I don’t want to get too political but as part of my update, I have had to notice the Tea Party Convention going on this weekend.   I hope it is a group of activists here who sincerely want what is best for the US.

It is not necessary for us to have a third party if we have active people all across the country who will help us get the old politicos out and get fresh, idealistic blood i the Congress.    We’ll see what happens.

The weather is certainly attracting attention everywhere.   The plains, the East and coastline are getting record snowfalls and wind gusts are raising record drifts.   A friend in Indiana who lives in a rural area said some cars are buried in drifts so high that they can’t be seen.   Then when the really big snowplows come along they push the car into the ditch with the snow.    Strange global warming, isn’t it?

Then again, Vancouver is having to import snow for the Olympics; seems they have had such a mild winter they are fresh out of snow and ice.    A friend there says spring flowers are beginning to grow!

Interesting but strange world we live in, isn’t it?

We recently heard the State of the Union address by President Obama. Usually this is the time for the President to talk about all the great and wonderful things that are going on in the U.S. with secondary mention of issues to be dealt with in the coming year.

This was President Obama’s first address after a year in office. Not much good could be said about our economy, job situation, health care or anything else. Except of course we are sending massive aid to Haiti after the terrible earthquake and devastation there. Aid which may not be fully appreciated because it came from America.

As a common, ordinary citizen, I talk to people in all types of situations. Invariably when I bring up a topic the person is upset or fed up with the government regarding it. This includes the joblessness, the lack of medical care,  desperation of former taxpaying citizens who are losing everything, the trillions of dollars in debt, especially the aid emphasis on the “Big Guys” like GM, AIG, Banks, and other Power Brokers. Not only are people fed up, they are demanding change. Congress votes itself pay raises, yet those on Social Security are denied cost of living (Cola) benefits for two years. Retirees are the same people who contributed a portion of their entire working life earnings for Social Security, yet now they are treated like people who are stealing from the government.   Actually the government stole from them by using those dedicated SS funds for government purposes.

Now I am hearing more and more people questioning why the US Government can spend billions of dollars on Haiti but ignores the plight of many of its most faithful and loyal taxpaying citizens at home. Why it can spend trillions of dollars on the Big People, yet has no dollars to help little people put their lives back together.   Govt offers of financial aid to buy a new car or a house?   Who can buy  such big ticket items when they don’t have jobs,  food for their families, shelter to live in today?

Yes, there are people who live stable lives with job security and regular income.   But there are THOUSANDS MORE who have neither, or who are about to lose their small businesses due to the recession.   In fact, many of the large businesses are offering large discounts just to get people in the doors.

A lady I know saw this story recently on

Animal Planet

“I was watching Animal Planet last week and there was a dog rescue program on….A man called the rescue place and asked if they could take his dog because he had lost his job, his house and he was trying to get to New Jersey where he had been promised a job.(I believe he was in California) He had a camper on his pick up truck. (The kind of camper that fits over the bed of the pickup) The battery had gone dead in his truck….he had run out of money and although he loved his dog, he just could no longer feed him or care for him.

“The people from the dog rescue visited him and met his dog. They honestly did not want to take his dog from him because he had lost everything else and dearly loved his dog. They raised money for this man and then they each pitched in $200.00 giving the man a grand total of $1,100.00 PLUS a big bag of dog food for his best friend.

“Now the man could get his new battery for the truck, and start on his way to New Jersey, hopefully to have the new job he was promised.
I noticed the man also wore a wedding band, so it appears his family was with family or friends while he and his dog took the journey from California to New Jersey.”

“I couldn’t help but cry when I watched this, thinking of the money that is being poured out to Haiti right now while our own people are going without. His story is only one in thousands here in the USA right now….

“I wonder if our government are proud of themselves This is also something we have to bring to the attention of politicians. WE come first…whatever may be left over can certainly be given out to other countries, but take care of our own first. I think that each and every one of them in government needs to step out of their lives and trade places with one of our homeless or nearly homeless families right here in America. Let them see first hand what it’s like to struggle….”

