will have to find out if I can hold it over till next December. That is not all though. My days are full with the things I mentioned earlier and also with making doctors’ appointments, ordering groceries and meals, and all the other things needed to keep a household running. Together, we make a happy life.

Regular weekly posts will be a thing of the past. Do not expect any, then it will be a surprise if a new post arrives in your mailbox. I would love any messages and comments and of course emails and texts if you have time. Stay safe and healthy!

Until next time,

Ronny

Just Because

Our neighbor across the lawn invited us for a Social, Just Because. She had invited sixteen people from the neighborhood and was hoping that Mike could come too. What a wonderful way to get to know more people. Just because Mike needs a chair with armrests to sit in, I decided this would be a great opportunity to use a wheelchair that we had borrowed and that was standing in the garage. It worked! When I could not get him across the threshold, one of the guests took over and ushered him out of our door and into the neighbor’s. We had a great time with delicious hors d’oeuvres (or pupus, as we say in Hawai’i), wine and nice company. A successful experiment, so Mike can bring his own chair when needed.

Lani, super watch dog

Last Thursday, Mike had an appointment with the podiatrist to have his toenails clipped. This is what it takes to get him there: I get the car out of the garage and park it at the end of the walkway. Close the garage door. I get Mike out of his chair and he walks to the front door. I open the door and the glass door with weights so they stay open and Mike can walk through with his walker. I walk ahead of him, open the car door, wait until he is seated and put on his safety belt. I close the door. I open the back hatch, fold the walker and hoist it into the back – close the door. Then I walk to my seat, start the car and we’re on the way.

That’s what I did. When we came home, I discovered that I had forgotten to close both front doors! They were wide open. Our Lani stood in the hallway, wagging her tail, happy to hear me say, Mommy is home!  What a wonderful dog we have, who stays home even though the front doors are wide open, to wait for Mommy. I have been training her daily to walk down the driveway with me, off leash, to get the mail or pick up the empty trash cans from the street on Tuesdays. She sits down at the end of the driveway, waiting to walk back with me to the house. I could not have dreamed that she would stay home when she had the chance to run away! What a wonderful dog! I rewarded her big time!

Just Because

Coming full circle, I’m taking a sabbatical. After more than a year, it’s time to organize things in the house and garage. Plenty of photo albums to go through as well. On top of that, Tax time is coming up, and as soon as our son has time we’ll go to Turbo Tax to do our taxes. Mike and I have done it for many years, and it is getting easier.

I am still here, will get back to my Blog when I have time, but I totally retired from my activities on LinkedIn. Just for fun, I will share the post I put on LinkedIn earlier this month.

Enjoy life, and take good care of yourself and the ones you love! Until we meet again…

A Sabbatical 

An organization in Dallas, Texas, invited me to be a guest speaker at their annual convention on August 14 remembering the WWII Comfort Women. They heard that I have been doing a Keynote Presentation about the Japanese concentration camps annually on the same date, and sent me an invitation to come and speak. What a tremendous honor! What a wonderful opportunity to give Mamma’s journal exposure in a whole new area!

When I told them that I don’t travel anymore because I am my husband’s full time caregiver, they suggested to send a video. And that started to get me even more excited. My son and daughter-in-law are super technical and will help me put a great video together. The wonderful thing is, that I will be able to use it anywhere during my retirement, any time.

I am going to work on my contribution: getting a storyline and getting the pictures I have somewhere in my files. That will consume all my skills and time, so I will not be able to write my Blog Posts for a while. And the reason for the late publishing today?

The Van Gogh Immersive Experience

We got tickets for the whole family as a 50th birthday present for Dennis and we went yesterday. It was amazing; I learned things about Van Gogh I did not know before. I can really recommend it.

Lani 

After we came back I had to take Lani to the Vet because she had a hot spot on her tail that she was biting all the time. So now the poor thing has to walk around with one of those hard plastic collars around her neck for two weeks at least. The first day she was miserable, did not eat or drink or shi-shi or poop. But today she is getting used to the thing, catches balls, and, even though I had to walk a mile in the scorching heat, dripping wet, she finally did her business.

Spectrum

For three days we had no WiFi, no telephone except my cell phone, and no TV. We finally got a technician to come out; he fixed a bad connection in the cable outside and replaced the Modem inside. What an experience to have no connections to the world! Last night I had to catch up on 35 emails, and it is only now that I caught my breath and am sitting down at my Mac.

