In case you’ve been wondering if I’m still among the living (my last post was March 23), the answer is yes (as of the last time I looked). As for the long time between posts, it’s a long story which I don’t want to re-live (and which, in any case, would be boring to detail). I’ll just say that my wife of 55+ years is now in an extended care facility for the rest of her life, and dealing with all the continuing ramifications has been overwhelming. As a result, posting here will remain infreguent for the foreseeable future.
I regret that I’ve been unable to reply to comments or follow your blog posts, but I appreciate your understanding and hope to be able to return to a semblance of “the way we were” at some future point.
It’s good to hear from you. I’ve been thinking of both of you and sending healing energy and hope. Take care and may all be well. (Don’t worry about replying.)
I am so sorry to read about your wife, mistermuse. It has got to be difficult for you – my heart is hurting for you, sincerely. If we could all go back to βthe way we wereβ, eh? Rest assured we have your best interests at heart.
MisterMuse, thanks for the update. Know that you and your wife are in my thoughts daily. May your loving care for each other carry you both through these difficult years. Hugs β€
That is a HUGE undertaking with all sorts of layers β strategic, emotional, psychological, spiritual… No wonder you have not had time to write (m)any blog posts! I hope that she is doing OK in her new extended care community and that YOU are doing OK with your new (no wife of 55+ years at home with you!) living situation. Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
Many thanks. Among the many “overwhelming” issues is the insurance company with which we have coverage for my wife’s extended care ( they don’t make it easy to deal with). I finally had to hire professional help to represent us.
Thank you kindly. We know nothing lasts forever — still, when when something like this happens, it hits hard. All we can do is make the best of it, which is what it’s all about now.
My partner’s mother ended up in a care facility last February (2023) after falling on some ice. While there she deceloped a reoccuring memory lapse problem. She reverts to a time in her early life without warning, and can return to normal just as quickly. Her doctor has said for now, unless these episodes stop, she cannot live at home anymore either. Gail’s father is now living alone in a great big house, which he is not ready to leave. It is not a good situation.
I know your situation (not in detail, of course) through him. Everything is topsy-turvy. I wish you an acceptable outcome to your troubles. Take care.
Thanks, rg. My increasingly frail wife suffered several falls from which she could not get up by herself. At first I could help her, but each time, she became more of a “dead weight”, to the point I could no longer lift her. We are both in our upper 80s, so an extended care facility for her was our only option. At least she receives good care and is happy there, so things could be a lot worse.
That is not in the near future because of circumstances beyond my control, but the present facility is just a 7 or 8 minute drive away, so I’m able to visit her every day.. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for the post. The ukelele song reminded me of some of the heavily period-flavored but not crazy songs by Annette Hanshaw that were used in SITA SINGS THE BLUES.
selizabryangmailcom
12:56 pm on May 7, 2024 Permalink
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In my opinion, insurance companies occupy a level of evil on par with orange ex-presidents we will not name and the corporations that run America. You pay in and pay in and pay in and then it’s like pulling teeth to receive the coverage you’re owed, and in an overwhelmingly emotional experience like yours, that’s criminal in my book. I’m glad you got representation. Hang in there, as well as can be expected.
Thank you so much. That’s only part of what I’m going through, but I won’t elaborate because everyone (even an orange ex-president) has troubles (though mine aren’t of my own making). As for hanging in there, I may be up to my neck in problems, but at least I’m getting good at keeping my head above water!
My mother has been in assisted living on the opposite coast for 2+ years now, Sr. Muse, so I feel your pain, as a guy from Arkansas once said. Between that and my cancer (14 months in remission as of last Friday) I have not been as communicative as I’d like, either. Good luck to you and yours. It does seem that adulting gets more strenuous as we get older, not less.
Muchas gracias, Ricardo. Decades ago, a relative (who was about the same age as I am now) said to me, “It’s no fun getting old.” Trying to put a positive spin on the matter, I rather glibly responded, “Doesn’t old age beat the alternative?” She replied, “But who knows what the alternative is?” Now that I’m in her shoes,I apprciate how wise she was.