As is so typical today, it is not our government that is helping individuals like this man; it is other people who still have jobs, who understand the despair of people who are forced to give up all they have, including a beloved pet, because of undeserved circumstances. It is groups of citizens, neighbors, local churches, volunteer organizations, police, firemen who stop to pick up and help their fallen neighbor. The list goes on and on of those who give generously to others in need. I even saw a local grocery that was selling bags of food to be given to local food banks; buy one and the store will pass it on.

All this describes the generous compassionate nature of ordinary American citizens. These are the people whose ancestors settled and built our proud America. But that is not enough. President Obama said in his speech that he was aware of a lack of trust by citizens in our government. He is so correct. We do not trust him, the Congress, lobbyists or power brokers who now rule Washington, D.C.

We require, no, we demand change!

 ’Tis that time again, when I’m both GLAD and SAD:

GLAD that I’m here to celebrate another birthday;

SAD that another year adds to the growing pile.

Truly, GLAD outweighs the SAD designation.   It is a time to reflect, to remember,  to weigh accomplishments and recall  joys of the past.

Now that would be one long post, so I will deal only with remembering (memories).   Of course memories also begin in the present, so:

Yesterday for the first time I wore a blond wig that my son told me looked Marilyn Monroeish  (not me, the wig).  I thought I looked like Blondie from Dagwood and Blondie.    Remember them?   I got the wig from my dear friend Cheers (of whom I wrote earlier ).    She is now deceased, but years ago when I visited  her she offered it to me and I refused.   So she put it in my suitcase and I found it when I got home.   Little did we know that she would soon be diagnosed with cancer and might need it herself.

“Royal Balloon Sendoff for Cheers.”

My memories of Cheers are so special; I treasure and laugh at each one of them.

Those memories took me to Justin of Australia, Cheers’ dear friend who became mine as well.   We made plans to visit him when we got rich, until then we communicated with him regularly by telephone and email. He had set up the technical part of The Seniors Playground with Cheers and carried it for her on his Broad Band until he passed away. Another treasured memory of one I still miss. He had a beard like Moses and Cheers always said she wanted to run her fingers through it!  Her Playground is still active under its present owner, Snowlady.  I have formed close ties with many people on there.

Cheers and Justin led me to another website where I met Denis in Ukraine as well as Andy, an Englishman now living in Japan.  Andy is the one who set this site up for me and I consider him a mentor and friend - even if he is 25 years younger than me.

When a person has lived as long as we have, the memories can go on endlessly.  Memories which include who and what we were.  Now we must not lose sight of who and what we are:

Where Have I Gone?

by Beverly Bedier

Once I was young, naive, hopeful. Red hair flashing
in sunlight; big smile lighting freckled face.

Now suddenly I’m old…red hair faded. Wrinkles and lumps
where trim young flesh once existed. But I’m still here!

I am the same person, just wiser, more experienced,
“mature”. My body got older but my heart did not!

Dreams still reside in a future unknown; hope rests within
my breast foreshadowing new experiences, new places, new ideas.

If so, why do I feel out of place…am I truly an anachronism in
youth’s new day? A fossil buried in senior flesh?

No! I have children, grandchildren, friends and new interests .
Life is not over, it is merely slower and follows a different path.

Be patient and grateful my soul, for each new day, for beauty all around,
for the many blessings of a young life lived in an old body.

~An old body which still has many days and miles to go.~

My granddaughter asked me what it was like to be old.

So I told her…

“Put cotton in your ears,

and pebbles in your shoes,

Put on rubber gloves,

Smear vaseline over your glasses,

And there you have it:

Instant Old Age.”

Many of my internet friends live in northern climes.   They are particularly weary of the weather with snow, ice, freezing fog, rain,  sleet, and ice again!

But there are hopeful signs that  winter may be over soon.    People in various areas of the central and eastern U.S. along with parts of Canada are reporting temperatures over freezing.    One lady in Vancouver (where the Winter Olympics are to be held) reports spring flower buds are popping out.   So plans are being made to truck snow in to the mountains.    Perhaps they should get some  snow from Flagstaff area where they got FOUR  feet of snow.    Hard to believe.

No matter how dreary or cold it may be, winter will come to an end.   For those of you who might be suffering from winter blues, particularly we Seniors who have the stuck-in-the-house winter blues, enjoy this little reminder.

