March 7, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. The Massage Chair.

I never liked that chair. From the moment Ken told me he had ordered a massage chair on the Internet I knew it was a mistake. I had felt mechanical massage chairs at the pedicure. I knew they hurt. But I was slow getting out to buy a recliner so Ken took it into his own hands. When the chair was set up in the TV room, we both realized that the chair needed to be down stairs where it stayed for the year. I did not actually know how often Ken used it because Ken would go down with his helper but I know he did not use it often. Since we returned from Nova Scotia Ken only went downstairs once. I always hated the chair. It was big and black and ugly. But all the grandchildren loved to use it and urged me to keep it. This weekend I was downstairs looking at the big ugly massage chair and realized that just looking at it makes me feel bad. I am reminded of Ken;'s bad judgement of the past two years. I decided to donate the chair. No one has used the chair since Ken died. I asked Kashina if she knew any one who wanted the chair. I was thinking a retirement home or nursing home. She surprised me by saying she would love to take it off my hands. She and Ken used it and she used it more than Ken,. I immediately called friend mover. This afternoon he came and took it apart and transported it to Crystal Springs, where Kashina lives. I no longer must look at it. The sun room has been restored to it's former glory and I am pleased it is gone. Now I await the ire of my wonderful granddaughters. But I am happy. I always hated that big ugly black massage chair. Now it is gone.

March 6, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. Museums.

The idea was clever, to build two new museums in the same location. They share a common parking lot and restaurant. and yet they are unique in their own way. The museums are new to Jackson last year. Finally I got to visit them. Keshina and I took our fourth expedition. Today our plan was to tour the State Capitol and visit the two new museums, Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. When we arrived at the Capitol, we discovered that we could find no parking. Every parking slot was full. We asked a gentleman about parking and he said that the legislature was in session today so the place was jammed. He told us about a lot two blocks away but we decided to go on to the museums and return another day. We enjoyed our visit to the museums. First we walked the History Museum. 18,000 years of human life is covered in the museum. They have interesting displays and lots of videos and interactive activities. Lots of early artifacts from the two main tribes living in the area. And many from early settlers. Life was not easy in the 19th century in Mississippi.Ken always said of museums that the brain is unable to take in so many facts so quickly, so he hated guided tours. Fortunately, we wandered on our own. The Civil Rights Museum spans 40 years. Most of the displays were known to me but surprisingly, Kashina was not aware of the history, at least in not as much detail. The format is that there are 9 circles, one leading to the next until finally you hear the singing and the celebrations in the 8th circle. The 9th circle is about the future. The pictures are wonderful and the people who were instrumental in the success are well described. Between the two museums we ate lunch at the restaurant on site. We enjoyed the food and the break from walking. The lights in both museums are kept darker than I would have liked. But we enjoyed our day. Next time we will get into the capitol.

March 5, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. Cold Weather.

Last night the temperature dipped to 25 degrees, which is as cold as Mississippi ever gets. People are staying home because it is so cold. Of course, most people in Mississippi have no clue how to stay warm. I did teach Kashina how to stay warm but I still see her wearing her shirt not tucked into her pants and wearing light socks. But like the snow, they know the temperature will go up soon. By Friday, the temperature will be 70, which is normal. When I was writing about cold weather walking and my teeth, I realized that it had been years since I walked in cold weather. Perhaps my teeth have changed. So this afternoon I walked in 45 degrees, wearing gloves and a scarf. I walked for thirty minutes and I was fine. For many years, Ken and I followed 80 degrees so I have not been in cold weather for ages so when I think of cold weather walking I am speaking of the good old days. As we know, memories plays tricks with us but I still expect to walk in moderate temperatures. Fortunately, the home here is cosy. Every time I come back into the house I am pleased. Now that the third system was installed for the bedroom and TV, everyplace is comfortable. I am cosy everywhere even when the outdoors is cold. Again the thermometer will read 26 but I am happy in my cozy house. And when I go out I know how to stay warm because I am a Canadian!!.

March 4, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. Walking.

For me, today it was too cold for walking. My teeth ache if I walk when the temperature does not reach 40, so I walked inside the house. I also never walk during a rain because the ground is slick. And walking is difficult when the ground is uneven. In other words, I am a fair weather walker. My favorite thing to do is to walk with a friend. Ken and I had been walking for 63 years. We walked thousands of miles together. For most of the time, Ken had to walk slower then normal so I could keep up but for the past few years, I was slowing down for him. More recently I was unable to walk with him at all because I could not walk slowly enough. I am like a bicycle that must keep moving in order to stay steady. When I get up some speed when walking I look almost normal. These days, I almost always walk by myself here in my neighborhood. When Kashina is working with me, I have her walk with me. It is good for her to walk and she keeps me company. The best places for me to walk are the most boring. The track around the hockey rink in Liverpool was perfect but it was boring. It is level and has a railing. Also the balcony outside the condo in Mexico was perfect for me, but again boring. Again, there is a railing, and the floor is level and smooth. When the weather is warmer, Kashina and I will start walking on the trail adjacent to the Natchez Trace. I can not do it myself because it is isolated but soon we will venture forth to new worlds of walking. Nothing changes in my neighborhood but I am not complaining. The roads are smooth enough and there are no dogs so I am happy to walk every day in my neighborhood. But only on fair weather.

