​Facebook has been my recent receptacle to comments, lately, and I apologize to all of you who read my page and my thoughts here.

​I promise to be better at communicating with my followers from now on. I am getting older and more decrepit with each passing day. From that illness long ago, my body is older than its 74 years - about 10 years older. And of course, my brain is experiencing a slow down as well. But I treasure my followers. And hope you will forgive me for my lapse in communication..

Life during this pandemic is so depressing. My main physical companion is my dog. The apartment where I live is comprised  of older people. We do not get together much, unless we pass in the hall-with our masks on and six feet apart. I miss our get togethers - games, cards, potlucks. But that is necessary to remain healthy.

I am just sitting and letting life pass by and I am on the down side of it anyway. So I read, watch reruns, communicate with friends by Facebook and email, and talk to my dog Riley. And I still miss them. Once in a while, we do meet in the halls or some neighbors knock on my door to check on me. 

I hope all of you are healthy, wealthy and wise - at least healthy. I treasure you and apologize once again for not posting often. I will do better, I promise.

Stay with me my friends. Oh, and when you make a comment I get it sent to me via email. I got one recently - very nice one-  on my post on Genteel Poverty.

Take care of yourselves - I love you.

Yesterday my day was different. I actually went out to shop and pick up meds. I still am not cleared to drive alone without my neighbor - she says. But I am driving. Maybe my real life is coming back partially. Not many places to go with the pandemic for fun, but shopping will do, and maybe in a short while a little trip to see our bay that empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

Today is Hallmark Channel Day - mysteries all day. I do not consider them excellent but they keep me company for a while. And I am feeling more like myself every day.

Today I made muffins. AND I am also planning for dinner. When I went to the doctor recently I had lost weight (9lbs) and I have not been trying consciously to do this. BUT I have not been eating lately - sometimes not very much.

But today I made muffins and I am fixing a new  frozen "chicken bowl" for dinner. True, it is not cooking, but it is a real meal.

It is warming up a little - above freezing so I can uncover my patio plants and water them well. We had weather in the high 30's a few days ago - not normal for here and I think some more weather is coming our way soon. But today it is going up to 61. The whole week is supposed to be in the 60's. That is better.

I am sorry that this post is so mundane, but my life is. I am optimistic that things will keep getting better for me and the rest of the country. And gradually "life" will return for us. This waiting is so boring.

I will probably post again soon and maybe, I will have something to post. Stay healthy and keep thinking positively. I will try to do that, too.

.During my lockdown for the virus, I am forced to do only a few things, over and over. The early morning involves lots of coffee and meds so I can get going. A few years go I was ready to go someplace by 9 AM. Now it is more like 11 AM. In addition to the complications around the pandemic, I also have some issues with my daily activities.

Now that I am in self-promoted exile from fun outside activities, I have to watch all those reruns on TV. I understand that where. there used to a show or movie filming, it is probably quarantined as I am.

My hands right now are really looking old with odd knuckles from arthritis, broken nails, and lines and blood vessels prominent. All this writing above is to prepare for what I am going to say now - warning it is not very intelligent - just something I am wondering as I watch all those commercials with all those reruns.

Where do they find these hand models for their products. I saw some beautiful hands in a commercial for lotion. I have heard that there hand models, but now I understand. Now I wonder what their faces look like. Are they beautiful, too, or just plain or worse. 

Now at 74, I do not think I could model anything that shows my body or face. Guess I will have to consider a different career. Maybe, I should become a counselor, since I am old and wise now. 

I think this started me thinking because I had neighbors coming and checking on me. AND I live in a senior facility. No one is young here. But these two neighbors, not close friends or anything, came by to see if I was OK. They had not seen me around and were worried. I assured them I was OK and staying inside a bit more because of the COVID.

Well, I will finish this rambling post and sign off for now. I am OK health wise, but just short of sane with all of this isolation. That does not mesh with my personality.

Stay healthy, my friends.

 I think everyone is trying to be more normal with  following our new government guidelines. I put my mask on every time I leave the apartment even to get the mail. You never know when you will meet another older neighbor out for a walk or getting their mail.

