Author Archives: ruthek

Water Power

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As a child, Wisconsin Dells was a magical place for me, wrapped in mystery, because I never got there. Friends and neighbors told me about it, but for many reasons, my parents never went anywhere if they had to stay overnight. After I was married, I traveled a lot–far away–the Midwest had little appeal for me. Finally, in the 1980's, we drove to Wisconsin Dells. The original attraction of the dells was rock formations and caves carved out of sandstone (?) by the Wisconsin River. Now the area is so filled with water parks and other "attractions" the river and the dells are hardly noticeable. I've been thinking about this today because of the pictures on the news of Lake Delton breaching the dam that formed it and rushing to the Wisconsin River taking several houses and part of a highway along with it.

One of the attractions for us was the studio of H. H. Bennett, a photographer who arrived at the Dells after the Civil War. Although ostensibly a portrait studio, Bennett's real interest was photographing the Dells. We bought several wonderful photos printed from his original negatives. One of the photos shows the river flowing right next to the buildings in the city, as if it was a street. Evidently the river flowed right through the town before they built a dam further upstream, not the one that failed today. It was hard to watch those houses being destroyed by the water, but there is also something satisfying watching nature reclaim its own.

Thinking about it inspired me to do more research. I found the photo here, which turns out to be Milwaukee, not Wisconsin Dells, as I had been told.

My first film review

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Last night, Robin, Steve and I went to see "Young @ Heart," the movie about the chorus of elders who perform rock and roll. We all enjoyed the film and all had a similar question: were we laughing with or at these people? At the beginning of the film there are extreme closeups of some of the singers. You saw the hair on one woman's chin and someone else's bad teeth, causing lots of giggles in the audience. All three of us were uncomfortable. Closeups (not so extreme) were used throughout, probably in an attempt to simulate intimacy. I felt some of this was effective, showing older people warts and all. But those first shots were unnecessary. Also, I noticed few closeups of the better looking members of the group.

What pleased me most was how dedicated they were to being in the group, maintaining a high level of professionalism and performing. I think all of us, as we age, need to find passion and commitment to something outside of ourselves. It's what makes life worth living.

Update

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I feel good again today, but I wouldn't want you to think it's been an easy week. Tuesday morning–6:30 Tuesday morning, I woke up with palpitations that continued for two hours, then suddenly stopped and everything seemed back to normal. I waited to call the cardiologist until after having a lovely lunch at Frick Park Cafe with old friends. The nurse told me to come in the next day and get a 24 hour halter monitor, which I will return to them in another couple of hours.

I don't know what the monitor will show. I didn't feel great on Tuesday, but that may have been fear (and guilt that I didn't call the Dr. immediately). I didn't feel so great yesterday either. Today I feel terrific again. I have already done my leg exercises, cleaned my kitchen and accomplished several other things I've been putting off. So the monitor may not show anything. The next step would be a smaller monitor I would wear for a month. Since I can't shower with this one, I can't imagine how the other one will work. Hope I don't have to find out.

Lost day today

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Went for my usual long walk with the walking group and totally wiped out. I guess it was too soon to do it. I spent the rest of the day wiped out. Tomorrow will be better.

Here are a few more photos from New York, from my birthday. This is Julia, who has just lost a lot of weight.

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On our way to the theater we stopped at the Renaissance Hotel in Times Square to use the facilities. I fell in love with this basin in the ladies room, and didn't realize I was in the picture when I took it. So this is my birthday portrait.

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While we were waiting for the play to begin I saw this wonderful image in the lobby mirrors. I wish there had been more light so the picture would be sharp.

Reflections

Getting back to normal

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Thanks to all of you who left comments and sent emails. I'm doing just fine–getting back to my normal routine. According to my doctor the only thing I shouldn't do is raise my right arm over the shoulder–not so easy as it sounds, but doable. Doesn't want me to drive yet; Robin is chauffeuring me around. She's been wonderful, doing everything she can with much love. Daughters are good, that one, anyway.

If the blog looks strange to you, it's because Typepad has given me some extra features. There is only a fine line between features and bugs. My discussion with them is ongoing. Sometimes one ought to leave well enough alone.

