Project Diversion

Diversion.. I need one... I was so stressed yesterday that I removed a chocolate Easter bunny from Bailee's upcoming Easter basket, ripped open the package and bit the ears right off.  They were so good, I gobbled up the rest and amazingly felt pretty good about it.  There must be something therapeutic about chocolate... at least for me:-)  The afternoon ended on a bit higher note when the director of nursing at Groton called and was truly sympathetic and seemed eager to help all she can...

                                               PROJECT  DIVERSION

We're gettin' chickens!!  A few years ago, Lee spent much of our time in Florida sitting in the backyard watching the neighbor's chickens pursue certain activities (some a little kinkier than others.) He disturbingly enjoyed it a little more than I thought was normal. He even mentioned on the way north that "we should get some chickens!" Now, I was worried! Thankfully we were still in the inaugural months of our new home and I intelligently explained why that wasn't the best idea at this stage of the game.  He agreed...or maybe he just didn't hear me !!  I've been able to stave off the poultry discussions for the past few years......until now.... We were in the HUT watching a few movies last week-end.  One of them was "Hop". A fun and entertaining movie intertwined with animation and real life actors......................and chicks!  We had a family meeting later in the day and decided maybe it was time to revisit the chicken discussion. Hey we DO live at EIEIO..and it makes perfect sense to have a chick, chick here!!!  We've had the offer of a few chicks and even a few laying hens... We decided we could convert our unused smoke house into chicken quarters. (That doesn't sound quite right...). When they're ready to leave the "house', we'll pen them across the creek.  Papa explained to Bailee that an occasional weasel or fox could inadvertently "get to" the birds and enjoy one for supper.  "That's OK Papa, that's just the circle of life!"  Excuse me, she's how old?    I heard Lee explaining to some of his male customers today that he was so old, the only way he could get chicks.....was to buy them:-)  After a laugh, one fellow explained that we'd need a rooster too.  I then explained that I was so old, the only way I could get a good..........was to buy one too!
          Stay tuned.... this should be fun fodder for some interesting, future blogs!

Grandma update

Not good...I'm going to vent a bit.. Remember the limbo?  Well that's where I am and I have a few places I'd like the pole to go!  First and foremost, government should stay out of personal decisions.  Secondly, medicare is a bureaucratic comedy act. Thirdly, when you become elderly and ill, you'd better have a damn good advocate, a million bucks, a long term care policy that cost you so much while you were paying for it that when you could do things you couldn't afford to or absolutely nothing but the clothes on your back.  Here's where "we" are today:

Mom is safety restrained and in the hospital
She is ready (yeah right) to be switched to custodial care from acute care...although she has a mystery rash covering her body, can't respond to any commands and has various infections.
There are no beds available in the nursing facility we have chosen AND if there were, it appears it's a NYS law that nursing homes cannot restrain patients and/or receive them if they need be.
There are also no beds available in the hospital's "swing bed unit" (is there a dance theme here or is it just me?) BUT as of tomorrow...she's out of acute care and into custodial care...which is NOT covered by Medicare..(Of course it's not...that's why she's ready for it)
Finally I was able to make the decision that we are at the end of our Walden Place stay:-(  I am sad.... It is a wonderful facility and she was well cared for, entertained and enriched by every single person there.  Never once did I have a concern about her well being in the past 2 years.
Now, she could lie in a bed in a hospital until.............................................! Where is the quality of life that everyone so richly deserves and has earned.....I am not ignorant, she is not destitute and still our combined hands are tied.  This is not a monetary issue BUT nursing homes are about $10K a MONTH...We all know that CNA's do the majority of the daily "work!".  They're not making that kind of money... I understand overhead...we own a business. What I don't understand is... Joe Blow is broke, may have killed someone, may have a drug problem and he needs care....The same bureaucrats who don't want Mom in a safe, care facility softly and safely held in her chair are more than happy to pay 100% of Joe Blow's care! 
Right now, I'm about as bitter as I ever remember being in the last (almost) 60 years!
I can tell you... I will go out with NOTHING! My dues have been paid and Uncle Sam or Uncle Andrew or whomever... is gonna foot the bill.  I don't know much, but I know that! :-(