In fact, I was without heat for several months and a lovely neighbor lent me her radiator heater. I returned it to her today and asked her what kind of cake I could make to thank her. She said none. She was glad to lend it to me, since she did not need or use it. We visited with masks for a while and I came home to Riley.

I have lived here over 5 1/2 years and I have so many nice neighbors, as evidenced with all my falls and the lack of heat. I always try to hello them and they help me also. 

My friends and neighbors are mostly younger than I am, but there is a delightful black lady who is in her mid 80's who has been my friend since I moved here. I also had a friend who moved in with her daughter who was 90. 

Since I never had a close relationship with my mother, these ladies, in addition to some, others in my past, have stepped up and cared for me and given me motherly advice. It often seems odd that I am accepting help instead of giving it.

Now that we are basically locked in (only doctor and grocery/pharmacy visits), we are becoming closer and helping each other out. We talk in the halls with our masks on or on the phone. We are coping pretty well.

We have no Covid shots offered yet, but maybe it will be soon.

The last time I posted I was not feeling too hot. A friend reminded me the other day that I have fallen and hit my head 7 times in the last year. It is a wonder I still have a brain after all the concussions I must have had. And they do no heal like those young footballs players - it takes time with an old person.

But I am coming back and my memory is not totally destroyed. I give credit to my ancestors for giving such a hard head and all my dancing lessons when young that taught me how to fall. This new year I plan on staying on my feet.

The trick for me is not hurrying and avoiding throw rugs. I always rush to do what I need to do or want to do.   I forget that that this body is 74 years old and has been affected with conditions for almost 25 years. I have to learn to slow down.

I must enter old age gracefully, not like the bull in a china closet that I have been. I really have nothing to do immediately that really needs immediate attention. but old habits are hard to break (tired old saying that is still true).

From falls, I have damaged my shoulder even more to the point that is just hurts all the time. I asked my doctor for a referral to a orthopedic doctor so I can find out about what to do with it. I am afraid it is surgery, and a friend has warned me that her shoulder took a long time to heal. And that you cannot use that arm.

Well, I cannot use this arm much now. It is killing me right now when I type this post. The shoulder is causing all the muscles in my right arm to hurt when I push them to type or anything else my right arm does .And that is a lot since I am right handed.

But other than that pain, I am doing fine. I am still walking with cane, no walker yet, and with the pandemic I am staying inside quite a bit. I do not need another disease or handicap to deal with.

Riley, my Yorkie, and I hang out at home with each other. I walk him a couple of times per day and that gets me out. Neighbors come by and we visit in the hall, 6 feet apart, or they come to my patio and we visit outside.

Since I am home so much, I have decided to decorate a little more. I have rearranged my furniture in the living room and I have plans to add another bookcase or shelf unit in my bedroom for all of my books. Since I have been incapacitated, my friends here pick up books at used books stores and discount stores. I have one 4 shelf bookcase filled and I have started on another. There is so much time to read now and when I tire of TV, I read.

I hope all of you and your families who follow me are safe and well. And to those of you who have commented, thank you. It is nice to see, even if critical. I know I have followers, because this website counts you, but to have personal comment is nice.

Stay well all of you, please. And thanks for reading this.

My 2021 started out on New Year's Day, rather quiet with my traditional meal with black-eyed peas for luck and greens for cash. It went on pretty well until January 6th, when a neighbor (and Riley's former owner) stole Riley. I was arguing with her and demanding him back when our manager came by and took us to the office.

I saw a friend as I went to the office and asked her to go get Brenda, my neighbor who knew Riley's story. The former owner was freaking out in the office screaming and cursing, so the office called the police. I was in shock and could not talk. The stupid officer, I am sorry, he was, said since she was holding the dog, it was hers. SHE STOLE IT - OF COURSE SHE WAS HOLDING IT!

Long story short, the next day, I asked a neighbor to drive me to my vet's to get records for that last two years. Why? I do not know, but I felt that it was important, if I went to the police about it. Providence stepped in when I was coming down the elevator to my floor after visiting with another neighbor; the doors opened and there was the thief with Riley. Even with my damaged right shoulder I was able to grab him back. I immediately went the a friend's on the 4th floor, leaving my door open and my keys on the counter.

