Another Year Older - Another Year Wiser?

It's been a year since I turned 65 and joined Medicare.  There have been a lot of changes in my life since August 8, 2008 when I moved into the Carriage House, but my birthday this year and the people I celebrated it with really brought home to me how much my life has changed and how happy I am with it.  Just about all the people I celebrated with I did not know before that momentous date.  Donna, whom I met last year in Physical Therapy for MS at Stanford and who has become a good friend, and I spent a delightful afternoon at Stanford Shopping Center having lunch and browsing on the day of my birthday - her birthday is two days after mine.  That evening there was a small get together with several of the women from the cancer class Carla and I took at the YMCA two years ago.  The idea was just to get together but they had a surprise for me and had a birthday cake, candles and presents.  That was Thursday.  I also received two separate beautiful bouquets of flowers, one from Brenda and the other from another new friend.  Then on Sunday evening Carla, Judith and Liza threw me another birthday party.  This was very special to me because these three women have become very important to me and make up a large part of my new life.  It was perfect - we had drinks, dinner, watched movies and Carla, of course, made another one of her fabulous creations for dessert.  In a week I'm having dinner with my new friend Ge who is also a Pisces and so we will celebrate both our birthdays together.  I finally feel settled in my new life.  Jane Fonda wrote a book when she turned 60 and she talked about the three separate lives she has led.  I feel the same way - my childhood and college and the years in Paris and then San Francisco as a single woman, my married life as a wife, mother and grandmother, and now this new life which is a combination of the previous two as well as being entirely new with entirely new challenges, surprises, and adventures.  I might be 66 but I feel young and as though my life is really just beginning.

A lot has happened since my last posting.  I did not go to New York in February as I'd originally planned.  Everyone here was very concerned about how I would do in freezing weather there, fearing I might slip and fall, but it was only when my friends in New York, whom I was planning to visit, urged me to wait until the Spring that I reluctantly acquiesced and canceled my flights.  I was feeling a little bummed about it and was talking to Brenda on the phone when she suddenly suggested I come to Seattle instead.  And so I did.  And I had a fantastic time, as I always do when I am with Brenda.  The weather even cooperated - it didn't rain until Monday Feb 14th, the day I flew home, and it was moderate enough that I didn't even wear my heavy jacket.  We spent time with her Brazilian friends whom I adore, I met Cameron's girlfriend (they're adorable together), we drove up to Leavenworth for the day (no, not the prison, it's a 3 hour drive up into the mountains and is a replication of a German or Swiss town - we had dark beer and sausage), we went to the taping of a morning talk show with Brenda's friend Karmen and received free couple's snuggies (see photos).  It was really great.  But the best part in a sense is that I saw Elson and it was almost like old times.  I'd called him and told him I was coming and he was very excited and wanted to make sure he saw me.  On Sunday Brenda dropped me off at Charlton's and then we went to pick up Elson and went to Chinatown for Dim Sum with the boys and Cameron's girlfriend Lauren.  We had a great time, laughing and kidding around just like we used to.  Afterwards I went to Elson's apartment with him and I showed him how to use iTunes and his computer.  I stayed there a couple of hours and then he brought me back to Brenda's.  This is what I wanted for us - to remain on a friendly level so we can all still get together as a family.  In a way, I'm glad Wayne and Arlene have cut me off, because I'm sure they would have been furious about this and given me a hard time.  Arlene hadn't even wanted me to take his phone calls when he was in prison.  That would have been too cruel.  Elson and Charlton even called and sang Happy Birthday to me on my birthday.

I have started taking classes of the Alexander Technique, once every two weeks.  I really feel it is helping me.  I don't know yet whether Medicare will cover it - I have to file a claim.  The MS seems to be getting worse.  I started to straighten up my apartment today since Carla and Judith were coming for dinner and it totally exhausted me and I had to crash on my couch.  And my apartment isn't that big - I hadn't even made the bed.  But I am wearing the brace more often and that definitely helps.  I brought it to Seattle with me and it made all the difference.  Speaking of Seattle and flights, I hadn't flown anywhere for 4 years and I was really hesitant, knowing I wouldn't be able to walk all the way to the gates, do all that standing, etc.  So I reserved wheelchairs at the airports and it was terrific!  I felt like royalty - they whizzed me through security, I got to pre-board, they waited for and retrieved my luggage for me and then accompanied me to the curb, etc.  So no more fear of flying!  I am good to go.

And speaking of my couch, the most exciting news is that I got a Macbook.  I got it used on Craigs List and boy am I loving it.  I don't have to go to my office anymore to do emails.  In fact I'm on the couch right now writing my blog.  I even at times write and read emails in bed.  And in the bathroom (sorry - too much information?).  At the dining room table.  And when Spring comes, on the deck.  Oh life is grand, it's very wonderful....sorry, I digressed into Once Upon A Mattress.  But speaking of the macbook, this leads me to the next piece of news.

I am very serious about starting my own computer consulting business for senior citizens.  There is an entire generation of baby boomers and older who have been given iPods and iPads or have macbooks or netbooks and who don't know how to use them.  I'm always helping friends learn how to use iTunes and digital photos and so why not get paid for it.  A friend who is a graphic artist is going to help me design a business card which I will put up at Senior Centers, Assisted Living places, etc.  I'm starting to phase myself out of my job in Milpitas or at least cut back my hours.  The drive is beginning to get to me and I'm exhausted when I get home.  I'm also thinking I can do freelance bookkeeping locally.  No one knows what the future holds for me regarding my mobility so I need to do this now rather than later.  I don't want to suddenly not be able to do the drive anymore while I'm still working 3 days a week and they're dependent on me.

While I was in Seattle a new photo was taken of me with an apple martini, so I've replaced the one on this site.  Speaking of apple martinis (how's that for a segue?), JoAnne Rockower called me last night.  She now lives in Puerto Vallarta and she was having dinner last night with some friends who also have condos in her building and she suddenly recognized one of the couples - Marv and Chie Rubinstein, good friends of mine from New York!  What a small world.  Marv will be celebrating his 90th birthday next year in PV, so I will stay with JoAnne when I fly down for it.  Maybe Brenda will come with me!  JoAnne's been inviting us to come stay for some time now.  I missed Marv's 85th at the Awahnee in Yosemite, but I was there for his 80th in Paris.  He gives the best parties.

Well, I think that's enough good news for now.  It's a banner year for me as my old friend Bruce Pacht pointed out - lots of double digits - 66 33 11.  Double digits for double the fun.  I'll drink to that!