I have actually been thinking about you and worrying about you, mm. So very sorry about your wife. I look forward to your posting whenever you choose–no pressure! Best wishes, Annie
Thank you for those kind words, Annie. I very much miss posting and following my followers’ blog posts. Unfortunately, it will still be some time before I’m able to pick up where I left off. Meanwhile, I do often think about you and my other blogger friends.
You may appreciate this bit of wit from a friend: βWhen people talk about the Golden Years, I always think theyβre talking about urine.β
To which I add: It sounds like you are going with the flow, mm. Thatβs very good. Be kind to yourself as you care for your wife. This has to be a stressful time.
Annie, I thought I was the prince of puns, but when it comes to holding down the throne while I’m out of action, you’re the man….I mean the queen. Please keep up your end of the royal flush but don’t overdo it, because if you get any punier, you’ll put me to shame!
“The world is made for people who aren’t cursed with self-awareness.” –Annie Savoy, philosopher
“Most incompetent people do not know that they are.One reason [is] that the ignorant also tend to be blissfully self-assured.” –Erica Goode, New York Times (after interview with Dr. David Dunning, professor of psychology. Cornell University)
As a cursed self-aware person myself, I can very much relate to the above quotes. Some might say I’m self-aware to a fault.
I witness a world being browbeaten by those who are NOT self-aware, who are “blissfully self-assured,” and whose ‘my way or the highway’ attitude is a moral dead end which does not justify the means. I see an America becoming increasing dominated by a mean-spirited egomaniac named Trump, his Pied Piper cult, and his mindless MAGA (Make America Greedy Again) anarchists. I fear the place humanity is headed ….and humane is not its name. Life is unfair and dirty enough as it is without being awash in hogwash.
Some of us may be guilty of being self-aware to a fault, but aren’t the NOT self-aware guilty of far worse? To the former, that may be stating the obvious, and to the latter, may be like talking to a brick wall. So, why bother? Well, maybe I have nothing better to do. Or maybe, by some miracle, I can connect with some poor soul looking for less bs and darkness, and more sunlight and facing-the-music. I am just idealistic enough to hope that these passing thoughts may strike a chord and clean a spot on someone’s mirror. Nothing ventured (values-wise), nothing ingrained, I always say (well, once in a Blue Moon).
Well observed and on the money, my friend.. “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and wouldn’t lose any voters.” –Donald Trump, 2016
I agree. The quotation from the psychologist (βMost incompetent people do not know that they are. One reason [is] that the ignorant also tend to be blissfully self-assured.β) is fascinating… and somewhat horrifying. There are definitely a lot of people who have made a lot of money these days (often by lobbying successfully to have laws changed so that they have fewer feedback loops in the form of regulations and taxes) who are quite confident that they know what needs to be done. And there are also a surprising number of people (who are not obscenely wealthy) who none-the-less identify with the super-rich and their ideas (even when many of those ideas would impact their own lives in very negative ways…) Very mysterious. Thank you for some Bing Crosby to start my day! I also like the “New Sun In The Sky” song from THE BANDWAGON. Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
I too have wondered about your point regarding the not-wealthy who identify with the super-rich, even though the latter’s mindsets are against the former’s own self-interest (at least, financially).
As for the last six words of your comment, I thank you with some more Bing Crosby:
….but those people have degrees in extremist right-wing ideology, which qualifies them to impose their beliefs on everyone. Thanks, Catherine, for that example of the “my way or the highway” attitude mentioned in my post.
Welcome back MrM hoping you & your better half are on the mend. You certainly “strike a chord” with you sentiments here, so now I’m looking for someone who will clean & shine a spot on my mirror! πββοΈ
Up here we are watching Humpty Trumpty with apprehension. I am dismayed by the extreme right-wing crap that seems to be popping up everywhere (not just U.S.) like that whack-a-mole game. Gays for Trump? Down through history and no matter what you are or where youβre from, thereβs no accountability for stupid.
I see from comments above that Ms Muse is still not feeling well. I hope that situation improves soon.
My next door neighbor’s favorite saying is “You can’t fix stupid.” Maybe so, but I think willful ignorance is much more concerning (assuming there’s a difference between the two).
Thanks for you solicitude about my wife. Her condition is not improving, but hope springs eternal.
