“70 for 70”: Weekly Report Six

As some of you know, I embarked on my “70 for 70” activities on the ramp-up to my 70th birthday on June 13, so this is my sixth Weekly Report on those activities. Please read the previous and upcoming posts for details on each week’s activities.

I hope you’re considering doing something similar or supporting what I do by leaving comments, encouragement, applause…. If you want to send money, use PayPal and I’ll donate it. The button is on my cover page of this blog: http://www.sallyember.com

May all beings benefit.

July 19
Babysat granddaughter again this morning so her mom could get some things done in her office. Very delightful.
Before I got to my son and DIL’s house, I went swimming at the local pool, again. While there, I got the lifeguard to do two things for others: put the stairs in (instead of the installed ladders, they’re easier ways for exiting and entering the pool for many of us; they’re are portable and not always “in”), and turn the music down (it was horribly and unnecessarily loud) so people talking to her or each other could actually hear one another.
Soon after the stairs were put in, two women came who definitely needed them but didn’t speak much English. I was glad I had asked for the stairs before they got there. Several others thanked me for getting the music turned down.
If so many wanted it that way, why am I the only one who asked for lower volume?

July 20
My housemate comes home today to pick up her car, then drives to her ex’s to take their kids and him to the airport. I parked right in front of the house, left the door unlocked and the inner door open, because she’s always running late and in a hurry.
I also made some seafood salad that she can gobble down before she leaves because she needs food with protein and doesn’t usually have anything planned or prepared, nor does her BF usually feed her very well (although breakfast is usually his strong suit, so we’ll see).

July 21
The buses weren’t stopping at several of the regular stops today due to Sunday’s road construction, and the only signs about it at the usual stops were posted in English only. Some non-English speakers at the stop I usually use weren’t understanding the situation.
I don’t know what language they were speaking (sounded African or Middle Eastern to my untrained ears), but with gestures, facial expressions and body language, I managed to convey the detour information to them. They followed me to the substitute bus stop successfully.

July 22
Today I made and purchased some food that I knew my housemate would like because she’s in-and-out for just one day and then travels again tomorrow. I am also helping her set up her schedule for when she returns and her kids return from their vacation. I may drive her to the airport tomorrow as well.

July 23
Gave my housemate a ride to the airport and postponed my swimming time to do that. That lets me keep her car, which she often lets me use, for which I am very grateful.
I will stock up on food while she’s gone, getting ready for her return and for her daughters to come back in another week as well.

July 24
Read up on the candidates for the Washington State primary elections and marked up the information booklet so my housemate (whose politics are in alignment with mine) can review it quickly and vote (we vote by absentee ballot) when she returns. No presidential candidates on this ballot; only state and local positions.
Ballots are due August 5.

July 25
I had the first massage in several months today at a local place I had never been to before. The massage was great, not too expensive, and at a nice atmosphere. I tipped 20%. I also left a positive review on Google and Yelp.

“70 for 70”: Weekly Report Five

As some of you know, I embarked on my “70 for 70” activities on the ramp-up to my 70th birthday on June 13, so this is my fifth Weekly Report on those activities. Please read the previous and upcoming posts for details on each week’s activities.

I hope you’re considering doing something similar or supporting what I do by leaving comments, encouragement, applause…. If you want to send money, use PayPal and I’ll donate it. The button is on my cover page of this blog: http://www.sallyember.com

May all beings benefit.

July 12
Today I babysat my 15-month-old granddaughter so her mom could attend a professional meeting online, as I have been doing every Friday since late June, and I am so delighted to be doing this. She is a treasure.
I also made some food to bring Monday: more meals for my wonderful healthcare provider, a gifted acupuncturist who has proven repeatedly that I am extremely fortunate to have found him and be working with him to heal old, physically stored traumas, and be currently healthier, both.

July 13
Talked with a long-time friend on the phone today about my mom’s passing, her mom’s failing health, her great adult children and their upcoming plans, and lots of other things. Great to catch up. Sent her some book and other recommendations afterwards.

July 14
Spent a lot of time on the phone last night and in a video call today discussing next steps and offering my experiences/advice for a friend’s friend’s career/job/possible live-in positions, and then got on to some very interesting topics and intersecting life experiences. May have made a new friend!

July 15
Brought the food I made (as part of my mourning period and good deeds) to my medical provider today, which should be enough for at least 2 and maybe 3 meals. Tuesday is the “long” day in which I fed him last week and he was very grateful. I hope he likes this week’s offerings.
I won’t be seeing him for two weeks, next, and probably won’t bring food unless he requests it.

July 16
I have been spending a lot of time alone these last two weeks, with my housemate and her kids out of town. Doing my meditations, swimming, cooking, resting, and, mostly, grieving.
Today, at the pool, someone was seemingly having a hard time, sitting on the stairs and looking very flushed. I asked her if she was all right, and she said she was, but then she wanted to talk. I listened. Turned out, she had recently suffered a loss. Her story brought me to tears and let hers flow. I explained my recent loss, and we bonded for a few minutes, two strangers, in grief and connection as humans. Sweet.

July 17
My son and his wife invited me to spend the day with them so I wouldn’t be alone all week, grieving, and I very much appreciated that. So, I went to their place after swimming in their local pool (one I used to swim in often when I visited them from Missouri).
My granddaughter is now 15.5 months old, and has suddenly (really, suddenly) gone from being a baby to being a toddler. She looks and acts so differently from just a few days ago. My DIL said this happened “over the weekend”! I was there last Friday, so from then to today is only 5 days! Amazing.
We had a great time together, just the two of us and with her parents, reading books, singing, dancing, playing with her toys, eating, walking around her house and on the beach at the park nearby, with lots of laughing, which is healing in itself.

