Catching Up/ Grandma's Hands

Ok, where was I?

Oh yeah, I finally got moved to PA. Started my job......... which was right after the State had made their inspection, and found many, many faults with the facility. I will be busy for a while. Next time I will unload about the work I had to do, but for now, let's say I am working and loving it.

The move sucked. People lie.

#1. I rented my van online. I paid attention. I did everything they said. They said to move a one bedroom apartment TO a one bedroom apartment, I would need a 10 foot van. Well, evidently they didn't have 20-some boxes that are marked "crafts". And when you pick a truck up Friday night, to be returned Monday morning, you don't have time to negotiate.

I went to pick up the truck, looked at it. Said " it ain't gonna fit", and asked about a larger van. I could get one........ Monday morning! Well, that would have been negating my contract in less than 24 hours, so not only would I have had to pay the $48. for not keeping that contract, I would have had to do yet Another contract, and changed my date, etc. I could have done it, but on Monday, everyone would be working, and I would have been unloading a 16 ft van with nobody to help. (Life's like that, I'm coming to discover.)

Sooooo, I took the 10 ft, said I will get the important things here to PA and store the rest till I can get back to retrieve them. Oops, I forgot I was not the only one helping me move.

I had 4 guys from my work helping. I was trying to arrange stuff as they were running up and down stairs packing. One would say, "What do you want to go next?: I would point, and in the meantime, three others would be grabbing boxes and running.

Long story short, I drove straight through from Indy. We unpacked in Shiela's garage Sunday. And then I discovered that all the things I really Wanted to Bring???? Were still in Indy. I have summer clothes I can't wear when its flurrying. I have a billion boxes of craft stuff I should have trashed. I have dishes with no kitchen to put them in. Important papers? Winter clothing? Desk? Utility table? Uh, those are in Indy.

#2. And THEN, I was stupid. I forgot my age. When they asked at my new job when I could start, I said, I will be back in PA on Oct. 26th. So I think I will start on Nov 5th. Sounds good. Unless you have a shithouse full of stuff to do!

#3. Directionally challenged, I headed off to get fingerprinted. (If you have not lived in the state for two consecutive years, you need to have an FBI fingerprint check run; and they gave me directions to get to the one they use for work.) Two hours after I started, I came back home with no prints done. Never did find that place. I have since found out that any State Police barracks can do them, so I went to where I knew one was! And am therefore legal!

#4. Then I had to have a physical. I tried to do this in two days. Not good!! The doctor must have been near to the State Police that I couldn't find, because it took me forever to find them too. I finally called when I got lost for the third time. And with 8 minutes to spare. (This is with leaving home two hours before my scheduled physical. ) Turns out I was only 5 minutes from them, so I whizzed over. Failed my physical!!

I have never in my LIFE failed a physical! My blood pressure was wayyyyyyyy above stroke level! This scared me, and therefore took my mind off failing a physical. So the next day I went to an Urgent Care. They gave me blood pressure medication ( a water pill, if you will), and my bp dropped considerably. However, they said see my family doctor. Uh, I haven't been here for 20 years. My old family doctor passed away many years ago. And while in Indy, I had none. When I was sick, I would go to a clinic.

Thank Goodness Shiela's doctor is in my group for insurance at work. He agreed to be my family doctor, and perscribed yet Another medication for blood pressure.... an ACE inhibitor. The two medications now have my speeding pressure down to the legal limit. However, he does need my medical records. Those???? Are in Indy. Go figure. (And, now you can guess why my blood pressure soared!)

That should catch ya up.

Now, as to the "Grandma's hands" part.

I don't know about you, but I never really examined the palms of my hands. I know the backs have been aging along with me. I see them often enough. I grease them with "age defying cream". (That's what the box says, and I know the box don't lie!!)

But tonight, after raking leaves with Shiela all day, and then putting up Christmas lights outside, when I'm sure the wind chill was 0....... or maybe 20........... I looked to see if I had blisters.

I held my hands up, palms toward me....... and looked. OH MY GOD!! I was looking at Grandma's hands!! They are wrinkled!! I have way too much skin to cover the bones, so it lays in folds!! I can't see my lifeline in my palm because it is buried in a wrinkle!! I remember commenting to my grandmother once about her hands. She said, "That comes from hard work, honey." Oh Gawd!!

Test this. Hold your hands out, palms facing you. Cup your fingers just a bit, and look! Are they wrinkled? Do they look like your Grandma's hands??? Scary, ain't it!