I had an appointment in Rapid City with my glaucoma doctor last Wednesday. This usually means a 300-mile roundtrip for 15 minutes with the doctor, lunch, and maybe a little shopping. It is usually just my daughter and I, but this time my granddaughter was with us.
The report was fine from the doctor--just keep doing what I am doing.
Lunch was good.
None of us felt like shopping, so we just started the westward trip home.
A few miles west of Spearfish, it happened.
The Interstate is undergoing a lot of upkeep, and we were in a 45-mile-per-hour cone zone. The right lane of the westbound side was blocked off, leaving only one traffic lane. Slightly ahead of us was a cone-marked entry ramp for side-road traffic to merge onto the Interstate.
A red car was approaching through the merge lane. Since there was only one lane available, westbound traffic could not pull into another lane to admit incoming cars. This car slowed down and appeared to come almost to a stop. Suddenly, just as we were nearly at the merge spot, the car sped up again. We could not possibly stop in time. Anne Marie stomped on the gas, leaned on the horn, and tried to get away, but we were in the only open lane and there was no place else to go.
The red car drove right into us. There was a loud crash and a big jolt as our car was shoved to the left. Anne Marie kept a tight hold on the steering wheel and managed to get control on the side of the road. The impact point was the passenger side rear door. It all happened faster than the time it takes to tell.
We were shaken but uninjured.
When we got out of the car, we saw that the other driver was an elderly woman. While Anne Marie called Chad and Megan called 911, I went over to see if she was all right. She struggled out of her car and it became evident that she was suffering from physical difficulties. She had spinal problems that kept her bent over; she needed two poles to help her stand and walk (rather in the manner of ski poles); she had glasses, and seemed to be a little hard of hearing. She told me she had "paused" but didn't see anything coming before she pulled onto the highway.
I looked at her car to see what damage it had sustained. The driver's side parking light was completely gone--and she told me that it was not the result of this crash. It had happened another time.
We all felt terrible for this driver. She is 82 years old and lives alone on a ranch. She said something about going for groceries. We are still concerned about her.
BUT SHE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING!
She could have killed us and herself. Thank goodness the traffic was slowed through that section. Actually, we did thank God sincerely that only the "skin" of the car was hurt. We were okay, she was okay, the car still worked and we could continue on our way home after the South Dakota Highway Patrol officers finished their investigation. (I learned that the Highway Patrol does not use the term "accident." It is "crash.")
And that, folks, is why I gave up driving when I developed eyesight and other health problems. Yes, it was very difficult to lose that independence. But I would rather accept some dependence than kill someone. I am blessed with a daughter who takes me where I need to go, and I know that not everyone has that. But, whatever it takes to accommodate your new lifestyle need, Please Stop Driving When It Becomes Apparent You Are Not Up To It.
Face the facts.
Stop.
Sunday, June 26, 2016
An Adventure We Could Have Done Without
I had an appointment in Rapid City with my glaucoma doctor last Wednesday. This usually means a 300-mile roundtrip for 15 minutes with the doctor, lunch, and maybe a little shopping. It is usually just my daughter and I, but this time my granddaughter was with us.
The report was fine from the doctor--just keep doing what I am doing.
Lunch was good.
None of us felt like shopping, so we just started the westward trip home.
A few miles west of Spearfish, it happened.
The Interstate is undergoing a lot of upkeep, and we were in a 45-mile-per-hour cone zone. The right lane of the westbound side was blocked off, leaving only one traffic lane. Slightly ahead of us was a cone-marked entry ramp for side-road traffic to merge onto the Interstate.
A red car was approaching through the merge lane. Since there was only one lane available, westbound traffic could not pull into another lane to admit incoming cars. This car slowed down and appeared to come almost to a stop. Suddenly, just as we were nearly at the merge spot, the car sped up again. We could not possibly stop in time. Anne Marie stomped on the gas, leaned on the horn, and tried to get away, but we were in the only open lane and there was no place else to go.
