Life – It’s An Incredible Journey, Isn’t It?

First of all, thank you to those of you who sent well-wishes for my speedy recovery from my fall. It’s not my first fall, but it’s the first one from which I received an injury.

When I fall, I can’t get up again because both my knees have been replaced, and if I kneel, the pain is excruciating. (Ah, the excitement and adventure of life!) Then, add the dislocated shoulder to the mix. The result: It took two strong, well-trained people to get me up.

It’s been a painful journey, but I’m doing quite well now. It was my left shoulder, and of course I’m left-handed. Fortunately, fingers started working right away, so was able to type even with my arm in a sling. Sling is gone, now — I’m glad.

This little spill of mine has changed things for me. It made me realize how vulnerable I am. My body tells me it is time to make some major changes. I hate to have to listen to my body, but what’s a girl to do?

I’m going to table the activity on this post for a while. As you will see below, I now have my hands full trying to reinvent my life. When I return, you will be notified.

The first change is downsizing. I don’t want to leave the task of sorting all my stuff to my son. So, I’ve been merciless in removing items from the set.

With this realization that I needed to let go of stuff has come some freeing that is nice. Gee, I’ve been carrying this stuff around for so long!

I have also investigated alternate places to live, since I’m alone. Have been on the inactive list of the Pioneer Home for a long time. I did some research on them and talked to the very helpful Juneau director. However, it’s not the right place for me.

I am not ready for the restrictive life I’d lead in there, Maybe later — right now the idea depresses me.

Assisted Living? Fine idea — I can’t afford it.

My research was not giving me satisfactory answers. I called my dear friend, Patte, in CA, who has been a nurse and served in various wellness capacities. I asked her to send me in the direction of the best course of action.

She said, “I’ve told you before that when you decide you don’t want to live by yourself anymore, you can come and live with me.”

Move to California? Now, there’s an idea!

The upshot: We are seriously considering the move as a solution. However, there are a few problems we have to solve. You see, Patte lives at the edge of a community, and her edge is on top of a mountain (What I’d call a steep hill — 1200 feet)

Well, okay, it IS a steep hill and therein lies the biggest drawback. The narrow, dirt road up the mountain to her place is terrible! Now think about an emergency situation where you need care NOW. Not a fun picture. In an emergency, we have to go down that road. There’s just the two of us, no neighbors, and I won’t drive it. Would anyone like to give us a helicoptor — or better yet, fly us everywhere?

When a final decision about this move is made, I will tell you here. I don’t know how long you’ll have to wait. Until then, I am focusing on sorting and downsizing, garage sales, and lots of eBay book offers. I have hundreds of books, and the auction action could continue for some time.

I’d love to go to California and build my little California Tiny House. Will I ever go there and fulfill that desire? Only the Universe can tell me, and there are no answers yet from that source.

Meanwhile, I send well-wishes to all of you. I promise to write when there is news.

Auntie Frannie