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By Bill December 15th, 2011
When I finished my education and entered the world of work, I got married and started writing (figuratively) my book on how to live as a productive adult. As time went along, some of the chapters had to be scrapped or rewritten due to job changes, divorce, or moves. I acquired many skills for living. I learned how to get along with coworkers and bosses, how to live in a neighborhood, what kind of social life I enjoyed. I discovered my dislike of insurance and the need to save for the future (I wasn’t too good at that).
I wrote my book on how to live. The book went through several editions, but the basic outline remained. I knew how to get along in the world despite my big limitation which turned out to be …
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By Carol December 13th, 2011
The house still smells slightly of smoke this morning. Bill and I were in the middle of paying bills yesterday when we decided to clean the oven. I’m not sure why. Maybe anything seemed preferable to tackling this month’s especially complicated credit card statement.
First there was an intensive search for the stove’s Use and Care Manual. It seemed only to be expected that I could locate all the literature on every large appliance we own except the stove. Eventually, after Bill found the stove’s model number, we tracked down the manual on line and printed it out. The instructions were deceptively simple—close the door, push the “clean” button, set the time and the stove does all the rest.
Bill grabbed the oven shelves while I emptied the warming drawer and wiped out the …
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By Bill August 17th, 2011
Boring
As I wrote last week, I am doing a stint as caregiver. Carol had surgery. She is doing fine, some pain, tired a lot, can’t do much lifting. I do the work and keep an eye on her. I cook, clean, wash dishes (the dishwasher is in the chair), get the icepacks, bring water, fill water bottles, go to the pharmacy, the library, talk to doctors, nurses, insurance people, hospital people, the usual drill. There are periods of activity, and significant periods of monitoring or just being available.
I love Carol desperately but caring for her when she is laid up is: Boring. Routine. Same thing over and over. Repetitive. Menial. Did I say boring? Strangely, I don’t think we have discussed this before. I guess we were too bored. Late next …
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By Bill May 12th, 2011
I am retired from full-time work after a good career in counseling and water treatment. I am not a retired caregiver. My elders I was caregiver for are gone, but I continue as a caregiver for other family members and the children I work with at Four Mile Historic Park .
This week is a typical Colorado spring week. I rode my motorcycle into the mountains around Central City on Monday. Windy, but the high in the city was in the 80’s. I rode north from Central City on a back road until I saw snow banks along the roadside. I cut over to the Peak to Peak Highway and came home on the Golden Gate Canyon road. Wonderful views, nice spring weather, and some of the best motorcycle roads anywhere.
Today I was at …
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By Carol March 29th, 2011
The Reconciliation of the Masculine and the Feminine
Years ago when I was a young wife I learned to my surprise that the public library was more than just a place for readers of fiction or researchers into academic subjects. I found books there that could help me with the practical problems of an everyday life for which I was totally unprepared. This epiphany led me to realize that I can always look to the library for ideas, information or help whenever I come upon something unfamiliar. No surprise that I have spent many of my precious spare moments recently elbow deep in books, articles, and web postings about caregiving
Something I learned from my reading is that many family caregivers of aging parents– especially the women–do not think of themselves as …
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