Jacquie, you're right. You have been blessed in many ways.
I have a wonderful husband and son, but no other real family. Our son lives at the other end of the country, so we only see him twice a year- Christmas and a week in summer. I haven't spoken to my only brother since he failed to show up for our Mother's funeral 3 years ago. As far as I'm concerned, I have no siblings. So if I live to be your age, I'll be in the same boat, or worse.
My Mom lived to be 90. She had been widowed at the tender age of 44. She had 2 kids- me and my older brother who moved to Florida 40 years ago and only visited his Mom 3 or 4 times in those years, and then only for an hour or two. She was terribly arthritic and could only get around in a mobility chair the last few years of her life. When she was 80 she moved into a retirement community. It was a wonderful place and she loved it there. (She had outlived her 2 sisters and all of her friends). It was a Catholic facility which promised to keep her for the rest of her life, even if she rain out of money. And she did run out of money and I had to put her on Medicaid for the last 2 years. She started in independent living and later assisted living, but she never had to move from her original apartment. When she was on assisted living, the nurses came to her. She often told me how fortunate she was to have lived there and made so many friends. The facility was only a few miles from my house, I saw her often, and, after I retired, I spent several days a week with her.
There are nice people and nice places out there for seniors. You are Catholic, aren't you? (I remember your photo of the dog chewing your rosary!). Maybe your church could help you connect with other seniors.
Karen