A little later my friend's husband went down to get my keys and my friend Brenda and when they came back, he told me that the police were at my door. Brenda went with me back to the first floor and she had my papers for safekeeping since I was not thinking right.

One of the sheriffs walked up to me and said he was disgusted to be called out another day about this "dog." I was afraid to say anything but when I tried he told me to shut up. He berated me for a while and then said - "you can talk now." (I wonder if he talks to his mother that way- I am 74) I told Brenda to give him the papers from the vet. He looked at them and I could see he was shocked. He then asked the woman if she had anything showing ownership from the last two years. She shook her head. HE THEN SAID TAKE YOUR DOG, TO ME.

Riley is back and we both are recuperating. He is not his usual self, but I am not either. It will take a while for us to get over it. We are both old. But we will and I can tell you with truth, I have gotten so many kisses  since he came back. I know he is happier. And of course I am.

As the new year 2021 approaches, I am anticipating a better year. It would take much to improve over last year - too many falls and too many muddled moments.

This year I plan on staying upright more often and I plan on  living a little more. I have three stray cats that depend on me and of course, my wonderful little Yorkie, Riley who will be 12 in a few days. He is still is all Yorkie and plays just as much, but not as long. We both are getting older.

I am glad that I am still here this year. As I said, last year was hard. I would like to have more adventure in the way of trips that I had last year. I want to explore a new place to live. My apartment is getting more and more expensive here in Pensacola and unless I can qualify for some special funding, I will eventually have to move.

If I move, I am investigating Alabama to the north, near my relatives. Or I might go back to sotuher Georgia, since my family is there - a new great niece and nephew.

Merry Christmas my dear followers. The ham is baking. pre-cooked with added pineapple, cherries, and brown sugar glaze added. Asparagus casserole and baked potato and onion casserole with lots of butter are there, too.  I already have a pecan pie, I bought at the store earlier.

So dinner is almost ready and if my guest is coming, she should arrive soon. A neighbor asked if I was doing anything and I invited her.

Riley has "unwrapped" his presents from me, and picked a favorite immediately - a small white lamb. But then my neighbor and friend came by with home made goodies for me and a longtail fox for Riley. He has been chewing on it since he got it.

I just watched It's a Wonderful Life and a Christmas Story is on now. Have to see the old classics on holidays.

Dinner is ready, so I will sign off. Have a wonderful holiday.

​I imagine your holidays will be much like mine - nil. Now that it is not healthy to gather with anyone not in your household, my neighbors and I communicate with masks, six feet apart, and in the hallways. 

I miss having warm chocolate pudding this time of year with a dear neighbor on the fourth floor. We have talked about doing it outside at the pool, so we could social distance, but it is raining (yes, in sunny Florida) and looks to be doing that for a week - through Christmas. 

I do talk to my neighbors and still do not have the word to drive yet - if I would just stop falling on my head I could live again. The last time I fell was during Hurricane Sally.

I had let my dog out in the activity room and when I brought him in the heavy door slammed against me knocking me to the floor on my head. Later that day I was social distancing with a neighbor in his apartment and I got up from the chair on wheels and my feet hit a throw rug and down I went AGAIN. Hit head AGAIN. Later I closed the windows I had opened in my bedroom and I fell again. I had to butt walk (I could not get up) to the phone in the living room to call for help. I butt-walked to the front door and opened it. My dear neighbors grabbed my arms and pulled right  me up. 

Some say I should get a walker - but I always fall backwards now. It would not really help. So I am trying very hard to remain upright. And I must ask for help to take me anywhere. Maybe the New Year will bring me independence again.  We will see.

I am cooking Christmas dinner with all the fixings, but this time, no guests. I still will have "It's a Wonderful Life" on while cooking. My traditions will go on, as much as they can. I definitely will have lots of leftovers to eat until the New Year.

So my friends, I request you stay safe and healthy through this difficult time and I will try to do so, too. And please, try to enjoy whatever "events" you can have, even if you are the only guest. We must keep positive that "this, too shall end."