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=2185550634448&source=jl999

This link will not open  directly; run your mouse across it and copy it, then put the url in your browser.   I think you will like it.

P.S.   This is a wonderful source of animated and creative cards.

I Believe…
Just because two people argue,
Doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.
And just because they don’t argue,
Doesn’t mean they do love each other.

I Believe…
We don’t have to change friends if
we understand friends change.

I Believe…
No matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while,
and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe….
True friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I Believe….
You can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe…
It’s taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I Believe…
You should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe..
You can keep going long after you think you can’t.

I Believe…
We are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.

I Believe…
Either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe…
Heroes are the people who do what has to be done,
when it needs to be done,
regardless of consequences.

I Believe..
Money is a lousy way of keeping score..


I Believe…
My best friend and I can do anything or nothing,
And have the best time.

I Believe…
Sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe…
Sometimes when I’m angry,
I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe…
Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had,
and what you’ve learned from them,
and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I Believe…
It isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others;
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.


I Believe…
No matter how bad your heart is broken,
The world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I Believe….
Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
But we are responsible for whom we become.

I Believe…
You shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.

I Believe….
Two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.

I Believe…
Your life can be changed in a matter of hours
by people who don’t even know you.

I Believe…
Even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you–
you will find the strength to help.

I Believe…
Credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe…
The people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I believe…
The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the most of anything.

“I Believe”  Music Video by Frankie Laine

http://www.berm.co.nz/cgi-bin/video/play.cgi?–j7wvtOi1s

An internet friend of mine just sent me a message and part of it said “growing old ain’t for sissies.”

Well, I sure agree with that. Today went to eye doctor for checkup?

You have to understand that this is rather a project. First of all he lives in another state and drives about 50 miles to get here. We have no good opthalmologists here, only a very good optometrist whose office he uses twice a month. Also, because I am visually disabled I have to take a special bus to get there. No public transportation locally. (Yes, I do live in rather a hole).

Anyhow, he is a very good eye doctor, did my cataracts, and gained my trust. So I had told him I’d be willing to have a steroid shot in my eye if necessary, in spite of a VERY bad experience I had with another doctor in another town.

Well, he gave me a steroid shot in my right eye today. Frightening to think of anyone sticking a needle in your eye. He did it twice, once for painkiller and then again for the shot. I know, because I could feel the eyeball move under the pressure. (yikes!)

Left me with a big black blob in my eye which proceeded to start leaking down the eyeball. He said it would take a couple of days to be fully absorbed; gave me eye drops to use for a week.

Actually it wasn’t as bad as it sounds; but hope you never have to go through it.

As we said, getting old ain’t for sissies.

Remember the pictures they used to show of  Baby New Year being greeted by Ancient Old Year?

I thought you would.

I’ve come to the conclusion that  the past is gone and not to be retrieved, and the future is nothing to worry about.    The present is the gift we have today and it is to be treasured and cherished, for we may not have tomorrow.

Seems as if so many people are worrying about the economy, finances, success or failure, the future of the dollar.    Even the future of the USA ’cause the rest of the world seems to be catching  up  to us.

Well, shoot, time is of the essence  and the essence can be sweet or sour, depending upon how you perceive it.   No, I’m not losing it, or talking nonsense.     I have just decided that instead of thinking about all the horrible things that can and may or surely might happen, I’ll just stick my head in the sand like everyone else and not worry about anything.

The great thing about the past is that you can retrieve the happy parts while blocking the unhappy parts.    I mean, why cry about something you can’t change?    Acceptance  is the only way to go.

The great thing about the present is  you can decide what you will do with it.   You can work, play, sleep, study, watch tv, sit and think, or communicate with friends.   By the way, have you joined the social networking craze?    By that I mean Twitter (been tweeting lately?) or Facebook (picturing your phace for all to see?)

Misspelling deliberate

Funny thing about Twitter is that all these strangers want to connect with you and follow your every word. Sorry to say, my words aren’t so great and I severely limit the no. of people who can “follow” me, but I get innumerable requests from these strangers.Facebook is a little better and through it I have found a couple of people I communicated with in the past.  For one reason or another I lost touch with them and am pleased to rediscover them. On the other hand, my privacy is an issue there.

