Looking back over the past several weeks, it’s hard to believe I actually purged, packed, and cleaned all that I did. But I did, and yes, I’m tired. I’m catching up with naps.
Since my apartment won’t be available until August 1, I’ve temporarily set up camp in an extended stay hotel where I’ll be foraging among bags, plastic containers, and suitcases for this and that. This month will also give me time to learn about the Middleton/Madison area, become familiar with streets I’ll be using, and spending time with Cousin Bob.
It took the two guys a couple hours to load the truck, but when they first walked into the duplex, they were delighted to see everything packed so well.
Truck arrival
The two men assigned to my move were Nik and Will, young men working as movers during a very hot summer. They were a delight.
Nik – the lead mover, driver, master of multiple copies of multiple forms, lover of up beat music, and wearer of black nail polish on his left hand. I forgot to ask if he is a musician.
Will – college wrestling athlete, majoring in philosophy another interesting area I forgot. Shared a lot about his life when we had down time requiring a wait. Has a girlfriend. Sorry about the closed eye photo, Will.
These two fellas worked tirelessly and efficiently. My few items of furniture were carefully wrapped, and items were placed in the truck in a very organized and logical manner. Everything made it to the storage place without incident.
Like me, they were impressed with the lush, rolling landscape of the south central Wisconsin area.
Sixteen-year-old Cinnamon…always ready for a car ride. Little did he know….
“Ussie” Photos
I learned the other day from pal Patti that when cell phone photos are taken of oneself with another, such photos are referred to as “ussies” instead of “selfies.” Right. What do I know? Unfortunately, due to various constraints, I wasn’t able to get ussies of all my pals before relocating to Wisconsin. Will make an effort to get more when I go back down to Columbia MO for a visit this fall before I’m locked in with a Wisconsin winter.
Warning: These are unedited photos where cell phone technology captures all the marvels of aging, creping skin which others and I fret over. We suffer from looking one age, but feeling twenty, maybe thirty years younger. And I know we are not alone.
I asked the waiter to take a family photo during a recent brunch outing. The camera angle makes all the young people look a lot larger than they really are. Honest!! I’ve apologized. From left: son-in-law Paul, granddaughter Laura, Paul’s mother and my gal pal, Kathy, me, granddaughter Kaylin, son, Adam, and stepdaughter, Caryn.
Kaylin and I sported sun hats during a recent walk.
With Gal Pal and dear friend, Bonnie M.
Susan stopped by just before the moving truck arrived. She brought two yummy cookies from Uprise Bakery for me to much on during the trip.
Took this photo when I stopped by Susan’s to bring a houseplant she agreed to inherit. She went with me to Middleton WI in early May to apartment hunt.
Patti and I have been friends since the early 80s. Oh, the stories we could tell!! She plans to come for a visit in early August and help me unpack/organize what I have left to do. Of course, we’ll mostly do tourist stuff.
Gal pal, Gail, who was an important role model for me during the years I managed my Mom’s care.
A bit of a fuzzy “ussie” photo with gal pal Lynette, fellow gardener, funniest gal of my gal pal group, and reassuring confident who also managed the care of elderly parents and lived to tell about it.
Neighbor Debbi who, with her husband, is becoming a serious gardener. I was happy to have them adopt a lot of perennials I had planted. Very thoughtful neighbors who are always ready and willing to help.
Missing are photos of other important Columbia MO pals: Neveda, Betsy, Mary Kaye, Bonnie H, Pam, new neighbor, Marcia. I’ll attempt to get “ussies” with them when I visit and then add them below.
My son, Adam, made sure that granddaughter Kaylin and I had a few overnight visits before I left Columbia. We had a lot of fun drawing on the driveway with chalk. Unfortunately, the frequent heavy rains washed everything away so quickly. But not the above inscription. I wrote our names and then Kaylin ordered the tracing of hands. It’s a photo with lots of special Kaylin memories.
This blog was originally titled "Drifting Toward Planet Elderly," and it shared a journey I had with my elderly parents as they both finished their lives battling the complexities of dementia. After both passed on, I changed the title to "Living on Planet Elderly." I am a retiree who is reluctantly adjusting to the reality that she is now elderly. In July of 2021, I relocated to Middleton WI after living in Columbia MO for over 40 years. I decided that I want to experience a new and vibrant location in a cooler climate with lakes...a bucket list item of mine. I have a first cousin who lives in Madison. We have nice childhood memories, and I thought it would be wonderful to spend some time together as elders. It was. AND THEN....in March 2023, I returned to Columbia. I had a wonderful time experiencing the Madison area of Wisconsin, spending time with my cousin, and making some wonderful friends. No regrets.
Thanks Elly. The adventure will unfold slowly since I have to spend the first month at an extended stay hotel. The good news is that after 48 hours, I know for sure that I could never live in a tiny
house.
Living on Planet Elderly 
Wonderful set of pictures to accompany your steps toward leaving on your next adventure. Best wishes, Jenny.
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Thanks Elly. The adventure will unfold slowly since I have to spend the first month at an extended stay hotel. The good news is that after 48 hours, I know for sure that I could never live in a tiny
house.
LikeLike