Quest CCNY Lifelong Learning Community

 Inspired by my mother's experiences with lifelong learning at the Fromm Institute I searched "lifelong learning" and "continuing education" and stumbled across the Quest Lifelong Learning Community in the Bowery of Manhattan. I contacted them and they invited me to observe a class and then to come in for an interview. I found that I could take the J subway from Chauncey station to the end of the line at Broad Street and then just walk a few blocks to the Cunard Building on 25 Broadway.On the seventh floor there is a little cluster of classrooms, an auditorium, a lunchroom and some administrative rooms. My intake interview was very thorough and friendly. All the classes are taught by volunteers from the community of about 700 members. i've been to a couple of classes and some guest lectures by people from PBS and a Broadway critics show.  There was also a new members lunch with Q an A by committee chairs about how the organization works. You can drop in on any class, no need to register for the entire term. From discussion participation by the members it's clear that the folks are all very interesting. There is a Spanish conversation time at lunch and a French one as well. I have to keep my expectations low so I'm not disappointed but it's the most interaction I've had with people in years. 

Yearly mammogram

 I had a mammogram and ultrasound on my left breast. All clear! I also saw my breast surgeon. He's very petite and very handsome. He always shakes my hand and talks to me in a very reassuring way. Our appointment lasted all of five minutes and I paid $165 for my share. I have my next appointment in a year and it's in my schedule. Some time next spring i'll have another brain MRI and maybe some follow-up spine MRIs. I can't remember if they are in April or not.

I'm in the process of planning a December set of trips: to SF and then to MN with Rosemary. I sent Nancy a text asking if the dates we have tentatively decided on would work for her. I'll try to visit TJ in October or November.  Delta gave me a $200 coupon  that's good for a year since I've racked up so many frequent flyer miles by using my AmEx card for everything. I have enough miles to probably pay for my flights. 

To treat myself I got a new pair of Acorn slippers; the old ones are disintegrating on me. I also ordered a new Bagallini cross-body bag because the blue one I've been using every day is filthy and shabby. I got a black one so it won't show the dirt and i will not put it on the ground any more. 

I got my yearly deposit from my IRA so now I'm flush with cash. I just bought myself the two things that were on my list and I don't need anything else. I got a free microwave from Rosemary and Arun and I've been using it to heat up my beans and soups.  

Falls and Medical Guardian device

 It's spring and I finally hung up my down jackets. I had my quarterly MRI for the brain and it continues to be good. The next one will be in six months. My latest health issue has been falls. I was going into the subway station a few weeks ago and I tripped at the bottom of some wet metal stairs and fell on my knees. I yelled in pain and wasn't able to get up by myself. Some kind people helped me up from the puddle I had fallen into. I was bruised and sore but nothing was broken so I continued on my way to meet my friend at Sahadi's deli to buy Aleppo pepper and have lunch. I was wet and dirty from the muddy puddle but able to walk. The next day however I was really sore. I told my AlAnon sponsor and she suggested that I get a panic button. I realized that I had been so anxious about my mother getting and using one but it had never crossed my mind to get one for myself. 

So I went online and ordered a Medical Guardian button pendant. It came in the mail promptly. I paid for a year's subscription to get the discount. It's not cheap but if I'm going to do this, I need to make the commitment to wearing it all the time. I have fallen several times in the last few years and I'm fortunate that the worst injury I had was a sprained wrist in Spain. At least three times I fell and hit my face hard. I'm so lucky I didn't break any facial bones.

Since my fall I have taken the subway several times. I am very consciously holding the handrail as I go up and down the stairs. I've been wearing the button pendant all the time, in bed and around the house as well as outside. I need to set up the lockbox with the set of keys I had made so that the EMTs can get in if I fall in the house and can't get up. So far all of my falls have been tripping over my own feet or over uneven pavement where I haven't picked up my feet, and not from loss of consciousness. I also fell trying to put on my pants standing up so now I sit on the bed.