March 14, 2022. Madison, Mississippi. Bird Sounds.

I have friends who live alone and turn on their TV the minute they come home. They use the television for company. And I know friends and relatives to keep their radio on all the time playing classical music. Or they play from their thousands of CD's. In that instance, they are not looking for company but to hear good music. But in either instance, their home is not quiet, which is of course, the whole point. They do not wish to have a silent home so they hear either the television of music. But not me. I am odd but I prefer to have the house quiet because I like to hear what is going on outside my house. Here on the reservoir I hear the boats racing by and I try to figure out if the boat is small or large. And I can hear the fishermen talking sitting on their boat just close to our dock. Canada Geese come through town, honking all the way. I like to hear them come and stay a bit. Then I am happy to hear them as they wend their way north. I listen to other bird songs all day too. Some birds I recognize and some I do not but no matter, I love to hear them chirping or singing out. I can also hear when packages are left at the front door. I do use television for company and information but never do I have the set running all day. I like the house quiet so I can hear the sounds of the birds. Nifty to hear those tiny creatures who have just returned from far away lands. Now I need to gather more information about the different bird calls. My friend Alice Anne recognizes hundreds of different birds. But not me. I am not so clever.

March 13, 2022. Madison, Mississippi. Walkers.

I am now the proud owner of 4 walkers. Christina put together my 4th today. It is a walker with three wheels so it is ligh and easy to put in and out of the car. And it does not take as much room in the house too. So I like it. I saw frien Cliffie use a three wheel walker this summer and he also spoke well of the weight. Now I have my own three wheel walker. I still must keep a traditional walker in the house because I use the seat on the walker to carry my beverags and meals from one place to another. The three wheel walker has a bag so I could take things from one place to another but not a plate of food. I will use the new walker when I am going out. Tomorrow, Kashina and I have errands so I will take my new walker with me in the car. I might even keep it in the car. One week ago I started using a walker. Years ago, when I was taking the infusion chemotherapy, my legs were so weak that I used a walker. My first summer in Nova Scotia we had two walkers, one for me and one for Ken. But I got stronger that summer so stopped using the walker. Ken kept one walker on the second floor and one on the main so we still have 2 walkers in Nova Scotia. My legs have been unstable for a few years and many people have urged me to get back to a walker but I thought I could manage without it. But last Sunday I gave up being stubborn. The Achilles tendon issue and my unstable legs put me over the top. I was not safe walking alone so Christina brought a walker from the garage into the house last Sunday and I have been using one ever since. I suspect I will be using a walker for the rest of my life. In the garage can be found lots of devices used by Ken when he was infirm. As I get older, I suspect I will pick away and use stuff for myself. But at the moment, I am using a walker, which is a good thing. This light weight three wheel walker is nifty and I am happy to have it. I might even order a second. Who knows?

March 12, 2022. Madison, Mississippi. Day Light Savings.

Tonight we spring forward with the clock. Instead of getting up at 8:00, it will actually be 9:00 so we we miss an hour of sleep. Once upon a time, many years ago, day light savings must have sounded like a good idea so the government passed the law introducing the swith in the time, twice a year. Every state except Arizona agreed to the change. One other statee also does not followcc the daylight savings switch but I forget which one. In Arizona, the clocks do no spring forward. They just stay at standard time. In the world of today, day light savings makes no sense. We have air condition in the schools. Farmers hate it. The whole thing is just silly. But no one does anything about it. Once something is passed and implemented by the government, trying to get the foolish rule changed seems to be impossible. This day light savings time is a perfect example. I have asked many people, and no one likes it. In fact, most folks hate it. But nothing happens so we dutifully switch our watches and clocks twice a year. We are lemmings. I am all for staying on the same time all year. Get rid of the changing clocks. That is my vote. But no one asks me so I continue to spring forward tonight, along with everyone else. I certainly hope to get to the brunch on time tomorrow!!

March 11, 2022. Madison, Mississippi. The Weather.

