So, There I Was

Does that mean "we gals" should stick to "simple things," Abe?

Annie

Ann, your sensitivity fails to consider a simple statement. Simplicity is wonderful. Simplicity is earthy. Simplicity means getting to the point without lots of unnecessary fluff. Simplicity in the case mentioned meant a shining light sparkling as a gem. Why are you so complex? A compliment taken as something negative?

I thought the little emoticon along with my casual signature would indicate a light comment, Abe. No need to react so strongly.

Ann

So, There I was. . . .

Decorating the Christmas Tree. I have lovely ornaments that have been chosen over many years. Mostly, they are fancy birds, glitzy angels, snowflakes (gold and glittery and white) irredecent stars.....many things that caught my fancy, none more than a couple of dollars each package of several.

To be continued...

I stand back and look at it with joy.

When I think back into my dismal childhood and the lack of joy, Christmas or not, I look at this tree that we (my David and I) have created with not much money with the expression of our creatiive hearts, the love we have for each other and the belief that one creates their own universe. I hope I can post a picture.

Love,

Bety

I won't be here Christmas so I don't need a tree. I did hang a few balls around the house on plants...

I appreciate simplicity and complexity - depends on the time of day.

So, There I Was, not hearing much of anything said to me.  I am treated as if I am without mental faculties, kind of less that normal, retarded, the trash heap of humanity. 
I remember it from my youth, only then it was blindness. 
"You could see if you wanted to!"  
"You could hear if you wanted to."

What painful, ignorant, trashy, words!
Yet, this day, I cannot hear and have heard the same rapartee.  When will it ever come around?  When will the persons saying these mindless words shut up and understand that deafness is an affliction that the mind cannot fix?   
Why cannot insurance help this?  It does not.  It does not.  You can be blind and deaf and insurance will not give a hoot.

Betty said:
"What painful, ignorant, trashy, words!
Yet, this day, I cannot hear and have heard the same rapartee.  When will it ever come around?  When will the persons saying these mindless words shut up and understand that deafness is an affliction that the mind cannot fix?   
Why cannot insurance help this?  It does not.  It does not.  You can be blind and deaf and insurance will not give a hoot."

Betty, it is so sad that people lack understanding.  It appears that some don't want to understand.  Help is available to those that can afford the high premiums. 
Often school children get poor grades from deficiencies in hearing or eyesight.  Having children examined early is very important. As we get older, deficiencies in eyesight and hearing is a normal thing, however it becomes a point of irritation to those who lack understanding.   Asking someone to repeat what they said can cause them to shout at you.  Not hearing is different from not comprehending.
Healthcare should be available to everyone, not just to those who can afford high insurance premiums.  And, it doesn’t stop there.  If one applies to an insurer because of a deficiency, pre-existing conditions are not covered.   That is just one reason why the Obama healthcare program is good. 
Preventive health care saves money and lives.  Going to the doctor when the illness is severe is costly and may be too late.  Suffering doesn’t play a role with insurers.  Collecting premiums is their goal.

My sight and hearing have, fortunately, always been keen and seem to remain so, same with smell.  I was so blessed when Mother finally agreed to hearing aids.  She refused for many years because of the cost.  However, not hearing becomes a safety matter as well as inconvenience.

Medicare does cover some small bit regarding hearing aids.  I don't know, but I do know the type of hearing aid did not appeal to Mother.  Some medicare plans also have provisions for glasses, of course not the glamorous ones.

I'm always getting hearing aid adds in the mail that say they are looking for people to "try them at no cost" but I'm sure there's a kick there.

Mother used to tell me she was losing her hearing, not her mind.  People did treat her like she was an idiot at the grocery or places where they had to repeat.  She gained ten years of youth by getting those hearing aids.

There are social services in Florida for filling gaps for such things.  Especially when it comes to hearing, if it's fixable, it sure makes a difference in safety and communication.

Unfortunately, ignorant people are everywhere.  Spending much time with my mother in winters has made me very aware of the difficulties from hearing loss.

Today, I dug out of the drawer my ex-husband's wife's Sam's club hearing aid, (one for the left ear) out of the drawer. I put it in my ear around 2.  The birds shouted at me.  I wore it in the hopes that the large echo would subside by the time David got home.  I heard things that I never have heard before...
I feel that if he went the 400 feet to the gate and whispered, I could hear what he had to say.  I have taken this aid to the HearX people in Sun City to be adjusted.  They told me that they did not sell it and could care less about adjusting....please pay us 2000 dollars.  
Love,
Betty

Betty, that is a good example of how some health care providers view health care.  They care about how much they can earn - not the care of the patient.

Hearing aids can be costly.  They try to sell you the latest and most expensive.  Even if you take the less expensive, the cost of batteries makes the wearing costly.

