Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from March, 2014 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 7:35 am on March 9, 2014 Permalink  

  A Big Deal For Stauffer 

  I can not remember when we bought something new for the home.  Today was the day!

  Dennis has a wonderful west porch where he enjoys everything from Pawn Stars on t.v., his email and face book accounts and keeping track of the traffic as it passes by our home.   All this is while he is sitting in his ‘command center’ chair.  Son Kevin dubbed it that as it reminded him of Captain Kirk on Star Trek.  The chair is totally made out of 2 x 4 lumber that has been varnished.  In times past when we went to Indiana to visit one of Dennis’ buddies who had served with him in Korea, this chair was given to Dennis by his friend Rip.  It sure was a good thing we had taken the pickup as the chair would never had fit in the trunk of the chair.

  I digress.  An upgrade of the television in the west porch was sorely needed.  Dennis was watching his favorite shows on a 12 inch screen that we had purchased in 1992 with the option of also playing VCRs.  That may will have gone on for a long time if  it were not for the fact that the on and off button has been pushed so far into the set that the button was now in the black depth of the set.

  

  Nicholas in the Command Center Chair

  On day quite a while ago I heard from the porch “Grammie I need you”.  Grandson Nicholas also enjoyed Grandpa Dennis’ chair while playing Angry Birds on the computer.  How could you not want to have the Disney channel playing on the t.v. while enjoying the computer game.  Alas the button was gone and Grammie could not help Nicholas get it back out.  Fast forward to today.

  Best Buy had just the ticket today and as soon as the new LED flat screen t.v. will arrive to their store for it to be picked up – Grandpa Dennis will be in high cotton.   The commander in the ‘command chair’ will have been moved into the 21st century.

   
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  Noreen 1:57 am on March 8, 2014 Permalink  

  Resilience 

  I can’t tell you how many time I have heard “you can always tell a German, you just can’t tell them much.”  It’s a very strong hint that I am stubborn.  I choose to label it as being resilient.   I can’t imagine settling when I have it within me to fight for a quality of life that includes being independent and being resilient when there are some bumps in my health or day to day welfare.  In recent times the bumps come along in the form of incisions and stitches.

  Dennis and I have often commented to each other how independent we each are and that goes a long way as to why we make such a good team.  Having adult children does not entitle us to depend upon them in our day to day lives.  Oh yes, it’s very comforting and reassuring to have them check in with us because their care.  We are not above accepting help from the kids when offered but they are not on our speed dial as first responders.

  During the weeks of the shoulder surgery recovery I found new ways to accomplish all that was needed in routine housework in our home.   Post-a-notes became a great way to jot down things that I would need help with when Dennis came home from his being out and about.   This was not our first rodeo in regard to me recovering from surgery.  When I had both of my knees replaced my home was where I wanted to be to begin recovery and not in a swing bed in a hospital.  I am sure in the early days with both knees wrapped I wobbled through the house like the child of Frankenstein.  The same was true with both of the independent shoulder replacements.  The swing bed was offered each time and my answer was always a “NO”.   A friend of mine opted for the swing bed option and they came home on day 13 after surgery. It is all in everyone’s level of confidence and comfort.

  It could be called suborn but again I choose to call it resilience.  I gave the surgeon my permission to do the surgery knowing I had the will to regain the strength that the surgery allowed.  It is now in the stage that I don’t want to disappoint either of us.  Often I not only think it but I have also said it out load: “if you think you can’t just hitch your bra strap one notch higher and go for it.”  Well, in the case of the shoulders it was implied as there was no way I could manage to get a bra on let alone feel the pressure of the weight bearing undies.

  Life is brighter everyday.  Today I was able to take myself up to an eye doctor appointment and rejoiced that the torn retina from October is A.O.K.  Today I was able to reach to the second shelf of the kitchen cabinets knowing that the muscle strain and tremor I felt was a sign that recovery is on target.  I am sure that after physical therapy is complete I will be gaining strength being outside once the ice and refreezing of melting snow subsides.  There are a ton of branches that need to be gathered up and then the peeking for plants that want to make their presents known.

  Dennis is terrific letting me have my own head in doing what I strive to achieve.  He does respect my resilience and he also knows that I don’t love him because I need him.  I need him because I love him.  That goes ditto for my kids.

   

   

   
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  Noreen 3:26 am on March 7, 2014 Permalink  

  Quiet Day 

  Quiet that is after a good work out at physical therapy – ouch, ouch.  No pain no gain.  The heating pad has been my best bud.

   
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  Noreen 3:39 am on March 4, 2014 Permalink  

  Five Years and They Have Flown 

  How time flies when you are having fun.  It was five years ago that I retired as the Watonwan County Assessor (actually on February 28th of 2009). After doing a grocery run today I stopped in at the courthouse for a brief visit.  Many friends are still working the W-2 Forms and those friends are precious and priceless.  Just like the rest of the world time has slipped away from us getting together to stay connected.  Today I made myself a promise to make it happen oftener in the near future.