It is no fun, the world having somehow managed to miss the worst of Don’s scatterbrained/gun ‘shoot from the lip’ four years, to see a further four years of knee-jerk easily triggered mayhem being voted in by the none-so-blind MAGA mob. America, from strong democracy to loony dictatorship in eight crazy years is a dis(stink) possibility. Rant over. It must be a fraught time for you on a few levels, so all the best.
Yes, it’s a fraught time for me on several levels, which is why I’ve been unable to keep up with my blogging friends, including yourself. I wish I could say things are getting back to normal, but they’re not, and until I find a new normal, all I can do is hang in there.
I had to look that one up, Ricardo, to find it in THE SECOND COMING, by Wm. Butler Yeats. In our time, he could have written it with Trump in mind, slunking toward his destiny. to be born and born again the Savior of America.
Love Gov. Pritzker’s “appeal to our better angels.” If I’d known about it before I published this post, I probably would have found a spot for it. What a pity that there aren’t more politicians of his caliber.
P.S. Yes, my wife had Covid too, and actually got over before me….but her health otherwise is poor, and it doesn’t look like she’s coming home anytime soon, if ever. Thanks for your good wishes.
The original poem, which I have lost track of, was about seeing beauty in everyone. It was written after a conversation I had had with a woman who broke up with me because I treated someone she hated with respect. She looked for the worst in everyone, I found out that day. and she decided it was bad to see beauty in everyone. One of the strangest conversations I ever had.
My take now is she was probably protecting herself from the world, probably had been a used by someone she loved. Wherever she is now, I hope she learned how to see bauty.
That dsy in particular, getting dropped by someone I thought I could love, I was shattered.
Is it wrong to look for beauty?
Self-awareness is on a similar plane. Not everyone had it. And I run into more people that don’t than do in real life. Sometimes I just get lonely for someone sane to talk to. Which is why I now spend so much time on line. Here I have friends. In real life, very few
You can talk to me anytime, Rawgod (even if you’re looking for someone who is sane — ha!).
Kidding aside, I can relate to the kind of deep thinker you are, just as I find it hard to relate to shallow, materialistic thinkers. As for “Is it wrong to look for beauty?” — no more so than it is wrong to see ugly, IMHO. Both are simply reality, and denying it serves no purpose but to leave one half-blind.
And with that, I’ll stop before I go off the deep end. .
selizabryangmailcom
2:44 pm on March 27, 2024 Permalink
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I’ve never seen that quote before, about who this world was made for. It’s SO on target. Everything makes sense when you think of it that way. Like: “ignorance is bliss.” It IS bliss. But what kind of existence would that be?
Also as said above, what continues to amaze me is Trump’s sea of followers, unaware or, worse, uncaring that if he was alone with them in a room, he’d kick them all out and bad mouth them after they left. They mean absolutely nothing to him. But he’s found a super strong foundation on which to continue constructing a building made entirely out of malevolent cunning completely detached from morality or even sanity in many cases.
My thoughts exactly, my friend….and expressed so well that you’ve saved me the trouble of adding my two cents worth (which is more than Trump is worth, when all is said and dumb). .
I am now Covid-free (but old age-embogged), and still dealing with family health issues, including those of my wife/fellow octogenarian. She fell several weeks ago, was hospitalized, and is now is in short term rehab at a local care facility pending transfer to a long term facility. Dealing with the bureaucracy involved with her admission and care while I had Covid brain-fog was a pain in therear view mirror (and beyond).
The upshot of these and other issues is that I won’t be able to post, or comment on your posts, with near my pre-Covid frequency. In short, old age and its kismet have caught up with me. But enough about that. I will now turn to my customary selection of “old songs” in keeping with the theme of past post practice.
I appreciate that, Rosalieve. It’s hard for me to see my wife of 55+ years in the condition she’s in, and knowing that life isn’t fair is no consolation….but I will put on my happy face and deal with it..
Thanks. I would’ve titled it LOL AND BE OLD, but an aged relative told me years ago from her hospital bed that “getting old is no fun.” I’ve come to find that she was right.
Wishing you and your wife a full recovery! I am a few years behind you but hopeful that even in old age we can rebound and enjoy life. Thanks for the music!
