Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Happy thanksgiving to everyone! Please keep me in your prayers for Tuesday surgery. Getting nervous again. Just rain here kept myself busy decorating for christmas in the inside so it would be done by the day after thanksgiving. Hope to be making the two hour trip on Thursday for our family get together. Good news is that for the first time I don't have to cook, my sisters are doing everything.
shuf0 -
Sandra, hooray for your friend -- passing that along. It is right too. I had it better and still do but I'm old enough to remember helping my Mom fill up the laundry tubs that sat on a special metal frame right next to the wringer washing machine. I remember having to take a wet rag out and wash the clothes lines and also having some wooden poles to hold the lines up when there were a lot of wet, heavy sheets and towels and clothes on them.
I also remember having linoleum and tile floors in our house ( carpet was too expensive and would have gotten far, far too dirty ) and scrubbing them and then using paste wax applied while you were on your knees and then having to buff the floor afterwards.
I can't begin to imagine how many buckets of coal my sister and I carried to the house. Later we got a stoker coal furnace and the much smaller chunks ( all uniform in size ) were much easier to carry. The house looked better because it wasn't necessary to leave a couple of buckets of coal sitting by the stove to be tossed in at the proper time. Also -- no clinkers to remove.
We went out to the well ( it was actually on the neighbor's property ) and pumped water for anything that we did that required water -- including our drinking water. We had a galvanized metal bucket which we took out and filled -- then brought back to the cabinet stand in the kitchen and put the galvanized dipper back in. The four of us used it any time we needed a drink and anyone ( lots of neighborhood kids ) who came into the house thirsty would go to the kitchen for a drink. And we are all lived through this experience of communal drinking pails all over town.
We had paper dolls and after awhile, we learned how to use the doll to measure with --- we made clothes for her. Colored them with our crayons and just thought we had it happening.
Hopscotch was big and my friend could draw the hopscotch boxes so well in the dirt. So uniform. We also had home-made stilts that we would stand up on the ground next to us while we were standing on our porch -- then just just step on the foot pad and take off walking on them.
Yes -- we had it easy then and all of us kids at a certain age looked for the few people who might on occasion throw out a soda bottle -- because we could turn it in and get a bunch of penny candy. Walked every where and actually my family did not have a car until I was in the 7th. grade. The car was not used a whole lot -- we still walked a lot more than rode. The car was used to go to town once every week or two and get groceries. Dr. appts. and things like that. We never just went for a ride -- there had to be a purpose.
Brought back lots of memories here.
Jackie
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me too! Shuf
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Puffin-look at your beautiful hair. What a fabulous color. That is so cool.
Shuf-I will definitely have you in my thoughts on Tuesday. Are you having a lumpectomy? I have forgotten. Enjoy your holiday,
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Magicalbean, yes with fat reconstruction on both sides. Sounds awful "fat" haha
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Shuf You will be in my prayers for Tuesday surgery,will be sending you positive thoughts.
Revelle
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Shuf we all know fat has got to be good for something -- lots of us keep plenty of it around. I myself have 24 pounds extra and that is if I'm being kind to myself -- at least 6 more should come off of this shrinking frame. I think I'm not as tall as I used to be ---seems to have fallen down and spread out in fat -- EEK !!!!
Shuf I'll be thinking of you and sending lots of positive energies your way so all will go well with you.
Still raining here....Dh says there are soppy puddles everywhere. Sounds awful. Hope it quits by morning, but the weather report sure didn't think it would. Stay dry and warm everyone.
Jackie
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Shuf...sending prayers and positive thoughts for your upcoming surgery.
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Hi did not get through all of the posts. I just can't seem to keep up. We leave the house at 7:00 AM to get DGD to school on time and go to the broom shop. Some days we go out to the camper behind the shop and take a nap and then get breakfast. DGD is going to Los Cruces, NM to spend Thanksgiving
with her brother and his family. She has been missing him.
Believe me our life has changed, she is a good kid.
Blessings to all
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Thanks for the welcome back, and concern....just needed a health break.....or hummmm or health BREAKdown.....I tend to isolate.
Hugs
Di
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I LOVED that Sandra! Yes, I remember so much of that.... You too, Jackie! Plastic anything was a luxury! I still save the heavy plastic that "things" come in... Actually I save a lot of needless stuff.... I don't know why, but like my Grandma, I always think "someday I will use this!"
