My Group of Friends

i just got home from lunch with my Ex-Curves Friends. Some of us met while exercising at Curves and some never did. Ha! I think there is one person who still exercises regularly. So anyway, we love to eat. We are better eaters than exercisers at this point. I think our ages go from early 70's to 99 - Thelma visits us a few times a year. We do miss her.

We used to have breakfast on Mon., Wednes., and Fri. Now we have lunch on Mon. because we were really tired of the selected breakfast entrees. 

So on Mondays we move around to different restaurants. We have found some mighty fine options. These pictures are at different restaurants through the years.

I love Mondays because I usually bring something home for Hubby so I can skip making at least one meal on that day. Today I brought home a Chef's Salad...it was so good and enough for two meals and maybe three if I add more lettuce. Lots of fixings and he liked it!

Some of our original friends have passed but we still include them in our conversations. Today there were ten in attendance. We laugh, tear up, talk politics, and then finish up with food conversation and recipes. 

I think I can say we love being together, lean on each other, advise each other (our medical expertise is the finest), and we are healthier as a group (minus the repairs and replacements).

I feel so lucky to be a member of this smart, fun group of mostly gray-haired wonders.  

FROM AN OLD HOUSE (1890) TO NEW HOUSE (1953)

 I DON'T RECOLLECT HOW I FELT MOVING FROM GRAM'S HOUSE TO A NEW HOUSE IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT. IT WAS A HUGE CHANGE TO HAVE MY OWN BEDROOM, NICE SIZE YARD, UNFINISHED BASEMENT TO CREATE SHEENA OF THE JUNGLE WITH MY DAD'S PITH HELMET, OUR VERY OWN GARDEN, AND A GARAGE THAT WE CREATED PLAYS IN WHEN WE WERE ON SUMMER VACATION USING THE BIG GARAGE DOOR AS THE CURTAIN.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT WAS A HUGE CHANGE. THIS IS THE HOUSE NOW. MATURE TREES THAT MAKE IT LOOK TOTALLY DIFFERENT BUT THE HOUSE IS BASICALLY THE SAME. THE HEDGE TO THE RIGHT OF THE FRONT DOOR EDGED THE FENCE ON TWO SIDES. MY PARENTS WERE GREAT GARDENERS. THE CURRENT HEDGE CAME FROM MY UNCLE'S FARM. PLANTED SMALL PLANTS THAT REALLY GREW FAST AND DISGUISED THE CYCLONE FENCE THAT KEPT OUR DOG IN - WELL MOSTLY. 

BUDDY WAS A BOXER/LAB MIX IF I REMEMBER RIGHT AND LOVED TO SAIL OVER THE FENCE EVEN WHEN ATTACHED TO A CHAIN. HE ALMOST HUNG HIMSELF JUMPING THE FENCE ONE DAY WHEN HIS FEET DIDN'T TOUCH THE GROUND BUT WAS RESCUED BY MY DAD TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY. HE WAS MY BROTHER'S DOG. IF MY MOM WENT TO WAKE UP, BUDDY WOULD STRADDLE HIM AND BARK AND BARK PROTECTING HIM FROM HER.

THIS ISN'T BUDDY BUT A REAL CLOSE LIKENESS.

I HAVE SO MANY FOND MEMORIES WHEN WE LIVED HERE. THE EMPTY FIELD ACROSS FROM OUR HOUSE BEFORE THEY BUILT MORE HOUSES.WAS OUR PLAYGROUND. THEY MUST HAVE DUMPED FILL THERE BECAUSE FOR A SHORT WHILE, WE TUNNELED IN THE DIRT AND HAD A GREAT TIME. NOT SURE THAT MY PARENTS KNEW THIS BECAUSE IT WAS DANGEROUS BUT WE SURE HAD A FUN, DIRTY TIME THERE.

MY VERY BEST FRIEND, JAN, LIVED TWO BLOCKS AWAY TOWARDS BEAVER LAKE. MY PARENTS SENT ME TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL WHEN I WAS IN THE 9TH GRADE SO WE DIDN'T SEE EACH OTHER VERY MUCH DURING HIGH SCHOOL. BEFORE THEN WE SAW EACH OTHER EVERY DAY, I THINK. 

MY MOM AND JAN'S, MOM WERE CLOSE FRIENDS. WE SHOPPED FOR CLOTHES TOGETHER, SHARED MEALS, ETC. THEY ALSO SHARED A LOVE OF GARDENING. I REMEMBER THE ANGEL WING BEGONIAS THAT SHE PLANTED BY THEIR HOUSE. 

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS WORKING ON A SCHOOL PROJECT THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MEDICAL FIELD AND "MIKE", JAN'S MOM SHOWED ME AROUND MILLER HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS A NURSE. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE TOUR. LATER I ENDED UP WORKING AS A TEMP IN THE HOSPITAL AS ASSISTANT TO THE COOK WHO WAS MY AUNT MILLIE. SMALL WORLD BACK IN THE EARLY 60'S.

HER DAD, BUD, HELPED MY BROTHER WITH HIS LITTLE TRAINS, I THINK. FUNNY HOW SO MANY THINGS ARE REMEMBERED AND OTHER THINGS ARE A LITTLE HAZY.

WE LIVED IN THIS LITTLE RANCH HOUSE UNTIL I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL. I REMEMBER HOW SAD I WAS TO MOVE BUT MY SISTER WAS BORN IN 1960 SO FOR 4 YEARS WE LIVED IN THIS LITTLE 3 BEDROOM HOUSE. WE MADE SO MANY MEMORIES IN THIS LITTLE HOUSE THAT DIDN'T SEEM SO LITTLE THEN.