Confirming that, I sent an invitation to a friend in Canada to join me on Facebook and the invitation was accompanied by pictures of many of her relatives.   She couldn’t understand how Facebook could know those folk belonged to her.  She responded to me and said it was “one of life’s little mysteries” how those pictures got there. I replied it is downright scary.

That is another thing about the future. Between hackers, the government plus technological advances, I’m concerned there will be no such thing as ‘private’ information. (Yes, despite my claim to ignoring, I am concerned about future happenings.) Actually, as a senior I have an advantage there. I can die and avoid it all. (Just kidding.) Plus, we have so many “experts” predicting things one never knows what to think. Heard today we will have 30 years of icy weather instead of the warming predicted. Just to cover their bets though, they are saying it is all a part of Global Warming. HUH??

I’ll close with this little bit of philosophy:

Senior moments (forgetting something temporarily) are fine!

CRA (can’t remember anything) is bad.

HAPPY 2010

The Gubester
“Much of what you wrote was indeed food for thought. I retired whan I was 48 years of age and looking back I can say that had I not have been able to do so I probably would not be alive today.

“I was self employed and active in the affairs of the city suffering a heart attack at age 46 in my second term as mayor.

“Being fortunate enough to sell my business while I was still young and leave the “rat” race of life added years to my longevity.

“True, the ravages of time have attacked me to some degree in these so called golden years but there are many that are not given the privilege of reaching them.

“Your very last paragraph sums it up very nicely and I quote:

‘My suggestion is to sit back, relax, think about all the wonderful things you have done, all the more         wonderful things you would like to do, and enjoy life however it comes. That is what I have done and guess what? It’s worth it!’ ”    Gube, Expectations, Actively Senior, August, 2009.”

The gentleman who wrote this was a good friend from the Seniors Playground (See Link) .  He was a very creative writer and wrote a column called Musings in his local paper.   He has also contributed to  the Creative Writing Category here.

Gube is now deceased because of  his heart problems.   We were very sorry to lose him as he was a venerable old gent who never disappointed us.   The numbers grow smaller as time wears on.   But I do not grieve long for my former friends because in most cases the end was a blessing due to illness, loss of loved ones and lack of proper health care.   Oh oh I can hear you muttering, “Here she  goes again.”

Not really.   This is not intended to be a downer article nor is it a political article.   It is an update of who and where I am currently.   You see, my finances have slipped into the Never Neverland range.   I am seeking ways to resurrect them to a living level.   I raised three children alone and my finances were not this bad.

Currently I am studying a course on the internet that I hope will benefit me big time as I get more comfortable with it.    It will require much of my work experience, including the Mortgage Loan work, the Title Company work, and the Legal Assistant work over the last 50 years.   It is wonderful to find at-home work on the internet that closely matches my qualifications.   I can’t wait until I receive that first big bundle of money.   

Along with that I have another website  called Big Money with Bevb set up by my mentor Andy, who got me started here at Actively.   He’s a great friend and helper but I misunderstood the provisions of this website.   It is based on the Lottery in England and I now know we Americans cannot bet on the lottery in England.   The idea behind the website is great and if I lived somewhere else I could probably do very well with it.   Andy is an Englishman living in Japan and prospering on his internet earnings.   I’m lucky to have him as a friend and mentor.

Then there is Actively Senior, which has slumped since its inception.   In the beginning I was traveling all over, locating senior activities,  taking many pictures for our photo album.   It was really fun because I found many creative ways to add  to it.   But then we lost the photo album to hackers about the same time I started losing my vision.   I moved up here, first to a farm and then into town.   I can no longer drive and this little town in North Texas doesn’t offer much in the way of transportation.   I’ve had three surgeries this year but am feeling much better now.   With special equipment for my computer and a reader for letters and bills, I’m adjusting well.    But I’m afraid Actively has paid the price in spite of my best intentions.

