Yesterday was Easter Sunday. It also was a sunny, warm day. My spouse remains sick, so we could not do anything together. I really miss having his help, especially with physical labor and painting. Of all the trades, I like painting least of all. But my spouse can barely get between the bedroom and the chair where he sits most of the day in our family room, so there was no way that he could help me with some painting that had to be done.

I also do not follow any organized religion, so there was no reason to go to a church. Working full time during the week leaves me very little time on weekends to get things done. So yesterday was not a holiday — it was a full-on work day.

I pulled on my work boots and…
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Back in the olden days when my spouse and I grew up, it was common for people to buy a car, drive it for two to four years, then trade it in for a newer model. Cars back then held much more value than they do today, and trade-ins were commonplace, as well as paying cash for the difference in price of a new car.

The thought of a trade-in applies in a way to me, personally.

For years, whenever I did something dumb and noticed that my spouse would roll his eyes, I would turn to him and say, deadpan, “Time to trade me in for a newer model?”

My spouse would smile, laugh, and say,
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A whopping seven inches (18cm) of snow was enough to shut down the entire DC Metro area yesterday, including all school districts as well as the Federal Government. This was the tenth “snow day” for our local school district.

What did I do on St.-Paddy’s Day-Snow Day?
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This has been a winter that won’t quit. It has been trying to quit, but refuses to do so.

Three weeks ago, 60F (15.5C). I rode my Harley. Followed by 12 inches (30cm) of snow a few days later. Then one week ago, 62F (16C). I rode my Harley. It remained pleasant enough so that I could ride my Harley to work for two more days. Followed by the coldest windiest day this entire winter with wind speeds in excess of 50mph (80kph) with air temps at 10F (-12C) making the wind chill (“feels like”) temperature at -12F (-17C).

Then yesterday, it reached a balmy 65F (18C)! What did I do?
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I have failed. I have tried for decades to convince the PTB* to exchange the work week with the weekend. That is, give us five days for the weekend and two days for the work week (and, of course, be paid the same pay for two eight-hour days as I earn for five.) LOL, hasn’t worked yet.)

This past weekend was no exception to the “crammed” but productive life I lead.
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I was asked by a blog follower to comment on aging alone. As many readers of this blog know, I look after a rather large cadre of older people who I call my “senior pals.” These people are neighbors and friends of my family, then friends of theirs, then friends of friends of friends… my senior network has grown over time — mostly because I cannot say “no” to a kind face and warm heart.

But this post is not about me or what I do to volunteer my time outside of work. It is about the issue of how older people deal with aging alone.
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