Hit and Miss

I think it's going to be a spotty blog week.  It seems my plate is more than full for the next few days (weeks.)  Mom is still in the hospital in isolation......MRSA.... I tend to use 4 letter words occasionally but this is one acronym I'd be happy to never utter again.  I enjoy music, I love dancing with the stars but I hate (the) Limbo.... That's where I am right now.  When will she leave the hospital? Will she be too out of sorts to return to Walden Place? Is the next step..a nursing home?  I did much research over the past few days... After perusing too many numbers about too many places regarding too many issues, I decided that going straight to the horses' mouths was the only true evaluation of a facility.  I got the personal info I needed. I have decided on Groton Nursing Home.  I toured this morning and was pleasantly surprised.  I was so hoping not to walk into a hospital....atmosphere.... I didn't.  It was cheery, friendly, bright, upbeat and clean.  Residents were smiling, occupied, dressed and attended... Staff was welcoming and rooms were spacious and homey.  I left there breathing a sigh of relief with answers to my questions.  My only thumbs down was being met at the door by a cat... I strongly dislike cats!!! AND.. they don't have a bed available :-(  I'm hoping by the time discharge is upon us, whenever the hell that is, they'll be ready for us. 
Not exactly the best start to my birthday week but I'm hoping things will look up as the week goes on.  Jess is such a huge help and Bailee brings me joy at the end of each day... For that, I'm eternally grateful!!!!

Blood is thicker

Blood may be scientifically thicker than water*... It stops there.  Just wanted to get that out of the way this morning.
In hospital world...as good as yesterday was, today is as bad.  Jess made the visit to see Grandma this morning.... She was greeted by an empty bed as Mom had been moved to isolation due to a staph infection:-(  Grandma was anything but a happy camper today (and last night per report.)  Yelling for help, screaming that they were breaking her arms and informing them that they'd be sorry when Dad got there....Yikes:-(  No one seems to be sure why the changes from day to day... They could be a result of the infection, the medication, the change of room or merely the progression of the Alzheimer's. One day at a time I guess.  Thank heavens for Jess... She is so patient and I'm so worthless.  I guess everyone has things they do well and this is at the bottom of my list.  I can plan, arrange and organize and I guess that's my mission for now.  I'm afraid that Walden Place may not be the place for too much longer... They are not a nursing home and cannot give any medical care... also, the residents need to be mobile and calm.... None of which Mom is right now... So, my research has begun for possible changes of residence.  Not liking many ratings from places and many conflicting reviews.  I have begun my lists of pros and cons (Dad) and will take each day as it comes.  Once again... I'd rather be ready and not go than to go and not be ready!!!!
By the way... * Give me a glass of water ...any day ♥

Coding

Holy "Never a dull moment!"  Jess and I arrived at the hospital to a Code Green... Thought it was a drill but it appeared there was a tornado warning and the hospital was under the "head between the knees and kiss your ass good bye" code.  It was thankfully lifted shortly after we arrived as I knew my chances of ending up in Oz were way better than getting my head in any proximity of my ass!  Calm was returned when the Code White was given. When Mom was moved to her bed on Monday night, she hadn't been settled for more than 10 minutes when the loudspeakers were announcing a Code Blue from 3 South.... we were on 3 South!!! Seems a street clothed patient had disappeared...hmmm good start to our stay.  They found him before he escaped.  This morning,we were anticipating a possible Code Brown or Code Yellow when we arrived and Mom was undepended. Jess remedied that and all was well.  It was a good morning with a relatively good report from the Doctor.  It appears that Mom will be staying through the week-end. Believe me, she's the only one who's wants to be there. The gal in the next bed was readying to remove her own IV and leave the building, the fellow in the next room was ranting about being placed in "this institution without being consulted" and he was "getting the @#*% out whether anyone liked it or not!" Inversely, The Dr. told Mom she'd be there a few more days and she replied, "Only two?"  We left on a Code Happy!

