Today friend Kirsten took me shopping for some clothes for the Kentucky trip in August. The plan was to go to Macy's ( I had lots of coupons, a gift card and they had a huge sale), next to The Nordstrom Rack for shoes, and then go to lunch. My knee was still was acting up, but I was managing to walk fairly well.
Kirsten ran all over the store pulling outfits for me to try on. I was always about 20 feet behind her. She knows me well and picked some neat things. Then I tried them on and picked what I wanted to keep. Trying on clothes takes a lot of energy. I loved what we had found, paid for them and then we were off to the hat department. My hats are really winter hats. I need a lighter weight.
Well, the escalator and the elevator were out of order. We had walked to hell and gone to get to the elevator and I was pooped. Mother Hen, Kirsten cornered a clerk and explained the Disability Act to her. The clerk took us through the back of the store and took us down on the freight elevator. Then we walked twice as far to get out on the sales' floor. I was wearing down fast. Kirsten parked me in front of a mirror and brought me hats to try on. I was getting light headed and nauseated.
We paid and headed to the door. I was really having trouble, I was scared and pretty sure I was going to pass out. Kirsten leaned me against the handicapped door and went for the car. I hung on to the wall until she pulled up. She poured me into her car and took me home. No lunch out.
I haven't felt that shaky since an A-Fib attack in December. But I wasn't in A-fib. I had just over done it. Way too much walking that I had thought I could do. I have rested, napped, and pretty much done nothing all afternoon.
A hard shopping trip. But worth it, I look great in the outfits and new hats, I will listen to my body sooner next shopping trip. Yes, Kirsten another shopping trip. We never got to the Rack.
Showing posts with label Kentucky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kentucky. Show all posts
Monday, July 20, 2015
Monday, November 17, 2014
Great Surprise
Late yesterday afternoon I received a nice surprise. Marty's phone rang and it had a number and Corbin, KY. (my home town) I figured it was a high school friend. WRONG. It was my Big Boy Cousin, Ernest Triplett.
Now to explain Big Boy. Ernest was 16 when I was born. I only knew him as a grown up. I only had 3 or 4 cousins my age. Most of the Daddy's were gone fighting WWII. Ernest is a true Triplett: charming, good looking, great hair, never met a stranger. He will tell you stories about Kentucky, entertain you and sell you half the merchandise in his store at the same time. Tripletts are great at retail.
He and my mother (Aunt Anna) were good friends. He told me last night that talking to me was like talking to his Aunt Anna, that I sound just like her. Ernest told me about a family feud that just maybe my mother caused. Mother kept someone from being buried in the family plot and the offended family member cut all Tripletts out of his life. I found this really interesting, Mother was a Triplett by marriage. How did she have such power? And why? When I feel better maybe I will get all the details.
He gave me lots of information about the names the Triplett men were given for generations: Henry, William, Hall, Napoleon.
Ernest called to tell me he loves me and to give some cancer advice. His first wife beat cancer for 15 years and then lost the second battle. He talked about Marty needing to take care of himself. And then he said if you lose your hair, don't wear a hat or a scarf. Get several wigs and have fun. Also he said people look at you differently if it is evident you have lost your hair. They know you are sick. Fancy wigs, they talk about how great your hair looks. Interesting observance.
Now to explain Big Boy. Ernest was 16 when I was born. I only knew him as a grown up. I only had 3 or 4 cousins my age. Most of the Daddy's were gone fighting WWII. Ernest is a true Triplett: charming, good looking, great hair, never met a stranger. He will tell you stories about Kentucky, entertain you and sell you half the merchandise in his store at the same time. Tripletts are great at retail.
He and my mother (Aunt Anna) were good friends. He told me last night that talking to me was like talking to his Aunt Anna, that I sound just like her. Ernest told me about a family feud that just maybe my mother caused. Mother kept someone from being buried in the family plot and the offended family member cut all Tripletts out of his life. I found this really interesting, Mother was a Triplett by marriage. How did she have such power? And why? When I feel better maybe I will get all the details.
He gave me lots of information about the names the Triplett men were given for generations: Henry, William, Hall, Napoleon.
Ernest called to tell me he loves me and to give some cancer advice. His first wife beat cancer for 15 years and then lost the second battle. He talked about Marty needing to take care of himself. And then he said if you lose your hair, don't wear a hat or a scarf. Get several wigs and have fun. Also he said people look at you differently if it is evident you have lost your hair. They know you are sick. Fancy wigs, they talk about how great your hair looks. Interesting observance.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Weddings, we have weddings
I had several weddings Monday morning. Some stand out, some were a blur.