The red car drove right into us. There was a loud crash and a big jolt as our car was shoved to the left. Anne Marie kept a tight hold on the steering wheel and managed to get control on the side of the road. The impact point was the passenger side rear door. I all happened faster than the time it takes to tell.
We were shaken but uninjured.
When we got out of the car, we saw that the other driver was an elderly woman. While Anne Marie called Chad and Megan called 911, I went over to see if she was all right. She struggled out of her car and it became evident that she was suffering from physical difficulties. She had spinal problems that kept her bent over; she needed two poles to help her stand and walk (rather in the manner of ski poles); she had glasses, and seemed to be a little hard of hearing. She told me she had "paused" but didn't see anything coming before she pulled onto the highway.
I looked at her car to see what damage it had sustained. The driver's side parking light was completely gone--and she told me that it was not the result of this crash. It had happened another time.
We all felt terrible for this driver. She is 82 years old and lives alone on a ranch. She said something about going for groceries. We are still concerned about her.
BUT SHE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING!
She could have killed us and herself. Thank goodness the traffic was slowed through that section. Actually, we did thank God sincerely that only the "skin" of the car was hurt. We were okay, she was okay, the car still worked and we could continue on our way home after the South Dakota Highway Patrol officers finished their investigation. (I learned that the Highway Patrol does not use the term "accident." It is "crash.")
And that, folks, is why I gave up driving when I developed eyesight and other health problems. Yes, it was very difficult to lose that independence. But I would rather accept some dependence than kill someone. I am blessed with a daughter who takes me where I need to go, and I know that not everyone has that. But, whatever it takes to accommodate your new lifestyle need, Please Stop Driving When It Becomes Apparent You Are Not Up To It.
Face the facts.
Stop.
The report was fine from the doctor--just keep doing what I am doing.
Lunch was good.
None of us felt like shopping, so we just started the westward trip home.
A few miles west of Spearfish, it happened.
The Interstate is undergoing a lot of upkeep, and we were in a 45-mile-per-hour cone zone. The right lane of the westbound side was blocked off, leaving only one traffic lane. Slightly ahead of us was a cone-marked entry ramp for side-road traffic to merge onto the Interstate.
A red car was approaching through the merge lane. Since there was only one lane available, westbound traffic could not pull into another lane to admit incoming cars. This car slowed down and appeared to come almost to a stop. Suddenly, just as we were nearly at the merge spot, the car sped up again. We could not possibly stop in time. Anne Marie stomped on the gas, leaned on the horn, and tried to get away, but we were in the only open lane and there was no place else to go.
The red car drove right into us. There was a loud crash and a big jolt as our car was shoved to the left. Anne Marie kept a tight hold on the steering wheel and managed to get control on the side of the road. The impact point was the passenger side rear door. I all happened faster than the time it takes to tell.
We were shaken but uninjured.
When we got out of the car, we saw that the other driver was an elderly woman. While Anne Marie called Chad and Megan called 911, I went over to see if she was all right. She struggled out of her car and it became evident that she was suffering from physical difficulties. She had spinal problems that kept her bent over; she needed two poles to help her stand and walk (rather in the manner of ski poles); she had glasses, and seemed to be a little hard of hearing. She told me she had "paused" but didn't see anything coming before she pulled onto the highway.
I looked at her car to see what damage it had sustained. The driver's side parking light was completely gone--and she told me that it was not the result of this crash. It had happened another time.
We all felt terrible for this driver. She is 82 years old and lives alone on a ranch. She said something about going for groceries. We are still concerned about her.
BUT SHE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING!
She could have killed us and herself. Thank goodness the traffic was slowed through that section. Actually, we did thank God sincerely that only the "skin" of the car was hurt. We were okay, she was okay, the car still worked and we could continue on our way home after the South Dakota Highway Patrol officers finished their investigation. (I learned that the Highway Patrol does not use the term "accident." It is "crash.")