Being Nice

Late again today:-(  Didn't sleep too well and was awakened by 4 tom turkeys 3 feet from my open bedroom window. They obviously didn't realize it was open or they'd have used their "indoor gobble."  Jess offered to go check on Mom and I caught up on a few things this morning.  Today's issue was a possible staph infection.. SH--!  The surgeon was called in to check things out.. Jess waited as long as she could (3 hrs) but had to head home to meet her daycare buddy.  Long story short, she left a message for the surgeon to call me.  I dreaded his call.. for many reasons... I was afraid he would be foreign and I wouldn't be able to understand him. I was worried that he'd be dismissive, which I could remedy face to face, and of course the obvious...that she would need to have a procedure done to drain and culture and they'd need my consent....  He called at 1 p.m. and his wonderfully, understandable, American voice was immediately apologetic that he hadn't met me personally (??)  He said he'd met many Hatfields and had we met?   He spent time with me explaining what he'd done, what to expect and asked about questions I had.  He said he hoped to meet me soon and not to fret.. she was "in pretty good shape for nearly 90!" Holy bedside manner....He was NICE!!!
I felt a little like a judge on "The Voice" listening and waiting to turn my chair.  I have a picture of him in my head and I'm interestingly anticipating meeting him tomorrow.  Most of my experiences in the medical world have not been nice.  I'm hoping to be as pleasantly surprised as I was on the phone.  It really isn't that tough to be nice.  You usually get what you give and this nice surgeon will be greeted by me with a great big helping of nice right back!

What a difference a day makes...24 little hours .........

Boy was Renee Olstead (the gal who sang this song) right on the money.  As the TV shows often scroll, "24 hours ago"............... Jess and I scooted to Cortland to take Mom to the Dr's for a sore on her leg....waited there an hour and we all decided that she should go to the ER. Mix up in transportation so we loaded her in and headed to the hospital.  No wait..in, registered, had an ER room and Dr. saw us all in about 15 minutes..... That's the end of the Good news!  There we sat (laid) for nearly 7 hours. One of the nurses mentioned that "this was not a good day to come to the ER."  Alrighty, when would be?  Because I'm sure that all heart attacks, strokes, illnesses and accidents are scheduled.  How silly of us to show up on the wrong day. Expecting to have a quick trip in and out of the Dr's office, I was totally unprepared.  I had minimal cash, no reading material, my cell phone was not charged (I had plugged it in over night but that was the only end connected (idiot), I didn't have Mom's insurance cards..(duh, on file at the Dr's) or her med list (what kind of daughter was I?).  You're getting the picture!  Now, Mom wanted nothing to do with any health care...or health care provider.  They took blood (3 vials) after Jess and 2 nurses held her down and she screamed "Help" in her outdoor concert voice.  They then returned to explain that it had hemolized (cells broke down) and they had to take 3 more vials! Jess tried to calm her and Mom's response was "Shut up!"....... I left the room!    Finally after a CT of her leg, that was NOT pretty either, and lying there 4 more hours, they brought her something to eat.  "Oh look Mom, mashed potatoes. Would you like some?"  She shook her head yes and opened wide!!  In went the spoonful of potatoes (or a close facsimile) and out she spat them....a very spontaneous critique of hospital food.  BTW, I look smashing in potatoes!  I did get her to eat all of her ice cream and drink her milk. Thank you dairy industry for identifiably packaged foods!   During this time frame, Jess had to cancel her daycare and get someone to pick up Bailee at school...of course, Papa, Grandma and Mom are the only ones on the pick up list. Finally, pick up was arranged, Bailee's teacher explained to her that it was "Ok" to go with Marcie and we found a ride back home for Jess at 3:30.  When I got home at 7:30, my FB status explained that I was home, exhausted and trying to remember the word that followed cluster.......  (Oh I knew it but I'd already uttered it so many times I would need a loan for the swear jar) Thankfully, my son... who didn't fall far from the tree... was more than happy to provide it for me in written word♥. 
Fast forward to this morning.  (24 little hours).... Arrived at the hospital and Mom was sitting in a chair, bright eyed (kind of) and bushy tailed.  She had managed to remove that pesky IV all by herself and was relatively proud.  She still rambled and made no sense (as usual) but  what most would think was a bad day..... was a wonderful day for us!  Every day is a new normal and we'd better be ready to go with the flow. (Oh yeah, that happened too!)  Dr. will keep her in till the end of the week and hopefully she'll head back home to Walden Place with a Spring in her step and a happier, healthier leg!