My first couple were two men. They were dressed in shades of blue. Their ties were of the same material, one bow tie one regular tie. They were so thrilled and overwhelmed at being allowed to marry. We had tears and laughter. When they asked me to stand between them for pictures I could feel one groom's heart pounding. He was very emotional.
The next couple were interesting. The groom was changing clothes and took forever. While we waited I talked to the bride. She was originally from Green County, Kentucky. She talked about helping to set tobacco when only 7 years old. Then as she watched her brother cut tobacco she dreaded being old enough to do such hard labor. It was nice talking to someone whose accent was thicker than mine. I wish her luck with this marriage. She is 33 years old has an 18 year od son and this is her fourth marriage.
Another couple also had Kentucky ties. It was like old home week. The groom's father was from Owensboro, Kentucky and the witness was from Lexington, Kentucky. We all agreed the weather is so much better in the Bay Area. We also like earthquakes better than tornadoes.
I had two same sex couples who were witnessing for each other. They were friends, the women from Colorado and the men from The Bay Area. They were all older in their fifties and sixties. And so much fun. The men were terrible flirts and I loved it. Safe flirting is always fun. They declared me hot and wanted to take me home. That perked up my day.
Now for the wedding that was the talk of the day. Clerks kept coming to my desk and telling me about the bride. They were all horrified. I thought they have to be over reacting. NOPE, she was something. She almost had on bright blue hot pants. I have underpants that cover more than her hot pants. Camel toe in the front and butt cheeks hanging out. Her socks were blue and white "Where's Waldo socks" that were above the knees. She had on a headband that was a giant gold bow with sequins on it. She finished the look with a Tee Shirt and a heavy multicolored cardigan. And the bride made sure all could enjoy her body. She sat on the bench with her legs pulled to her chest. Butt cheeks everywhere.
My first couple were two men. They were dressed in shades of blue. Their ties were of the same material, one bow tie one regular tie. They were so thrilled and overwhelmed at being allowed to marry. We had tears and laughter. When they asked me to stand between them for pictures I could feel one groom's heart pounding. He was very emotional.
The next couple were interesting. The groom was changing clothes and took forever. While we waited I talked to the bride. She was originally from Green County, Kentucky. She talked about helping to set tobacco when only 7 years old. Then as she watched her brother cut tobacco she dreaded being old enough to do such hard labor. It was nice talking to someone whose accent was thicker than mine. I wish her luck with this marriage. She is 33 years old has an 18 year od son and this is her fourth marriage.
Another couple also had Kentucky ties. It was like old home week. The groom's father was from Owensboro, Kentucky and the witness was from Lexington, Kentucky. We all agreed the weather is so much better in the Bay Area. We also like earthquakes better than tornadoes.
I had two same sex couples who were witnessing for each other. They were friends, the women from Colorado and the men from The Bay Area. They were all older in their fifties and sixties. And so much fun. The men were terrible flirts and I loved it. Safe flirting is always fun. They declared me hot and wanted to take me home. That perked up my day.
Now for the wedding that was the talk of the day. Clerks kept coming to my desk and telling me about the bride. They were all horrified. I thought they have to be over reacting. NOPE, she was something. She almost had on bright blue hot pants. I have underpants that cover more than her hot pants. Camel toe in the front and butt cheeks hanging out. Her socks were blue and white "Where's Waldo socks" that were above the knees. She had on a headband that was a giant gold bow with sequins on it. She finished the look with a Tee Shirt and a heavy multicolored cardigan. And the bride made sure all could enjoy her body. She sat on the bench with her legs pulled to her chest. Butt cheeks everywhere.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Just a little info for you all
I am sure you regulars are asking where did Guest Blogger Joe vanish to? Why no wedding reports? Well, Joe sent me word why no dispatches from the Marriage Factory for the last two weeks. I believe this is a direct quote: "They were all boring." I think that translates to of the wedding ceremonies he performed none were strange, none were funny, none had wonderful shoes or outfits. Joe had high hopes for today's group of couples. I sent back word to him, if nothing is worth blogging about, make something up. Maybe he will write about some of his early weddings.
I may not have many posts the next week. My brother and his wife (these are the parents of The Colonel) arrive tomorrow morning from Louisville, Kentucky. The four of us plan to tour San Diego. We will see gardens, pandas, museums, sea views. We also plan to drink, eat, and be merry. I will try to post about our tourist stuff. But you notice I said drink, eat, and be merry. The drink and be merry part could hamper my ability to type.
I may not have many posts the next week. My brother and his wife (these are the parents of The Colonel) arrive tomorrow morning from Louisville, Kentucky. The four of us plan to tour San Diego. We will see gardens, pandas, museums, sea views. We also plan to drink, eat, and be merry. I will try to post about our tourist stuff. But you notice I said drink, eat, and be merry. The drink and be merry part could hamper my ability to type.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Louisville trips make us think: KY or CA
Some background: my family moved to Louisville while I was in college; Marty grew up just outside of Louisville; Marty and I have been transferred twice to Louisville; except for about 4 years in Louisville and Baltimore we have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1977.