Did you catch the item on the news about the latest crane that fell in NYC? It's 2 blocks from Renee's apartment. We decided when we first saw it to avoid that corner. It looked risky even to us non-engineering types.

There is construction everywhere you turn in NYC. Here are some pictures of work on the Second Ave. Subway, just down the street from us.

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Whatever the truck is hauling is part of the subway construction, although I certainly couldn't tell you what it was. Caused a huge traffic tieup as he kept jockeying for position.

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One of my favorite things in NYC is a street fair. I've been to so many they've actually gotten a little boring. I keep going for those Mozzarrepas–a round corn arrepa sliced horizontally in the center with mozzarella cheese between the slices, then grilled until the cheese melts. It's obviously another thing I shouldn't eat, but I only get it once or twice a year. Here is a slide show of street fair pics.

Did you miss me?

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It wasn’t because I was lazy, although I am; I didn’t know what to write until I could tell you the outcome of this story. I’m not the same person I was a week ago. I have been changed forever, transformed.

While I was having such a good time in New York something else was happening to me, something that happened before but only briefly and with weeks between episodes. On Tuesday night, returning from the lovely visit with my friends, my heart started beating very hard and fast: palpitations, then several occurrences I had trouble describing: not vertigo, not lightheadedness, not really feeling faint, but feeling like the world tilted for a couple of seconds. One of the times this happened previously was just before I had a doctor’s appointment. The doctor gave me some instructions about it, but didn’t seem concerned—intermittent palpitations being hard to diagnose. The Tuesday night episode seemed a little worse than previously, but I decided to ignore it.

Most of my life when I’ve had something wrong, it’s gone away by itself, or it wasn’t very important—obviously all were aggravations I could live with. This time, although I wasn’t ready to acknowledge it, was different. Saturday morning I met City Mary. The plan was to see Indiana Jones, which could be the subject for a different post, go to lunch, then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, that weekend being the 125th anniversary of its opening.

The palpitations began at lunch. Being in denial and convinced of my omnipotence, I didn’t say anything. We walked to the subway, down three flights of stairs to the express trains where I experienced a really bad world tilt, then up to Brooklyn Bridge Park where I told Mary the whole story. She had never walked across the bridge. The walkway was crowded; the bridge had gotten lots of publicity on this anniversary. I walked part way up, found a bench and waited for Mary to go to the actual bridge part. She did not go across, but came back to help me. This time I was really in bad shape, still in denial. We went back toward the apartment and I began to feel better. I considered going to an emergency room but decided it wasn’t a great place to be on a holiday weekend alone. I spent Sunday evening and all day Monday being quiet and very careful of what I ate. I wanted to get back to Pittsburgh before I saw a doctor.

Tuesday morning I took a taxi to the train station and finally called my doctor’s office to try to get in there first thing Wednesday. They advised me to go to an emergency room in NY, and if not, to go right to the emergency room when I got off the train. I opted for the train and spent most of the nine hours contemplating my mortality, thinking about how my life would change, all the things I would have to change–not easy. Of course, I still didn’t know what was wrong or what would happen.

The emergency room was a zoo, but they take people with chest pains very quickly. And are you thinking, she never said anything about chest pains? My chest did feel very heavy all day Monday, so let’s call that chest pains. I felt fine Tuesday, all Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. I was beginning to wonder why I was there when, about 10:15 am, my heart started racing. The nurse came over and quickly took an EKG. About 10:30 the terrible tilt sensation came again, longer and worse than before. They told me afterward, my heart had stopped for about 8 seconds. Not too much later I was told I would be getting a pacemaker.

I’m writing this on Friday morning, pacemaker implanted, almost ready to go home. I think I will be able to resume most of my usual activities, although I don’t think I’ll be going to Chicago next week as planned. The worst part of it is that I am now a captive of the pharmaceutical industry for the rest of my life, something I’ve been trying to avoid.