Glad you are done with covid. I understand about the fall and having to stay in care for a while. I will truly be thinking of your wife. I stayed for 3 weeks +.
Don’t worry about coming around. I know you would if you could. I’m trying to cut back on time spent. Not easy to do.
All the best!!
Just a note to thank everyone who responded to my previous post with get-well wishes. Sorry I wasn’t up to replying, but Covid really “knocked me for a loop,” Last night I completed my five-day Paxlovid regimen and am hoping for a negative test result tomorrow, although I’m still feeling somewhat weak and “washed-out.”.
Glad that you are done with your Paxlovid. No need to reply to this (or any) comment. Just keep resting and drinking warm liquids (soup! ginger tea!) and recovering your strength.
Thank you, Susan. Unfortunately, I again tested positive for Covid yesterday, so I just want to let you and others know that I still don’t have the energy to follow your blogs or reply to comments (other than this one).
I’m sorry I’ve only just seen your post and I’m sorry you’ve all come down with Covid. It does seem more people are aware of getting it from visiting someone (or large gatherings etc) rather than through touch/surfaces.
I’m glad you were able to get started straight away on Paxlovid. Fingers crossed you get your negative test in the next couple of days and more importantly, that you start to feel back to your usual self as soon as possible. I hope you’ve been able to rest and recuperate. Even a flu can knock you through a loop and Covid can be a lot worse, so I feel for you. Take good care of yourself and don’t worry about blogging or replying to comments right now if you’re not up to it. Sending my best wishes to you and your family,
selizabryangmailcom
2:20 am on February 28, 2024 Permalink
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I just found out you’ve contracted Covid. I’m so sorry! Definitely just lay back and get that rest. People say they’re wiped out, like you, after contracting it, and sleeping is the key… Take care!
This is just to let you know that my family and I have come down with Covid contracted from a visiting in-law, I’ve started taking Paxlovid, which (if all goes well, should put me back in business in five days. Meantime, I feel like crap, and am taking a “vacation” from blogging for the duration. Sorry, but meanwhilee, I don’t feel up to responding to comments, etc.
I am sorry to read this news. I hope that you and your family feel better soon! And yes, rest and drink lots of warm liquids. Maybe some simple soup/vegetable broth?
“Why, if there’s a God in the sky, Why shouldn’t He grin / High above this dreary twentieth Century din?” –lyric from Twentieth Century Blues by Noel Coward*, British songwriter, playwright, performer, and man-about-world (Dec. 16, 1899/March 26, 1973
The title of this post comes from pairing the title of one of my all-time favorite films, Noel Coward’s BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945), with the perplexity posed by the quoted Twentieth Century Blues lyric…..in particular, the words “Why shouldn’t He grin.” A better question might be “Why SHOULD He grin?” Is He amused by pain and suffering, “chaos and confusion” (as the lyrics go on to say). Or are the words “if there’s a God in the sky” a bigger-than-religion, larger-than-life question? Believe what you want, but who knows the answer?
Who, indeed, has escaped those dreary Twentieth Century Blues? Those who died before the Twentieth Century? After? In that sense, isn’t the Twentieth century but a metaphor for every century? When the story of the 21st century (if we survive it) is written, do we really think human nature will have been nurtured by our better angels to new heights? Hard to believe, wouldn’t you say?
I close with a brief Noel Coward quote:
“It is discouraging how many people are shocked by honesty, and how few by deceit.“
You mention the 21st century like we’re already there! It feels to me that we’ve taken several steps backward, not forward! In fact I believe I’m living in the past!
Past generations have said the same, but under the illusion that their own generation is above the past. In our time, Trumpism and its like in America and around the world should dispel any such illusions.
These old era movies blow my mind at the prescience they had. John Doe is one that could have been written in the early 21st Century, for its description of politics in the US then and now (in the 00s). Things have gotten so bad since, that I think we’d have to look at Blade Runner as our example, except it’s set in the future, and we’re not a part of that yet.
I don’t know about other gods, but the Abrahamic god never seems to smile — he is too busy telling everyone how to be miserable. A god that hates for us to even talk about sex is one unhappy god.
