The Aftermath

The rains purified our air but left our cars saturated all the way down soaking the carpeting with layers of water.

If you walked on our street today, you would see car after car with open doors and trunk...and mats hanging on our fences.

We're trying to dry out.    The insurance people tell us that it will cost $2,000 to remove the seats and dry the underparts.

Now my dilemma is my car is 14 years old.   Should I fix what I have or should I lease a car.

I'm getting much older and probably won't be driving in a couple of years.

So...advice people....help me think?????? 

Better than mounds of snow!

While the rest of our country is defrosting, we're de-flooding.   The friendly skies opened wide and torrential rains took the normal  route of gravity and released itself into pouring rain that turned into a loud thunderstorm.

While all this was happening, I pulled the covers around me in my bed  cocoon-fashion and drifted off to sleep.

Glancing out my window the following day, I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing.

A lake covering our entire cul-de-sac.  I looked at my car and most of the tires were drenched in water.

My mind found it hard to take this all in.  You could row a boat down our street.   A person could go swimming.    This could be Venice with gondolas.    Our sewer could not absorb all that water...this is Florida and we have to rely on other means.

Turning on my TV, the only programming being aired was about all the flooding and warnings to stay home.   People were using their digital cameras and sending them to the anchor people and this is the destruction that I saw.

When I used my bathroom, the water overflowed onto the floor waiting for me to sop it up.    Today the sun is shining brightly and there's a nice breeze.

The difference a day makes!

Not until early evening did I realize that our car floors were sopping wet with about 2 inches of water and the car door opener wouldn't respond.

However, I turned the engine on and lo and behold...it ran.

Today is another day and the guy who regularly cleans my car is outside now wet-vacuuming it and trying to dry it out.

I'm concerned now that it might have a mildew smell and that's almost impossible to get rid of. 

It could always be worse!

THIS IS A COMMENT

Ron Troke shared your blog post on Google+ Wow Hilda....this is an amazing story....Mother NAture really is trying our patience this year. The storms are very where even in freezing Canada. I'm Sophie Doodle's Dad and so happy to meet you. Take care...stay dry!

When in doubt...throw out!

ursday, July 17, 2008

My old telephone directory!

One of the last things I packed when we moved to Florida was the telephone book. I might need it!

Well, it's been 20 years now and my life has changed a lot and so has the info in the phone book. Two decades of decayed and yellowed pages of the people I once had daily interchange with.

Now it's a phone call and Christmas cards...and as the years melt into one another...it seems like light years away.

I believe I have grown in ways since we left. In other ways we were important people in our town especially to little boys and girls who wanted toys.

I don't need this book any longer. I can get all this information on my computer in a second.........anybody's number and address.

Progress has intervened and I just love it.

Why am I having qualms about ditching it. It's one of the last things I have left from New Kensington, Pa. other than my memories.

After my father moved to Florida, he would go over all the businesses in the downtown area...and he recalled them all. I didn't realize it then, but it was a memory test of his.

Now I find myself doing exactly the same thing....just thinking and remembering. It wasn't all that beautiful or great...but it was where I grew up...my childhood....my young married life.

Now I'm donating it to solid waste management...maybe it can be recyled into more paper...maybe it can enter this century.

I'm letting go.......

Going to Virginia with Virginia

Thoughts from Hilda

These are my thoughts, during average days of my life. They're probably not of any interest to anyone other than my dear friends, my children, my nephews, grandnephews, and other people who have passed through my life.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Virginia visits my kids with me!

When Virginia and I boarded a plane to Washington D.C., Dulles Airport, my kids and V insisted I use a wheel chair...so it was waiting for me when we passed over our boarding passes...and from then on, I was being ushered while my poor friend had to practically run to keep up...and I felt so embarrassed.   I could not get used to this at all.  I felt like I was in Atlantic City being wheeled by an elderly man in a rickshaw.

Then it's time for our security check...V wore socks so she wouldn't get germs from their floor...stupid me, I never thought of that...and besides I couldn't get through right away because I was buzzing.  Yes, I had a metal lipstick tube in my pocket.  I felt like an idiot

We arrived our usual 2 hours early and both of us started reading..but I think  our attentions were on the people who were coming and going.  No recession in this airport.  The younger folks waiting all had computers and they were busily working.   Others were texting or having breakfast.

We finally went over to Checker's and Virginia said she just had to have their french fries.  It was a different kind of meal than I would have eaten at that hour, but I ordered the same thing.   Oh were those ever delicious.  I nibbled at every crumb...I was right to follow her lead.  She said they're famous for that.   What do I know???

Bob and Arlene had taken us to the airport and schlepped our baggage out of their trunk of which I was very grateful.

Anyway, finally we boarded first because I had reserved a wheel chair and I feel like I'm cheating because I'm not really handicapped.