After a visit home we feel unsettled. Should we move back? Where is the best place for us to grow old, or truthfully older?
When we go back to Louisville I get house envy. My brother and his wife live in a gorgeous Victorian that is 6000 square feet. They paid about what we paid for 1400 square feet. We drive through Louisville and see the lush yards that are huge to go with the large beautiful homes. We visit friends and their homes inside and out are examples of gracious Southern living. Here there aren't big yards: little water and crowded subdivisions.
Then I think, they have to heat and cool those big homes. I rarely have to use the AC and the furnace is used mainly for a couple of hours in the morning and three or four hours at night. Our climate is very gentle compared to Kentucky. Cutting grass, been there done that. Not a favorite activity.
We have close friends and family in Louisville. We miss them greatly between visits. In California we have friends that have become our family. Plus our son and his wife live 15 minutes from us.
Medical coveragae at our age is a huge issue. We have Kaiser, the bench mark for health care in America. How could we give up that?
There are other issues to think about re Kentucky. Marty building a client base in Kentucky, no farmer's market in winter, having to buy winter clothes, would memories and vacations be true to what daily life would be? Lots more things to consider. We do this every trip back. I am pretty sure once again we will make the same decision, California remains home.
After a visit home we feel unsettled. Should we move back? Where is the best place for us to grow old, or truthfully older?
When we go back to Louisville I get house envy. My brother and his wife live in a gorgeous Victorian that is 6000 square feet. They paid about what we paid for 1400 square feet. We drive through Louisville and see the lush yards that are huge to go with the large beautiful homes. We visit friends and their homes inside and out are examples of gracious Southern living. Here there aren't big yards: little water and crowded subdivisions.
Then I think, they have to heat and cool those big homes. I rarely have to use the AC and the furnace is used mainly for a couple of hours in the morning and three or four hours at night. Our climate is very gentle compared to Kentucky. Cutting grass, been there done that. Not a favorite activity.
We have close friends and family in Louisville. We miss them greatly between visits. In California we have friends that have become our family. Plus our son and his wife live 15 minutes from us.
Medical coveragae at our age is a huge issue. We have Kaiser, the bench mark for health care in America. How could we give up that?
There are other issues to think about re Kentucky. Marty building a client base in Kentucky, no farmer's market in winter, having to buy winter clothes, would memories and vacations be true to what daily life would be? Lots more things to consider. We do this every trip back. I am pretty sure once again we will make the same decision, California remains home.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
My Mother and her driver's license
When I called my Mother in Kentucky a couple of weeks ago, I asked her what she would be doing that week. Monday she had a doctor's appointment, Friday she would get her hair done and go to lunch. Oh, on Tuesday she was going to the county seat to renew her driver's license. (In KY you can only renew your license in person, unless you are in the military) I was stunned I had no idea she still had a license. My Mother will be 94 tomorrow. She is active, she is sharp as a tack, she works cross word puzzles every day. But driving???
She can not walk far and uses a wheel chair when they go out. She doesn't roll it, someone pushes it for her. I asked why she was getting a license and not a Kentucky ID. "There might be an emergency and I would need to drive." I asked if she had to take a test: driving, written, eye. "They never have had me take one before." So this week I asked if she got her license. Yes indeedy. No test taken. All she had to do was sit down and have her picture taken, and off they went with the license.
In Kentucky you evidently only take a test once and you can drive forever. Kentucky and much of the country did not require a driver's examination/license until the late 1930s. Mother drove for several years with no license. She told me when she got her first driver's license, my Daddy went down to the county seat and picked it up for her. She never took a driver's test for the state of Kentucky. When we lived in Colorado in the late 1940s she did take a test for a license there.
One quick story of her driving pre- license. While in college her boyfriend from home (not my Daddy) drove up to visit her. There was a big snow storm and he couldn't drive home. Remember this is the 1930s in the mountains of Kentucky. The roads were two lane and had lots of twisty dangerous curves. Her boyfriend had to go to work the next morning, so he rode the train home. Mother was to drive his car home the next weekend. Her best friend, Prissy, and she drove home the next weekend. Mother drove until they would reach a town. She would stop and Prissy would drive through the town. Then Mother would again take over and drive. They drove like that for 75 miles. Why you ask? Mother had only driven on highways with her boyfriend's arm around her helping her to steer. She was afraid of pedestrians and oncoming cars. Prissy was much more experienced at driving.
I am sure you are now wondering why Prissy didn't just drive all the time. Mother's boy friend did not like Prissy and did not want her driving his car. Mother never told him Prissy helped drive home.