  Did I have huge plans for retirement? Not really.  I never let myself plan that far ahead as the job kept me busy right to the end.  I knew I wanted to spend more time with my children and grandchildren, no longer having to use vacation days from work to be on hand for the time I could help out or just enjoy them with my full attention.  It was easier to spend time with my Mom that next year.   I was so thankful for that year as she passed away in April of 2010.

  Some days during these five years I would never have anticipated or dreamt could be real – but then life is a day by day experience with no preview or rehearsal and for sure no do-overs.  I am thankful for each day and always hope for best. My Grandmother Laura Wendlandt was also my Christian Sponsor.   At the age of 93 she lived her days in a mobile home especially equipped for her in her wheelchair with an attitude that was second to none.   She told me repeatedly, “You have to make each day to the good and have something to show for each day.”  I have my daily work cut out for me.

   
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  Noreen 12:27 am on March 3, 2014 Permalink  

  Frozen Tundra – Stauffer Avenue 

  

  Through the Frozen Backyard the Four Footed Come for Food

   

  

  Clearing the Snow on March 1, 2014.
  Sure Hope It’s the Last Time

   
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  Noreen 4:11 am on February 28, 2014 Permalink  

  Small town benefits include Dennis being able to use a slid loader for several hours to widen our driveway. The backyard was the perfect place to relocate it. Dennis was amazed how he could see layers of snow followed with layers of ice, etc. A testament of a winter that has brought snow, sleet, and rain intermittently to make for hard banks of snow. Thawing will be interesting.

   
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  Noreen 2:14 am on February 27, 2014 Permalink  

  This week the last of my Mother’s seven siblings passed away. Gertrude was my Mother’s younger sister by 9 years. Gertrude would have been 89 this August of 2014. We all knew her as Gertie. At celebrations you always knew if Gertie was there as her laugh floated above the gathering and then she could easily be found as she loved large colorful flower printed dresses. When my son Kevin was just a toddler he heard “Aunt Birdie” and that stuck within our household when we spoke of her. She will be missed and leave a large hole in Riebe family gatherings.

   
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  Noreen 2:57 am on February 26, 2014 Permalink  

  Dear Grandpups Bell and Sophie, 

  I sure could have used the two of you today as my coaches.  This was my first day back at the Super 8 swimming pool for more rehab of the shoulder.  No matter how hard I tried to do the ‘dog paddle’ across the pool I ended up making big circles.  Try, try try again.

   
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  Noreen 2:44 am on February 25, 2014 Permalink  

  Yes! – I've Started Physical Therapy 

  Today I got to see my all time favorite physical therapist Mike T. He has gotten this body through a lot over the years: two knee replacements, ham string insertions that were pulled from the pelvic bone, the left shoulder and now doing the work for recovery of the right shoulder.  The wonderful thing is that he has the history that is needed for him to work with me.  For me the task is to do as I am told because I believe in his help.

  I have no restrictions as per the visit last week with the surgeon for the use of my shoulder and right arm.  The rest of the story is that my muscles and tendons don’t listen to the instructions that I give my brain for delegation of movement – so far, that is. I have a lot of work to do at home in between my sessions with Mike T.  The strength that I have with my arm while standing at ‘chest high’ pushing down or lifting up or to the side is very desirable.  I could push snow off of our driveway for a long time before getting weary.  Lifting weight from the floor is very doable.  The strength that is needed is to get the arm to hold itself up beyond ‘chest high.’ This is where the hard work begins.

  Doing exercises while standing is much different then when sitting.   The length of my core helps immensely for the pushing and pulling that the arm is asked to do.  Sitting in a car the arm can’t get the the seat belt pushed into the lock on the driver’s side but the arm can reach around to my back to tug on pants while standing.  I can stretch my arm out to pull and push the lint filter out of the stackable clothes dryer, but sitting in the car I cannot push the shift lever in the upward motion to put the car into gear.

  I am totally at Dennis’ disposal for getting off of Stauffer Avenue — for now, that is.  Patience is a great virtue and I am living proof that one is never to old to learn a bit of it.  I also know from my previous health history that the time invested after medical procedures is going to be so worth it going forward.  It’s been a less than desirable Minnesota winter and even those that have been able bodied have had restrictions.  I am still in good company.  For me it’s either this or better.  Dennis, Mike T and me are voting for the latter.

   
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  Noreen 3:56 am on February 24, 2014 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  It’s been a long winter of cold, ice and snow but there is no better place to recuperate with a new shoulder than Stauffer Avenue with Dennis.  I cannot wait to be out on the patio with Dennis and coffee taking in a spring breeze.