Category: Blog

All of my life I’ve had trouble figuring out what I wanted. When people would ask me what I wanted to be in life, I never could answer. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I never knew. One of the blessings of being old is that I don’t have to know the answer to that now. But I am a constant source of aggravation when people ask me an opinion about something and I’m undecided.

I really lucked out with my life. My wife has been a wonderful partner. I had a good career as a planner even though I’ve never liked planning. There may be an earlier post about that. I spent years wondering “What the hell is a planner”. And what is a plan? I guess I always knew, but thought that the whole process was stupid.

Now I can’t figure out what kind of car I want! Nor can I decide how old a a vehicle, how much I want to spend, or how many miles I can live with. Or the fuel mileage I should insist on. My 2014 Chrysler Town and Country minivan is on its last legs, and I really need to replace it before it dies. But with what? People ask “What are you looking for?” and I don’t know how to answer. Sometimes I want another van. Sometimes a small car. I had the hots for a 2019 Build for about a day and a half.

I could get an electric car, but then I’d have to spend $1,700 or so putting in a Level 2 charger. Maybe I should go with an SUV or crossover, even though I’ve never used to like them much. I test drove a GMC Terrain, and I’ve really never liked the looks of them! But I was at the dealership checking out a 2019 Buick Lacrosse, so I thought what the hell, why not?

I want a heated steering wheel. And good luck finding that feature in a used car search tool! I want adaptive cruise control. Also a sunroof. And comfortable armrests for my left and right arm. The left arm can be an issue. A lot of cars, when you put the seat way back, don’t give you a place for your left arm!

I should keep typing out my thoughts on the matter to help me decide just what to look for. I like those Cadillac CTS-4 cars. But they aren’t much for hauling! At least with the Buick Lacrosse the rear seats fold down and the area can be reached from the trunk.

Trevor thinks I should get a Q3, small SUV. Too small. Now I’m thinking VW Tiguan, Toyota Rav4, Lincoln Corsair.

I went to look at a Corsair just for yuks with my friend Jon. Too expensive! But while I was there I saw and test drove a 2014 Cadillac CTS4 Wagon with over 100,000 miles! And I can’t stop thinking about it!

I don’t know what that pain was last May. It hurt like hell, then it didn’t. I’m good now. Marcia is good too.

Our bathroom was recently completed. We turned our one awesome tile bathroom into a full bath and a half a bath. Now we can both go at the same time without having to go down the basement.

It was crazy expensive, but it’s all done and looks nice. Now for a carport.

My friend and former Fitchburg Public Library Reference Librarian Lois has moved to Fort Worth Texas to be closer to her niece. The trip was made in a specially equipped Sprinter van that drove straight from Fitchburg to Texas, stopping only for meals. According to Sylvia, it was a pretty gruesome trip. I guess all three of the staff were upset and angry, and Lois was quite uncomfortable.

But I guess all’s well that ends well. She seems happy in her new place. Lois had fallen at the Gables and broke a bone in her ankle, so was sent to rehab at the Highlands. She was interviewed and examined by the Gables, who said they wouldn’t let her back because she needed too much care. So, she was moved into a tiny room on the 2nd floor of the Highlands, sharing a room with a 102 year old woman, who never made a peep and was always asleep, so I guess she was an ideal roommate!

But every time I went to visit her, she told me she didn’t like being there, so Sylvia found a place near her in Texas. I’m going to miss her, but I’m glad she is more comfortable there.

Marcia has been battling pneumonia, I’ve got something that is causing intense pain in my right leg, and Lois is at The Highlands.

Marcia thinks she caught a cold that led to pneumonia when she was in the hospital for her SVT thing where her heart races. They kept her overnight because she had some sort of elevated enzyme. Or something. It cleared up right away, and she was discharged the next day, March 18. But a few days later she caught a bad cold, and then pneumonia. She’s still coughing 62 days later! But thank God she’s a lot better because….

I had a lower back pain come on at least two weeks ago. I kept thinking it would get better, but last night (May 17, 2025) it became agonizing. I have never been in so much pain, tossing and turning and unable to get comfortable.

I went to urgent care this morning, and they said to go to the hospital. So I did. They checked my urine, took a CT scan, and didn’t find anything. They loaded me up with prescriptions including gabapentin, morphine, lidocaine patch, and valium. We’ll see. My back hurts as of this writing.

And as a result I didn’t go see Lois today. I’ve been going to the Highlands to see her most days. Lately I’ve been sticking one of Marcia’s airpods in her ear and playing music. She can’t hear for shit, so we don’t really talk much. I’m afraid she is nearing the end of her days. Me too.