"I'm only ninety nine," says Retha as she pushes her walker through the halls of the Idaho capitol building.  She moves with as much spring as her near 100 limbs can muster.  Moving a little slower than the rest of the assisted living group,which consists of younger people in their 80's she never misses a beat.  "I'm only ninety nine," she tells me again.  Two members of the tour sport walkers, one a cane and two on their.  Jack, using a cane and sporting a white Santa beard and a Vietnam veteran ball cap is rather quiet, but he and Nolan converse back and forth about various things as we all move through the capitol building. 

Because stairs are not an option the elevators are the mode of moving from one floor to another.  I get two with walkers, Jack and his cane and a chaperon in the elevator and there is no room for me.  Off I go running up the stairs to meet them. Nolan loads a second elevator and he can just squeeze in. This process continues until we reach the 4th floor.  We even manage to get them into the balcony of the Senate Chambers for the opening devotional.  "I'm only ninety nine," Retha says as we sit together on the steps of the balcony.  Jack sits on the other side of her with his ball hat in  hand and stands to say the pledge of allegiance.

Never once a moan or complaint was heard from the group.  Coo dos to their energy and interest level.  Age may make them physically slower, but the desire to learn and look for stimulation is still alive and well.  Younger individuals could take notes from this group about staying in the game of life.

 

Winter Tricks

As winter settles in over southeastern Idaho there is an erg that comes with--an erg to run--not for the sake of exercise but to escape.  Most runners head south toward southern Utah or even further to Nevada or Arizona.  Pickup trucks pulling fifth wheels and large motor homes with little dogs on the dash boards helping navigate push south.  So when the need to leave the extreme cold and snow took hold of us, we decided to head west--go west young man go west.  We heeded that famous advice and went to Boise


With seats down in the highlander and no dog on the dash, we packed it full and left the cold temps of Idaho Falls and sought the more moderate climate of the capital city.  It has not been a repreive from the snow that doesn't melt or single digit temps.  Sometimes fate plays cruel tricks on us and laughs histerically at our surprise and horror.  You played a good one on us--the worst Boise winter in years with snow and cold.  We have felt confused and stunned; this was not suppose to happen here.  What is it with the night time lows of 3 degrees and 4 inches of snow in one day?

                                Out door cafe--January day in Boise  cold and sunny


We have touched base with old Idaho Friends who moved here for the better weather and have received a cold shoulder.  They have suggested, in a polite manner, that we brought this mess with us from the underworld of the lesser part of the state.  Okay, now it is time for them to cowboy up and quit complaining.  The single digits eventually move into double digits before the day is over and stay above zero at night.  In my opinion they have had it too easy for too many years in the banana belt of Idaho.

We are here and this is where we will be for a couple of months enjoying our city loft and our city life style. Neither rain nor sleet nor snow will send us packing. Eveything is always in constant flux and continual change.  The weather is a good example.  Trust me you Boise people--it will get better.