As you can see I have a lot going on, which is part of the transition process from  a  working middle age adult to a retired senior adult with special needs.   The interesting thing I discovered when I first started this website was that a very large number of senior citizens were working part time to increase their limited incomes.    Since I was doing the same thing, I won’t comment on this phenomenon except to say that it’s a shame so many of us cannot live on our promised Social Security Benefits.

It is even worse now since our Medicare costs keep going up but our COLA benefits have been  frozen for at least two years.   Many people of all ages and all status are being hit hard right now, so I am not unusual or whining.   I said this article would not be a downer but it seems as though it is.   Except that I expect to come out alright in the end.   I will update you further when I do.

If you’re a senior you may wish the government would reform your personal health and medical condition.    After all, isn’t that what individual health reform really means to each of us?

Barring that possibility the government is trying to come up with a health reform bill that would enable all citizens to access health care  for prevention of medical problems or best cure possible.   At present that is certainly not the case.

On both sides of the aisle there is contention; one side claiming socialism and the other side claiming what is proposed is not enough.    There have been references to the Canadian system of universal health care.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_and_American_health_care_systems_compared   Although I’m not a big fan of Wikipedia, this article provides a great deal of insight on the comparison between the current American and Canadian systems.   I won’t go into details here; there is just too much information and you might find it valuable to read it for your self.   I have heard that some Canadian citizens cross the border to the USA to get better medical care.   Also that some provinces are more effective than others or have shorter waiting periods. “Total government spending per capita in the U.S. on health care was 23% higher than Canadian government spending, and U.S. government expenditure on health care was just under 83% of total Canadian spending (public and private).” Wikipedia.    Of course the point made here is that all CANADIANS ARE COVERED whereas only a portion of the US residents are covered although we have a much larger population..

Others have said that we  should look to the French universal health care plan.    http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9994.php#top   I have read through it and in some ways it sounds similar to our health insurance system except that it is universale and all french residents are covered.   As usual the wealthy have provisions to get extra care through supplemental insurance; but the poor are also covered with health care insurance.   The main goal seems to be  prevention of problems.   Nobody is left out, even EU residents residing in France.   The problem I discovered is that they keep talking about reimbursement of medical costs.   I’m not totally sure what they mean by that, but I interpret it as meaning each individual pays for their own medical expenses and are reimbursed by the State.    That would never do for me; I just do not have the money  available.  I do know the CMU plan covers those with chronic diseases like diabetes or heart problems.     But perhaps I’m wrong about all this and if someone in France or knowledgeable about their system would correct me I’d really appreciate it.

Our American system is intolerable for many people because of rising costs.   That is for both insurance and medical expenses.   I will quote  a man here who is very dissatisfied with what is happening to him and his wife..

Today I just got a letter from my medical insurance Co. saying that next year my monthly premiums will be going UP $250.00 for a total of $614.00 each & every damn month.  For my two surgeries so far I’ve had to pay over $2,000.00  from MY POCKET as well.  In years past the MOST I ever paid was less than $50.00 for any hospital or outpatient procedure.  When I retired in 94 my payment was only $45.00 a month, seems like every year our Ins. Co. doubles the premiums… This just MIGHT be the straw that broke the camels back for us.  As there’s NO WAY we can make that kind of payment every month, then still have to pay extra after surgeries or what ever is done… Guess the best thing to do is just die, or go to Mexico then come back as an illegal alien which gets everything FREE!!.(Seniors Playground - ‘Mad as Hell’)

President Obama in Grand Junction Colorado:  “Insurance companies will no longer be able to … place an arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive or charge outrageous out-of-pocket expenses on top of your premiums,” Obama told the crowd of roughly 1,500 people…
“No one in America should go broke because they get sick,” he said to loud applause.   Reuters, August 15. 2009.

I like the part about outrageous out-of-pocket expenses on top of your premiums, and the No one in America should go broke because they get sick.
However, after the little bit of research I have done I can completely understand why both sides of the aisle are having serious problems and contention on the whole health care issue.

I do not claim to be an expert or to have any special insights into this problem. I’m really just an ordinary citizen who is as concerned as you are about the health care crisis in America. My only suggestion is to get any health care done now, if you can afford it. That is what I’m trying to do.