I feel I've lost a lot of my creative juices though I am "socking" away which keeps my fingers limber.
A friend did this lovely thing last night for her small circle of friends on Facebook and sang us this wonderful old Quaker song. Just herself and her guitar and I was transported. I sang harmony to her beautiful rendition. Here it is sung by Audrey Assad but I have to confess my friend's older voice and her guitar had a profound effect on me.
I'm in the unusual position of having no "paying" work. My in-basket got cleared out. I'm not overly worried, financially, as there are some doings in the pipeline.
One of my friends had to pull the plug on her TV as she could no longer afford cable and her back and neck got shot out when she was lifting her patient into a car for a visit to the doctor. My friend is a home-care worker and 74 and is now terrified financially that she can no longer work and may have to sacrifice her car. Senior poverty is a global issue but I have written enough on that and will update once we hit the floor of parliament in early December.
Here is a picture from here in St. John's, taken by a local photographer to give you an idea of the beauty the liners and other ships see when they cruise into the harbour. Houses on cliffs always fascinate me.
Very unfortunate for your friend that she damaged her back and neck and might have to give up work. I hope she finds some effective treatment.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope the rest of your week is less of a downer.
Inevitable though Nick and I further enraged at the government for keeping women particularly in such abject poverty in their old age.
DeleteThanks for the good wishes, spirit willing, flesh weak haunts me.
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I hear you on the recover time. And hope that yours goes smoothly (and quicker than you expect). I also pay for doing too much. Often for days. And days.
ReplyDeleteI am in awe of that beautiful voice,k and loved those houses perched on the hillside. What incredible views they would have.
Yes I Know someone living there and I have to be pried from her window when I visit.
DeleteYes I hate this recovery time nonsense as I know you do.
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Wishing you a sepeedy recowery and oh what a lovely photo of houses in Saint John's. I just looked at the map in your link and realized that you actually live south of me. Thank God for the Golf current. Helsinge nearst town to my place :) Ugliest town in Denmark ... so true.
ReplyDeleteOh my I just looked at your link and the pond looks lovely but walls, etc. not a very good plan for a town?
ReplyDeleteSt. John's is beautiful, I must post some more pics.
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I remember seeing photos of the painted houses in St Johns's but I didn't know about the cliff houses.
ReplyDeleteThere is some very nice scenery in the clip too.
I just had a quick look at the level of old age pension in Canada and with the supplement, it is much the same as here, which is adequate if you own your home. Here on top of that there is private rental allowance. I am a little puzzled as to why so many older women in your country are living in poverty. Obviously those who don't own their own homes will struggle, but I also imagine there is some extra government or private support for them.
Since the pensions are similar, perhaps the disparity is in the prices of groceries and medical treatments? Perhaps private rents for houses is too high also?
DeleteRiver, grocery prices are similar, but I don't know about rental costs.
DeleteAndrew et al, the amounts allocated to women in Canada via CPP OAS and GIS - particularly single woman who have raised children or/and assisted elders and/or participated in other unpaid labour (volunteerism for example) and the fact they earn only 67% of a man's income in the same work, has a dreadful impact in our later years. This is why we fight for fairness via a group (SOS) we formed which has members now across Canada. We average $6,000 per annum BELOW the official povert line and have to work to make ends meet even in our 80s and in poor health.
DeleteWomen earning 67% of the male wage would be similar to here. Perhaps there is poverty for older women here too, but there is generally an unawareness.
DeleteI don't know Canada, Andrew, or Australia. Here in the US, it's a matter of savings, and the vast majority of us don't make enough to save, especially when we become single parents with deadbeat dads. There is no social safety net in this country.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, whatever the failings are of the Canadian system, it muc be better than yours.
DeleteJoanne, I agree, Canada does marginally better but does not lift us even to the poverty line. It is criminal. We are victims of unpaid labour (child raising, elder care) plus low earnings and unpensioned jobs.
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Houses on cliffs fascinate me too. I always imagine living in one and being able to watch the ocean with all its moods and storms and sunsets, not to mention ships that pass.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely, I agree and endlessly fascinating watching the ships and harbour activity.
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This post shows enough indications that you have not run out of your creative juices. So, don't lose heart.
ReplyDeleteAnd, that is a lovely song. The first time that I have heard it and I will hear it a few more times.
Sometimes it's difficult to rise above Ramana, we all have downtimes as we age and less long term companions to share with. I isolate deliberately at times as I feel like such a wuss and that takes energy.
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That photo could easily be a painting, so beautiful. As for your friend, it's sad that she has to go through this at her age. You see, there's always somebody who is worse off than you.
ReplyDeleteSo true Gigi, always someone worse off than ourselves.
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My best friend was a home care nurse and was so injured by a patient she spent a year in bed. Union fought her tooth and nail on it being a work place injury. Finally settled but her pension is dismal.
ReplyDeleteHome care can be brutal particularly for a woman of advanced years with her own health issues and a very heavy 50 YO with multiple physical challenges to lift. It breaks my heart.
DeleteAnd your friend fighting for justice as she lies ill from her job enrages me.
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Houses on cliffs and the trek to get to and from.
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