The joys of getting old!

It makes me chuckle while I'm here. Whenever I come, I think, "That's it—we've got everything figured out." Then I return, only to find that new things have popped up. These things are simple to us, but to aging parents—one housebound, with a mindset still in the 40s, and the other who doesn't like change—life is a challenge. 

It's so bizarre because my Dad is into computers, and you would think he would be fascinated by the self-checkouts and ATMs, but NO - he wants human contact when he shops. So, there will be no self-serve stuff for him. 

I hate to say this because the bankers amongst you in the larger centers would cringe. I cringed when I heard it. But using a bank card at the bank? What the heck is that all about? The teller sees their customers enter the bank and immediately pull up their accounts. 

But if a stranger, like me, attempts to get a balance, their lips are sealed! It's a small town where everyone knows everyone! Me? Stranger - danger! 

On the agenda for the day was to buy socks for my Dad, yarn for my Mom, and CBD for me, but that's another story. Anyway, I found socks - they must be black, and unbeknownst to me, they had to be loose around the tops. I bought two different kinds, and I'll exchange one pack later today to get the looser of the two. That'll give him 12 pairs of socks, which will hopefully last. But he'd rather wear socks with holes in them (for months) than go to Wal-Mart to buy new ones. 

How often do you have to tell a grown man they have PEOPLE at Walmart to check you out, not just the self-check-outs? I got the yarn for Mom. They didn't have a great selection, but enough to make her happy. Why doesn't she tell me before I drive out here so I can check in Saskatoon, which is a larger center? 

I went to the bank to do some banking for my Mom, and my name was not on the account. I swear my name was on the account. So yes, I could deposit cheques - no problem, but no to getting any cash for her and definitely NO (directly from the manager standing there) for the balance. Interestingly, the balance does NOT appear on the paperwork when you make a third-party deposit. 

My name is even on the cheques - how could I not be on the account? Turns out my Dad had gone to Mom's bank for something and - I have already forgotten the details and said my name didn't need to be on the cheques and inadvertently took me off the account. AHA - a mystery was solved at dinner. It's a joint account, so I technically do not need to be put back on it, but the bank card expired over a year ago. So -- as "punishment" for taking me off the account, I told Dad he had to go back with me today to get a new card! Then we could use it at the ATM to get cash - LOL.

Then, it was time for the annual financial review, and all was good, but I hope to make a few minor changes today. It's funny how people think -- if I don't ask for a high-interest account, then the bank will "wisely" give the little guy a break because I wasn't greedy. DAD -- the bank and the economy do not work like that. It's every man for himself. TAKE as much as possible - the only winners are those who look out for themselves or the big guy. 

So here's something else that surfaced! Actually, there are several things here. Dad went to the doctor the day I got here. The issue? He has nosebleeds. It's not the first time, and the doctor keeps telling him he should use a humidifier. It turns out they have one, but Mom wasn't letting him use it—too much mess, leaking, etc. And she made him put it in the kitchen, a far distance from the bedroom, so it did NOTHING for him. Sigh! 

I investigated, and it works just fine, although the mist is quite fine, even on maximum. And I had to explain to Mom, as Dad had done, that the doctor wanted it right beside his bed. I don't know why Mom gets these ideas in her head, especially about stuff for my Dad, and disallows the use of such things. They bought this damn thing in 2014. If I hear that he's not allowed to use this, we won't go there. 

It's frustrating! Very frustrating. No wonder Dad spends all his time at the Museum! The other thing - as I'm telling her stuff she has no clue about, she sits there and says, "I know." Finally, last night, I said, Mom - you DON'T know,  that's why I'm telling you. That drives me nuts and has for my entire life. Then, she will go on about how she never knows anything. That's because she drives people nuts, and they don't talk to her! Sigh.

There's one last issue. Oh yes - Dad had gone to the doctor about the nosebleeds. I'm tempted to buy a new humidifier that will crank out the mist to clear the dry nose issue up quicker than the one they have. I might do that today. However, he mentioned the carpal tunnel on his hand while at the doctor's and asked when he would get an appointment with the surgeon. He was given a piece of paper and told to appear at the hospital at 4 PM. For what? A consultation? The surgery? No idea. He seemed to think he was getting the surgery, and I thought - no way! 

