Flooding Disaster in Wrightwood California

 

Hello, Everyone.  I have been meaning to post, but am still in shock over the flooding we experienced up in the mountains on Christmas Eve.  I chose to weather the atmospheric rivers up there, thinking it would be safer on high ground.  My cottage is in a flood zone, so I packed up the car and the dogs, and got everything prepared for the storm.

We were fortunate in many ways.  I had spent hours stacking firewood, and brought plenty inside so that it would be dry.  The wood burning fireplace insert keeps the cabin warm, especially upstairs, since heat rises.  The previous owners left stacks of wool blankets, which I piled on the bed.  

My Jackery charger kept my phone and mini iPad charged, and I can also plug a lamp into it.  The power went out for days, so I relied on the food stockpile and tried not to open the fridge.  I did not want to cook outside with my camper stove in that violent storm, so I heated water for tea and coffee in the hot coals of my fireplace.  Good thing I still have a vintage Melita coffee maker!

My hot water heater was working, so the luxury of soaking in a hot bath each night was sublime.  I received numerous messages and calls from friends who were watching in horror on the news.   It helped tremendously to talk with them and with no Internet, I had not yet seen the images.

I checked in with a local friend of mine who is also my realtor.   She knows all about houses and has decades of experience in Wrightwood.  She had been evacuated, and was down staying in La Verne with her son.  Our power didn’t return when expected, so I drove the long way down to my cottage, making a large two hour circle to avoid the flooded and damaged roads.  It was a huge relief to arrive home and have heat, lights, Internet, a working fridge, stove and oven, and safety.

I talked with my neighbor who is a singer and listened to she and her husband’s take on the situation.  They were doing well and had ham radios.  Many people were hit very hard.  Some of the homes are filled with mud, and have been condemned.  It is tragic for the owners.  That could have been any of us.  The burn scar from last year’s fire has left us in a very precarious situation.  I worry that it will be like Malibu.  

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Supplies Are Critical During a Blizzard

 

This is my front yard.  My neighbor took some photos for me from her porch.  The snow in front of our cars is now up to our heads, since the snowplow passed.  Most of us spent hours the past few days, shoveling.  We are expecting more snow today and tomorrow.  

I did many things right before this storm, and some things wrong.  I wish I had brought is four or five times as much firewood.  I had a delivery dropped the day it started snowing, but that wood is not fully seasoned.  My original woodpile is quite far from the cabin, for fire safety.  Some of the chunks I bought for the fireplace are to large to squeeze into the fireplace insert.  I will have to split them with a log splitter.  

I have plenty of food, and am very glad that I stocked up on things like canned meat and chicken, tuna, pasta, soup, and coffee.  The dogs have a strong supply of kibble and dog biscuits.  They don't understand why we aren't going for walks, and the bones I boiled for them caused them both to have accidents in the house in the middle of the night.  So, in addition to all the shoveling, there has been time spent cleaning up their indoor poop and urination.  

It helps to wash your hair, take a bath, and practice self-care.  We are fortunate to have power, cell phone service, and Internet.  I wish I had stored my tire chains and emergency food supply in the house, and not in my car.  It took me hours to shovel my way up there, and the car was buried in snow.  

It is so important to prepare for emergencies to the best of your ability.  Life is much calmer and you feel more stable when you can hunker down at home in a storm.  

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Testing Your Home for an Unexpected Fall or Injury

 Recently I incurred an unexpected joint injury.  Although I had read numerous articles on preparing your home for retirement and old age, I had put off some of the changes, thinking that I had plenty of time. 

Generally, we don't plan to fall, get sick, or have an accident.   The situation we have created at home is what we are stuck with while limping or hobbling around, unable to put weight on one of our legs.  In my case, I was relieved  that I had stored my mom's walker in the closet in case of such an event. 

It enabled me to take the dogs out, (by sitting in it on the deck, like a wheelchair, and using their retractable leash,) I could put the ice bags in the pouch, get my dishes done, and prepare my coffee for the morning.