As for the 20th Century, I lived through almost exactly half of it (born November 1949) and I think can quote Charlex Di kens on this one: “It was the best of times, it wS the worst of timex.”
Good choice, mm.
You said it, rg….which only goes to show that “Trumpism” has long simmered beneath the American surface — it just took an over-the-top Trump to bring it to a boil.
This might sound crazy, but out in the open means it can be fought. (If we still lose it will be our own fault.) Being undercover we didn’t know we had to fight it, we thought we were winning. But now we know that is not true, we can rally our “troops.”
My inspiration comes from John Lennon’s song, Imagine, before it was ever written. His dreams need to be made our reality. Now we know why! The alternative is unacceptable.
A rallying cry could be, “Awake to being Woke!”
(My apologies for making your blog political.)
No apologies necessary, rg. There’s a difference, IMHO, between being political for political purposes, and for ethical or dialectical purposes. I have no problem with the latter.
Thanks for the link to the BBC piece about Coward. Humour always has a dark underbelly, as the ancient Greeks knew. Unfortunately, we do expect deceit. Maybe thatβs why, down through the ages, charlatans such as Trump have at least initially been so successful. We get what we expect to get.
I can very much relate to Coward’s wit and humor. I think, like him, I see the world through one cynical eye and one wishful eye (the latter of which is very tired and hard to keep open). So now, if you’ll pardon me, I think I’m about to encounter a brief nap.
“even more true today” because, to his followers, whatever Trump says IS truth. That is why they can’t be reasoned with — they won’t even consider anything that doesn’t come out of Trump’s mouth.
The humour and tragedy masks in this poor world-as-a-stage play we’re in should now be swapped for horror and tragedy. And definitely changed if things go really sideways in November.
Our Father, who art in heaven above,
Is above it all when it comes to love —
So “dad” isn’t really picking on you,
He’s just doing what remote fathers do.
Noel Coward was responsible for one of the most withering critiques of an actress I have ever heard – containing a word I would not repeat here – but I do love self-knowledge: “My reputation is terrible, which comforts me a lot…”
The problem with self-knowledge is that by the time you get old enough to attain it, you’ve got one foot in the grave. I still have five feet to go, but I fear it won’t be long before I don’t have a leg to stand on. What a downer!
Wow, I have to admit, this blog post is really remarkable! The author did a great job of providing well-researched information and presenting it in a clear and compelling way. I found the content to be highly educational and thought-provoking. The writing style is captivating, making it simple to remain interested throughout the whole article.
Last year’s last post (12/23/23), which I titled WIT’S IN A NAME because I like witty titles. opened with the Shakespeare quote “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” This post opens with a citing of GET A DIFFERENT NAME DAY (2/13/24), apparently created by someone who disagrees with Shakespeare and thinks a rose, a nose, or any other name would smell more (or less) sweet by any other name. So, just for the smell of it, I’m going to run some noses by my readers. If you’re looking for ex-citement, read on. Otherwise, other eyes may wake up and smell the noses.
I’ll start with a few famous names who were known for their big noses, followed by what I consider an appropriate pseudo name, because either it fits, or yours truly has a rotten sense of humor (or both):
Bob Hope — Bob Heart (due to having a heart bigger than his nose) Pinocchio — George “I cannot tell a lie” Washington Carver (of wooden puppets) Nostradamus — Nose Tradamus (this one was easy pickings) Jimmy “Schnozzola” Durante — Mr. Calabash (who misses the Mrs. in this tender ‘show-ender’):
Now I’ll “other name” some living characters known, not for big noses, but for whacky whoppers (big lies):
Donald Trump — The Big Lie-bowski ad Infant-i-tum Marjorie Taylor Greene — The Mean Greene Machine George Santos — Will ‘I never met a lie I didn’t like’ Rogers, by George Rudy Giuliani — Rudolph the Two-faced Reindeer
I could go on and on and on, as the GOP echo chamber nose no limits, lacking only a scheme song which lays bare what they bet on, but dare not openly let on….like these two do:
I leave you with this afterthought: “The biggest lie is the lie we tell ourselves in the distorted vision we have of ourselves.” –Kirk Douglas (1916-2020), from his autobiography
Unless he’s a sleepwalker, he probably lies asleep or awake.. But the biggest danger is that his followers never “wake up” — not to mention many of the rest of us, and by the time we do (if ever), it will be too late..