I arranged to go with him, and the next thing we knew, he was going to have the carpal tunnel issue resolved by the surgeon right NOW. It turns out that they attempted to contact them in October, but if they don't recognize the name on the phone, they don't answer it. Which we have told them. So they are following that instruction, but they missed this call. The surgeon felt generous and had a good relationship with Dad's doctor, so he took him the next day (yesterday) to do the surgery. 

I got to be a fly on the wall while they did it and learned a few things. I always thought that carpal tunnel was restricted to the wrist. NO --- it can happen at any joint in the hand, and Dad's issue was near the baby finger and resulted from the stroke he had three years ago. It's been bothering him ever since. So they opened it up, and because of the length of time, the top tendon was actually wearing away and was damaged but still connected. So he got three stitches and drove home! We were in separate vehicles as he came from the Museum. 

Now, I need to set up a voicemail for them on the home phone and teach them to use it. And yes, they will get junk voicemail, but hopefully, they will no longer miss important calls. 

I do not know why his doctor didn't follow up - the initial call was months ago. 

One last parent thing: It's about the phone. We have told them REPEATEDLY that those calls with no name or crank calls or whatever are generated by computers. But if they see a local number, they must look it up to see who "called." DAD! Just stop doing that!!!!! I don't get the need to know who attempted to call them. Those local numbers are FAKED to look local. Just recently, they got a local number, and he traced it to a real person's name, so then he spent the next couple of days asking around to see if anyone knew that person. Sigh.........

It will be another wonderfully filled day of sorting out issues. Who is going to do all this for me when I'm old? Hopefully, it won't be an issue, but gosh knows what kind of technology will be around when I'm 92. WAIT! M can teleport to my house to straighten us out and then teleport back home. 

And I hope I find those old socks in the garbage when I get to the apartment. I should have nipped them on my way out. Dad asked about it and said that Mom would likely rescue them to do something. God knows what!!

Many hydro/gas workers stay in this hotel, and by the time I left in the morning, it wasn't hard to find my white truck amongst the other white trucks—they were gone! 

My lone vehicle in the parking lot

The ubiquitous puzzle in the common room at my parents' house. Someone is always working on it. 

The jigsaw puzzle

I had to go to Staples, and oh my - look at the crayons! Doesn't that make you want to color something? Look at all the colors and an equal number of neutrals!!! 

Crayons at Staples

I spotted this blank journal, and I almost caved. But I did not. I left it in the store for someone else. There was no price on it, so I didn't need it. 

Love the journal cover, which I did NOT buy

Then, based on some advice from friends, I went shopping for myself. I was NOT encouraged when I saw a whole section at the pharmacy devoted to pain creams for nerve pain. This means many people have this issue, and there's no cure. I was very disheartened by it. 

Nerve cream

I even went to the cannabis store to look for something that someone recommended, but it wasn't there, so I didn't buy anything. 

Shopping at the cannabis store

I tried the cream this morning after a good sleep, and the pain woke me up, but alas, I'm not getting much relief from it. I may be taking a short stick with me for the flight home. Then I think of my Dad, who never complains about anything, and well—I'd better buck up! I can get through this. But I can see why people become desperate and will spend money on any kind of crazy promise to alleviate pain! 

What makes me "upset" with myself is that I've felt twinges of this pain for 5 years and did nothing about it. Perhaps there was nothing to be done. But now it's hit hard, and well, like my Dad, I'll find a way to cope. And hopefully, find some exercise or treatment that will alleviate the pain. I'm not sure I can fly or even want to fly if I don't find a solution. Even driving is not fun. What's worse is the more I talk to people, the more I find other people with it, and they still have it. But I'm not going there. 

I must have picked the coldest day of December to be here. This was the temperature this morning, and it starts to warm up the day I leave!!! You have to love Saskatchewan!! Remember—it's a dry cold, so it's not cold! I think it's warming up to minus 20, not including the wind chill! 

The temperature this morning

But these prairie people are tough. Yesterday, I saw people in sweatshirts, no hats, and no mitts. They are tough!

On that note, I'm out of here. There's a treadmill downstairs, and I might just crank out a KM or two to try to loosen this nerve!

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!!!!