My Sister; My Friend

I left a week ago to visit my sister and bro-in-law in the countryside just west of Springfield, IL. They live in a perfectly beautiful home on a wooded lot, complete with pool and a lot of amenities that they have worked hard to have...but...as with all good things, there is a price.  My bro-in-law has FTD (dementia) now, and my sister struggles every day to get through the challenges while trying to maintain a standard of living.  Shari feels somewhat unsupported...and I, in my solitary life, do too. The fact that we morally support each other in our old age, even at a distance, is a good thing.  I don't get over there very often, and having them here isn't workable.  (Long story.  I could always accommodate Shari, but my bro-in-law would not do well here, and she really can't leave him alone for any length of time.)

Most of the time when I go there, I try to earn my keep by doing helpful things.  This time, however, was all about me.  It was a bit embarrassing but totally appreciated!

First of all, my sister is an excellent cook.  When we are allowed to eat at home (because her husband's whole "social life" is geared around eating out with his favorite waitresses), she cooks yummy and fattening meals!  One evening, we had marinated pork chops and mashed potatoes and veggies.  Another night, we had baked steak with all of the trimmings.  She also fixed homemade chicken salad for one lunch and American goulash for another...and of course a wonderful brunch on Sunday.  I never come home lighter than I went!  She doesn't cut corners with the butter or the mayo. Hence, everything tastes wonderful!! When we ate out, we did Mario's (Italian), Applebee's (in Jacksonville, at least 40 minutes away), The Barrelhead (lunch)...and am I forgetting one?  My senior brain is failing to remember if there was another.  We also ate at my niece's one night.  (Good food, but everything was swimming in butter!)

Shari and hubby recently purchased a 2015 Tahoe.  They already had a nice one but decided to trade as their "last car" function.  They have purchased their last several vehicles (Corvettes and Tahoes) from Friendly Chevrolet in Springfield--a dealership that hosts the local Corvette Club of which Shari and Roger are members.  They have a favorite salesman who has done right by them.  Every time I head out on a trip to my daughter's in northern IL or my sister's in central IL, I worry if my aging car will make it.  My Impala was 12 years old with much of the original equipment on it.  It was needing new tires, had a dimpled fender, 187,000 miles, and was filthy, inside and out.  A few months ago, I went about the business of taking a cash distribution on my retirement funds so I could begin the process of looking for a "new" car but hadn't begun the process because I didn't know where to start. I asked Shari to ask her salesman to look for me to see if they had anything that would work. Basically, all I wanted was a set of wheels with less than 100,000 miles on it to serve as my "last car", and set a price range.  On Tuesday of this past week, we went to the dealership and met with the salesman.  I had no thought that he'd be able to come up with anything, but I did take my car title just in case.

In short order, Salesman Joe brought out a 2008 Saturn with 104,000 miles on it.  It was in my price range, but I was a bit discouraged thinking that anything in that range was going to have way too many miles to make me comfortable....so I told him I was going to exercise my female option and not buy the first car I test-drove.  He went away for awhile longer and came back with a 2007 Saturn VUE SUV.  I test drove it...and thought it said 105,200 miles....BUT...it turned out to be only 52,000+.  That sold it!  The price was $400 above the high end of my price range, but I quickly decided that I wasn't going to find another buggy that looked as good or had that kind of low mileage. There is virtually no damage on the body, and I think it will work well for me.  There are issues--like I can't see anywhere to mount a 2-meter ham radio--but I now own a silver Saturn SUV with black and silver interior...and the shakedown cruise in heavy rain all the way home from Illinois proved it could run like a champ!

That afternoon, we went home and stripped the old car of radios and garage door opener, IPASS transponder, and extraneous junk.  The next morning, I called my bank to transfer funds from savings to checking and called the insurance folk before we went to pick up my new wheels.  Love it!

Thursday, we went for pedicures.  I know a lot of women do pedicures just to have pretty toenails as they wear their sandals and flip-flops.  For me, however, it's a different scenario.  I can't reach all parts of my feet anymore, so getting my nails clipped is a big deal--plus the fact that the skin on my feet and legs is dry, dry, dry and flaky.  Well!  The pedicure was just what the doctor ordered!  It wasn't that it felt all that good, but it was all about the fact that the above listed problems got taken care of in that one visit!  I decided that if I can find a spot here at home that will do all of that for the same price as in Springfield, I'll do the pedicure thing every couple of months.  It's worth it!!

Friday, we canned peaches that I brought from Indiana.  We probably should have done them earlier in the week because they were getting mushy, but I think they'll taste fine.  Poor Shari.  We used all of her equipment and messed up her kitchen just for this project (for me)...but it beats trying to do it all alone at home!  Thanks, Sis!

The rest of the visit, besides having our nice talks, etc., I got to see all but one faction of the family. It was especially nice to see my cousin Betsy whom I haven't seen in years.  I'm sure my sister has to be exhausted, but she holds up well (better than me even though she is older)!  I came home feeling so much better than I did when I went!

Thank you, dear sister, for your help and hospitality.  You are the best!