March Madness +

Thank goodness for March basketball.  I, like little Max from yesterday, run a little "not for profit pool" too.  I do it so it keeps me interested in all the games even if my favorite teams get blown out early. Yesterday was about as close to that as you can get without actually boarding the bus.  Only Syracuse could almost be the first # 1 seed to lose to a #16... and if it weren't for blown calls, that's exactly what would have happened.  I declared that my new favorite animal was the zebra!!! (One friend posted on FB.."OMG, you have one of those in your yard too?"  Obviously not a BB fan or at least familiar with BB jargon but she has a great sense of humor.)  Another comical pal knew my enthusiasm for the brackets and sent me this analogy. He tries to make me understand the nuances of his politics any way he can:-)
http://www.obamamadness.com/
I did enjoy it as there was also an eagle on the headline banner. BTW, one of the eagles decided to perch on my side of the road yesterday. I think he could see the game on my TV better...especially with his eagle eye.  I'm clearing a limb side seat for him tomorrow too:-)

Entrepeneurship.....in 5th grade

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/nebraska-fifth-grader-max-kohll-sent-principal-organizing-114520411.html

You go Max!  You really must check out this story.... I am a fan of sports but most of all I am a fan of kids actually thinking.  Who challenges kids to think?  .......their families and their teachers.  OK, so bracket pools and gambling in general is illegal.  So's jaywalking but everybody does it.  If I were this teacher, (and probably this is why I'm not) I would have seized the moment as a HUGE learning opportunity.  Think of all the things this "group" was learning.  They were learning computer skills, math skills, sports knowledge, geography and entrepreneurship.....Kids aren't punished for operating lemonade stands and I doubt the health inspector has been there to inspect the thermos.  Maybe the actual monetary part of the middle school madness could/should have been substituted with something a little less financial like "free time in class' or a pass on a quiz, etc, but really folks, no harm, no foul.  I dare say the teacher(s) and the staff and faculty and probably a few of the administration have filled out their own brackets.  Remember that children learn what they see....make it a great learning lesson.

Gotta run.... have to make sure all my players have their brackets in by the 11 a.m. deadline ;-)

Friends!

Having lunch today with 3 of my favorite "old" pals.  We roared, raah-ed, roomed and rallied together 40 years ago...so we should have lots to reminisce about.  Who'd have thought we'd be sharing pictures of our grand kids.....Thankfully these gals don't necessitate me wearing fancy duds or holding in my stomach... I'll just let it all hang out and enjoy the afternoon...  Sunshine, Sharons and one fun Deb thrown in for hours of lunch and laughs.... 

Lee just landed in Orlando... They left late and arrived early. If you like flying, 3 hours is way better than 23 driving.  There were several locals on the same flight.  Lee and John O'Brien were responsible for an exit row.... that's pretty scary.. a one-legged man and an alcoholic with a bad heart...I'd be sure and make them responsible for an emergency evacuation!!!! Yikes....