And that, folks, is why I gave up driving when I developed eyesight and other health problems. Yes, it was very difficult to lose that independence. But I would rather accept some dependence than kill someone. I am blessed with a daughter who takes me where I need to go, and I know that not everyone has that. But, whatever it takes to accommodate your new lifestyle need, Please Stop Driving When It Becomes Apparent You Are Not Up To It.
Face the facts.
Stop.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Two Visits
This week I very much enjoyed a visit at my sister Grace's home, with her visiting son Mike, his wife Pat, and Grace's daughter Tina. Mike and Pat live in Florida and it had been two years since I had seen them. Tina lives in the same apartment complex that Grace moved into recently, which is great for them both.
Grace has downsized a lot in order to move from her house with the lovely big yard she created to a 600 sq. foot apartment. She does have a ground-floor unit with a small patio. Her unit is located at the end of the section of patio units and has a lovely private courtyard with lawn feel to it. I am so glad she has some outdoor space. She is surrounding her patio with planters and soon will have her own flower garden. Wherever she lives, Grace has the talent to make it her own distinctive place.
Anne Marie fussed at me about taking her picture. So, though she is a lovely woman, I'm not including the photo I snapped from a distance of her and Chad. (I don't promise to keep leaving you out though, Anne Marie!)
Later in the day we had a lovely rain. Wyoming always needs water to give us a green spring!
Grace has downsized a lot in order to move from her house with the lovely big yard she created to a 600 sq. foot apartment. She does have a ground-floor unit with a small patio. Her unit is located at the end of the section of patio units and has a lovely private courtyard with lawn feel to it. I am so glad she has some outdoor space. She is surrounding her patio with planters and soon will have her own flower garden. Wherever she lives, Grace has the talent to make it her own distinctive place.
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Grace, Mike, and Tina. I took a photo of Mike and Pat sitting on the sofa, but it did not turn out very well. I can't see the results on my camera screen very well--I thought I had good one, but I'm pretty sure they would not thank me if I posted it!
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The second visit was our annual visit to the cemetery to decorate family graves for Memorial Day. We have been doing this for many years. Some years there has been quite a large family group that gathered for this. Little kids have grown up, my mother and my husband are now among those whose graves we put flowers on, and no out of town family were here to join us this year. So my daughter Anne Marie, dear son-in-law Chad, my sister Grace, and I did the honors. Our cemetery is well kept and lovely, The sun was shining. It was a time, not of sorrow, but of memory.
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| Grace, at our parents' grave. |
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| I am standing by Jerry's grave. |
Later in the day we had a lovely rain. Wyoming always needs water to give us a green spring!
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Springtime in Wyoming!
It is springtime in Wyoming. Yes, really. A few days ago it was in the 70s with bright sunshine, tulips and daffodils blooming in the yard, and green grass. The lilac buds were developing at an amazing pace, and I was eager for the bushes under my kitchen window to burst into full, glorious bloom.
This is what the world looked like out my back door this morning.
We have now had several days of snow. It warms up a bit in the daytime and melts some off. More falls.
I well remember the huge blizzard of May Day 1967 when the whole town was shut down. All the streets were blocked. First we lost power, then, when the back-up batteries were drained, the phones were dead, and, finally, no more water.
Two days later spring was back.
Not every year is like this, of course.
We would certainly rather be getting our water in the form of rain, but, when one lives in a semi-arid region, water in any form is good for the land.
This is what the world looked like out my back door this morning.
We have now had several days of snow. It warms up a bit in the daytime and melts some off. More falls.
I well remember the huge blizzard of May Day 1967 when the whole town was shut down. All the streets were blocked. First we lost power, then, when the back-up batteries were drained, the phones were dead, and, finally, no more water.
Two days later spring was back.
Not every year is like this, of course.
We would certainly rather be getting our water in the form of rain, but, when one lives in a semi-arid region, water in any form is good for the land.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
DNA
A few weeks ago I sent in the saliva sample to Ancestry.com's DNA project.
