Feeling massively foolish and more than a little old-lady-ish. Disliking myself for not being more fearless, striding out, unworried about breaking bones and subsequently wheelchairing it around alone in my house with the deaf and blind elderdog for company and a port-a-potty in the living room.
All sorts of thoughts intrude: like am I mad to live out in this community. Should I listen to my city friends and move to a senior-friendly apartment by the side of a downtown glorious lake overlooking the ocean and have transit and accessible medical care and OMG a clean and ice-free parking lot to anchor my car and just a few small rooms and theatre nearby and movies and....all I need is for poor old Ansa to die as NO PETS ALLOWED.
See the temporary insanity that overtakes me?
Meanwhile, there are leaks intruding into my house from this massive icejam. You might think you're having a bad day until you look at the back of my house. This frozen waterfall extends all the way from the roofline to the ground. No one has ever seen anything worse out here. And no one has suggestions as to how to manage it. So that's my day. How's yours?
This sounds too difficult. And yet it seems like such a wonderful community you live in. We have a condo near our kids in Seattle, and I feel very restricted in what I can do when we are there. It is imperative to me at my present age to live out my unique destiny, and I feel that you are of the same stripe. What to do?
ReplyDeleteNot sure Hattie. I do love where I live but this kind of event throws me sideways. Living the singleton life has its downsides. I would hate to sell up and leave for a 1 bedroom but needs must maybe.
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I'm sort of in the same state of being as you, wondering when I will have to downsize, but like you, I can't give up my dog. That is a big deciding factor. I hope to stay in my big old house as long as I can.
ReplyDeleteThat is my dream too NJ. I hope to have this sorted and soon. It is making me I'll fretting about it.
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I'm sorry about the ice jam and even sorrier you cannot take your dog where you would be safer and things would be less worrying. Perhaps there is someone about who can figure out what to do about the ice and leaks, then at least the inside would be more comfortable.xx
ReplyDeleteThanks E. I posted about it on FB and word is out. I live in a very rural community so hopefully someone with the knowhow will emerge and be able to assist.
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Surely ice jams can't be anything new in your neck of the woods. Anyway, hope they don't do any damage,and may you keep on coping.
ReplyDeleteTom they're not new but hell no one has ever seen one this massive. Fingers crossed. I'll talk to the fire department tomorrow.
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Ah, but once the cold spell is over, you'll be proud of yourself for coping with it and you'll be enchanted by your surroundings all over again.
ReplyDeleteI know Nick, once the firefighters did their job today, I was more relaxed, though another snow blast is forecast for today.
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what did the fire department do? at least one of our senior apartment places is no pets, which is ridiculous and makes for very sad animals at the shelter. it's not right. it's illegal to discriminate against people having kids and should be the same for a cat or dog.
ReplyDeleteThey got on the roof Sharyn and put salt on the ice buildup so that it would melt and pour off the roof, which it is now doing :)
DeleteI think a few bad pet owners make it tough on the rest of us: not training them or changing litter, etc.
And all studies show having pets extends our lives by at least 5 years, gets us outdoors, relieves stress, etc.
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Such temporary insanities occur regularly to all senior citizens. I find it so from all my senior citizen friends who come up with all kinds of phobias depending on just too many things, one of which is climate. But the joy is in snapping out of it, venturing out to do whatever needs to be done despite the fear and feeling mightly good abou it later.
ReplyDeleteSo very true Ramana, I was at a dinner party tonight and just to hang out and feel normal again was beyond price. A lovely evening and all my troubles and challenges have been sorted. I am put to standing right side up. Thanks for sharing yours and your friends experiences.
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