Another lovely upstate day... sunny, blue skies and 60's in sight!!! Have a good one:-)

Confirmation

If you didn't think it before, it's confirmed!  I'm old!  For the past several years I've commented, probably ad-nauseam, about my bird watching.  Now, I'm even looking to the skies when it's dark.  We've been watching ( I say "we" so you don't think I've totally have gone off the deep end alone) the night sky for the past several weeks. Thankfully, the absent winter has left us with clear skies on many nights.  We've always known Venus is the brightest for us due to its proximity.  But seeing Jupiter so very bright and close has been pretty cool.  While camping last fall, Aunt Joy introduced us to an app on her iPad called "Star Walk." (it's free) Ironically enough, it was masterminded through a contest offered to students by Apple. The winner just happened to be a local (Syracuse) student who at one time was taught Science by a friend who was camping with us.  The app allows the camera in your iPad or iPhone to scan the night sky and show you the constellations, planets (and identify them) and even satellite dishes and who they belong to.... It's AMAZING!!!!  The student won a prize of $50K.
So, if you're awake and interested, here's the scoop:
It's not too late to catch the spectacular Venus and Jupiter show.
The planets will appear just 3 degrees apart in the western sky tonight. The gap has been narrowing since last month.
The two planets are visible every night at twilight. Venus is brighter because of its relative closeness, compared with super-far-away Jupiter.
Even though the gap will widen, the planets will appear remarkably close all week and be easily visible the rest of this month. So says astronomer Tony Phillips, author of the spaceweather.com website. Grab a small telescope, and you can also catch Jupiter's four largest moons.

Astronomers consider it the best evening tag-up of Venus and Jupiter in years. In July, early-risers will be treated to a similar spectacle, in the eastern sky at daybreak. Phillips says throw in the crescent moon, and it "will be worth waking up for."


I have been able to use good binoculars or even the zoom on my camera.  It's worth a perch on the porch to view the amazing night sky. I can tell you that 5 year olds enjoy it as much as those in their 60's.  And hey,you never know who might be looking back :-)

"Rush" to Judgement

I like Bill Maher I probably just lost half of my readers……….Yes, he’s a self professed “potty mouth” and he makes no excuses for his verbiage. He’s like a train wreck.. you just can’t help but watch! My favorite part of his show is when the camera catches his guests trying not to laugh. He’s one funny guy!! He’s an entertainer people, he’s not a teacher or a politician….OK, and maybe I have learned a few things from him ;-( His job is to make you laugh and if you have even the tiniest funny bone, you will! Friday night he offered to explain his views on Rush Limbaugh and his latest, vociferous faux pas….. No easy task for anyone! He explained that he, in NO WAY, agreed (agrees) with Rush’s less than delicate description of Sandra Fluke and his personification that any woman who uses contraception is slutty… (Hey I know many that don’t and are!!!) But, he agrees wholeheartedly that he, as an American, has the right to open his big, fat mouth and say it! (Another of my favorite quotes: "I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it.") I mean geeze, isn’t that why we’ve lost thousands of soldiers through hundreds of battles…. so Rush Limbaugh, Bill Maher and Sandy Hatfield can say all the stupid (sorry Bailee, I know that’s a bad word) things we choose, using our outdoor voices, and not be beheaded for it? Damn right. Discretion is up to us….sometimes we choose to use it, sometimes we don’t! The good part is none of us is running for office (maybe we should be running for cover). The dumb things we hear from the likes of Mitt and Rick should scare us way more than the dumb things we here from Rush and Bill. The latter two could control our purse strings while the first should just tickle our funny bones (at least mine!)