Family time

Children and grandchildren will be coming in July for a reunion, and then there is that new project! Plus hula at the Luau in August, practicing two new dances! Plus more! Always more projects on the horizon. Life is exciting!

May your life be happy and exciting

A hui hou!

Ronny

Boosters, Birthdays and more

Here I am, half a day late, but I made it to the computer! The treatment at the booster clinic went seamless. They had started early, and there was no line, no wait. The aftermath was also seamless, no pain or discomfort. So now we feel very safe. Nevertheless, two residents and one associate tested positive, so they are in isolation for ten days. If the number should grow, the facility will shut down again; for now, we are advised to wear masks when we are in groups indoors.

Sunday was the long expected 50th birthday of our youngest child, who emigrated with us in a carrying basket, merely 10 weeks old. We emigrated on August 20, 1972: that means on that day this year we will celebrate 50 years in the United States! There are many occasions in life to celebrate, and we celebrate them all: life is too short not to!

Sadly, the whole de Jong family had lingering colds and did not want to expose us, so we could not get together with them. Gifts had arrived from our daughters in California and Canada, and on Saturday Dennis came to get his gifts. Wearing a mask, he sat on the back patio and talked with us through an open screened window for a while. That was nice; at least we saw him on his big day. Emails and jokes kept flying back and forth on WhatsApp, and his children had arranged for some surprises. In the night, when Mom and Dad were sleeping, they put 50 pink flamingos on the front lawn, and hung a large sign on the wall of the house that said: Honk! Dad is 50!

Rescue Operations

A few months ago, for an Open House, Management bought two beautiful blooming Hibiscus for outside the front entrance. Already there were two five feet conifers, in raised pots against the wall, left and right of the entrance. Nobody watered them, despite reminders of caring residents: it seemed to be nobody’s job! One conifer died, and earlier this week, with permission from the new Interim Executive Director, I  took the two Hibiscus home, put them in pots with fresh soil and trimmed off most of the dead branches. I move them around from left to right on my front patio, so they don’t get too much sun.

Yesterday afternoon, on my walk with Lani, I found all the empty flower pots on “the back lot”. To my shock I saw that the little conifer that was still alive had been thrown down the hill behind the parking spaces. What stupid idiot would do that? I took the dog home and walked over to my cottage friend, told her the story and together we went down, hoisted the little tree in her cart and took it home. She spent another hour to put it in a nice container with fresh soil, and now it graces her patio, waiting to be dressed up as a Christmas tree!

Recently, I purchased a white plastic stepping stool, 9 inches high, to assist me with several tasks in the house and caregiving. I won’t stand, but sit on it, while I vacuum the air filter in the Alen Filter, while putting on and taking off stockings and socks, while putting moisturizer on legs and feet and more such things, which I used to do sitting or kneeling on the floor.

My Personal Trainer

What I like to do on the floor, is working out with my personal trainer twice a week, in the fitness center on my Yoga Mat. She is great, and I feel so much better already after four sessions with her. These workouts, recovery times, household maintenance and caregiving mostly fill up my days, and the moments I lie down in bed at night are the most wonderful moments of my days: I’m happy, thankful and utterly spent!

May your days be productive and happy!

Until next time,

Ronny

Renovation?

The word is that they will finally start the renovation of the main building on campus by the end of this week, the beginning of June. It is three years overdue, hence it will be a much more costly affair than originally planned. On top of that, they raised the hourly wages of associates with 40%, in order to keep cooks and a servers and cleaners and maintenance people on the job, after several jumped ship because they found a better paying job elsewhere.

Which is why this summer everybody’s rent will go up with $100 plus 7% of the total amount. Ouch! There will be several people who won’t be able to afford this. We hope that’s where it will end, because our cottage is surrounded by lovely trees, but money does not grow on  them.

The good thing is that, after years of requesting a storm door in the front (a glass door with a screen that can be lowered) the cottages will finally get one. We’re looking forward to that door, because it will let more light in the house. They probably figured they needed to placate us after announcing the rent raise.

Boosters

Tomorrow, Thursday, we will be getting our second booster shot. Arranged in the dining room of Assisted Living, the cottages and first floor of the main building are up first. That is wonderful, because it could prevent possible delays of groups going before us. Neither one of us had after effects of the first booster, so we hope for the best. And then we will be safe for a while, and protected when the kids and grandkids arrive in July. Wonderful things to look forward to. Not the boosters, but the kids’ and grandkids’ visits.

May your days be sunny and carefree

Until next time,

Ronny