   

OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING!

 ONCE YOU HAVE LIVED IN YOUR BEST EVER COUNTRY HOME, IT IS DIFFICULT TO CALL ANOTHER PLACE "HOME." WE HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE IN TOWN SINCE OCTOBER 2023. BECAUSE I AM STILL TRYING TO UNPACK STUFF THAT JUST DOESN'T FIT IN OUR SMALLER HOUSE, IT FEELS LIKE THIS IS TEMPORARY LIKE A CABIN.

 WHEN WE MOVED TO THE COUNTRY, WE HAULED IN TWO PICKUP TRUCKS FULL OF PLANTS. MOVING HERE WITH AN HOA DID NOT ALLOW FOR PLANTING OUR FAVORITE PLANTS IN THE GROUND.

I'M IN PLANT/GARDEN WITHDRAWAL. NO LILY OF THE VALLEY, BLEEDING HEARTS, PEONIES, IRIS, BEE BALM, RHUBARB, DAISIES, ETC. 

WITH HELP, I'VE SET UP A PATIO GARDEN WITH THE LITTLE IRON TABLE SET AND FAUX FLOWERS IN POTS. SOMETHING BUT NOT TOTALLY SATISFYING. NO FRAGRANCE BUT THEY ARE TOLERANT OF HEAT AND DRAUGHT. LOL

JOSIE AND I SPENT SOME TIME ON THE PATIO THIS MORNING. I EXPANDED THE PORTABLE FENCE SO THE WHOLE PATIO IS FENCED IN ON THE TWO OPEN SIDES - THE HOUSE IS THE OTHER TWO SIDES. HOPEFULLY IT WILL KEEP THE SQUIRRELS AND BUNNIES AWAY. JOSIE GETS A LITTLE EXCITED - LIKE SHE THROWS HERSELF AGAINST THE PATIO DOOR AND SCREAM BARKS. BECAUSE WE KIND OF SIT ON A CORNER, THE GROUNDS PEOPLE GO BY ABOUT 20 TIMES WEEKLY AND SHE DOES THE SAME UNTIL THEY STOP. UGH.

IT WAS SO CLOSE TO PERFECT THIS MORNING THOUGH - SHADE UNTIL 2 P.M., NO BUGS, COOL TEMP AND LITTLE HUMIDITY. I COULD LISTEN TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS THROUGH THE SCREEN DOOR. SO, TOMORROW MY BOOK, SOME ICED COFFEE AND MY JOSIE = ALMOST PERFECT.

Good job, Bonnie!

 When was the last time someone told you that you did a good job? It has been a bit for me.

This week I went to the dentist. Not my favorite thing but my teeth are important to me, and I have too many spaces, a bridge and a partial That is enough. Anyway, I spend a lot of time flossing. There is some kind of flossing apparatus everywhere I sit. Not regular floss but little brushes, picks and a new as big as a toothbrush pick. 

The old days were pretty scary, the new ways are so much better. 

Well - not to brag too much but - I got an "Atta Girl" from both the hygienist and the dentist. "Good job, Bonnie!"

Yay me. And then the hygienist walked me to my car...who does that? I think she thinks I'm special and that is ok. That day I was. My Mom would be proud...pretty teeth were important to her.

Can we keep it?

 

Today was a tough day for me. My heart feels sad and my soul feels empty. I feel empathy for everyone who needs help from the resources they need to feed their kids and medical care for their families and newborn babies and seniors in rural America in nursing homes and those who need care in their small hospitals. I am scared for us too. 

Every day brings more disappointment in the government who used to care about its citizens. The antics displayed after the Big Awful Bill was beyond cruel. How can this be? 

To lose faith in what was decent only a year ago takes my breath away and leaves me feeling hopeless. I'm not sure that I have the energy to replenish my soul. I never thought the end of our lives would change this much. 

What was I thinking???

Laying awake thinking about my younger days until I only had two hours left to sleep before my 24/7 caretaking day begins. Whew...I'm already kind of shaky so now getting Hubby up and taken care of means I'm shakier. After a 1/2 hr. or so, I know I can make it.

So what kept my mind whirling? Maybe it is because my world is so upside down. Cruelty is reported every day, and my empathetic self is disgusted and devastated and sad. 

Growing up in the 1950's right after WWII was economically tough but I had no idea that it was. To say I was sheltered and protected is very accurate. Maybe a little spoiled like when my Uncle Earl babysat me and warmed my diapers after he changed me. When my parents came home, diapers were washed and drying all over the place. Uncle Earl was kidded about that forever. He even let me dunk my cookies in his coffee. I was the first grandchild on my Dad's side of the family.

When it was time to go home from the hospital, we lived in an apartment off of Payne Avenue on St. Paul's Eastside. Until I moved in, everything was fine with the other apartment dwellers. However, apparently a baby with colic who was constantly crying didn't go over very well. So Maud Nelson kicked us out and it was then that we moved into the 2nd floor of Grandma's house.  My Dad's brother and family lived in the bottom floor of Grandma's house with her and Grandpa on the main floor.

This is the house now except when we lived there it had a porch across the front where I played house and made so many meals out of seeds, etc. The bay window was great for growing a Boston fern and other plants and was where G'ma and G'pa and Randolph kept track of neighbors.

Randolph rented a room in the basement but was a friend who came from Bergen, Norway. He was a fisherman there in Stavanger.

That is what families did to get by. They helped each other and maybe even lived together. What could be better than living close to grandparents who loved to spoil us.

I'm writing these memories mostly for me. Maybe when I start forgetting things, I can revisit these pages to remember.