We received some sad news today - our neighbors have decided they are getting a little too old to remain in their home and have just put it on the market. He had knee-replacement surgery last year and though the rehabilitation was long he did amazingly well. He had his second knee replaced fairly recently and this time his adjustment isn't going as well. He thinks the first one went well because he had one "natural" knee but now with two artificial knees he doesn't feel he can handle all a home demands. They are looking into a retirement community or assisted living arrangement. Real estate is very slow in this area and we're hoping that this gives them a little more time to adjust to the new knees and perhaps change their plans. They have had a gardener and cleaning couple for years and two of their three children live near enough to help out on an as-needed basis. I hope they don't move. Also they really aren't that much older than we are and frankly it scares me to think of the day we won't be able to stay in our home. My 87-year old aunt is still living alone in her home. Not that she wants to die but she says when her time comes she hopes she's still at home, working in her kitchen. Me too.The L.A. Times had a wonderful story in today's paper about the wedding of two 95-year olds. Both had been married to their prior partners for 60+ years and known each other casually from church and around town. When their spouses died, each had purchased a home in a retirement community. They began spending time together and started dating. He proposed on their first date which, "scared the bejusus" out of her. Eventually she accepted his proposal after conferring with her family. Both families gave their blessing and 200 family and friends attended the wedding. She said he spoiled her and even told her she deserved a man with hair - he's nearly bald. It was such a cute story. Nice to know that even if the knees go, love doesn't.
4 comments:
Sounds like old age has it's pluses and it's minuses. As long as we are healthy all is ok. We hope to stay at home until we move to that room God has prepared for us. If that doesn't work out we have long-term health insurance.
I love stories of new love found in old age.
Mom - you're right. Pluses and minuses. Maybe I'm just feeling a little more vulnerable re age as I approach my birthday. I love that a person's ability to love doesn't goes away.
Steve and I have talked about our ability to stay in our 17 steps up under used home......Steve will never leave. I'd leave in a heartbeat if he wasn't here. I would like smaller, he likes bigger, I woiuld like a neighbor that might hear me if I yelled, he would like to be further away from our 10 acres away neighbors.....only time will tell. Marriage at 95...now that's having an optomistic look to the future!
Rosemary - our house is "cozy" which means small enough for each of us to stay here if something happend to the other. We've considered moving to country-type places (which I think Fred would love) but I'm a city mouse.
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