I met Fran last month…at Lake Sumter Landing.

She looked healthy, happy and very much alive and well.   She was with her mom, her sisters and her daughters.

She went back to New York to be prepped for surgery on her tonsils…and that’s when they found the lymphoma and the leukemia.

She died today.

She was 42.

In August the job was posted at $25…within the last few days the price increased to $29 and change…and then today, the System Admin job in Irving, Texas  jumped to $49 and change.

I loved Irving, Texas.   I loved the thrill of Dallas Cowboy game days.   I loved the close proximity to the airport.  I loved the Lone Star Country Club in Coppell (just checked Google, it’s still there!!!).   I loved sailing and boating on Lake Grapevine.  I loved Dallas.

Two days ago I made up my mind to STAY in The Villages…to bite the bullet and get a Florida Driver’s License with the GOLD STAR…and to get a Village Resident ID.

Then the muffler fell off the car while I was on my way to the Driver’s License office.

Then I lost my Villages Gate Pass.

The only way to get another one is to bring the owner of the residence…I learned this while waiting in line to get my new Florida DL.

So armed with my new DL, and while we at The Villages Customer Service department, I asked about an ID to go with the gate pass…and, my wish to be a Village Resident was granted!!

Swimming in the recreation center pools, taking line dancing classes, playing golf, walking into Katie Belle’s whenever I want…once again, I’m one of the blessed.

All around me there are people who have all manner of experiences, really sad, exceedingly glad…family members in pain, new grandchildren being born, every spectrum of the rainbow.   My joy with the shiny new ID is dimmed by the existence, the knowledge, of the range of sorrow.  The utter helplessness of those facing and living with dementia, with health problems, loss…

When I was on the back of a Harley, not a care in the world, realizing how wonderful it was to be alive, there was always the recognition that in an instant it could all change.  Nothing has changed since those days.  The world is still both beautiful and debased, just like it has been described in newspapers and books in every decade.  I guess that’s why “they” say to LIVE IN THE MOMENT.   When I’m not focusing on what hurts, what is painful, I am able to be at peace.

Just for the moment.

That’s what it cost (in dollars) to fix my muffler and align the front tires…

I now have a wonderfully quiet automobile with a  behaved front end.

Let’s hope no one takes that sentence out of context!!

It started as intermittent clunking.  Or, perhaps you could call it clanking.   Another few feet and the intervals between clunks (clanks) lessen and then, what sounds like static while the radio is playing…one of the dual exhaust mufflers decides it’s time to meet the pavement permanently.   I turn on my caution blinking lights and I slow…in an effort to conserve fuel I always drive with the windows open…at a stop light someone points out that my muffler is scraping the road…actually asked me if I knew that my muffler was shooting sparks as I drove down the highway with my caution lights blinking.

She also told me that the car could possibly BLOW UP if I continued to drive it with sparks flying.

At that point in time I told her that blowing up didn’t sound like a bad idea…

But, as I continued down the road, figured it might not be wise to keep driving and I pulled over at the Water Oaks community and drove up to the gate house.  I had my AAA card in my hand and I asked the attendant if she would call them for me.   That’s when she said “I can’t do that, don’t you have a cell phone?”

Uh.

I surprised myself.  I calmly said to her, “Do you really think I’d stop here, with my muffler dragging, and ask you to call AAA for me IF I HAD A CELL PHONE?”

She repeated that she couldn’t make the call.

As is my pattern, I started to cry.  I don’t often do ANGRY, my frustration is evidenced with flowing tears…

She relented…told me where to park the offending car and went in to make the call.

$521 before taxes.

My Villages neighbors will be pleased with the results!!

Your blood is boiling, your senses are racing, you KNOW that you are angry, MAD AS HELL…

Someone asks you if you are still angry…

You say YES!

And then they ask you, “what are you angry about?”

Your answer…

“I don’t know, but I’m definitely pissed about something.”

This actually happened…thanks to dementia.

You make it to 81, you have your physical health, you have financial stability, you have family and people who love you…and you can’t remember why you feel the way you do…

If you ask me, definitely hell on earth.