Mending Fences

Heading out for this morning’s Pain Cave workout, I made a point of leaving a few minutes early so I could check into the Community Room, take a few quick photos for the residents’ facebook page of the July 4th Potluck preparations.

Approaching the door, I spied a notice indicating “Classes Cancelled”.

What classes, thought I.

Entering the room, I didn’t see any preparations for the day ─ it was early yet, but I did find a handful of seniors wondering same as I ... what classes?

After working out, I checked back into the Community Room to take photos.

There was nothing.

No Activity Director.

No hot dogs.

No potato salad.

No nothing.

Evidently "classes" meant today's potluck.

Hopefully, not too many seniors got stuck with side dishes and deserts they'd prepared for the potluck.

There were a few residents in the room, discussing the situation and, what do you know, The Seer was one of them.

Surprising.

Even more surprising, she was talking to others in the room ─ something she hasn’t done since around this time last year. With the Shadow always in her ear and she in his ─ both finding fault, causing discord, she had no need for any of us.

Watching her interact, my spidey sense said it’s now about mending fences.

Well, good luck with that, I thought to myself as I reflected on how awful she’d been, especially her bullying of Church Lady. Church Lady had approached me in tears a few months ago telling me how hurt she was by the Seer’s alienation, inasmuch as the two had previously been so close, “Like sisters” Church Lady had said.

“You can’t take it personal. She’s pushed all of us away”, said I at the time.

“Because of HIM!”, Church Lady replied.

“Yes. She’s thinking she can bring him up. Instead, he’s dragging her down”.

Seer must have read what I was thinking because she couldn’t look me in the eyes.

She so avoided facing me that I wasn’t able to say hello or long time no see. However, as I was leaving the Community Room, I stopped just outside the door to take a photo of the bus bringing back a group of seniors from that wretched senior center in the Walking Dead part of town.

From the looks of all the writing on the bus (Bingo, Daily Lunch, Activities, Classes), it looks like that senior center has it going on and maybe they do, that is if you can live with the old rickety building, the moldy/mildew smell and being packed like sardines in a can.

At any rate, as I was taking the photo, the Seer came out of the Community Room and, speaking to my back said, “Hi, Shirley”.

“Hey”, said I without turning around. “I haven’t seen you in a long time”.

“Trying to stay out of trouble”.

I went for it ─ “Good luck with that”, said I.

I Forgot Day?

When I saw the notation on this month’s calendar that tomorrow is I Forgot Day, I figured it was management’s desperate attempt to come up with something to fill in the blanks on the calendar ─ make the calendar look busy to mitigate not having activities to post.

But no.

Well, not exactly because, even though it smacks of desperation, I did due diligence (Googled it) and what do you know, it’s a legit National holiday, the history of which is that “The creator of National I Forgot Day is Gaye Anderson from DeMotte, IN. She created this special day because of a period in her life when she was having a hard time remembering things. Instead of getting flustered, she created this day to relax and just let herself –forget. Gaye doesn’t quite remember (believe it or not!) when she created this day, but thinks it must have been about 10 or so years ago.”

Nice, but what about all the other days when we have our senior moments? 

All in all, the calendar does look pretty desperate this month what with its indications of Kiss Day, Strawberry Sundae Day, French Fries Day, National Lollipop Day and, believe it or not, Shark Awareness Day.

Us seniors are not likely to find sharks in the pool.

The 27^th looks interesting ─ National Day of the Cowboy. But alas, we’re not likely to see any cowboys in the neighborhood.

Actually, this is not the first time the calendar was nothing but a bunch of fillers and a funny thing happened when management first began using these national this/national that days. Some residents thought it meant an actual celebration and came to the Community Room expecting to find an event.

They were seriously pissed. LOL.

I like having the calendar, because it helps me keep track of what day it is, but I can do without all the fluff.

Just before I headed out for this morning’s workout, Assistant Maintenance Guy came up with new blinds for the kitchen.

If you will recall, just as I was finishing up on cleaning the kitchen blinds back in March, a string broke and the blinds came tumbling down.

Instead of bringing up a set of new blinds, Head Maintenance Guy did a Macgyver job ─ managed to tie the string, and put the binds aright.

I thought the fix left the blinds a little tacky looking, but decided not to make a big deal about it. That is, until we got that rent increase at which time I made a big deal about it and requested new blinds.

I could have slapped the woman who is our Assistant Community Manager when I walked down my request, showed her the photo and she asked, "What's wrong with them?" I'd just explained what was unacceptable, showed her a photo, I'm there trying to make a big deal out of the slant at the top and overall tacky look and she's playing dumb. Nevertheless, an order was placed and blinds were installed today.