Ronni Bennett wrote a post about elder adaptability; essentially how we all adapt to the changes in our bodies and our circumstances. I certainly think I have done that. I no longer run to catch buses, I know that my reflexes have slowed and take that into consideration when I drive. I’ve made a lot of adaptations for my poor vision. I could go on and on. The one thing I wasn’t willing to consider was poor health. My mother was a world-class hypochondriac and wasn’t willing to think about anyone else’s ailments. When I was sick I was doing it to her. Early on I learned to stay healthy, a habit I maintained until last week. So it really took me by surprise. I don’t go to doctors easily. This is the first time I’ve ever been to an emergency room for me. I don’t really know what constitutes an emergency or illness serious enough to go for immediate help. This whole thing has been a learning experience, but I don’t know if it will apply the next time.

Birthday day

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Up at 7:30. Lazy day. 8 am, Julia calls–make plans–meet at Union Square. 8:15 am, Julia calls–not Union Square 3rd Ave, NW corner. 8:30 am, Julia calls–forgot Happy Birthday.
9 am, Carol calls, sings traditional family happy birthday. Very nice.
10:15, argue with myself about doing leg exercises. Finally do exercises.
11:30, shower and dress.
12: 30, leave apartment. Beautiful day, bright sunshine, cool breeze. Woman walking next to me asks, do I think we'll miss the construction fences from the Second Avenue Subway? She misses scaffolding when it comes down. Miss 3 buses. wait–wait–wait. Bus comes. Wheelchair goes in first. 20-30 people wait at each stop. Very slow bus–no hurry–fun people watching: mother and young girl with violin case; woman with huge thighs, makes me feel sylph-like; elder woman (like me) with 80's elegance (not like me)–gold rings, bracelets, large gold earrings, perfect large white-blond hair, makeup, white pants, navy-blue blazer with gold buttons, bright color print blouse. Tall elder man, head almost touches bus ceiling, waistline at my eye level. Another tall elder man, much shorter legs.
2 pm. Get off bus, walk to 1st Ave. to Theater for the New City festival. Very old building, interesting paintings on walls. Street fair on 10th St. Lots of old stuff for sale; more like antiques fair, but not antiques. No lunch yet. Find Tasti-D-lite on 3rd Ave. get small chocolate. Walk toward 14th St. Enter Trader Joe's. Julia calls. Keep meeting plan.
3 pm. Meet Julia. walk through 3rd Ave. street fair. Not very crowded. NYC empties out on holidays. Only tourist places are really busy, although Trader Joes was mobbed. Sit in Peter Cooper Park; continue talking. Watch homeless man sleeping on bench, another homeless man with shopping cart, couple making out, other couples eating, kid with toy sword running around, small altercation between young man who ran away. Peace prevailed. Typical New York.
4:30. subway to theater district. Renaissance Hotel to use facilities. Most beautiful wash basin ever. Picture to come. Walked slowly to restaurant for long dinner, mostly talk. Haven't seen Julia for a year. Never run out of talk.
7:30 Producers Club Crowne Theater. The elegant name makes up for the theater. early, of course. Nice sofa. Audience gathered. Actor delayed by subway. beTwixt, beTween, beTwain started late. Cute, but too long. Leave at intermission. Never feel need to tough it out.
10 pm. Thank you Julia. Subway home, lovely day.

A good week (and today is my birthday)

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I've been too busy or too tired to continue writing all week. Spent most of my time with friends, and a few art shows during and in between. Wednesday morning I met Ellen at the natural history museum. We did a lot of talking, since I haven't seen her for about a year, and we saw the new exhibit about the horse. Thursday was a full day with Phyllis. First lunch at her place, a wonderful apartment on the West Side, then up to the botanic garden. Darwin's garden was fabulous; all of the colors and shapes were overwhelmingly gorgeous. We also saw a little of the Moore exhibit, but ran out of time and couldn't stay to see all of it. It's another reason to return to New York.

Back on the West Side, we returned the car to the garage, rested for half an hour, then went to dinner at a charming Japanese restaurant. New York is filled with sushi places, but this one was special, at 92nd and Amsterdam. After that a concert at Carnegie Hall with James Levine and the Met Orchestra. The first piece was by Elliott Carter, 100 years old and in the audience to take a bow. I guess being 100 is OK if you can be in such good shape and get that kind of recognition.

