THE ICO"S OF AGING

The Issues, Concerns and Opportunities (ICO'S) of aging can be many, some good and some not so good.  Much depends on how well we took care of ourselves in our younger years, family history, the relationships we maintained over the years and the new relationships we develop.  

With old age and living alone comes a sense of freedom limited by health issues and financial means .  One big side effect of living alone is loneliness.  Over time one becomes stuck in their ways and the thought of finding another partner seems unfair, not practical and slowly fades away.   What Celia and I had together can not be replaced.   Over 20 plus years we grew together, respecting each others routine and accepting the lifestyle we both developed.   That does not disappear abruptly after her departing this world over two years ago, but over time somethings change and I get into my own rut.   Hard to imagine another woman putting up with me now at this stage of life.

Like Katherine Hepburn said, " men and women are not meant to live together, just occasionally visit."

GOING PAPERLESS

Today I opened up the envelope containing my insurance premium that arrived in the mail last week and is due in a few days.   I was going to write a check and mail it in the envelope provided along with the payment stub.   Well, there was no return envelope or payment stub, just a statement with instructions on how to pay online or by phone.   I tried both with no success.   Online it would not accept my credit card and by phone the automated voice wanted me to repeat everything until I got frustrated and hung up.   In the end I wrote a check and mailed to my insurance agent with a note expressing my frustrations and asking them to figure it out.   

THE FINAL DEED

This task is one I have put off for some time thinking I will get to it tomorrow, then another year goes by.  We all live in denial about when the end might come.    I'm not sure how many times I have sent off for literature on the topic of what I want done after I depart this world to save my children from dealing with it all.   In many ways it is unbelievable that we have to buy a one way ticket to leave this world in peace.   Two things for sure in this life are death and taxes.   The other day a representative with the Neptune Society called me based on information I requested and talked me through the process, informing me of discounts and benefits for being a veteran, plus allowing monthly payments with no finance charge.  It was painless.  First of all, he asked me if I had access to my email account on my phone and I replied yes, but first let me find my phone, then I realized it was in my hand.   He did not comment, but probably thought this guy could go at any minute.  I could only laugh at myself.    After it was all said and done I asked the question, "what happens if I die before the balance is paid\off?"  He replied that my children would be charged the balance.  Don't worry kids, I plan to pay it off soon.   The peace of mind is worth it.  

TAXES

Why do old people have to pay income taxes when living on a fixed income?   Yesterday, with much frustration I completed our 2020 federal and state income tax returns showing us with an income half way between the poverty rate and the average income for a household of two.    It seems like a complete waste of time for both us and the government to assemble all the different forms, bank statements, social security and pension statements and figure out our net income after taking the standard deductions, which does not seem to take in the rising medical costs or depreciation of our aging bodies.  The yearly cost-of -living increase usually never amounts to a net income gain as the increase in health and Medicare premiums take all that away and more.   With the tax withheld from my pension it covers the amount we owe for both federal and state taxes, plus give us a small refund which is just enough to pay for the online tax service that does all the calculations and filing.     I believe the tax preparation services are the only parties making any money out of this madness, sure isn't the government.  

Kanipe Fundraising

 Friday night we had our last big fundraising event for the construction of campgrounds at Mildred Kanipe Park.  It was a five-course gourmet dinner at $65/plate with a different wine for each serving. Many local artists and authors offered their works for sale, with most of their profits going to benefit Kanipe Park. The event was held at the Umpqua Valley Arts Association's lovely building in Roseburg from 6 to 9 pm.  Most of the food and all the wine was donated, and the food was prepared by a very good caterer who also donated her services.  Mike and some others served as waiters, white napkins on trays and all.  Between servings the waiters ate and drank wine in the kitchen.  By 8 pm everyone was happy, waiters included. 

Celia was to give a brief talk thanking the community for their support, but due to her glasses mysteriously disappearing, her friend Jenny graciously offered to read it for her.  When it was all said and done, members of the Friends of Mildred Kanipe Park had to help wash the dishes, which reminded Mike of KP duty when he was in the Army.  It was an assembly line type of production with people washing, rinsing, drying and putting away.  The floor became wet due to drainage problems, but not a dish was broken, and the wine continued to flow freely until the job was done.

Our agreement with Douglas County was to raise $65,000 in six months. The County would match it with funds from Mildred's trust to construct campgrounds on the park to help make it self sufficient, making it unnecessary to clearcut 20 acres on the park to fund this project.  In less than three months the community raised almost $71,000, including a $10,000 grant from an old timber family in the County.  (see attached picture of board members)

Cheers!

Celia & Mike