While installing them, Assistant Maintenance Guy said, “You look like you like to clean” and proceeded to show me how the blinds easily slip on and off to clean.

I thought that a strange statement ─ “You look like you like to clean” and made me wonder if it was indicative of his having walked into less than stellar conditions in other units.

Say Hello to My Little Friend

Except for one or two or three little hiccups, the week has been peaceful around here at the senior complex.

One hiccup being hearing sky rockets, cherry bombs, roman candles, and I don’t know what else, going off all day … every single day.

Because we’re in the hot zone, fireworks are illegal, but that’s not stopping whoever.

Attached to the July Calendar was a note ... "If you are aware of someone selling or using illegal fireworks, please call the police department."

A lot of good that’ll do. Besides, though it sounds like the fireworks are going off here, right under our feet, we can’t pinpoint where coming from.

Hopefully, we can get through the 4th without a blaze.

Another hiccup was the resident who decided to begin laundry at 11 p.m. Wednesday night, just as I was falling asleep.

Sounds coming from the laundry room had me tossing/turning. I did, however, fall asleep ... eventually, only to be periodically awakened by the sound of water gushing into the washer, items rolling around in the dryer, until 3:00 am! That's a lot of laundry.

It's only after hours, when we can hear the doors of washers/dryers being opened closed and the other sounds, because sounds are amplified by the quiet at night.

Last hiccup was the resident who decided to do laundry at 4:00 this morning.

Try as I might, I could not fall back asleep, so I got up and started my day early ... very tempted to get dressed, put on makeup, go downstairs, snap of photo of the culprit and turn him/her into the office. Makeup because, of course, I wasn't going to be seen not totally put together.

It may eventually come to my taking the initiative, because I’ve had about enough of the rule breakers. I think, however, others in this building have already complained because, also attached to the July Calendar, was a notice reiterating that “Laundry hours are from 7 am to 10 pm ... Respect Your Neighbors”.

Either the rule breakers can’t read or, I know it's hard to believe, but there are people in this world that just don’t care about disturbing or inconveniencing others.

So, other than those hiccups, it’s been smooth sailing.

Still no sign of The Seer or Shadow, but I spotted the other Nancy, the one who’s not dead, pushing her walker away from the area where Shadow lives.

Not dead Nancy being on a walker is new. Younger and healthy looking, she all of a sudden came up with balance problems. But that’s what happens when residents sit all day, never walk any further than from their unit to the Community Room.

It’s also happened with one of the guys who regularly attends events. A big friendly guy, also healthy looking, no activity other than walking to the Community Room, driving to the Casino. I see he’s now using a cane.

As I watch neighbors deteriorate, I'm so happy to have gotten off the couch shortly after moving here in 2012, observing neighbors deteriorating even then, seeing signs of my own body deteriorating, saying to myself, "I'm not going out that way",  forcing myself off the couch, started walking, graduated into doing 5Ks. Happier still to have been led to Trainer, who’s helping me build on strength, stamina and balance.

The July calendar only shows one event — a 4th of July Potluck but, inasmuch as the 4th is a staff holiday, Activity Director is hosting the event on Tuesday the 2nd.

There’s no such thing as a holiday in the Pain Cave. Trainer’s client list is such that he appears to never take a day off, so I expect I’ll be working out on Thursday the 4th per usual.

No big deal, since I can’t eat hotdogs and potato salad anyway.

So though I haven’t been spending any time with the seniors, don’t know when I’ll be able to, I was passing the Community Room after Thursday’s workout, and saw my little friend was here to play Bingo with her great grandma.

Other than stopping in to give my little friend a hug, that’s the closest I’ve been to socializing with the seniors since Apache’s party.

The Baker's Great Granddaughter and My favorite young person

Her great grandma took the photo. Great grandpa designed the frame.

Burnt Bridges

I’ve been busy with working out, cooking against my will (trying out recipes that won’t upset my gut), and needlepoint. My schedule is free of reading material, as I've nothing new to read since finishing up Vicky Ward’s book.

Finished It

Such a sad pathetic family No 45 has.

They have money, power, some not all have looks, but all are so warped, damaged by greed that I feel pity, rather than disgust.

At any rate, my favorite author Walter Mosley had two new books come out while I was reading Kushner Inc. and these other three ....

Finished 'Em

But, what with my other activities, I’ve not the time for catching up with Mosley’s books right now.

Except for Friday when, after that trip to the desolate looking senior center, I returned home and jumped directly on the indoor bike and did six miles, I let Trainer and myself down remainder of the weekend.

The fitbit, on days not with him, generally register some activity, at least 55 – 60%, but I didn’t do any moving on Saturday. Just sat on the couch thinking/meditating, staring out the patio window into space, occasionally seeing residents go here/there/up/down the pathway.