You know what she used to do? After Grampa passed away, Grandma found a piece of Styrofoam out in the alley, and brought it in, set it on her little table, and decorated it with her christmas things! She stuck all kinds of ornaments, sticks, candy-canes, and set a little Nativity scene on it! I think she found most of her "treasures" from someone's old discards! She was so "proud" of her "stuff!"
I think that's why I "save" everything!
Yes Shuff.... we'll be thinking of you! Just don't worry... You will look back on this, and it will just be a memory!...... Just one more hurdle you jumped!
Well, I shouldn't say "jumped".... I should say "flew-over!"
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Jackie, do what you can to have good travel weather for us in IL on Wed. We'll be picking up a rental car today. My Camry has 115,000 mi. on it and dh doesn't like to risk a breakdown during Thanksgiving week. I wonder if he doesn't just like to drive a different car!
Shuf, I will be thinking about you tomorrow as we travel about 8 hrs. and then stop at a motel. On Wed. we'll have a shorter day to Decatur, IL, to dh's sister's house. About 5 hrs. This year we actually get to stay at her house since her son isn't coming for Thanksgiving. He lives in Seattle and started a new job. He'll probably come for Christmas. Most years we have to stay in a motel room.
No need for heat this morning. The thermostat shows 70 degrees in the house. The sun has come out and it is looking nice outside.
Wishing everyone a good Monday. I'll be catching up on laundry and getting ready to travel tomorrow.
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Hi All,
We are looking to share your journeys on our website. Recently we started a new section on acknowledging our dear members of the community (http://www.breastcancer.org/community/acknowledgin...).
November is Caregiver Awareness Month, and we want to share stories to and from caregivers. If you are interested in sharing your story on our site, please Private message us your story, your inspirational message, suggestions, advice to other caregivers, and a photo of yourself or something that represents you.
Many thanks!
The Mods0 -
Acceptance is not a talent you either have or don’t have. It’s a learned response. My meditation teacher made a great point about the difference between a reaction and a response: You may not have control over your initial
reaction to something, but you can decide what your response will be. You don’t have to be at the mercy of your
emotions, and acceptance can be your first step toward empowerment . . . For me, acceptance has been the cornerstone to my having an emotionally healthy response to my illness. Morrie Schwartz0 -
Sorry about the quote -- I did everything I could think and could not make it come in without the breaks in the paragraphs. Even put it on my Notepad first which often helps and it did broke at the wrong place.
We started out so gray this morning, and now am seeing a line of blue sky and white clouds. I think ( according to the weather report ) that will likely be temporary. But never-the-less, it is nice to see. I do better without constant gray, dull skies so I'm feeling more cheerful already.
More news on B. Cosby that I'm trying to ignore. More 'women' and accusations and talk of some man escorting women to the Cosby dressing room and then standing guard. The man at 90 yrs. old says he now feels dirty. Lots of feelings about that. Bless his heart if he has repented -- but he, the women and Cosby too ( if this took place and that is not for me to say ) all had to know that it wasn't for a game of Scrabble. Guess to my way of thinking ( Dh and I discussed it this morning ) anytime you choose to spend time with an adult male alone, and maybe even more so one who is somewhat famous, you put yourself at a certain level of possible risk.
Of course, these events should not take place, but it seems to me most of these people were at an age and time when they should have had some healthy suspicion going on. I'm not saying it is their fault by any means, but that there has never been a time in my "adult" life that I couldn't figure out some strong possibilities over certain behaviors and adjust accordingly. I've been to some degree on both sides which is why I see things as I do. I would not wish to seem mean or un-caring either, but I still wonder -- why now. If you haven't come to grips with it in 30 or more years you have had, then what will FIX it now ???
Nuf' about that. Sure am looking forward to Thurs. Well, I really like Thanksgiving. For the most part all of my memories are such very good ones --- smells wafting all over the house, and a great meal and then later on -- almost always a turkey sandwich with a lot of the "sides" from dinner re-heated and back on the table. Of course, it never hurt that through most of those years I was fairly skinny so never had to worry about calories during the heavy-duty eating that it often turned out to be. Boy, when some things change -- its not so great. Well, the end of yr. holidays is probably what sparked the new yr. resolutions which for a lot of people meant "eating right" again to repair all those end of the year gastronomical "SINS". Onward for the day. I'll be checking in later.