I was tested and found a loss of hearing in one ear.  They wanted to fit me for both ears.  I insisted that I just needed something that I could use when needed.  They insisted that I must wear it all the time and on both ears.  I told them to keep their aids. 
I'm the customer.  IMO they should sell me what I want, not what they want to sell.
I'm doing fine without the hearing aid, however that may change in the future. 
When I took one home for testing and went to a restuarant, the noises were so garbled and loud that I felt it was worse, not better.  Then then wanted to sell me a system that would separate the noises.  No thanks.

My mother paid a fortune for her hearing aid and the continued battery change.  In this day of technology, there's something wrong with this picture when a computer is $250 and everyone is hooked up to several gadgets yet a health need, a hearing aid, is astronomically expensive and complicated.

Agree DK.  Siometimes it seems as though the producers don't want technological improvement if it affects their income.  That's just another reason why health care "control" (government) is needed.  If the market is opened for competition, improvement follows.  Within the health care industry much is controlled by firms that have strong lobbies.  JMO

So, There I was, looking at my miniature perfume bottle collection on the shelf of my wonderful office.  Most of them are still full of whatever perfume was in them to begin with.  Tonight, I opened the little bottle, about an inch tall including the fancy lid and touched the lid to my arm.  It was called Oscar, made in France.  I waltzed out to where my David was watching the TV.  He almost fainted!

"My God!" he excalimed. 
"I thought it was kind of a nice smell." said I.
"Wash that shit off!" said he.

So, I did.  I guess it is one of those perfumes that stays with you through the washing with dawn dish soap and a shower. 
Love,
Betty

Betty, that's priceless!  I think the elan of perfume has left in favor of the clean, fresh smell of a healthy lifestyle.  I hate it when someone sits next to me wearing perfume and the scents I used to like - Emeraud Coty - make me ill today.

I still like Old Spice on a man, though, just a bit from say, aftershave.  Not overwhelming.

DK, I know what you mean.  There is a clerk in the Walmart that smells of Tirgress....Wheeeehew!  hahaha.  I liked Old Spice myself.  My David wears Lagerfeld and Joop.  Not doused in it, but just a dab. 

Sometimes, and old lady will pass me in a store and smells like spider lilies.  If ever I can find out what that scent is, I would buy it.  It is clean and fresh smelling.  Not heavy. 
Love,
Betty

Spider lilies are magnificent!

I wrote a short story entitled "Spider Lily."

Betty, a couple of my close hs friends were very much ibto the original Estee Lauder fragrance, and were determined that it would get any girl the man she wanted. They had me so convinced that I bought a very tiny, very expensive bttle, and wore it on a date with Bill (my ex for newcomers), Fortunately, it seems, I didn't care for it myself, so I stopped using it.

Bill didn't say anything at the tie, but later, upon hearing more about the theory, said, "Was that what you were wearing? Da**, I almost broke up with you because of it.

I will find the story, DK. 
I lived in a kind of shack that used to be a chicken house until I put some magic into it, and outside the back door grew spider lilies.  The ugliness of my life at that time was large, but every time I went out that door, the smell of those lilies would drift up to me.  It was a reminder about the "lilies of the field" and I think of them every time my life gets hard to deal with.  You are wonder, do do know that!
Love,
Betty

I'll find it...

Ann, I remember the Estee Lauder stuff.  I think that Penny's still sells some of it.  Remember Channel No. 5?  I was too poor to ever buy that but I would go to the fancy department stores and spray myself with the samples.  hahah.  Even this day, if ever I needed to wear a perfume, I would do that.  Alas, I have no occassion to wear anything except shower soap and shampoo.  Works for me.  I never did like the smell of flex shampoo.  There is a fabric softener by downey that smells like that.  It is so offensive to me.  Funny how noses are.
Love,
Betty

Dear Diane,
I have saved and printed the story..
You are beautiful, inside and out.  I will read it this night.
Love,
Betty

Betty Fasig wrote:

Ann, I remember the Estee Lauder stuff.  I think that Penny's still sells some of it.  Remember Channel No. 5?  I was too poor to ever buy that but I would go to the fancy department stores and spray myself with the samples.  hahah.  Even this day, if ever I needed to wear a perfume, I would do that.  Alas, I have no occassion to wear anything except shower soap and shampoo.  Works for me.  I never did like the smell of flex shampoo.  There is a fabric softener by downey that smells like that.  It is so offensive to me.  Funny how noses are.
Love,
Betty

Today I am into Dove's Green Tea and Cucumber body splash, shower gel, shampoo, and deoderant. I can get it at the supermarket and don't have to make a special trip to the mall. When one hit's 70, convenience is all. 

Annie