One thing I didn't anticipate was the level of pain.  I nearly passed out, and felt like I was going to vomit.  I laid on the floor with my legs elevated and practiced my yoga breathing.  The dogs sensed the intensity of the situation. The pranayama practice calmed me down, and then I took a Motrin.  "Take two," I heard my mom's voice say.  I did.  She always was big on "staying ahead of the pain."   The effect was immediate.  I was SO glad that I had a bottle in the medicine cabinet.  The over-the-counter variety works like a miracle on me.  I almost never take anything, even an aspirin.  In this case it brought me from agony to a level of comfort and the ability to ice the joint for hours.

The previous owner left several ice packs in the freezer, so they were ready to go and really helped to reduce the pain and swelling.  The golfball shape reminded me of having a lump on my head as a kid.  

If you were to get hurt suddenly, would you be able to get around and take care of yourself?  I am so glad that I saved my walker from my hip replacement surgery, and my crutches from when I broke my toe.  A visit to the emergency room would have been stressful, crowded, and probably would have taken hours.  It also would have been very expensive.  It pays to be prepared.  After one night, I was walking unassisted again, and off the pain medication.

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My First Zoom Meeting

 A few days ago, I experienced my first Zoom meeting with a camera.  It was so much fun!  I had been on a call with some of the same people through my flip phone around Thanksgiving. But seeing people's faces and expressions on my computer screen this time made all the difference.  It reminded me of The Jetsons.  That was one of my favorite t.v. shows as a child.  Here we are...doing much of what the creators of that series envisioned then.  I often wonder if flying cars will be next...

The women on this call were all from the European company of the Broadway musical, "42nd Street".  It was such a marvelous experience.  We opened in Vienna, spent a year in Paris, and visited many other beautiful cities and theaters.  We are all still close friends thirty years later...it's heartwarming.  I love these girls.

We support each other through accidents, surgeries, death, and other hardships of life.  Hearing some of their stories made me cry.  That's connection.       

I feel so fortunate to have so many old friends from my performing days.  Gypsies are like that; we are family.  Do you have any old friends that you see on Zoom?

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What I Learned From The Evacuation Warning

 Today I decided to write about what it was like to experience an evacuation warning during a severe  fire.  The Bobcat Fire came dangerously close to our lovely village of Wrightwood.  I talked with several of my friends and neighbors there, and listened to their opinions and stories.  Many of them stayed in town, and other families left.  They all had their own personal reasons and logic. 

I drove back and forth a few different times, depending on what I read online about the road, fire, and weather conditions.  I packed up more stuff than I ever have during a fire.  What was important to me was to have my pets, my hand knit items, a few favorite pieces of clothing, and food and water.  It was a relief to rescue all of the sweaters, shawls, socks, gloves, and scarves that I have made over the last several years.  My photos are saved online. 

I thought that I would want to take my dad's car, since it is a newer model, and gets excellent mileage.  I ended up feeling more attached to  my mom's 2002 VW Beetle.  It has so much style!  It also has sentimental value to me.  She kept it so clean and organized.  She had everything in that car you could ever need: two flashlights, a siren, a red leather coin purse with quarters for tolls, a tiny first aid kit, mints, tissues, stain wipes, and a dog carrier.  She was extremely prepared and beautifully organized.  That car makes me smile.

I realized that I should have packed more pet food than I had anticipated.  I had tupperware jugs full of water by the door.  I wasn't sure how much traffic there would be.  I left early, and there really wasn't any.  It's nice to be able to go to a comfortable second location only sixty miles from your residence.  I am so glad that I kept the cottage.  I have been busy cleaning it today.  I fed some of the citrus trees homemade compost, and did a load of laundry.

The first time I fled I forgot my must have documents.  I was so upset with myself.  We were closing on my parents' house and a piece of land that I had purchased.  I brought that paperwork, and accidentally  left my box that contained everything else.  Fortunately, I retrieved it on one of my return trips to the cabin.  It feels good to have all of those records together and organized.  I keep mine in a fire proof box.  

Have you ever had to evacuate?  

