Comments
I will gloss over several decades. I kept finding that I could not tolerate the physical demands of having a job and being able to work 40 hours a week. I had a disability that was so hidden that even I did not know about it. I have defective collagen synthesis (a genetic disorder), and the result is that all of my ligaments and tendons are made out of inferior material. I have loose joints resulting in clumsiness and a tendency to injure myself in falls and other mishaps. When I was 47 I was finally diagnosed, and it explained so much. Since then I have tried to have an easier life.
I was living in the San Diego area again from 1986 until late in 2004. I had lost my darling mother tragically in 2003 (hospital malpractice leading to hellish ten weeks of decline followed by death). I needed a new start, and my husband was ready for one too. We moved to the Iowa City area to be near my mother's 2 sisters. They needed us and we needed to be needed. We figured we would be helping them for a few years. Mary died in 2014 at age 96, and Doris is still kicking. She has dementia to the point that the present can't go into long term memory, but she is wonderful in the present and good on the old days. I spend a few hours with Doris every day and take care of her financial affairs.
We love Iowa. It has a population about the size of that of San Diego County. You folks have way too many people out there! We were back about 4 years ago and could not believe the change after 8 years.