Blessings,
Jackie
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I saw an article online yesterday about the 50 things you shouldn't eat over the holidays. Included almost all the foods that make the holidays special. It might be healthier to avoid them, but I'm willing to just do a little bit and enjoy the specialties. The only Thanksgiving food ok to eat were the brussels sprouts and turkey breast.
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I'm making up a new dressing this year - to fit in with the crazy way hubby and I are now eating.... Almost all vegies and a little quinoa thrown in. If it's edible, I'll let y'all know.....
If not, then I'll smother it in gravy and eat it anyway. 0 -
Jackie, did you see that note from the Mods? I think you should tell YOUR story, for our new members to see how much you have gone through, and how you have come so far!
You have a special way with words.... like you have talked to us on this thread.... and I think it would really help new gals who are just starting out. They sent me a PM about 6 months ago I think.... and I did it also!
So I hope you do it!
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I did notice that and I will give it serious consideration -- I really will. Just got back from town. Paid some bills, picked up a couple of things at Aldi's. They are such a neat store. It is a "German" store actually. I think they take debit cards but no checks -- so check-out is always quick. Also, they charge a quarter for your cart --- so most people will take it back to the cart corral so as to get the quarter back.
This is SOOOO not anything about cancer, but I wonder --- if more stores would do that -- how many people would just forget the quarters and continue to leave their empty carts in the parking space, half way out in the drive aisle, right up against my car or in any number of other places where they shouldn't be. Even at Aldi's some people have just handed me their cart --- and as they are walking off tell me to keep the quarter --- and I had one in my hand to give them because I already had it out to release a cart for myself. Still, they were on the way to the cart corral so they were going to do the right thing -- just took the opportunity to be "done with it" right now.
GG -- your dressing sounds like it could REALLY be good. I think Quinoa is really versatile in use and is an excellent ( usually highly recommended by nutritionists ) food to have in your pantry. I'll be very interested in how that turns out. The nutritionists I talk to also say to try to only use real butter, olive oil, lots of Kale, dark colored veggies, the darker the better for the most part, as little sugar as possible, and fresh fruits and veggies as often as you can get them. Says to lay off most juices and eat the fruit instead. Also they recommend Almond Butter ( with extremely short ingredients list ) rather than Peanut Butter since the Almond Butter is purer, but I keep both as I just like the taste of P-Nut Butter.
Ok, see you all later.
Jackie
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Chevy, I agree. Jackie should definitely tell her story.
Well Saturday was not a good day for me. I started out early in the morning to pick up two other ladies to go to a craft show . I got about 2 miles from my house and hit black ice when I attempted to stop at a T intersection. My car started spinning and slammed into an embankment. Both air bags deployed and my windshield shattered. The car had to be towed and I'm still waiting for the body shop to give me feedback on the damage. I was pretty shook up but an angel must have been riding with me that morning because my left hand is very bruised where the air bag hit it and I have a bump on my head but no other serious injuries. I have never had or been in an accident and I was pretty shook up! My little car didn't fare as well and I am still waiting on the body shop to give me an estimate and opinion on what they think I should do with it.
Puffin, my son spent a few years in the Brainerd area in a small town called Deerwood. He was the general manager of the Parker Hannifin plant there. The area is lovely but I quickly decided that it wasn't for this "summer" gal when we went up for Easter and had nearly 6 inches of snow! :-)
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Oh my word !!!! I'm almost speechless -- almost. Black ice is such a terrible thing. In all my years ( furiously crossing myself, throwing salt over both shoulders because I can't remember which one -- any anything else that I can think ) I have not actually encountered black ice --- though there has at times been a fair share of ice I was highly aware was present. I can almost imagine what a shock to your system -- also, unlike other situations -- I don't think you would have time to do much of anything on black ice but just go with it, even were there something to do.
I recall that this car was going to be your 'last' convertible. Thinking of that since insurance companies always seem so quick to want to total cars. With the depreciation figured in -- you get nearly nothing to replace your car, but most people don't think about that at the time. So, it comes to if you want to have your car repaired or not because I envision the Ins. hoping you will allow the "totaled" designation. Most of the time ( if the frame itself is not involved ) the car can be repaired.