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They're Fighting The Bobcat Fire From the Air

 

One of our locals just posted some impressive video footage of the Super Scoopers being used over our picturesque little  village of Wrightwood, California.  The sleek, sophisticated jets are from Quebec.  They are filling them up at Lancaster Lake.  It's a relief to see and hear them  approaching this fire from the air.  Yesterday there was too much smoke.  It has grown so rapidly.  I could see it approaching over the last week down below from the Pearblossom Highway.  It was obviously headed toward us.  At least we were fortunate enough to have time to prepare.  With some disasters, you don't see or hear them what's coming. 

My neighbor told me that the last time they were evacuated for a fire, it took her seven and a half hours just to get to Lancaster!  It must have been really exhausting and frightening, especially in all of that traffic, and in this summer heat.  I make sure to travel when it's cool.  The hot weather is so hard on your car.  It also is draining and stressful for your animals, your children, and for you!

There was an article that was in the paper about the fire yesterday.  It was eerie to look at the photos and see how beautiful the trees look.  The sky is orange, like a theatrical backdrop.  It reminded me of the old footage of the San Francisco earthquake, and the fires that followed.  Fire is so dramatic. 

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The Bobcat Fire, Evacuations and Mountain Lions

The Bobcat Fire has spread at an alarming rate.  I  have been watching it from the Pearblossom Highway on my commute over the past week, and was shocked this morning to see that it looked twice as close to Wrightwood.  Devil's Punchbowl, (which is very close,) has been evacuated.  I hope that the people there get out safely.  I worry that the Wrightwood residents will wait too long and be fumbling in the dark with no electricity.  It's very dark now with the shorter days this time of year.  The mountain roads are only two lanes.

One local posted a videotape of a huge mountain lion in her driveway.  It went after her dog, but she and her husband yelled at it, and were able to protect the canine.   They have children.  It's strange to see the figures of these powerful wild animals on camera, right next to an outside  staircase or deck.   They are also fleeing the fires, and are hungry, thirsty and desperate.  It's like the movie Bambi.  A cub or two was also seen with the mother.  

Another post stated that someone's dog, the size of a German shepherd, was taken by a cougar from the balcony.  People have the illusion that their dogs are safe there.  Mountain lions normally eat deer.  They can easily take down large animals or humans.  I don't think people realize the danger of the situation.

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Have You Been Moody During the Pandemic?

I am trying out the new Blogger but cannot figure out how to add photos or how to separate the paragraphs. How are the rest of you bloggers doing with this new version? I miss the old one.  I had to go back to it to fix this post.

Yesterday I felt down in the dumps, and had a hard time shaking it. I was frustrated with Lula on our walk, and she didn't understand why. I ran into another man with walking his large Border Collie off leash. I asked him to get his dog. It walked towards me,  away from the owner. I had my pepper spray in my hand, and a rod iron golf club, as well. I placed the club on the ground between the dog and I to create a boundary. "He's not going towards you, he's going towards your dog," the owner told me. He stood there, passively, watching. He made no attmpt to leash the dog.

With this virus, I definitely don't want any people or animals coming close to me or my dog.  The man finally put the dog on the leash, but it was an exasperating experience. I guess in these times we are going to have to learn to deal with oppositional people who refuse to follow any rules. I lost my temper and he told me where I could put my golf club.

After doing yoga, working on my latest article, and knitting outside, I felt like my old self again. It is a challenge these days to remain calm and unaffected. Taking a walk is not what it used to be. I may start staying closer to home. It's not worth the aggravation. Lula loves to fetch a ball, anyway. She's happy to lay on the porch or deck with me outside. I spent some time yesterday afternoon looking at my photos from my vacation in Europe. They make me so happy. It was so incredible there. I loved being on the ship and visiting the ports.   The people that I cruised with were wonderful.  Travelers love travelers...

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Avoiding Arguments During the Pandemic

One thing that I have learned since this virus hit has been to choose carefully the people with whom I will interact.  If I sense that someone is looking to pick a fight, I walk away, quickly.  I would rather hold my focus on what I want to create than get into a conflict with someone who is angry and antagonistic.

