Oh well...

Well, that class didn't work out.  There were things to do in that course that I just can't do from a bed in a nursing home.

Home

I've been in Woodbine nursing home in Alexandria, Virginia for eight years now. I can't walk and my contact with the world is mostly electronic. My middle daughter Christine lives in Maryland with my three grandchildren (18, 4, 10 months) of whom I'm inordinately proud. I'm in contact with her almost daily via instant messaging. My mother will be 87 in January and still lives alone in a senior community. We talk every other day by phone.

My other two daughters live with their mother in Florida... I rarely hear from them. The youngest, Jessica, does instant message with me on holidays and our birthdays. My mom and Christine aren't able to visit often. My mother doesn't drive any more and Christine is always wrangling children, mostly by herself.

 In case this all sounds too dire, I read a lot, listen to music and fool around on my computers, mostly on Facebook.  I also use the BBC and Guardian news apps. I trust them more than I trust our usual canned media coverage.

 Like many, I'm sick about the election and already angry at what Drumpf and his surrogates are doing to our country.  But so far my participation in the opposition has been limited to "Facebook activism."  If you have any ideas about how I might expand my efforts, please let me know.

On the healthcare front, Republicans seem to favor gutting Medicare and Medicaid, both of which I have. I worry about being tossed out of my nursing home. It all scares and depresses me.   

I'm not a Muslim but I'll certainly register as one if it comes to that.  Or registries for Jews, blacks, Latinos or the disabled.

Writing

I'm taking a class soon on how to write your life story. I'm hoping it "jumpstarts" my writing again.

I used to write all the time... Poetry, fiction, blogs. I miss writing... The emotional expression and as a way to figure things out.