The results are now in. Not much in the way of surprises. Yes, that Irish/Scots/Great Britain evidence in the family tree also includes those Vikings. That Scandinavian DNA was expected because, among other things like height and coloring, my father's paternal line is named McLaughlin. "Loughlin" is a Scandinavian name found in various forms in Ireland. The "Mc" prefix means "son of." The name McLaughlin, according to Internet sources, means "Son of a Norseman." The Norsemen not only raided along Ireland's coasts, they built trading posts that became towns and cities and they mixed with the local population.
The biggest surprise was a 1% European Jewish portion. Ancestry puts a qualifier on that. Such a small percentage cannot be a certainty. If it truly is Jewish DNA it would have come from a lot of generations back.
As a person who grew up on the Bible--and all those great stories are Jewish stories--I like the idea that a little bit of me came from Abraham. God promised him descendants like the stars of the sky. I like thinking I am one of those stars! Such a small portion of my DNA is not enough to have much influence on my makeup. But the reality is that if even one ancestor is pulled from the line of descent I no longer exist, no matter how far back in the chain that ancestor lived.
It is a little bit overwhelming to think about all those unknown people who went into the making of each of us!
The results are now in. Not much in the way of surprises. Yes, that Irish/Scots/Great Britain evidence in the family tree also includes those Vikings. That Scandinavian DNA was expected because, among other things like height and coloring, my father's paternal line is named McLaughlin. "Loughlin" is a Scandinavian name found in various forms in Ireland. The "Mc" prefix means "son of." The name McLaughlin, according to Internet sources, means "Son of a Norseman." The Norsemen not only raided along Ireland's coasts, they built trading posts that became towns and cities and they mixed with the local population.
The biggest surprise was a 1% European Jewish portion. Ancestry puts a qualifier on that. Such a small percentage cannot be a certainty. If it truly is Jewish DNA it would have come from a lot of generations back.As a person who grew up on the Bible--and all those great stories are Jewish stories--I like the idea that a little bit of me came from Abraham. God promised him descendants like the stars of the sky. I like thinking I am one of those stars! Such a small portion of my DNA is not enough to have much influence on my makeup. But the reality is that if even one ancestor is pulled from the line of descent I no longer exist, no matter how far back in the chain that ancestor lived.
It is a little bit overwhelming to think about all those unknown people who went into the making of each of us!
Thursday, March 31, 2016
In a Mood
For a few weeks now I have been in a mood.
Not really a bad mood.
Not really a good mood.
Not really a depressed mood.
I don't really know how to describe it. Perhaps it's an introvert's utter avoidance and quiet time mood.
Usually a news junkie, I have barely checked the headlines. Some days I don't turn on the TV at all.
When I watch TV, it is mostly to catch up on things I set the DVR to record, and lately it has mostly been house shows. My favorites are Tiny House shows that have fascinated me, but I also watch house hunting shows, and I really enjoy the remodel and/or fix up and flip house shows. I have discovered that I like the people looking for tiny houses much better than those hunting for their huge dream houses. The big house people are so demanding--Oooh that beautiful Mexican tile must go, because only hardwood is acceptable; ugh! that (insert anything here) is so dated I could not possibly live with it; unless it is an open floor plan it is simply awful; if it is an open floor plan it is simply awful; only a huge, spa-like master bathroom is acceptable; a kitchen without granite countertops is simply primitive and must be gutted; only white cabinets are acceptable; only dark cabinets are acceptable; stainless steel appliances are the only type that aren't outdated; stainless steel appliances are simply too commercial; likewise, closets must be enormous and special shoe closets must be available for the hundreds of pairs of shoes; and so forth. Are those houses lovely? Yes, they are. It is all about attitude.
And, I must admit, that sometimes I am looking at houses through the lens of my current age and life situation. What I would, in the past, have seen as a wonderful home, I now see as a house that would be a terrible burden to clean and keep up! (And the tiny houses just look like fun!)
Of course, there are days and days of reading or listening to books on my Kindle. Though I have always loved the look, feel, and even the smell of "real" books, my vision these days makes e-books much easier to read. And it is so easy to obtain a new book--look it up on Amazon or Audible, purchase, download, and there I go!
