Quiet Life

January 2012

I did not send Christmas cards in December. I have wanted to write to you, but have had computer problems. You really don’t want a hand-written letter. Once my parents gave me a typewriter when I was sixteen, my handwriting went to pieces. It is all I can do to write a legible check now.

I am recovering from a bout of thrombophlebitis last August in what I considered my “good” leg. This one came on with no pain, so I did not recognize it at first. My first onslaught, in the other leg, happened in the Seventies and recurred in the Eighties with severe pain. The current long clot is dissolving slowly, so I will be on blood thinners for another couple of months. Meanwhile, I am beginning to regain lost strength. I am trying to make myself return to my exercises, but am not very faithful about it.

Christmas was a four-day holiday in Belize with Saturday, the Sunday Christmas, Monday Boxing Day, and Tuesday, too, to make up for Christmas Day’s being on Sunday. The Christmas season was especially happy because Carli and Tom came from California to spend it with us. They stayed for my birthday in early January.

Carli was wonderfully attentive and helpful. Tom, meanwhile, sorted out both of my computers at great length and put them back into perfect order, then kept himself busy finding odd jobs around the house. Alex and María were with us much of the time, of course.

I had told María that I did not want a birthday party. I am short of contemporaries. My close friends Jill & Mick Bell and Ann & John Crump will be away. That leaves only Jimmy Murphy here. We had a small gathering of just the five of us to celebrate my Ninetieth birthday.

I have trouble believing I am this advanced age. Actually, it even was a great surprise when I was around to greet the change of the century some years ago. I am in remarkably good health, everything considered, aside from the usual this-and-that.

I have no special plans for the year except that late spring or early summer I probably will go to California to visit Carli and Tom. This is my annual trip to see them and to check in with my myriad doctors.

June 2012

In mid-March, a scan showed that my blood clot had dissolved after a six-month recuperation. It was a relief to be off blood thinners and in a position to try to regain lost strength. I am definitely stronger now than I was during the thrombophlebitis period, thank goodness, though I am far from my normal strength (i.e., pre-age-Ninety strength). The lightheadedness is abating, though I still have brief spells of dizziness. My balance problem is permanent, the result of brain damage due to a drug I took for years. Everything considered, I am pain-free, comfortable, and in reasonable shape.

In view of my general weakness, dizzy spells, and long periods of lightheadedness, Carli suggested that I not make my annual visit to them. It was hard to give it up, but I really could not face the hassle of air travel with nights at the airport hotel between flights.

 

I don’t know whether I told you that the Carli and Alex convinced me that it was time for me to give up driving. A contribution to the safety and security of the community, considering my dizziness and lightheadedness, not to mention age-deteriorated reflexes. It was very hard for me to give up the independence driving gave me, but I knew it was a wise decision. I am used to it now. I have two reliable taxi drivers available. While the out-of-pocket fares shock me, I try to remember car expenses. For your information, our gasoline now is more than $12.50 a gallon. Even at 2:1 to the US dollar, that’s more than us$6.00 for regular and even more for the premium we use because of the poor quality gas available here.

 

We have had a series of holidays, starting with the four-day holiday for Easter in early April. Since then, local holidays have given us several three-day weekends. We are thoroughly spoiled. The good times are over now until the National holidays in September. My life is so quiet these days that I don’t know why a holiday even matters to me. It may be that on weekends and holidays, when the maids are not here, I indulge myself in a beer before lunch and an afternoon nap.

April 2013

I had a lovely time when Carli and Tom were here for Easter. They arrived the afternoon of the 27th of March and left on the 4th of April. Good weather greeted them—breezy and cool.

As usual, it was perfect having them here. The only problem was that the maids were off for a four-day holiday. I am not able to do much and María’s left hand was broken, so Carli and the boys filled in. Meals were kept simple, many of them Spanish dishes we ordered for the holidays. Carli and Tom insisted on doing dishes.

Tom sorted out some problems in my computer, so it now is in good shape. He is a marvel with these things. Conversation involved computers often. Alex, María, and Carli all are involved with them, of course. I listened and did not understand most of the time.

The “children” did a shopping run for María and me, then Alex took Carli and Tom on a run through the city—not an easy project since many of the main streets are being repaired and detours abound. Carli was amazed at the new, large buildings going up everywhere.

While I miss Carli and Tom now, I am grateful for their visit. They have a full schedule at home, and I appreciate their taking time out to come to Belize. They will be back in June next year for Carli’s high school reunion.