The other day I was at the grocery store.  The woman behind me kept getting too close to me.  She and I were both wearing masks.  I decided to just pay the cashier quickly and leave.  I don't think she was aware of what she was doing.  She didn't seem malicious or aggressive.  Sometimes children at te lake just seem to gravitate towards me.  I think they miss having contact.  One little two year old boy placed his stick on my beach  towel as I was sunbathing and smiled at me.  He was so sweet.   

My mother taught me not to watch soap operas because she didn't want us "watching other people's problems."  My best girlfriend was hooked on All My Children when we were  thirteen.  She would talk about the characters passionately, (like they were her closest friends.)  Her mother watched the show religiously.  Now I understand how wise my mom was to turn on the t.v. and tell us to go play outside.  It was much healthier, on all levels.  Thanks Mom. 

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Making Time To De Stress During the Pandemic

Twin Lakes Wrightwood, California

 
Ah... the relaxation of floating on the lake.  It's just magical.  I love to lift up my sunglasses and peek at the mountains and trees.  This view just takes my breath away; I never get tired of it.  It's easy to practice social distancing here.  Guests are not allowed at the country club at the moment.  It gives us all plenty of space.  The warm, soothing sunshine feels amazing!

During times like these, it takes a lot of self discipline to stay grounded.  I try to not get sucked into the negativity of the news.  Exercise, time in nature, crafting and home care can help to ease mental and psychological pressure.  I have been saying the serenity prayer a lot these days.  Enjoying delicious home cooked meals, picnics and a daily structured routine can really help to maintain  a positive focus. 

Have you been out in the sun lately?  Where is your retreat?

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Another Big Fire Here

mature trees at the Wrightwood Country Club

 
This afternoon I heard fire trucks go screaming down Sierra Highway.  I sensed  both urgency and doom in the way they were speeding.  There were two fires in this area today.  The first one was only five acres of land, up by the 5 freeway.

The fire near my cottage was the one that worried me.  It was burning 400 acres, last time I  checked.  This is becoming all too common.  It's in the history books, so many homes burned to the ground when this area was first settled.  They didn't have fire departments in those days.  It gives me a sick sense of dread when I see the smoke and hear the sirens.  Part of the reason that I started looking for a cabin in the mountains was because of the repeated summer burnings in this area.  It makes me nervous.

Fortunately, it's not too windy today, and our firefighters are very experienced.  Thank goodness there isn't a lot of protesting going on at this time.  Recently things were so out of control.  We really need our civil servants in times like these; it's so dangerous without them.  I am very thankful for their dedication and training.

On a more positive note, the sunflowers are in bloom, and the garden is doing extremely well.  We have had very pleasant temperatures for this time of year.  Today it was eighty degrees.  Normally it's much hotter.  I picked the first few ripe, red tomatoes from the garden for salads.  I also tasted the first green chili pepper that I have ever grown.  I sauteed it with onions and put them both on my chicken enchilada, garnished with fresh cilantro.  Yum! 

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The Dogs That Attacked Lula Attacked Another Dog

I found out a couple of days ago that the Rottweiler and Great Dane that attacked Lula in September  attacked another neighbor's dog.  The dog survived, and the owner  surrendered them to Animal Control to be euthanized.

I looked back at my report, and in it I wrote,  "These dogs are vicious dogs. They will do this again.  It is not a question of if, it is a question of when."  It's been a little over six months since  they went after Lula.  She still has nightmares.  I wake her up when she's crying.

I said a silent prayer to my mom to take care of the dogs.  She always walked her dogs every day and treated them like gold.  So did Juliet Prowse.  As I was watering the garden tonight, I hear Juliet's voice in my head.  "Don't worry about the dogs, they are SO much happier here," she said.  Her voice and accent were unmistakable.    

It made me laugh, because that is exactly how she would describe a situation.  Juliet even made her own dog food.  She loved animals.  It makes me smile to think that she's taking care of them.

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Rain, Weeds, and a Cranky Easter

I hope everyone had as happy of an Easter as possible.  I know it's a challenge with the pandemic restrictions.  Mine was a bit of a cranky Easter. Poor Lula was on the receiving end of my short temper.  I apologized to her over a cup of coffee and she seemed to understand.  She is so forgiving.  I even did a little beating of the bed to release some frustration.  I had tiptoed upstairs and closed the bedroom door, so that she wouldn't hear me.  She was sleeping downstairs in the den.