Kashine changes my sheets every Wednesday. The first week I was here, we discussed the flannel sheets. Was it time to switch nthe bed clothes to regular cotton sheets? We checked the temperatures on our phone and decided to keep those flanel sheets on the bed. Every week we have the same conversation. And every Wednesday she puts the flannel sheets back on the bed. And a good thing too because we are in for some real weather. For three days after my arrival home in Mississippi it was cold, in the 50s during the day. But then I have enjoyed temperatures in the 70s. But that is about to change. Tonight the temperature will get to 36 degrees. Tomorrow we will see a high of 43. Then on Sunday and Monday, the night time temperatures will go to 27 degrees, which is colder that Mississippi ever gets. Crazy weather. I am told by my friends and family that the whole winter was similar. First it was warm, followed by severe cold. Then back to warm. I am grateful that my house is warm and that my bed still has flannel sheets. I will be warm and cozy. The best part of living in Mississippi is that by Wednesday, the temperatures will return to the 70s. This time, we will doubtless experience no more below freezing temperatures. Eventually, Kashine will change the sheets to regular cotton sheets. Perhaps Wednesday will be the day.

March 10, 2022. Madison, Mississippi. Kate's Birthday Gift.

Both Kate and Mary Frances had birthdays when I was in Mexico so we celebrated at brunch, the first Sunday I was here. I had checked with Christina to see if the girls wanted to receive money or take a shopping spree. Kate selected shopping because she will be in yet another wedding party and she needs a dress for the rehearsal dinner plus several other events. The wedding is in June. Today was the day selected for our shopping excursion. Christina came with us. There is nothing better in life than spending time with your granddaughter, especially when she is enthusiastic and excited. We had a wonderful time. Our routine is for me to sit just outside a dressing room and wait for Kate to come out with yet another garment. First Kate and Christina select the possible clothes. Kate did not need casual clothes. She needed fancy duds. As she is tall, many dresses do not fit so she must try on many many dresses to find one the will fit. Dresses are being worn short but on Kate, that means too short so many dresses looked beautiful on Kate and fit perfectly...but they came to just below her buttocks so they would not work. But she did well and she selected several pretty dresses that she will be able to wear for many years. She was very pleased. We always end of shopping adventures by going out for lunch. We dined at a new Asian restaurant, one that serves Janapee, Chinese, Korean and Thai food. The food was delicious and once again, we enjoyed ourselves. Our birthday gift was a big success.

March 9, 2022. Madison, Mississippi. Gifts.

Trying to give me a gift is almost impossible. I need nothing. My husband bought everything possible for the house. He believed in the concept that it was better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. So in our homes we always had everything in abundance. I have a closet full of clothes that I mosly do not wear so buying me clothes is difficult. So giving me a gift is not easy. But every so often someone hits the jackpot and I receive a gift that I did not think I needed but that I now use every day. And I love that gift. For Christmas, Christina gave me a blanket. On one side it is warm and fuzzy and the front side is a knitted fabric. It looks good. I put it into the TV room thinking that I could wrap myself to keep warm. Instead I use it every day. Some time before Christmas I started to use Ken's recliner to take my afternoon nap. I started using Ken's chair in Nova Scotia and it worked well so one day I wondered if the chair in Mississippi would do the same. Up until then, I never sat in Ken's chair. When I first began to use the chair I used a quilt to keep me warm, but after I received my new blanket I use it all the time. It is a perfect size and covers from my feet to my neck. And it is warm and cosy. If you had asked me whether or not I needed a cosy blanket I would have told you no. But I was wrong. I use it every day. And every day I say, "Thank you Christina."

March 8, 2022. Madison, Mississippi. Serendipity.

Some times all the plans go awry but in the end, everything comes out better than anticated. Today was one of those days. My plan for the day was to take an excursion with Chris, my Lyft driver. We were to drive on back roads to Meridian, then have lunch at Wiedmans, an old New York style deli. It has been in business since 1970. I was concerned about the journey due to my heel. I am still limping. And I am using a walker at home. My legs are still not doing well either but I felt I could still take the trip, hanging onto the arm of Chris. And starting on Sunday afternoon, my stomach was upset so I was anxious about eating the food. But I was just prepared to eat bland food. So I was planning to go. At 8:30, Chris and I texted confirming the time. And I ask him to come to the door to get me to the car. And all was well. Next I got a text posponing the trip. Chris's car would not start. The trip was off. And I was relieved. At 11:00 the rains started, followed by thunder and lightning. We had a full blown storm. The rain came done heavily all afternoon with intermittant storms. Had we taked the journey we would hae been in the midst of a storn and downpour. We just got lucky. Serendipity in action.