While listening to books, I need a focal point that keeps my eyes and hands busy and uses a different part of my brain than that used for absorbing the book. So...I have been working in various adult coloring books, using a variety of media--colored pencils, crayons, or markers (haven't used paint pens for a while).
So that is what I have been doing.
What I have not been doing:
One of these days, I know from past experience, my mood will change, I'll get my house in order, the sun will shine, it will become actual spring, I'll be thinking about flowers and planting my deck pots, and, hopefully, get myself in gear and go for walks.
But, in the meantime, there are more books to read/listen to, more interesting houses to look at via TV, and more quiet days (always soothing to my introvert's heart.)
Not really a bad mood.
Not really a good mood.
Not really a depressed mood.
I don't really know how to describe it. Perhaps it's an introvert's utter avoidance and quiet time mood.
Usually a news junkie, I have barely checked the headlines. Some days I don't turn on the TV at all.
When I watch TV, it is mostly to catch up on things I set the DVR to record, and lately it has mostly been house shows. My favorites are Tiny House shows that have fascinated me, but I also watch house hunting shows, and I really enjoy the remodel and/or fix up and flip house shows. I have discovered that I like the people looking for tiny houses much better than those hunting for their huge dream houses. The big house people are so demanding--Oooh that beautiful Mexican tile must go, because only hardwood is acceptable; ugh! that (insert anything here) is so dated I could not possibly live with it; unless it is an open floor plan it is simply awful; if it is an open floor plan it is simply awful; only a huge, spa-like master bathroom is acceptable; a kitchen without granite countertops is simply primitive and must be gutted; only white cabinets are acceptable; only dark cabinets are acceptable; stainless steel appliances are the only type that aren't outdated; stainless steel appliances are simply too commercial; likewise, closets must be enormous and special shoe closets must be available for the hundreds of pairs of shoes; and so forth. Are those houses lovely? Yes, they are. It is all about attitude.
Of course, there are days and days of reading or listening to books on my Kindle. Though I have always loved the look, feel, and even the smell of "real" books, my vision these days makes e-books much easier to read. And it is so easy to obtain a new book--look it up on Amazon or Audible, purchase, download, and there I go! 
While listening to books, I need a focal point that keeps my eyes and hands busy and uses a different part of my brain than that used for absorbing the book. So...I have been working in various adult coloring books, using a variety of media--colored pencils, crayons, or markers (haven't used paint pens for a while).
So that is what I have been doing.
What I have not been doing:
- Cleaning house
- Organizing and discarding unneeded items
- Blogging
- Keeping up with Facebook or even going on the Internet at all some days.
One of these days, I know from past experience, my mood will change, I'll get my house in order, the sun will shine, it will become actual spring, I'll be thinking about flowers and planting my deck pots, and, hopefully, get myself in gear and go for walks.
But, in the meantime, there are more books to read/listen to, more interesting houses to look at via TV, and more quiet days (always soothing to my introvert's heart.)
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| Currently working in this book about Ancient Egypt. |
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
One Hundred Years
My mother was born 100 years ago today. She narrowly escaped being a Leap Year's Baby of 1916. Her mother named her Rosa May Mackey, but the doctor entered "Rose May Mackey" on her birth certificate.
Mother died in December of 2010, so she did not quite make it to the century mark. Her almost 95 years left a big mark on her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as so many others whose lives she touched. I've lost count of her descendants, but she is widely known as Grandma Rose.
When she died, her body was afflicted with many age-related problems, but her mind was always her own. I like to think of her with her strength and energy restored in Paradise. Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mother!
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| The Mackey family in 1916: Back Row--Will, Rhoda holding baby Rose; Front Row--Vera and William Boyce. |
Mother died in December of 2010, so she did not quite make it to the century mark. Her almost 95 years left a big mark on her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as so many others whose lives she touched. I've lost count of her descendants, but she is widely known as Grandma Rose.
When she died, her body was afflicted with many age-related problems, but her mind was always her own. I like to think of her with her strength and energy restored in Paradise. Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mother!
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