When I finished my short anger releasing  therapy session, guess who was laying outside the door?  Lula had crept up the stairs, but she didn't scratch on the door.  I almost never shut it.  She is so sweet, and so loyal.  I thing in mating season animals get very distracted.  Lula seems to have tunnel vision these day. She completely ignores my commands; it's like I'm not even there.  It triggers a very unattractive inner rage deep inside of me.  I don't want to become one of those yellers, but I was well on my way today.  It's sort of a whisper yell, so the neighbors don't hear.  (Like a hiss...)

I pulled two buckets full of weeds in the garden today.  They came up so easily.  We had some gorgeous low clouds and light rain.  The roses are starting to bloom and they look colorful and spectacular!  I am so glad that I put them in the ground and let them grow wild.  I used to prune them heavily in pots.  My neighbor lets his grow extremely tall, without cutting them back, and the blooms  are the size of dinner plates.  He also gives them a thick layer of mulch.  I decided to try his method, and so far it's working.  The bearded irises are almost up to my nose.  All of this lovely rain has been a Godsend.

How was your Easter?    

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A Snowy Hike and Picnic

I found a trail that was flat and wide

 
This morning I drove to a few different places, searching for a hiking trail that would be safe to hike in the snow.  It can get icy and extremely slippery.  We had two hikers die in December near Mount Whitney.  One was a 53 year old man who was hiking with a group, the other was a 32 year old search and rescue worker, who was looking for him.  On the steep slopes, there are chutes where people go sliding down the mountain.  It's a dangerous situation and can have a tragic ending.   They had to call off the search for the first man. 

Lula and  I enjoyed this trail that was covered with snow.  She galloped along in front of me, thrilled with the challenge that  the snow presented.  The air was fresh and crisp, and it felt energizing to be outside in nature.  I brought my backpack filled with supplies.  We stopped at a cleared off picnic table for lunch.  Lula had a dog biscuit, and I ate a slice of cold pizza.  We drove home in the red Beetle, and I drank my hot coffee that I had stored in the thermos on the kitchen counter.  The seller left it and a vintage Mr. Coffemaker with  the house.  It has a timer, and you can have your coffee brewing before you wake up in the morning.  I love how the smell wafts up the stairs.  The thermos/pitcher  really does an excellent job of keeping beverages hot.  I didn't have to buy anything for that cabin.  It came fully equipped.  I am so thankful. 

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Eating Low Carb

outdoor cafe in Monaco

 
This morning I watched a doctor on Youtube giving a talk on dietary changes that work well for arthritis.  I agreed with most of what he said, (aside from eating only meat.)   I learned by trial and error that if I just have a couple servings of carbs per day, I am way ahead of the game. 

It's nice not to have to cut out bread or pasta completely.  When I eat too many baked goods, (especially delicious desserts,) is when I will wake up in the middle of the night with an aching big toe joint or painful shoulder.  I also have noticed that it happens in the car, on long drives. 

What works for me is to consume  meat and poultry, bone broths, salads, veggies, and fruit.  This is a nice variety of foods, so  you don't feel deprived.  Potatoes can be very satisfying, and they are inexpensive.   If you cook with olive oil, and use it on your salad paired with balsamic vinegar and herbs, you avoid the oils that can cause harm.  

While staying up at the mountain cabin recently, I began to slip.  I started adding things like a bowl of granola for breakfast, a bag of homemade popcorn topped with parmesan cheese as a snack on a hike, and a generous slice of store bought chocolate cream pie for dessert.  Something about being  in the cold makes it tempting for me to buy boxed baked goods  at the grocery store.  For some reason grains can really exacerbate pain in those with arthritis and gout. 

I noticed that I was uncomfortable on the drive back from Las Vegas.  I know if was due to my dietary additions.  I had also sneaked in a few homemade lattes over the past week.  Milk  can really make arthritis flare.  I learned that by trial and error.  Coffee with cream and sugar I can manage, in moderation.  