Too soon :-(

For many years, six of seven mornings a week I would spend breakfast time with my Dad (and others). Sundays were for breakfast with Lee or racing or church...OK.....maybe not church but everybody has their pew in a different place.  (I like that quote: Being in church doesn't make me a Christian any more than being in a garage makes me a car.) Anyway, I digress, as usual... As the mornings rolled by, some days Dad would stroll in more and more somber. He would sadly announce that one of his classmates, or golf pals or businesss associates had passed away. Each time reflecting, sometimes verbally and sometimes silently, his own mortality and his chronological place in life. It made me sad to see him sad but I hardly knew the impact of his sadness...........until recently.  I seem, too often, to find myself somberly sitting down at the breakfast table sadly remarking about a classmate, a customer or a friend being ill and/or passing away. I don't like it one bit!  This morning, news of another friend leaving way too soon.  When is it not too soon?  It's 24 days till 60! (but who's counting?....me!) I have much to be grateful for...Mom's in a safe place and happy, a great partner, wonderful kids, an amazing Bailee Brown, awesome friends, a beautiful home in a place I can't get enough of and still I want more...... more of it all!  I've become a greedy, old broad...............too soon! :-)

A place for everything.....

A place for everything and everything in it's place.  This morning I needed to find a file.  I was sure I knew I could put my hands on it.  Well, I put my hands on about 50 file folders...none of which was the one that I knew "exactly where it was!"  You know how it is when you start to sort photos?  You stop and look at each one and reminisce, you begin to make piles, you try to decide if you're going to sort by name, or by event or by year.  The next thing you know you have lots of piles and it's 3 hours later...That's why I'm blogging in the p.m. and have lost the entire a.m.  AND.....what the hell am I doing inside to begin with?  It's nearly 60, the sun's out and I should be on the porch....They say tomorrow's to be mild as well but wet...I can do wet.... inside...tomorrow.  I do have a really good start though.   I have piles of files!!!!
I've decided to color code the folders and give each person and each property their own color.  This might not be such a daunting task if Lee and I were the only people I needed to keep track of and I didn't feel compelled to keep most everything for....ever. No one will care about a lot of what I have .......so the plan for the rest of the day is...Head to the porch, settle in my rocker and formulate a plan for sorting and organizing......The most important part is labeling... that's at the top of my list....for tomorrow.  After going through nearly 63 boxes from Hewitt Brothers and Mom and Dad's house, I should already know that keeping everything isn't in anybody's best interest... especially if you're the only one left who cares...Sad but true:-(

FYI..... one year ago today was Lee's heart attack ....one day at a time:-)

The Art of Imagination

Since the day Bailee was born, I have tried my best to instill within her a love of reading.  To love reading you must first learn to read and to read well.  We've accomplished that pretty easily.  Bailee is an amazing reader! For a few years she has been able to phonetically sound out words...you remember, the way we all learned to read 55+ years ago....No "p - p - p" means dripping water but the actual sound of the letter and the way , blended with other sounds, it makes words.  Clapping out syllables was a game we played when she was just learning to speak. Often, within the last two years, she will grab a book and lie on the floor, curl up in a chair or hop on my lap to read.  We share most stories! I read one page and she reads the next.  She has learned, through listening, to inflect personality into each character and drama and humor into events. Yesterday she was under the weather and I stopped in to visit.  She couldn't wait to bring me her latest library book so we could read it together!! AS I opened the cover of The Silver Pony, I noticed there were no words..."No problem Grandma.  We'll make the story say anything we want to!"  How clever was that. This is not a small book. It's a chapter book with wonderful drawings on each page.  "We'll use our imaginations!" she said.... and that we did.  Thanks to this wonderful artist (and author of sorts), Lynd Ward, we began our journey with the Silver Pony.  Which, by the way, was a plain horse in the beginning and we later learned, in our imaginations, that it was indeed, a pony!  I became as enthralled in the story as did Bailee.  It was actually very interesting as we each saw the sketches a bit differently but managed to weave our story together.
What a forward thinker, educator and artist Mr. Lynd Ward (and his wife, Mary.. we all know she helped) was.  Through his skills as an artist, he taught his readers (both young and old) to think and imagine.  He knew from 1st grade that he wanted to be an artist when he realized his last name.....spelled backwards....became D-r-a-w!  I did a little research on Mr. Draw...aaaa Ward and found out that a documentary has been filmed about his life to be released in March of 2012...hmmm a little bit of Karma!!!  I went online to find the book and saw that ebay is auctioning this very book, The Silver Pony, a signed edition no less.  I just might bid and add it to my collection of "not worth very much monetarily but priceless in my eyes (and Bailee's)!"