Friday I had coffee with Rose, lunch with Jean and dinner with C–a very rewarding day. Saw Mary Cassatt prints and drawings with Jean then went to the Japan Society before dinner. I often have mixed feelings about lacquer, but I loved most of this work by Zeshin. Along with wonderful boxes and trays they showed paintings he did with lacquer. Amazing stuff!

Met Tuesday

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I can't believe I was actually in New York six days before I got to the Met. I saw the blockbuster, Courbet, when I was here last month. This time, walking toward the newly installed Oceania wing, I noticed the newest Costume Institute show, "Superheroes, Fashion and Fantasy," was relatively empty, so I walked in there first. These installations are often weird; this one certainly was. While I loved comic books, Superman and Wonderwoman, when I was a kid, I wasn't too keen on this show. Some of the fashions were intriguing; nothing you'd wear on the street.

I really enjoyed the new installation of material from New Guinea. Robin and Steve were there in the 1980's and I was able to go and visit them. I brought back a number of pieces from the Sepik River, some of which I'd like to sell. So I look at these museum exhibits with two ideas in mind: just enjoying them and how do they relate to what I own. I was told originally that the pieces had to be much older to have real value. The Met has many pieces dated to the 1970's. Can I be far behind?

After a quiet lunch I went to China, Japan, India and Korea. Those are the best galleries because they are usually quiet, not the crowded mess found in the more popular galleries.

I left the museum about 1 pm and went to the bus stop at 84th and Fifth Ave. After standing about 10 minutes I noticed there was no traffic emerging for the Park and on to 84th St. Even though I was tired and my feet hurt, I started walking; it's much easier than standing. Only after I got back near the apartment and made some purchases in a nearby deli, did the first bus show up. I'm glad I didn't wait.

In the evening I went to dinner in New Rochelle with friends and made a new friend: a woman who is going to Japan next October and wanted to hear about my trip. She's a lovely lady and I had a great time. I brought my book for show and tell. It's a great way to tell people about the trip

My New York Monday

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Not prose, not a poem–just random jottings

A noisy place, my New York. Bright sunshine this morning, with thunder–or was that construction noise. Workmen in the hall, outside my door: hammering, talking, tools dropping. Building being renovated.

Walk outside–jack hammer, generator. Walk through the projects–street quiet–six buses hanging out. 3 cats in ASPCA window. If I look too long, one of them might be mine.

Got on the bus. Old man with walker–doesn’t want special lift–climbs stairs like a mountain. I understand.

Subway to Bowling Green: Custom House, George Gustav Heye Center, National Museum of the American Indian. One of my favorite places in NYC. Beautiful pieces–headless figures like Yinka Shonibare. Is there some meaning in headlessness? More reading, like NMAI in DC–too low–too small–too dark.

Walk down Broadway. Big crowd on the traffic island with the Wall Street bull. Greeks commemorating the Pontic Massacre in the early 20th Century.

Trinity Church: sculpture of tree roots in the courtyard.

Walking to Century 21 Department Store. Looks like storm coming. Happy to get inside, but very crowded. Julia called while I was trying on sneakers. Couldn’t talk, keep my seat, watch shoes I want to buy and old shoes I wore. Buy 2 pair, one pink and purple. Feet hurt.

More wind, a few raindrops–just spitting like Pittsburgh rain. Stopped at J&R Music and Computers. Saw Fujitsu, a tiny notebook at twice the price of the ASUS. Will probably buy the ASUS before I go to China. Getting hungry.

Walk under Brooklyn Bridge toward Chinatown, on East Broadway. Not familiar with street–too many people–need food–need to sit down. Turn on Division where I’ve been with Shirley Sun. Found buffet restaurant: 4 choices from enormous buffet plus rice: $4.50. Tofu, green beans, noodles, sesame chicken.

Crossed street to bakery: melon cake and lemon tea. Figaro cat loved melon cake from Chinatown in Chicago. Don’t know if he loved melon or crust part best. Sitting again. Bakery got very busy. Old woman sitting near me got up and quickly took a tart from behind the counter. I think she stole it.

Walked down Canal St. to the subway. One block of shops locked up by government order. Must have been knock-off headquarters. Back to apartment. Still working in the hall. Happy to sit again. Photos next week.