When I was getting ready to leave, I told her “I love you,” and she said it back and gave me a hug! Sweetest, ever!

July 18

My housemate is coming back late tonight, and called me a few days ago to ask me to put her hiking boots outside for her BF to pick up on Friday. Somehow, I knew he would come sooner, so I put them out before I left yesterday. Sure enough, she called after I was already with my family to ask if I could put them out since he would be dropping by to get them Wednesday. “I already put them out,” I told her, “since i’m not there today.” She was relieved.
Today, I am cleaning up the house (already cleaned the bathroom), giving the refrigerator and kitchen and the living room (when they left, it was somewhat chaotic) a bit more attention, for her return.

“70 for 70”: Weekly Report Four

As some of you know, I embarked on my “70 for 70” activities on the ramp-up to my 70th birthday on June 13, so this is my fourth Weekly Report on those activities. Please read the previous and upcoming posts for details on each week’s activities.

I hope you’re considering doing something similar or supporting what I do by leaving comments, encouragement, applause…. If you want to send money, use PayPal and I’ll donate it. The button is on my cover page of this blog: http://www.sallyember.com

May all beings benefit.

July 5
Went to my son and DIL’s home to babysit my granddaughter again today. So happy to be doing that! For this week’s session, my son had called Wednesday to ask if I could stay longer so they could get some renovation work started in their home. I gladly agreed and was there most of the day today.

July 6
My housemate and her children are going on a vacation/family reunion trip Monday. While she went to exercise, I helped them both pack and do their household chores. Left her a list of what she needs to do to finish their packing. She was extremely relieved and grateful.

July 7
Our mom took a bad fall, broke her leg, and is in the hospital in Los Angeles since Friday night. She is now quickly deteriorating and may not survive (she’s over 92). Early Sunday, I asked the floor nurse to get someone to hold the phone up to her working ear and talked to her. She couldn’t talk since she had an oxygen mask on, but they said she gave me a thumbs up twice. I’m so sad. She went into a coma and palliative care by mid-morning. By early evening, they were reducing her oxygen and increasing her morphine so that she could die without stress. It’s what she had said she wanted. She died at 10:15 PM today: three 7’s. She got her lucky numbers on purpose.

July 8
Dealing with my mom’s passing yesterday and my housemate’s and her children’s leaving this morning on their 2-week vacation. Letting friends and family know about Mom. Helping get the family here off to the airport.
Crying intermittently, but generally all right.
I swam today for the first time in 10 days since I had a small biopsy (NEGATIVE) done and couldn’t immerse for that period of time. Felt so great to be back in the pool, especially today (VERY HOT for Seattle; 90 F–ish peaks for a few days, now).
Spent a lot of time on the phone with some grieving people.

July 9
I spent a lot of time preparing, then delivering some great chicken salad to a medical provider I saw today because I’m very grateful to him. He said he had a very full day on Tuesdays and hardly any time to eat and was very pleased I had brought him some food.

July 10
My youngest sister created a playlist for our mother’s funeral service today with some songs I suggested and Mom had loved. I thanked her and told her it was perfect.
I called some people Mom had been friends to tell them about her passing and her funeral, in case they hadn’t heard, but they all had. Today, I posted the funeral info and a photo of the two of us on Facebook and that informed more people, so I think “everyone” knows who needs to know, by now.
Funeral is today at 2:30 PM CDT at the graveside only. I’m attending via Zoom.

July 11
Since I was the only immediate family member to attend via Zoom, I “hosted” and coordinated the arrivals and introductions yesterday. I also sent a list of who attended to my youngest sibling for the records.
Today I cried a lot and also talked with her.
At the pool, I allowed someone to go ahead of me and get a lane. Usually wouldn’t do that, but my mom would have….

“70 for 70”: Weekly Report Three

As some of you know, I embarked on my “70 for 70” activities on the ramp-up to my 70th birthday on June 13, so this is my third Weekly Report on those activities. Please read the previous and upcoming posts for details on each week’s activities.

I hope you’re considering doing something similar or supporting what I do by leaving comments, encouragement, applause…. If you want to send money, use PayPal and I’ll donate it. The button is on the cover page of this blog: http://www.sallyember.com

May all beings benefit.

June 28
I babysat for my granddaughter yesterday for the first “official” time, so that her mom could attend an online meeting in the home and her dad could work at home as well. We did great together! I am so happy to be included in her/their lives this way; it’s the main reason I moved to this area. Full heart. I am doing this every week, most weeks, for the summer and perhaps beyond.

June 29
I did some chores that weren’t “mine” yesterday and today to help out my housemate. She has been so generous to me, I want to be helpful wherever I can.

June 30
There are many ways that I have had an unusual life, and most people know nothing about me, especially where I’m now living. Deciding what to tell, whom to tell, when to tell: are these “good deeds,” or what are these decisions? I have been putting myself into a tizzy trying to figure all this out, but I am trying not to overwhelm people or tell them anything they might be uncomfortable knowing. Maybe trying to be super-considerate is a “good deed”?

July 1
While my housemate was away yesterday and today, I did some “house” laundry, which I did not have to do. Washed, dried, folded, and put away (when I could do that alone; some items are stored too high for me to reach).

July 2
On the bus today, two tourists were sitting in front of me turning an actual paper map as well as their phone’s GPS every which way and looking confused. I leaned forward and asked if they’d like some help. They readily agreed, and I was able to point them to the bus stop and location they needed.
I got to see them get off and walk to their location (right next to the bus stop) before I got off.

July 3
Did housemate’s children’s and house laundry along with my own while they’re away. Clean sheets: so great!

July 4
I didn’t set off any fireworks.