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Silver-Pony-Story-Pictures-Lynd-Ward-1973-Hardcover-/144053

And then there were 2

Needless to say...my Sunday was amazing.  I saw the eagle was back so I grabbed my camera and headed across the road.....hoping, if the traffic didn't interrupt his breakfast, I wouldn't either.  I got a couple of good shots and he took flight north. I hoped I had gotten a few, good "in flight" photos so I put the camera down.  Suddenly I spotted him again but to the south..... Jackpot!!!!!!! it was eagle number two!  I'd just hit the bird lotto! I watched both of them soar across the fields as the wind howled and the snow began to fall.... It was mesmerizing!  I came back inside to upload the pictures,  alert my Face Book pals and get warm..  About an hour later, I looked out again and there were 2, beautiful, white heads brunching on my poor, disemboweled shaggy deer.  Survival of the fittest at it's finest!  Chances are we'll be a pretty good feeding station for all birds (and animals) of prey as our deer crossing sadly produces too many that "couldn't make the trip!"  I headed back outside and was able to capture a few more photos.  Finally they flew off again but one returned to sit quietly in the field and from my vantage point, he was just under our American flag.  Pretty symbolic.
So yesterday wrapped up being a day full of sightings at EIEIO... The eagles in the front yard, the backyard entertained over 25 turkeys and 5 deer along with daily visits from my other assorted furry and feathered friends.  There's no doubt now, I'm a country girl for sure!

Everything is SAFE and sound!

Today I cleaned and sorted the safe.  It was right up there with sorting photos... you open the envelopes, read through the contents, reminisce, shed a tear and have a laugh.  What should have taken an hour or so turned into an all day affair. Everybody should take the time and make sure you have your legal affairs in order...so, so , so important. My Grandpa always said, "I'd rather be ready and not go than to go and not be ready!"  If you're sick, or in an accident or unexpectedly leave this world, those left behind will be devastated and in no frame of mind to search for your legal papers and wonder about your wishes. ( I speak from experience) You're never too young to get your ducks in a row.  Someone in your family should know where your papers are kept and be able to access them... albeit a safe, a safe deposit box or or a fire safe box.  You should have a will, a health care proxy and a living will.  If you own stocks, TOD's (transfer on death forms) are a valuable asset in the intricacies of stock transfers.  Also, it's a really good idea to have a document of your wishes....your funeral home of choice, calling hours or not, funeral or not, music of choice, where contributions should go.....this is your send-off....keep it that way.. it's pretty tough to read your mind alive..and really tough when you're dead:-) 
                                   Be a Scout... Be prepared:-)

Watching

I'm not sure if it doesn't take much to excite me or if I don't get excited about much.... I have some good arguments for either debate....This morning......I am excited!!! Jess stopped up and said get your binoculars and look across the road... There in all it's glory (literally) was a bald eagle snacking on a dead deer. Now you all know how I've grown fond of my feathered friends.  I waited patiently to see a pileated woodpecker and finally was rewarded with one at my feeder no less. I've tried to lure Baltimore orioles here, but to no avail I thought until this fall, when the leaves fell, I saw a nest very close to the house...maybe this year I'll get a peek. I couldn't wait to see an indigo bunting and was treated to a visit last year too.  But never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I'd see a bald eagle and so very close to home.  I've seen the nests in Montezuma atop the electric poles and I've seen pictures of them from Lee's Alaskan adventure but never actually here!!!  The rest of the day will be shot.... I'll be looking out the window, binoculars in hand, hoping he comes back...or maybe it's a she. I'll have to get out the bird books and google "eagles".  Either way maybe, just maybe, it'll decide to nest down by the inlet... what a treat that would be! So for today, I'm a happy bird watcher.... I now know how those at NASA felt when they shouted, "The Eagle Has Landed!!"