June 2013

I don’t write as often as I used to; my life is so much stay-at-home that I don’t usually have anything to say. Fortunately I can keep myself occupied with books, the computer, and TV. For the record, I do not indulge in the personal computer programs like Facebook. I can’t imagine wanting to put personal information out for public consumption. Various friends-and-relatives invite me to enlist in their personal programs. I find it easy not to do so.

September 2013

My thoughtful son brought me a Kindle from his recent trip to the States. My vision has become slightly hazy (age!) and reading books had become a problem. Not a bad one, luckily. The Kindle solves the problem.

I wasted literally hours and hours over a period of days trying to register my new “toy.” I finally asked Alex to enter my registration—which he did handily.

After much communing with the Kindle instruction book—which Alex had printed out for me from the Internet—I was able to get Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice free from Gugenheim (or some such name). I thought I read it in high school, but found that I never had read it. It is a gem in its way, but by the end I was struggling. Most sentences took up almost an entire page. And it is almost all dialogue with little description and no color.

November 2013

I am the proud possessor of a new computer. My very old one had been giving me constant trouble. There was some thought of hooking my laptop up to my monitor, large keyboard, and printer, but I have problems with the laptop because the Yahoo print is too small for my cloudy vision. The new one is fine, though I have a lot to learn before I can use it easily. The wonderful thing is that Alex has given it to me as an early Christmas present.

 

I am getting used to the new computer. Unfortunately, it is Windows 8, which is an unhappy attempt to meld computer and touch screen. Alex has fixed things so that the latter isn’t really in the way for me. The computer itself is fine, though I preferred certain features on my old one. This will take a little getting used to, but I have both time and patience. Besides, I use a limited number of computer features. I had settled on buying a new computer myself, but left searching and selection to Alex. His deciding to give me the computer for Christmas was a wonderful surprise.

 

The weather has been wretched. For almost a week we had intermittent squalls due to a severe storm in the Yucatán. No sooner was that finished, but we had a rainy cold wave that still is with us. No matter. Weather doesn’t worry me, and I can stay warm in the house with heavy clothes.

January 2014

I have had another six-month bout of thrombophlebitis. That is back in the not-so distant past. Now I am recovering from severe swelling of both lower legs. Not the thrombosis this time. Ultrasound proved that the problem is bad veins and arteries. Nothing to do about it but wear compression socks and keep legs elevated most of the time. Meanwhile, I use a walker or cane to cope with my constant dizziness and poor balance. A lot of my other problems are due to age. No point griping. I’ll be 92 Saturday.

February 2014

I had a delightful visit yesterday from Betty Flinchum, the friend for whom I edit writings. She lives in the mountains of North Carolina, but visits Belize every February to see officials. She worked with the university for years, arranging scholarships for Belizean students at University of North Florida. Some 250 of those students have returned to Belize to work here. She stays in touch with the Belizean education system and its officials. It was wonderful to see her. We had a splendid afternoon visit.

April 2014

I wish I had something interesting to tell you, but I haven’t. Correspondence was easier during the years when I was traveling. I am grateful now for all the interesting trips I took. Fun to dream back over.

 

This weekend is our four-day Easter holiday—Friday through Monday. María and Alex have invited me for Easter Sunday dinner on María’s patio. It is a pleasant place and open to the breeze. Alex will grill two pork loin roasts. He does it beautifully. I look forward to the event.

Aside from that, I have no plans. The days will be like ordinary weekend ones. That really suits me. The dogs usually come upstairs in the morning to be with me. I enjoy their company. Duchess, our black Labrador, is her usual, bustling self. Poor Raven, our aging Doberman, has trouble with her hind legs. Often she can’t manage my stairs. Fortunately the problem comes and goes.

June 2014

It is hard for me to write these days because I am almost house-bound. Nothing interesting to say. Fortunately things will change temporarily in a couple of weeks when Carli and Tom come for Carli’s high school reunion. I am in something of a panic because I had it (ridiculously) in mind that they were coming in July. Alex’s wife María was in the same class, so all four will be busy much of the time, but it will be wonderful for me to have them here.

Please excuse any typos. My new computer lamp is not bright enough, and I have trouble seeing.

July 2014

I am glad my back waited until Carli and Tom left to go bad. I am in no shape to be seen. The most excruciating of the pain—on getting up and lying down—has moderated greatly. Standing and walking are very painful. This, too, shall end—but when!