As I recall, HOW COULD YOU BELIEVE ME WHEN i SAID I LOVE YOU WHEN YOU KNOW I’VE BEEN A LIAR ALL MY LIFE was said to be the longest song title ever written up to that time.Since then, it may have been surpassed in length, but undoubtedly not in wit! Would I lie? π
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…. Live it up we may, but die we must. Who can tell the why or the wherefore, Or what the hell on earth we’re there for?
Sorry if my title and little poem strike you as something of a downer, but we all have our ups and downs. Maybe this will help Sort Of Serve as a picker-upper:
What the above is leading to: a few up and down Songs Our Souls could use to help make (y)our day — and, by the way, don’t ask me y (I just live here). So….
Here’s my favorite old (composed in 1930) UP song — I think that you’ll dig it, but I could be wrong:
I’ve heard that what goes up, must descend…. And so, on that note, we’ve come to the end:
I know you have your Cross to bear —
A cross, of course, I can never share….
Unless i change my name to Cross, Sir,
Which would make me a double Cross-er!
Hopefully, I’m up for that, o v.
Just between you and misterme,
We shall see what we shall sea.
But like this craft which I am helming,
I fear this response is underwhelming.
This post is all about ALL RIGHT (as opposed to ALT RIGHT, which is not ALL RIGHT) — specifically, ALL RIGHT in song titles..
The words ALL RIGHT have stuck in my head since I said “if it’s all right with you” in the opening paragraph of my Jan. 21 post….then, early this morning, it dawned on me that three of my favorite old songs have those two words in their titles. So, without further adew, let’s get right to it (if it’s all right with you):
Any song by Cole Porter is all right with me:
And, if you should ask, this song by Harry Akst is also Gonna be all right:
Good Night, owls (hawks too….if you’re not alt right).
I had to look up “tickety boo” —
I see it’s a British term for “ickety poo.”
Just kidding — it’s really a compliment, as you know….
So, lickety splitety, I won’t be persnickety: Jolly good show!
Although the third song “Everything’s Gonna Be All Right” has the right title, there’s a better song which contains that same lyric (two minutes into this clip) which I would’ve used but for the title:
That song suits me too, Elizabeth.. Unfortunately, it’s not an “all right fit” for this post….but if I ever do a “Happy” theme post, don’t worry — Be Happy will definitely be in it. π
I assume that was before Trump came on the scene, otherwise your co-worker wouldn’t have been able to watch the news without constantly saying “Well, allrighty then.”
Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die. Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. —Alfred, Lord Tennyson (from The Charge of the Light Brigade)
It has dawned on me that Lord Tennyson’s poem (or, at least, the idea behind it) may have spawned a number of titles, lines, and catch-phrases, such as A FINE KETTLE OF FISH and….
THEY WERE EXPENDABLE, a 1945 film based on a 1942 bestselling book of the same name about an American PT boat squadron in the Philippines in the early days of WW II.
I don’t recall if I’ve watched that one, but I’ve seen dozens of their films, both shorts and feature length. Of the latter, my favorites are WAY OUT WEST and BABES IN TOYLAND.
Loved the Laurel & Hardy!!! I remember as a child, when I would ask why I had to do one thing or another, my mother would (mis)quote Tennyson and say, “Ours is not to question why, ours is to do or DIE!” π€£ I can laugh now, but it wasn’t so funny then!
When my better half tells me, “Yours is not to question why, yours is but to do or die,” I tell her she stole that from The Charge of the WIFE Brigade! π
BACK ROADS AND OTHER STORIES 12:49 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
I am glad to hear that you are among the living still, but so sorry to hear about your wife. Not much else to say other than take care of yourself.
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mistermuse 5:20 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
I also have not much else to say, except thanks for your thoughtfulness .
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BACK ROADS AND OTHER STORIES 8:23 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink
β€οΈ
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gabychops 12:50 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Take your time, we understand and wish you both the best!