She can not walk far and uses a wheel chair when they go out. She doesn't roll it, someone pushes it for her. I asked why she was getting a license and not a Kentucky ID. "There might be an emergency and I would need to drive." I asked if she had to take a test: driving, written, eye. "They never have had me take one before." So this week I asked if she got her license. Yes indeedy. No test taken. All she had to do was sit down and have her picture taken, and off they went with the license.
In Kentucky you evidently only take a test once and you can drive forever. Kentucky and much of the country did not require a driver's examination/license until the late 1930s. Mother drove for several years with no license. She told me when she got her first driver's license, my Daddy went down to the county seat and picked it up for her. She never took a driver's test for the state of Kentucky. When we lived in Colorado in the late 1940s she did take a test for a license there.
One quick story of her driving pre- license. While in college her boyfriend from home (not my Daddy) drove up to visit her. There was a big snow storm and he couldn't drive home. Remember this is the 1930s in the mountains of Kentucky. The roads were two lane and had lots of twisty dangerous curves. Her boyfriend had to go to work the next morning, so he rode the train home. Mother was to drive his car home the next weekend. Her best friend, Prissy, and she drove home the next weekend. Mother drove until they would reach a town. She would stop and Prissy would drive through the town. Then Mother would again take over and drive. They drove like that for 75 miles. Why you ask? Mother had only driven on highways with her boyfriend's arm around her helping her to steer. She was afraid of pedestrians and oncoming cars. Prissy was much more experienced at driving.
I am sure you are now wondering why Prissy didn't just drive all the time. Mother's boy friend did not like Prissy and did not want her driving his car. Mother never told him Prissy helped drive home.
Monday, June 1, 2009
KENTUCKY IS SO SEDUCTIVE
Kentucky is so lush. Green thick grass, beautiful trees, flowers everywhere. We were driving through the middle of Louisville today. We were on I 64 going to a friend's. No where could you see anything but Mother Nature: incredible views of cliffs, green vines, trees and no houses. Yet we knew the houses were just through the trees.
Then we exited onto a street. The houses are set back 250 feet. Lush yards, houses are pristine and cheap compared to California prices. I have house envy. I have always loved the neighborhood we are driving through. Trees are huge and shade the old houses and the road. It is green, green, green.
Louisville has theater, ballet, concerts, sports of all kinds, and finally some really great restaurants. We can live here so much cheaper and have a great life. I mention that to Marty.
We are at Ronald's. I open the car door. Oh, right this is why we don't live here. It is 94 degrees and who knows how high the humidity is. My hair gets bigger, my clothes are sticking to me, I feel sticky.
I was almost seduced to come back.
Then we exited onto a street. The houses are set back 250 feet. Lush yards, houses are pristine and cheap compared to California prices. I have house envy. I have always loved the neighborhood we are driving through. Trees are huge and shade the old houses and the road. It is green, green, green.
Louisville has theater, ballet, concerts, sports of all kinds, and finally some really great restaurants. We can live here so much cheaper and have a great life. I mention that to Marty.
We are at Ronald's. I open the car door. Oh, right this is why we don't live here. It is 94 degrees and who knows how high the humidity is. My hair gets bigger, my clothes are sticking to me, I feel sticky.
I was almost seduced to come back.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
NEED GOOD THOUGHTS
We are taking a trip tomorrow. And this will involve an airplane. I hate flying, I fear flying, I don't want to do this. As we found out last week, my pills do not help me stay calm. So I may take the old Valium, I may just drink Bourbon or Bloody Marys.
I am an agoraphobic and flying is the major reason I did group counseling. It sort of worked. After 10 happy years of not flying, I got back on planes. Right now just thinking about tomorrow, I am sick at my stomach and tearful.
So tomorrow and the trip back June 4 will be very hard. How about some happy thoughts and prayers for me, please.
We will have limited Internet access. If possible I will blog about our trip home while in Kentucky. If that doesn't work out, I will be back June 4. When we get back I should have pix of the houses and family gatherings.
Oh, and to all you burglars: new monitored alarm, neighbors and dogs watching the house, and the moat has alligators in it.
I am an agoraphobic and flying is the major reason I did group counseling. It sort of worked. After 10 happy years of not flying, I got back on planes. Right now just thinking about tomorrow, I am sick at my stomach and tearful.
So tomorrow and the trip back June 4 will be very hard. How about some happy thoughts and prayers for me, please.
We will have limited Internet access. If possible I will blog about our trip home while in Kentucky. If that doesn't work out, I will be back June 4. When we get back I should have pix of the houses and family gatherings.
Oh, and to all you burglars: new monitored alarm, neighbors and dogs watching the house, and the moat has alligators in it.
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