Sunday was more of the same ─ thinking, meditating, staring into space, glimpses of seniors, except I did put the fitbit on and managed to register 32% puttering around in the unit.

During my sabbatical from activity, I heard sirens approaching and seem to stop out front.

That happens so often with the old people suffering falls, heat exhaustion, death, that I no longer head outside to see who/what. It’s sad to say, but I’ve become desensitized. I never left my perch on the couch.

Then, on Sunday, seeing residents walk down the pathway obviously, from how dressed, heading off to church, it occurred to me .... I haven’t seen The Seer or Shadow on the pathway. In fact, I’ve not seen either of then since Apache’s birthday when they gave him the unwrapped gift of a watch.

Not seeing either of them is a pretty big deal because, regular as clockwork, Shadow was on the pathway, coffee cup in hand, heading to The Seer’s unit for breakfast. Along about noon, you’d see the two of them heading for his unit and/or off somewhere for lunch/an excursion. On Sundays, it was off to church for the two of them.

So thick were they that I’d prophesized a wedding in their future.

And seeing their comings/goings on the path, it’s not that I’m spying on them. More like they put themselves in my line of vision when I’m staring off into space, looking at nothing.

At any rate, I’ll have to catch up with Apache, ask what’s happened to them, do they even still live here, thought I.

During this morning’s training session, Trainer said, “There was some trouble at your building on Saturday”.

Don’t know if he was driving by and spotted police and fire rescue, or saw from his studio, but I admitted hearing the commotion but that I was too desensitized to go outside and check on who/what, but guessed it was probably a death.

It was.

Immediately after working out, I’d popped into the market and who did I see but my buddy Apache.

He tells me the death was a woman who lived on the opposite side of the complex. Long time readers might recall her as the Woman Who Runs into Things ─ she backed into the decorative median in front of the complex, ran over the flowers, backed into and bent the tree, then almost hit the back end of a car she was following through the gate.

Her car has all kinds of dents and dings from other things she’s obviously hit, all of which is how she’s been tagged with the name Nancy The One Who Runs into Things (NWRiT), in order to distinguish her from the other Nancy we have 0n the property.

NWRiT was found deceased fairly quickly by a neighbor who’d heard noise in her unit, described as bumps and banging around.

Accustomed to Nancy running into things, inside and outside, the neighbor didn’t check right away but said, a little while later, something told her to. The door to Nancy’s unit is always unlocked, so the neighbor went in, found her sprawled out in the front room, called authorities.

NWRiT was lucky to have been checked on and handled so quickly.

When I asked Apache if The Seer and Shadow still live here, the answer was yes, but Shadow is no longer attending church with Seer, no longer even driving The Seer to church. Neither ever comes to Bingo now, and Shadow no longer comes to the game room to shoot pool with the guys.

I haven't even seen him outside smoking", as is his habit, said I.

"He's in his unit drinking", said Apache.

It appears both are keeping a low profile.

Awkward!

Whatever happened between the two, I imagine The Seer is embarrassed because she got on her high horse at landing a man, angry and defensive because she'd settled on a man who made her look desperate to be in a relationship, and burned so many bridges.

And this explains why, on Sunday, I saw the other Nancy on that walkway.

What’s she up to; she’s never down this way was my immediate thought, as I saw her pushing her walker on the path.

Dollars to donuts, it’s because Shadow lives down that way.

She’d pressed up on him when he first moved in, but had come on so strong that she scared him away and into the arms of The Seer. I wouldn’t put it past him to be more amenable now, making it even more awkward for The Seer.

Looks like the beginning of an interesting soap opera.

Right Time Wrong Place

I could have sworn the online version of that Jazzercise Lo class indicated sessions were on Wednesdays. However, when I showed up at the senior center to spy on the class, to see if I was up to the challenge, I looked through the window and saw tap dancing in session.

Checking with the receptionist, I learned jazzercise is on Tuesdays.

Tuesdays are already booked with Trainer so, checking into the multitude of other classes offered, I saw the only other thing available during the days I’m looking to fill, at a time not too early or too late for my taste, was Thai Chi.

I have no interest in Thai Chi ─ too slow. I’d fall asleep standing up, so I took a look at the listings being offered by the senior center closer in, the center some of the residents frequent.

In fact, this is the center that group of ladies led by Greedy Grabby attended. That is, until they were caught taking coffee from the storage area and got themselves banned.

At any rate, I saw Zumba Gold was being offered on Fridays, at a reasonable hour, so off I went to give it a go this morning.

Even though the drive was short, it led me into a somewhat dark, gloomy, desolate looking part of town.

That was the first sign to turn back.