Joanna
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mistermuse 5:23 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Thanks for understanding. Your kindness is appreciated..
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magickmermaid 12:58 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
It’s good to hear from you. I’ve been thinking of both of you and sending healing energy and hope. Take care and may all be well. (Don’t worry about replying.)
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mistermuse 5:25 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Thank you, mm. It’s always a pleasure to hear from my favorite mermaid!
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Ashley 1:12 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Thinking of you both π
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mistermuse 5:25 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Much appreciated, Ashley.
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Rivergirl 1:27 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Iβm so very sorry to hear this. And no apologies are necessary, we understand and will be here if you need us.
β€οΈ
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mistermuse 5:38 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Thank you, my Maine friend. I miss reading your blog. Hope to get back to it before long..
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Carmen 1:59 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
I am so sorry to read about your wife, mistermuse. It has got to be difficult for you – my heart is hurting for you, sincerely. If we could all go back to βthe way we wereβ, eh? Rest assured we have your best interests at heart.
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mistermuse 5:43 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Many thanks, Carmen. Speaking of THE WAY WE WERE:
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Rosaliene Bacchus 2:31 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
MisterMuse, thanks for the update. Know that you and your wife are in my thoughts daily. May your loving care for each other carry you both through these difficult years. Hugs β€
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mistermuse 5:46 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Thank you for those very thoughtful words, Rosaliene. Hugs right back at you!.
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Geo. Raymond 2:57 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
I am very sorry to hear the news, MM
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mistermuse 5:47 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Much appreciated, George.
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willedare 3:33 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
That is a HUGE undertaking with all sorts of layers β strategic, emotional, psychological, spiritual… No wonder you have not had time to write (m)any blog posts! I hope that she is doing OK in her new extended care community and that YOU are doing OK with your new (no wife of 55+ years at home with you!) living situation. Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
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mistermuse 6:05 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Many thanks. Among the many “overwhelming” issues is the insurance company with which we have coverage for my wife’s extended care ( they don’t make it easy to deal with). I finally had to hire professional help to represent us.
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colinmcqueen 4:30 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Nothing much to say, just sending my very best wishes to you both.
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mistermuse 6:06 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Thank you, Colin.
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Lynette d'Arty-Cross 4:55 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Iβm so sorry to hear this, mistermuse. Thanks for taking the time to update us; Iβve been wondering. Sending my best wishes to you and your wife.
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mistermuse 5:16 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Thank yo, Lynette. Much appreciated.
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obbverse 5:58 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Take time to look after you too MM.
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Mr. Ohh's Sideways View 8:33 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
Sad to hear about your wife, but you need to take care of you both now. I’ll be waiting when you come back. See you then π€£ππ
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mistermuse 12:22 am on May 1, 2024 Permalink |
Thank you kindly. We know nothing lasts forever — still, when when something like this happens, it hits hard. All we can do is make the best of it, which is what it’s all about now.
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rawgod 11:58 pm on April 30, 2024 Permalink |
My partner’s mother ended up in a care facility last February (2023) after falling on some ice. While there she deceloped a reoccuring memory lapse problem. She reverts to a time in her early life without warning, and can return to normal just as quickly. Her doctor has said for now, unless these episodes stop, she cannot live at home anymore either. Gail’s father is now living alone in a great big house, which he is not ready to leave. It is not a good situation.
I know your situation (not in detail, of course) through him. Everything is topsy-turvy. I wish you an acceptable outcome to your troubles. Take care.
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mistermuse 12:46 am on May 1, 2024 Permalink |
Thanks, rg. My increasingly frail wife suffered several falls from which she could not get up by herself. At first I could help her, but each time, she became more of a “dead weight”, to the point I could no longer lift her. We are both in our upper 80s, so an extended care facility for her was our only option. At least she receives good care and is happy there, so things could be a lot worse.
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rawgod 1:47 am on May 1, 2024 Permalink
Are you thi king of finding a couple’s facility so you can still be together, with help must a knock away?
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mistermuse 8:45 am on May 1, 2024 Permalink
That is not in the near future because of circumstances beyond my control, but the present facility is just a 7 or 8 minute drive away, so I’m able to visit her every day.. Thanks for your comment.
