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Have you seen my glasses? I'm totally white-blind without them. I found an old pair in an old purse, with only one lens, so I've wadded up a Kleenex to block the other 'empty' eye. I look like a polite pirate. Or a cowardly one.

I'm trying to pack my stuff, because I'm moving - I know not when or where. It has to do with social workers stepping in when my gov't slashed my pension. No more princess on the hill for me. Gotta find a studio at half-price.

Ah, truth be kind. I can't pack because I'm 66yo and had a recent concussion (May). So I tried baby-steps - packing my precious mugs, bought on-line from museums all over the world. One layer of paper towel to keep it clean, another layer of bubble wrap, then tape it overmuch. I think you could play baseball with them. Pack one, do e-mail. Pack another.

Every time I wrap 4 mugs, I need a nap. In 2 days, I have created a layer and half in a box and slept like death. Vaguely I recall screaming at the telephone - somebody named Tiffany - I dunno. I gotta take that phone away from the bed.

How long are these Holidays supposed to last? I'm alone - oh, all right I should go out and talk to somebody. But I'm busy being confused and partially wrapped and finding the end of the tape that ripped. It's the 29th, gotta last 4 more days.

I'm so weak, I gotta hire somebody but not now, right? And to think I don't drink or smoke. Can't think of an appealing sin.

Thanks for reading.

I'm sorry you have to move from where you live; you seemed comfortable there.

Why did they slash your pension?

You're doing the right thing----taking it one step at a time.

Thank you, that's helpful, encouraging.

The Fed Tax told me that they had reviewed my file since retirement (life time?) and they believe I owe them $5000 - did i tell you this? So they're taking it off the top of my monthly pension direct deposit. Not much I can do. I mean a payment - like, they gave me terms, they're taking it out of my direct deposit monthly, off my pension. This is hard to say.

All of a sudden some really nice social workers popped up out of somewhere and worked a few miracles. I felt better with that support and they found some people to help me. But then they disappeared for the holidays.

I've been packing mugs. My precious mugs from European museum on-line shops. They have to be packed best so I'm doing it first. The contrast is kind of tragic - ah, listen to me, the melodrama - but the mug from the Tate Museum in London, packed preciously to go live in a slum. Melodrama again, sorry. But it hits me every time I pick up a gorgeous mug. I wrap them with paper towels to keep them clean (not gonna wash the whole thing) and then a length of bubble wrap, and then a layer of wide tape. they're so solid, they're like baseballs.

Where I'm going, I think, is the same sort of place (independent 55+) but cheaper and a studio instead of 3.5. I'm going to look at it in January. It's a gift from the heavens but it's hard not to look at as a slide back down to where I lived
as a child.

They forbid solitudinazation! whatever the word. But they serve lunch free on weekdays. I can socialize that far. Actually, the reason I moved in here was to avoid becoming isolated. But then the Official Bldg Witch got me in her claws, which is bad for one's social life. Then the concussion - good for the social life, consisting of many kindly nurses. But I'll never swim again because I still get dizzy. I'm 66yo, my teeth fell out and the rest will be extracted soon. Last night I lost my glasses - wearing old broken glasses with one lens.

Thanks for writing.

My thoughts are with you. I see this sort of 55+ place in my future as well. As a person who values solitude, I would find group lunches difficult too! But I hope it turns out to be a happy situation, once you get over the shell-shock of having to deal with a sudden and unexpected, major life change. Take care of yourself and keep us updated!

I hope the apartment you're looking at is to your liking.

Don't think of it as a demotion----think of it as a place which is easier to keep clean.