Now I am back to my routine, and happy to be pain free.  After having both hips replaced, I am relieved that I understand my body chemistry well enough now to avoid more self induced joint pain.  I am grateful for my ceramic hips, but I don't want to have more surgery in the future, if I can help it.  This way of eating seems to be working well.  Christmas treats are tempting, but there is always tomorrow.  I will have to limit the peppermint bark.  How is your body doing?  

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Snowed In at the Cabin

I spent Thanksgiving up in the mountains. Here is what my deck looked like after the storm.  We had three feet of snow!  I stepped outside, thinking my new Canadian kamik snow boots would protect me.  The snow would have reached up to my hip bone!

Lula looked like she was swimming to try to and go potty.  I got out the shovel and dug for hours and hours.  If felt like I was clearing the pure white powder  uphill for half of a mile.  I broke the job up over two days.  My brother suggested I wait for the sunnier weather.  Someone cleared the area in front of my car for me.  It was like an igloo.  I decided to walk into town instead of driving.  I stopped and chatted with several of my neighbors.   It was such a relief to have a stockpile of nourishing food and firewood.

I took a sauna and used the snow as an ice bath.  It was so energizing.  There is something  magical about pure snow melt.  That's why I love swimming in lakes; it really recharges the aura.  I got a lot of knitting done on my pink alpaca blanket, too.  It was warm and cozy by the fire.  How was your Thanksgiving?

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Phone Issues

I have been devouring the book on the Pacific Crest Trail that I am reading.  It is full of personal stories.  Some of them are tragic and devastating.  It is so fascinating to read about all of the hikers who have traveled through that area.  I really resonate with them.

Today Lula and I returned, and we saw a little marker at the side of the trail.  Someone from Europe had left a couple of ceramic hiking boots with a little hand carved wooden sign.  There were three small pine cones nestled next to it.  It was a surprising find.  Generally, there is nothing out there but trees and nature-no sign of humans.  People are very conscientious about carrying out their trash.  It's such a pristine environment.  It makes me so thankful to be a California native.

Last night  I was woken up at 11:11 p.m. by a call from the power company telling me that the electricity would be cut off at the cottage again.  I am very grateful to have the cabin.  We consistently have  power, water, and gas heat.  I also have a huge stack of firewood.  My cell phone has been acting very strange.  It won't hold a charge, and even when I charge it, it drops down to 30%.  I ordered a new one, but UPS couldn't find my new address, and sent it back to Great Call.

I may just go replace it at Best Buy.  It's so important to have a phone, and I don't have a land line.  My old one is several years old, and I think it's wearing out.  I wasn't able to get a signal in Canyon Country for almost two weeks.  I think with the power outages the towers were affected.  I am careful not to drive at night, and  make sure  to choose highways that have call boxes at the side of the road.

I am glad that I still have an old fashioned address book, because if I were dependent on my phone, I would have been out of luck.  What is your phone situation?

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Tick Fire Update

Hi Everyone,

Thank you to those who called and wrote to check up on me in the Tick Fire.  I am safe at the cabin.  I have been in touch with several of my neighbors.  The fire was burning a block from my cottage.  I am shocked that many of the people on my street have chosen not to evacuate.  They will let people out, but not back in...

I have offered space in my home to several people in the area.  I would be afraid to stay there in this situation.  The fire moves so quickly.  The heat is incredibly intense. 

I tried to return yesterday to water my garden and feed my chicken, but all of the roads leading into town were closed.  They weren't allowing any foot traffic, either. Thankfully, one of my neighbors is taking care of my chicken for me.  She took all of the kids over with her, and they had a fun time.  It can be stressful being cooped up in the house in this kind of situation.  People are running out of things like milk, bread, and other staples.  We don't realize how quickly we go through them.

It made me realize how important it is to have a stockpile, cash, gas in the car, a bag packed, and all of your documents.  Fortunately, I am prepared, and brought everything with me.  My intuition had told me to pack my Suze Orman valuables box and my passport.  I do wish I had packed all of my hand knit sweaters, though.  Oh well.  So far, our houses are still standing.

I will answer your blogs as soon as possible.  I have limited Internet access at the library.

