Protest Age-ism

A couple of things have happened recently which make me think that because of my "maturity" I'm being treated differently and I don't like it!

First of all, I'm going overseas to a workshop. The workshop requires that participants have International Travel Insurance. So, I went on line to buy it and I found out that in another three months when I am 80 it becomes almost impossible to buy it and if you can buy it, it is very limited in the total coverage offered. I know some people in their 80's may not be in good health but what about those of us who are still on the move? <sigh> I guess I'll figure out what to do when the situation comes up after my birthday.

One of my credit cards furnishes my credit score periodically. Today I got a notice that I could go on line and get mine. I've done it before and it stays about the same all of the time. But this time it had dropped 50 points. Whoa! What happened? I'll tell you what happened. My credit score dropped because I do not have a mortgage, car payment or some kind of loan so that how I pay that type of debt can be evaluated. Credit card payments are evaluated separately. Can you believe that? Because I don't have debt I'm less credit worthy. I would think that a lot of mature, retired people do not have a mortgage or a car payment. Does that make us less credit worthy than younger people who have credit card debts, two car payments, college loans and a mortgage?

Have any things like this happened to you? Who wants to join my protest movement?

A Born Saleswoman

While I was back in Houston, I went to the Walgreen's that I use because I needed moisturizer, sun screen.....stuff like that. I had shopped in there before among the cosmetics and toiletries and had been helped by a tall woman with an Indian accent. But before, I had known what I wanted. This time I was going to check out some other products because the ones I was using were not keeping my skin moisturized in San Miguel's low, low humidity. Besides I had been using the same products for a long time. Maybe there was something better.

This time she saw me looking and reading labels so she came over to tell me that she had another product that had almost the same ingredients but it was on sale. Mmm....SALE. I like sales. I told her that I had been using the same product but I was looking for something better for the dry climate where I lived. She said that the sale product would be just perfect. I followed her to look at it. Before I knew it, I had bought eye cream, wrinkle cream, moisturizer with sun screen and a night cream AND then she sold me an exfoliating makeup remover with the money I had saved though the sale.

That afternoon my daughter-in-law, Betsy, had some friends over and we were talking. I told them about the saleswoman at Walgreen's. They all started laughing because they had similar experiences with her and they thought that she really knew her products and tried to find the best product at the best price for them. They thought she was an extraordinary saleswoman.

I would have never thought that an employee in the cosmetics at a local Walgreen's would have such a loyal following. She really was a born saleswoman.

Oh, did all the creams work? Well, my skin is definitely more moisturized. I think it is too late to help the wrinkles.

A Wonderful Visit with Kackie

Today I drove to Conroe to see Kackie, Ned's 93 year old Aunt, but after almost 60 years of knowing her, she is as much my Aunt as his. And I don't think she could love me more than if she had taken care of me when I was a baby. I didn't call her until this morning to tell her I was coming because I knew that she would start cooking. A late notice didn't stop her. By the time I got there she had made oatmeal raisin cookies.

She is active in her church. Still drives to church, the grocery store and doctor's office. Her little house is neat and tidy and she still wants to know about every member in the family. Then she brings me up to date on the ones I haven't seen.

Our conversation ranged from what it was like being widows, to our grown children, to finances.  Kackie talked about friends and some of the good times she and Uncle Wayne had. Out of all four couples they were really close to, only one man and she are still alive. I was very touched by that and the realization that she had outlived most of her contemporaries. I wondered how I would deal with that.

She has had some heart issues and now has a pacemaker. Her medications seem to be slowing her down a bit and while her brain may compute a little slower, it can still find any and all data. When I hugged her goodbye she felt so fragile but her hug was strong. Visiting with her today was an inspiration on how to age gracefully.

What Would You Do?

Port Aransas - December 2012

This week over dinner with two couples, the conversation drifted to family members and friends who required care because of a variety of health and age conditions. Some were in the USA in assisted living or nursing homes and others were here in San Miguel. The cost of care for those in the USA was mind boggling but in general, even with the staggering costs, no one seemed to feel that the level of care was at the level it should be. On the other hand we talked about several people we knew in San Miguel who required someone with them around the clock as well as close supervision by medical personnel and we all agreed that they were receiving excellent care at a fraction of the cost found in the USA.

Everyone seemed to feel that they would rather be in Mexico if they were in such a health situation but there was also kind of an assumption that the spouse would be here with them to coordinate the care. Then one of them asked me, "Billie, what would you do? Would you stay here in Mexico?" Meaning would I stay in Mexico if I had a long term illness. I can't say that I haven't thought about that in the past and certainly I've thought about it in the last 10 months since Ned died. But it has been more of a passing thought not anything that would generate a plan.

Those of you who live here in Mexico, have you thought about this issue? As you get older and perhaps incapacitated with illness are you going to stay here in Mexico or go back to the USA or Canada or somewhere closer to family? What are some of the issues that figure into what you are thinking that you would do?