WINTER Musings

IT'S CoooLD OUT THAR

Winter has come in November, at least for this week. Photo at right is through my living room window. Yes that is snow on the pine tree, and no leaves on the maple that so recently was full of colorful yellow splendor.

Next photo shows there really isn't so much snow in S.E. Michigan as one would think. And the brown spots on the pine, are signs of disease, basically a worm that infects these pines in the Spring. Reminds me to share my info from when I was on the board with Al about what needs to be done to save our Norfolk pines. We lost two or three already. Our trees are part of the beauty of living here. Hate to lose them. but buying new ones may help the economy. NOT a good reason to be careless. Hiring a tree doctor will help the economy too.

ON Aging and Hurting

One time after camping with some friends, we arrived at an old motel in Mackinaw City, where we stayed because we were either tired of setting up the tent, or had decided that we needed a treat. One of my friends was the first to use the shower, and emerged saying these memorable words to me: “Mary, you don’t Know how good it feels to be clean!” The other camper, my sister, Pat, was quick to defend my honor, that her sister did indeed know what it felt like to be clean, and we all had a good laugh.

I thought of this today, because after a long week or more with severe pain in my right shoulder, and arm, due to typing constantly on the computer for three days while I finalized BOTH of the newsletters that I do, I feel a lot of freedom in both my neck and my arm. My neck and left shoulder and arm are PAIN FREE!. And HOW GOOD IT IS to have no pain in my left shoulder, and minimized pain in the right. The right one, has let me know that I won’t be doing too much typing today.

But, never fear. There is plenty else to do that does not involve typing. But, how good it feels to

be able to get up relatively free from that pain. I discovered last night that I could scrunch one of my throw pillows under my neck and it helped me to finally get not only a good nights sleep, but also relieved more of the strain on my shoulders than just the pillow top mattress did. I can’t even remember if I took an Excedrin last night, but I probably did.

I thought of how one of my friends from small group had commented about my taking a nap Sunday Afternoon, and how the main reason had been the aching shoulders (both of them.) Although with my habit of rising before sun up, a nap is not such a bad thing if one will be up until eleven and has to be alert at night. Plus, yesterday was so gloomy, it seemed right to take a nap.

• 

• Today we have a light dusting of snow on the ground and it looks as though the sun may indeed peek out sometime soon, but at least it is brighter than yesterday with the rain. They say it will be like this all week, so we get a chance to move gently into winter. And all of this before Thanksgiving.
  

BAD ECONOMY

All the news is about the auto industry and how dependent we all are on it. I discovered that my misgivings in the 1990's about lifting tariffs (translate "free trade") and about the global village (translate that we and the peasants of the third world will have the same living standard) were genuinely wise concerns. Too bad that the decision making persons, who at the time I deemed more equipped to handle such decisions, did not share in this same caution.

I applied for Social Security on October 27th and had it direct deposited in the account that does not get my pension. So, now that account can take care of all the big bills, and the other account can take care of all the everyday stuff. Sounds like a plan anyway. Until I buy a new car, in which case the real reason for applying will come through. Hopefully by then the mortgage will be paid off and I won't hurt too much.

So many people in the auto industry hurting. They are being offered buy outs and pensions, and my advise is TAKE IT! I am not an optimist that thinks we will pull out of this slump anytime soon. I know it is tough. I was there a few years ago but without a buyout. My pension was to be about 1/3 of what I was earning, and 1/2 of what my take home was at the time. Being single, I had lived rather frugally compared to my married friends. Kids cost money, but I grew up from age 10 on with clothes from the dime store, and the Salvation Army and Goodwill stores. I made it. It was socially tough, probably part of why I am single, but I made it. My parents survived the Great Depression, and I guess I learned some during that time of what they learned during their time. Soup plays a factor. It is nourishing and can be a meal.

This morning I heard on WJR the fact we have known all along, that everyone who has health and pension benefits and is enjoying them, has the auto workers to thank. They set the standard, although at the time, we just thought that as professionals with degrees we should at least get as much as a worker on the line did. After that was accomplished, we and the auto workers thought it would never end. And without our realizing it, even auto jobs got more specialized. Specialization is good, but it also leads to limited similar jobs when you get laid off.

Now here we are looking at what could be the end, and many of us, including me, are cutting our losses and grabbing what we can while the golden goose is still a setting.