I'm just thrilled to hear Rita that your injuries seemed to have all been minor save for the mental duress. I have not had much of anything -- Dh and I were hit from behind once, and a lady turned right into me one day a long, long time ago, but otherwise ( can you hear me knocking on wood quite soundly ) nothing and yet while those were extremely minor events, just knowing that in an instant an impact was going to take place just sort of erased all ability to ANY kind of rational thinking. Both times afterwards I had to spend a few seconds to get back to myself. I'm sure you did too Rita, my good friend. Sending lots of positive energies to you and sure hoping for a good outcome. Also, that loads of time do not have to pass for you to get a satisfactory resolution to car repair or replacement.
On to the next project for the day. See you all later.
Jackie
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Rita, I'm glad that you came out of that accident with no serious injuries. How scary! My one experience with black ice was walking on it. I landed flat on my back! It happened one Thanksgiving when we were travelling to Decatur, IL, and hit a snow storm outside St. Louis, in Arnold. It was so icy that I insisted on stopping at a hotel even though we were 3 hrs. away from our destination. DH and I were walking from the hotel to the Cracker Barrel restaurant next door. It was rather dark and I stepped on the black ice, which was something I was not acquainted with before then!
It was another mild, sunny day here. Seems foolish to leave and head north to heavens knows what kind of weather. But the rental car is parked outside. The audio tapes from the library are inside the car. DH and I both are mostly packed. So off we go tomorrow.
I didn't have a lot to do today. I caught up on laundry and did some ironing.
I'll be taking my laptop computer and should be able to keep up with the conversation on my favorite bc.org forums.
A good evening to all.
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Rita! That's awful. You must have been shocked to the bone. Hope your "paw" get's back to normal soon.
Teka, I always enjoy your cartoons. Here's a poem for Thanksgiving.
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As usual -- starting to anticipate the fun in funny just seeing a graphic and the words Thanksgiving Poem !!! Not disappointed. I love them both.
Jackie
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Black ice is so treacherous. Glad you are ok, Rita.
Love the poem, Sandra.
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Teka -- yum. If I were any closer you'd be having some company to help you finish up those leftovers. I like the turkey bones and make casserole along with turkey noodle/macaroni soup. I could eat the soup alone for months -- that is how much I love it.
Jackie
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Rita glad u r ok
Thanksgiving means football n my boys with yheir mommy. Not thst i dont likr my girls but boys just love them, excited
Slept from 3am to 830pm, steroids sucks
Getting off 2 read
Happy Tuesday
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Oh Wow Rita! I know the feeling! Your heart just stops... almost!
We were driving up in the mountains early one morning on a fishing trip, and it wasn't light yet... So I was going UP this hill, and hit the black ice, and your car just spins EVERYwhere! We were going up Berthoud Pass.
It finally stopped crosswise, in the middle of the road, and a SEMI was coming down!!!! FEAR, PANIC! Lights flashed before my eyes, but I got it started, and got it moved over to my lane....
MAN, I just sat there and cried. You canNOT see black ice... night or day. Just a sheet of ice..
I don't drive in the winter weather anymore, unless the roads are 1/2 way clear.
Getting another car TODAY!
And Carole, you should write down your story also for the Mods! You have such a sensible way with words, which I can't relate to....
And I think YOUR story would be great! Especially about all of your travels... etc! Sorry about your fall! There are no kind of shoes that help you walk on ice... Better to walk in the snow, than on the ice... I don't even need ICE to fall! Just a little rock to trip over!
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This is the "rock" I tripped on, when I fell....
I must have not seen it.....0 -
Goint to get another car today!
DH doesn't think I need one .... even THOUGH my clutch is completely gone, and the door handle is broke, and this one is 15 years old! But I will get one, with or without his comments... I have wanted one since I broke my hip, and trying to drive a clutch was really hard! So 9 months later, I have made up my mind..... DD and her friend are taking us......
Funny how independent I became.... and obstinate...but I'm not listening to any more excuses about why we don't NEED one.... like "Let's just wait until Spring".... "We don't need to go anywhere" "It's too cold out"..... If DH were any more "set in his ways" he would be a ROCK!
Advually I would like something smaller like a Chevy Cruz... etc. I'll post a picture later....
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