Right before we take off I glance over at Virginia and I notice that she's praying...and again I feel guilty, like I'm riding her shirttails...using her prayer to deliver me safely.

Her prayers were definitely answered because not only did we have a safe journey...but a very pleasant one with Jeff and Donna who met us in the airport with great big smiles and lots of hugs.

What better service...I ask you!

My little house

Sunday, October 14, 2012

When my husband Allen and I looked at this B unit in a villa, we kind of fell in love with it.    There was a loft....for escape time.

Two bathrooms which seemed an enormous luxury...one bath and two showers.   The drawers all pulled out on rollers....a dishwasher and a garbage disposal.

And in the bathroom a special fan to eliminate any unpleasant aromas.

Now we had a nice hallway that led us to our master bedroom...but along those walls,  Allen nailed pictures of our family and our lives.    When we were young...and as we grew older.

When we bought new furniture, we felt like we were on our second honeymoon, even to buying a wastebasket.    Everything was a thrill.

Allen hired a shelf maker for  our bedroom closet to put up more rods.   Now I have to call someback to lower those rods...cause I simply can't reach them.

I loved our backyard look, a stable with horses...and I can hear them whinny and naaay...and it makes me feel good...like I'm not in a large city but near the farms.

Back to my hallway, there are pictures of my Mother and my Father not together, my Father was already married to Aunt Helen, my mom's sister  My Mother died at 41 and my father waited 10 years to remarry, till both my sister and I got married.   They had a good long marriage.The people who I see when I stroll up and down my hallways are My cousin Henrietta and her husband Eddy.,my endearing Sister Elayne....and my dear Aunt Rose and my sister in law, and my mother and father in law.  Paul and Barbara's wedding pictures...also Jeff and Donna.   Lots of Allen at all ages.   And, of course, pictures of my grandnephews Eric and Ryan when they were little.   Now they're both married and I must hang up pictures of their brides.

My family....

I've made some good friends here..and my biggiest pleasure  is our swimming pool, which is also my social life.  We all have one thing in common...we're all transports from another place and another time....so we've kind of become each other's extended family.

Everyone there is happy and splashing and splishing and making their arthritis feel better.

Lots of noodles are used too....very colorful.   This is our country club.

If anyone wants to visit me, I have a loft, if you can climb the stairs.   There's a queen bed, a dresser and a chair...and a radio.

To me...this is paradise and I'm very grateful that Allen brought me here.

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There's a ps to this story.   I have trouble climbing the steps to my loft, so that is reserved for my guests.

The newest little guest Shane slept in the living room in a fold and play bed .

Just random thoughts

Do we have a gland that makes us feel enthusiastic?   I ask myself this because this part of me  seems to be out of commission.

I felt bubbly a few weeks ago  when baby Shane and his mother and father were here, and then it kind of did a disappearing act.

So...I gotta activate it...and I'll do it right now and here writing this blog.

I'm in my own little home, boss of my own domain.   I'm able to pay all my bills without fretting and saying oy vey.

I don't flinch in a restaurant when my friends order much more than me...I'm the one who argues that we have to split the bill.   And I'm always anxious to leave a nice tip.

After having read the book Nickel and Dimed, I learned much about living lean.   I'm not wealthy by any means...but I'm old and the years will probably run out before my money.

And should I run out, I'll just have to go to the poorhouse where Charles Dicken's wrote about.

I think what I really need is a 'pool fix'.   Haven't been swimming in a month because even in Florida we have seasons.

And I'm not complaining because the 'complaint department' is closed and locked up till the rest of the nation defrosts.

In 2 weeks I'm going on a 5 day cruise and maybe I just have to get away from the farm for awhile...talk to new people.   That I find enjoyable.

So...people...wherever you are....here I am!

Geography!

While half of our country is shivering, I have my fans spinning in my ceiling because I enjoy fresh air circulating.   How fortunate I am living in Florida, a sub-tropical zone, where it's never really bitter.

I turn on the weather channel and broadcasters in different parts of our country are explaining in great detail how it's even going to get colder.  They're dressed for really cold..cold..with knitted caps, scarves, and gloves.

Some of the newscasters like to look like they can brave this weather, so they come dressed just in an overcoat or jacket...but I just know they're shivering as they're speaking.

I have nothing in the world to complain about, no slush, no ice, no cold !

  The sun is shining brightly, although it doesn't have a lot of strength, but just seeing it makes me happy.

I wish I could invite the world to join me here in Florida to get warm and drink some of the sweet juices from our honeybell oranges that last such a short time but does not diminish the flavor.  It takes no effort to fill a glass with minimal effort, just a delicate squeeze and you drink it down.

I like to sip mine so that I can enjoy the flavor longer.

So you all come down now...you hear!