March 3, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. The Brain.

Every so often, I have noticed that my brain goes off duty. I see it in other people too. Often when something incredibly stupid is done by someone, others will ask,"What were they thinking?" The answer is that they were not thinking. Their brain was off duty temporarily. For instance, yesterday I spent fifteen minutes looking for my regular glasses. A pair of reading glasses is beside every chair where I sit as well as beside the microwave. Often I put on the reading glasses to read something, like directions for the microwave, and I forget to put back on my regular glasses. So I often search. The places where I might have left them showed nothing so I looked at everyplace else where I also keep reading glasses. No luck, so I decided to watch a bit of TV to try to think through what I could possibly have done with my glasses. Finally, I tried to rub my eye, only to discover that my regular glasses were already on my head. Oops. Earlier in the week I took a new plastic glass from the pantry to take water to my chair. In order to obtain the cold water, the door of the fridge must be opened. I then must hold the cup under the spigot while pushing a button. So I did it but water came down my hand and on the floor. I assumed I was not paying attention and had the cup off center. I did it again to the same result. I tried again, watching more carefully. Water still spilled everywhere. Finally I looked at the cup. No wonder water was pouring out. There was a hole in the Bottom. Now if my brain was on alert, I should have checked the cup first but I assumed the whole mess was my fault. When I was much younger, I often would schedule two appointments at the same time. I now pay more attention but how I could write down an appointment on the same calendar as another appointment I was never been able to figure out. But every now and then, when I am not paying attention, my brain goes off duty. Keeps me humble for sure.

March 2, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. A Weekend in New York.

In the summer of 1960, Ken and I worked at the Salvation Army camp in Sharon, Ma., just outside Boston. Ken taught boating and led the camp band while I worked with The Golden Agers and the women and children campers. When the campers changed, we explored the area. Once, it happened to be a weekend so we decided to go to New York. Of course, we had no money but we had our camping gear. But no camp spots were available in downtown New York so we drove out to Long Island. Eventually we spent the night sleeping in our VW bug parked in a school yard. We woke up to kids playing. I remembered that family friends, Jean and Wilf M. lived in Manhattan but we could not find a phone booth so we found the SA headquarters and fortunately it was open. We used their restrooms and then asked to use the phone. Except we had no number so they looked it up. Jean and Wilf welcomed us with open arms. Ken and I played tourist, then met for dinner at their home. And they took us to the Rockets. We were wearing camp clothes so they outfitted us with their clothes. We slept on a mattress on the living room floor which was perfect. After a splendid breakfast we four attended a fancy church, again wearing borrowed clothes. We left to drive back to camp but not before we ate yet another delicions meal. Ken and I were lucky. We had a wonderful time in New York thanks to the hospitality of Jean and Wilf. We often laughed about our stupidity in thinking we could camp in New York. But we had a great time camping on the living room, and so did Jean and Wilf.

March 1, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. Little Free Library.

This is such a good idea. A box is installed outside by the street, and painted and decorated. Inside the box can be found books. Anyone can take a book or leave a book. Just like that. Almost 200 of these little free library boxes have been installed in Mississippi. Hattiesburg has 35 all by itself. The whole thing is done by volunteers. Anyone can put up a box, decorate it and put a sign on the side. That is how it got started. Now 2000 have been installed in the US, mostly in rural areas where people have difficulty getting to libraries. I spotted the idea of these little free library boxes on the program, Mississippi Roads, which I watch every week. The program takes me to places in Mississippi that I had not been. Last evening the whole program was on libraries, which included the little free library boxes. Some boxes are fancy and some are plain but they are all useful and are well used. The box in front of the Eudora Welty house is a miniature replica of her house. Several other of the boxes were clearly not made by amateur builders. The whole concept is appealing, where people take it upon themselves to help others. And also put out the books they no longer need or want. Now there is an organization and an e mail address. littlefreelibrary.org. At Playa Royale there is a bookcase in the large reception room. It works just the same way. People read a book and leave it on the shelf. Anyone can leave or take a book. The system is perfect, just like the little free library boxes. Such a clever idea.