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smbabbitt 9:30 am on May 1, 2024 Permalink |
Best wishes to you both, with hope for whatever comfort can come from puns, crazy old songs, and of course friendship at such a time.
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mistermuse 12:41 pm on May 1, 2024 Permalink |
Thank you so much!
Our friendship is long,
So let’s keep in touch.
Here’s a crazy old song!
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smbabbitt 1:13 pm on May 1, 2024 Permalink
Thanks for the post. The ukelele song reminded me of some of the heavily period-flavored but not crazy songs by Annette Hanshaw that were used in SITA SINGS THE BLUES.
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mistermuse 12:40 am on May 2, 2024 Permalink
Annette Hanshaw was my fav fmale vocalist of the 1920s. I still have some of her records..
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mlrover 10:40 am on May 1, 2024 Permalink |
Sending prayers winging your way to help you and your wife through this difficult time.
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mistermuse 12:45 pm on May 1, 2024 Permalink |
Thank you!
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Bruce@WOTC 6:27 pm on May 2, 2024 Permalink |
I am very sorry to arrive here and hear that news, MM. You will both be in my prayers. It is a blessing you are only a few minutes away. Take care.
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josephurban 6:43 pm on May 2, 2024 Permalink |
Sorry to hear of your problems. Keep the faith.
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selizabryangmailcom 12:56 pm on May 7, 2024 Permalink |
In my opinion, insurance companies occupy a level of evil on par with orange ex-presidents we will not name and the corporations that run America. You pay in and pay in and pay in and then it’s like pulling teeth to receive the coverage you’re owed, and in an overwhelmingly emotional experience like yours, that’s criminal in my book. I’m glad you got representation. Hang in there, as well as can be expected.
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mistermuse 2:30 pm on May 7, 2024 Permalink |
Thank you so much. That’s only part of what I’m going through, but I won’t elaborate because everyone (even an orange ex-president) has troubles (though mine aren’t of my own making). As for hanging in there, I may be up to my neck in problems, but at least I’m getting good at keeping my head above water!
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selizabryangmailcom 5:25 pm on May 7, 2024 Permalink |
Lol π π π
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Richard Cahill 4:02 pm on May 8, 2024 Permalink |
My mother has been in assisted living on the opposite coast for 2+ years now, Sr. Muse, so I feel your pain, as a guy from Arkansas once said. Between that and my cancer (14 months in remission as of last Friday) I have not been as communicative as I’d like, either. Good luck to you and yours. It does seem that adulting gets more strenuous as we get older, not less.
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mistermuse 11:56 pm on May 8, 2024 Permalink |
Muchas gracias, Ricardo. Decades ago, a relative (who was about the same age as I am now) said to me, “It’s no fun getting old.” Trying to put a positive spin on the matter, I rather glibly responded, “Doesn’t old age beat the alternative?” She replied, “But who knows what the alternative is?” Now that I’m in her shoes,I apprciate how wise she was.
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Carol A. Hand 5:04 am on May 11, 2024 Permalink |
π
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annieasksyou 6:21 pm on May 12, 2024 Permalink |
I have actually been thinking about you and worrying about you, mm. So very sorry about your wife. I look forward to your posting whenever you choose–no pressure! Best wishes, Annie
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mistermuse 12:28 am on May 13, 2024 Permalink |
Thank you for those kind words, Annie. I very much miss posting and following my followers’ blog posts. Unfortunately, it will still be some time before I’m able to pick up where I left off. Meanwhile, I do often think about you and my other blogger friends.
Take care.
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annieasksyou 9:01 am on May 13, 2024 Permalink
You may appreciate this bit of wit from a friend: βWhen people talk about the Golden Years, I always think theyβre talking about urine.β
To which I add: It sounds like you are going with the flow, mm. Thatβs very good. Be kind to yourself as you care for your wife. This has to be a stressful time.
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mistermuse 11:21 am on May 13, 2024 Permalink
Annie, I thought I was the prince of puns, but when it comes to holding down the throne while I’m out of action, you’re the man….I mean the queen. Please keep up your end of the royal flush but don’t overdo it, because if you get any punier, you’ll put me to shame!
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