The second sign was when the GPS said I had arrived, but the signage indicated State Hospital ... not just A hospital but A forensic hospital, a hospital known to be for the criminally insane.

Again, a point where the universe was indicating make a U-turn, head back but, seeing a tiny little building with letters that said "senior center", I pulled into the parking lot.

From the vantage point of the parking lot, I could see the tiny little senior center was in the corner of an area alongside a building labeled Department of Corrections and a huge facility, which is the state hospital.

What were they thinking ... the folks that put the center in that location?

It was depressing to see. Everything looked old, scary, like the kind of buildings one sees in AMC’s The Walking Dead.

Not only did I still not turn around, I parked, got out of the car, took photos.

I began thinking that if someone from the Department of Corrections or the State Hospital saw me taking photos, I might be shot for their thinking I was planning to escape someone AND, after taking photos and not getting shot, I entered the building marked senior center.

It was crowded inside, and even more depressing than the outside.

Crowded only because the room where the old folks congregated was so tiny.

The place was night and day insofar as the senior center I’d gone to on Wednesday.

That first center had tons of rooms, different activities in each, a gift shop, computer room, even a coffee shop/cafeteria, grass, flowers, trees, a picnic area outside, and the people coming and going appeared to be well-kept looking seniors.

Everything in this second center went along with the old, scary, Walking Dead theme. It was tiny inside, only the one community room with rows of bench like tables, old people in wooden chairs crammed at each table, no room to move, no room to breathe. There was only one exercise room ─ no window to peek inside, just an old wooden door that looked straight outta the Walking Dead and should have been labeled “Don't Enter, Dead Inside”. The people in this center were ancient looking, and the place had that old house smell of mold and mildew.

In speaking with the woman leading the Zumba class, due to begin 15 minutes after I arrived, even though she indicated she was trained, even looking forward to attending an upcoming Zumba convention in Florida, I just couldn’t picture her as the instructor because her physic was the opposite of what one would imagine.

Did I turn around then?

No. I signed up for the class.

However, before the now 10-minute wait was up, what I was seeing became so depressing, the smell so overpowering, that I got a headache, went outside for fresh air, decided I couldn’t handle the place, the area, those seniors, got in the car and finally headed home.

Wasn’t the place for me.

I’m not that kinda old.

Covert Reconnaissance

Needing an activity, other than indoor biking or walking, for the days not with Trainer, I’ve been looking around and learned last week that the senior center is offering Jazzercise Lo.

I always wanted to try jazzercise, but that was years ago. Focusing on raising my twins and other life priorities got in the way and I never had the time to do the things I wanted to do.

Now that I’ve got the time, even though I’m stronger and more energetic due to pain cave training, I’m not sure my stamina is up to jazzercise. So tomorrow I’m taking a drive over to the center to spy on the class now in session.

If it looks like something I can handle, I’ll sign up for the July session.

Walking into the pain cave this morning, I was a little apprehensive that I’d be facing a disappointed and accusatory Trainer — disappointed at wasting $5.00 on those scratch off tickets and accusatory that I was the author of that. On top of which, I’d ruined the circus for him.

Thank goodness the news was good. He hit on all five scratch offs, turning $5.00 into $21.

I jokingly said, “Okay, let’s see … ten percent of twenty-one is?"

He laughed and said he told his wife, “This is what we’re going to do. We’re $16 ahead, so we’ll take that and buy more tickets. When we win on those, we’ll turn that over into more tickets.”

“Don’t get too carried away”, said I.

“I can quit whenever I want”, says he.

LOL.

And it’s not just him bitten by the gambling bug, it’s his wife as well.

She asked him, “Who sold you the tickets?” And when he said it was the liquor store owner’s wife, his wife said, “Only buy tickets when she’s on the counter”.

I’m assuming Trainer's wife feels the store owner’s wife is their lucky charm.

We’ll see how it goes.

As for ruining the circus, when Trainer on Monday excitedly said he had plans to go to the circus for the first time in his life, my reaction was to say it would break his heart.

“Why?” asked he.

It was a lengthy back and forth conversation, as I was working with equipment, the gist of which is that it will make him sad because he’ll see the pain in the eyes of the animals, meant to be free and roaming, being in cages, treated as toys, entertainment, slaves. And to his saying the animals are accustomed to it, don’t know any different, I’d said there is something inside that, no matter what the world and others try to make you become, you know it’s not right, it’s not who you are or what you are to be doing, and that is why the animals sometime go crazy and attack.

It was a deep conversation at the end of which Trainer said he saw my point and that I’d ruined the circus for him.

Sorry, not sorry, but I'm glad winning on those scratch offs made him forget my ruining his excitement about the circus.