Lois, Evelyn, and Irene.

   Joanne and I took Eleanor to the Nebraska Pain Clinic on Thursday for a steroid injection in her back. She has had injections before and sometimes they help and sometimes they do not. Our appointment was at 2 p.m., so we went to Perkins for an afternoon meal before returning to Heartland. She had two eggs, French toast, bacon, and hash browns; I was amazed at the amount of food she ate. We returned to Heartland, and we iced her back and drank some Gatorade to try to keep her sodium levels up.
   I have spent quite a bit of time the last two days with Eleanor to monitor her sodium level and make sure that she isn't showing signs of confusion. Hopefully we have been proactive enough that she won't have to have a sodium infusion, and getting the pain shots won't be so traumatic for her.
   I left for home at 3 p.m. today before she went to dinner. Eleanor just called to tell me her friend Evelyn Garske had fallen and broken her hip.  Evelyn is mom's closest friend at Heartland and she really enjoys her company. I am sure that this will be depressing for Eleanor, as this is the second good friend at Heartland that has had a broken hip. When Eleanor moved into Heartland she became good friends with her neighbor,Lois Geisselman; Lois broke her hip and died about three weeks later. Another friend, Irene had a stroke about two months ago; Eleanor and Irene used to crochet together when Mom lived in independent living.
   I'm sure that Mom will be saddened by the loss of another friend. In coming to Seward, she left all her friends from Mississippi, but Mom has always been outgoing and able to connect with people. It is difficult to lose ones friends, and being in assisted living hasn't made getting out and meeting people any easier for Eleanor.
   Please keep those cards and notes coming, as they remind her she isn't forgotten or alone.

National Politics

   I have been trying to proactive about the debt ceiling talks in Washington D.C., by planning a course of action if the debt ceiling isn't raised. One cannot spend money one doesn't have, so on Monday I am going to ask the Jackie, the financial director at Heartland, what might happen to residents whose social security and other government pensions might be in jeopardy if a budget resolution doesn't occur.
   I don't plan on keeping Eleanor at Heartland if she is receiving no income, as it would be irresponsible to stay there if she doesn't have income coming in. I've been measuring doors and considering options on moving her to our house if the worst case scenario does occur. I would assume that I am not the only one who is starting to think along these lines. When I hear tea party spokespeople saying a default wouldn't effect the economy, I don't really think they have a good understanding of how economies work.

July 2nd.

   Heartland celebrated the 4th of July two days early, They had watermelon and fireworks. It was cloudy with some light rain. so most of the residents sat under the large awning on the assisted living side. The problem was that if you sit under the awning, you can't see the fireworks. The staff are really a dedicated group of people and a lot of their spouses and children were there to help.I appreciate all the things they do and effort they expend; it must be difficult to plan and put these programs on with so many residents not caring or participating.
   Eleanor enjoyed watching people more that the fireworks, she did enjoy seeing several of her friends from the independent living side. I wonder if other retirement communities have the division between the assisted and independent living residents. It seems that most of the independent living residents don't choose to mix with the assisted living residents at Heartland.
   We are having a cookout on the 4th : brats, salads, beer and rhubarb crisp are the planned menu.
    Hope everyone has a great day!