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From the Cold to the Sunshine

view of the mountains on our last hike; it feels otherworldly up there

It's been interesting traveling back and forth between the cottage and the cabin.  The weather is SO different!  I wear sun dresses and sandals at the cottage.  The roses and zinnias are still in bloom.  The artichoke plant from last year is coming back to life.  The hanging baskets are colorful with pink geraniums in bloom.  I love sitting out in the sunshine on the porch.

Lula takes herself up to bed early

Meanwhile, back at the cabin,  I have a fire in the fireplace constantly.  I close off the lower living room and kitchen, and the rooms become warm and toasty.  The heat rises, and by the time I go to bed, the bedrooms are also comfortably heated, without turning on the gas heater.  

I went to an interesting seminar on safe hiking at the local hardware store in Wrightwood.  It was excellent information.  I have been carrying a backpack now when I hike.  It's so important to pack identification, warm clothes, water, matches, first aid supplies, your health insurance information, and food.  You just never know what will happen. You can also help other people in need if you run into them along the way.  

Chris, the man who gave the lecture, works in search and rescue.  He told us that many people just go out hiking with nothing, and they end up lost, or in the dark without a compass, map, or knowledge of where they are.  It can happen really quickly this time of year.  Once I got disoriented on a hike in New Mexico.  I had just moved there.  I ended up asking my dog, "Where's the car?"  She hiked straight down the mountain.  I was all confused and turned around in my mind.  In actuality, we were just above my guest house, but I couldn't see it, because the incline was so steep.  What a close call.

Chris told us to have a flashlight,  as well.  The older I get, the more conservative I become.  I also carry pepper spray and a rod iron bar.  Hiking boots with well defined tread make a big difference, too.  I have some snow boots on order.  They're made in Canada, so I'm sure they're excellent quality.  I have a feeling it is going to snow soon.  I can smell it in the air; it reminds me of my childhood in Seattle.  We shall see...

What do you take with you when you walk or hike?

Thank you for your comments.  They add so much talent and energy to the blog.  Please comment in English.  I'm sorry, but comments with links will not be published.  If you enjoy the posts here, please share them. It may take a few days for comments to appear, as they are moderated.   

Planning For the End of Life

Most people don't like to think about how they are going to die, but it is something that we are all going to experience. Sometimes death comes as a shock. People get in accidents, or they could have a heart attack or a stroke.  Sometimes it is a  slower process, with time to prepare.

I have watched several of my animals die, and have been there with them until the end.  It always feels kinder to me when we put our pets to sleep. If they aren't going to get better, and they are suffering, this can be a way to assist them on their journey into the afterlife.

When my mom was dying, I felt like I was the only one who knew what was happening. She had taken several falls, and was losing her balance. She wasn't able to keep food down, except for soup or broth. She threw up the Thanksgiving dinner that I made, but tried to hide it from me. I still knew. My dad told me that she was sleeping twenty of the twenty-four hours a day.

When I talked with her on the phone, she sounded at the end of her wits. "I don't know what's wrong!" she gasped.  After first asking her if she wanted to know what I thought,  I voiced my feelings. "I think that your body is shutting down," I explained. I had read that the Chinese stop eating and drinking when they  are ready to die. Many animals isolate themselves in nature.

"I guess I'm going to have to make up my mind to die," she answered. I told her that I would pray that she would have a painless and peaceful passing, and suggested that she do the same. It had gotten to the point that she couldn't move, and everything hurt. She could hardly talk.

"I'll let you go; you sound tired," I told her.  "I'll talk to you tomorrow," she agreed. That was our last conversation. The next morning my dad phoned and quietly told me that she had died. He asked me to write her obituary.  That always made an impression on me. My mother was very strong, decisive, and disciplined. She even exited her body that way. That was four years ago. I am so glad that we had that conversation. Many people can't discuss it. We also had a hospice team that came in, checked on her, and eliminated all of the medications that she was taking. I was so relieved that she didn't suffer, any longer than she had. Have you experienced death with someone close to you?

Thank you for your comments. They add so much talent and energy to the blog. Please comment in English. I'm sorry, but comments with links will not be published.