Brain-foggy (my adjective)

Some things escape me, like a password I never use, favorite movie DVDs, music CDs, and family photos from 50 years ago.  My everyday effort to minimize brain fog would be a losing battle without iPhone Notes, Calendar, Google Maps, and Internet search results.

Nevertheless, I may run downstairs to my car without the key, then run back up to get it and other things I forgot.  Blame it on brain fog, “a symptom of another medical condition ... [involving] memory problems.” (Healthline)

Fortunately I keep meaningful treasures and bright recollections of my sweetheart Kay, who is not far away, and knowledge gained from the Spirit, the Comforter.  Never brain-foggy when thinking of her, the love we share, and what we both know to be true.  Two years ago, an older friend advised me to never look back, but always look forward.  However, I am forever grateful for precious memories that move me ... with love.

No Notifications

How is it possible!  At 4:44 AM my watch surprised me with “No Notifications”.  I’m always being notified — UTA bus/train alerts, credit-union account messages (obvious scams), surveys, Apple health challenges and unknown goals reached, etc.  So, is life getting better?  (Another rhetorical question.)

Frequent “Telemarketing” and “Scam likely” calls received, smartly identified as such, are simply declined anytime.  And I don’t need an “opportunity to make $5,000 per month” in my spare time. 

At 5:50 AM it’s “Time to stand ...”  That’s more like it!  At my age, I need all such notification help I can get.

Engaged Life

So it is.  The corporate owner of our independent-living community is committed to keeping us residents engaged with life — mentally, physically, and socially.  We are served daily schedules of activities facilitated by our Engage Life Coordinator (aka Activities Director) who also takes suggestions from us.  Management gets us engaged to be smarter and stronger and to help each other be happy.  (A lunch break gives me time to write this.)

As some readers have observed, my blog is really random; so I can get more personal by recalling my engagement to the beautiful (in every way) Kay Hinckley, now my special angel and my wife since 51 years ago.  Our engaged life for seven weeks was one of joyful preparation and avoiding “cold feet”.  My memory fails in some ways, but I will never forget or lose that feeling of true love for my sweetheart.

Summer to Remember?

Children are back in school, grateful to have good teachers and friends.  Some enjoy the benefits of home school, while older students may be independent out of state.  Families treasure memories of summer activities, trips, and adventures.  Camping in covered wagons at Downata Hot Springs was our main event the end of June.

I suspect folks are relieved to have a lot of yard work behind them — my wife Kay & I surely were as property owners.  Alas, Halloween preparation is commercially upon us ... for fun.  While Christmas sales immediately follow, let us not forget Thanksgiving.  Our manager and one generous, over-the-top neighbor will take care of decorations in this community.

How do you keep and share (or maybe forget) memories of summer?

Hot Summer Titles

What were your favorite books this summer?  I saw numerous titles about the season.  The one I bought and shared with neighbors was The Foxes Five, a fun children’s book by Angie Mee, illustrated by Katie Costley.  It reminded me of family camping adventures with our five young children.  “The perfect book to read on a summer day in the shade of a big tree,” Finn commented.  (Disclosure: Kay & Ned are the proud parents of Katie & Angie.)

It was a hot summer here in Ogden Utah, and we seniors felt entitled to spend time reading indoors instead of mountain climbing (except twice) and biking (once was enough).  Occasionally looking out the window at hired landscapers was all the yard work we did (except five weeds I naturally pulled and my three mums I watered).

Our activities leader chose The Nightingale for our community book club.  The historical novel about Nazi invasion and occupation of France was incredibly researched and written by Kristin Hannah.  So detailed and sad, it was a struggle for me to read (especially the cold winter ordeals) to the surprise ending.  Glad I did, however.  Next hot summer, I will choose a children’s title again for easy reading.

Range of Motion

Morning exercise in our little group follows Senior Fitness With Meredith on YouTube.  We stand or sit “nice and tall” for posture, move slowly to our “range of motion”, and feel various muscles (by name) engage.  Deep inhale, “breathing into it”, then full exhale helps all the moves.  Stretch and balance.  “Nice spinal twists.”  “Focus on what you’re doing.”  Right or left, she does the opposite of what we’re told to do — easier to mirror.  Leaning forward to touch the gym floor feels good for “each one of the vertebrae.”  “Little shake-out” after every kind of move is nice.  Music with a drummer’s tapping noise keeps pace for the long video — no comment on what that does to my brain.  However, my range of motion and balance are improving ... for longer walks, runs, and bike hikes in east Ogden.  Love it.

P.S.: Numerous group activities, meals, and snacks are all optional here.  Life is good with independent living.

 

Five Months of July

For our anniversary on 9 July 2017, I posted photos of our Sunday travels, including church in Blanding on the way home from Colorado and New Mexico.  I did most of the driving on Kay's days of rest.  She is truly my beautiful, eternal companion!

In 2018, we celebrated our anniversary on a mission p-day break by Anchor Bay, New Baltimore MI.  There was peace by the water that July.

Anniversary Special 2019: A fun train ride from Ogden.  As I walked around the Salt Lake Temple and sat in the Assembly Hall, special memories of Kay, her father, and Grandmother Cannon brought me joy.

On the first Tuesday of July 2020, I posted a progress report including a tire repair at an Ogden bike shop.  And it was a special day, feeling close to my sweetheart Kay.

It seems like every July is about our life together — especially on our 50th in 2021.  Our family met at my place in Bountiful for entertainment and ice cream, then over at our family-tradition restaurant for the buffet dinner.  Next day, Kay’s siblings met at brother Lon’s in Holladay and shared precious memories as tributes after a superb feast.  (My assigned talk focused on music.)  We knew it was young Kay who made us all smile.  Homemade lemon ice cream, their family tradition, was icing on the cake.  How sweet it is — the time of our life ... especially in the memorable month of July!