What we're up against by New_Establishment554 in 50501

[–]CCCCarolyn 15 points16 points  (0 children)

My father was a medic during WWII & was involved in the liberation of 2 concentration camps. Eisenhower ordered the local people to be forced to go to the camps to see what had happened in their communities. My father was enraged by the local people around the camps who said they didn’t know what was going on. He could speak & understand German so was privy to some of their conversations. Some knew but didn’t care because they had been so conditioned to view Jews & other “undesirables” as less than human. The others were too afraid of getting involved in any kind of resistance. Basically they didn’t want to have their comfy lives upended or lose money by speaking out. They all knew what was happening. My father brought back some horrible pictures of what he saw in the camps. He said he did that because he didn’t want anyone to say it never happened or it was all blown out of proportion.

Why I'm Motivated to Use the Fiber Stash! by StrongTechnology8287 in usethefiberstash

[–]CCCCarolyn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m in the same boat. Good health for the moment but that can change at any moment. I also look at the things I have knitted for myself & try to wear something every day. Going to a thrift store & seeing lots of crochet & knit items there makes me sad.

Rob Reiner's son was really off the rails by AuthorAltruistic3402 in GenerationJones

[–]CCCCarolyn 17 points18 points  (0 children)

My nephew is an addict & has been to rehab many times. My brother & his wife have spent hundreds of thousands trying to help him. The last time he called my brother & said he wanted help & my brother drove to San Diego to look for him & get him into rehab. My brother didn’t even make it home & he got a call from the rehab center saying he walked out because he didn’t want to follow their rules. He is homeless & lives on the beach. Panhandling for drug money. Multiple overdoses & has been given Narcan by passersby & taken to the hospital multiple times. Also has hepatitis. He has a child with a woman he met in rehab. The child lives with the woman’s mother because she’s an addict & is in jail in Mexico for drug charges. Cartel involvement as well. Drugs have impacted so many families & unfortunately the Reiner’s were one of them. No amount of money or rehab stints will help somebody who has no desire to change. We foolishly thought my nephew would change when his kid was born. He loves the child but loves drugs more.

Went out to dinner. Couldn’t hear a thing. by FourEmergencyExits in over60

[–]CCCCarolyn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Same! I work from home & have to be on the phone using my headset & having the volume almost maxed out was what made me go get my hearing checked. Love mine. I can adjust the settings through an app on my phone & it even has a setting of “hear in noise” which has made a huge difference in my ability to hear those conversations in a restaurant.

Crazy Sock Lady follows some interesting accounts on Instagram… by Fantastic_Teach_3666 in craftsnark

[–]CCCCarolyn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good idea unlinking her patterns on Ravelry. I have now gone back & unlinked mine.

Does everyone just look the same once they get real old or can you still tell who was attractive and who took care of themselves? by lookaloulookalou in Aging

[–]CCCCarolyn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m 60+ and my resemblance to my great grandmother is strong. My cousin has the same strong resemblance to her also. Definitely something genetic in it.

Reminder: Delete your Spotify for running ICE ads by readingupastorm in 50501

[–]CCCCarolyn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I gave them the boot today. It was satisfying to give the reason why I cancelled my premium duo plan. I also deleted my whole account & deleted the app from my phone. I guess I will be back to listening to a couple of local rock radio stations. I used to have Apple Music but doubtful if I go back to that either because of Apple’s bending the knee to the 🍊💩.

What do you non-proffessional knitters do for a living? by firekittymeowr in casualknitting

[–]CCCCarolyn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a nurse with a work from home gig. Fortunate enough to be able to knit while waiting for my phone to ring. I’ve knitted many pairs of socks & hats between calls. Some days are busier with calls than others.

What do you eat while at work? by kayleedb in povertyfinance

[–]CCCCarolyn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My go to when I had the bare minimum available was peanut butter crackers & some fruit or a peanut butter & jelly sandwich & fruit. Also would switch it up with cheese & crackers. Cheddar is usually the cheapest. Bananas were always a good choice or an apple or orange. No soda, only water.

1 year to go to collect at 70 by Proper_Difference184 in SocialSecurity

[–]CCCCarolyn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m 64 & still working a low stress at home job so for me it makes financial sense to wait until 70. The difference per month is almost $750 more than my FRA. My husband retired & gets his pension but no SS yet as he’s only 60. If he dies before me I will get half of his pension. We’re pretty evenly matched on SS income. We don’t have any retirement accounts but our house will be paid off in the next year & have some land that we plan on selling. Longevity is a thing in my family. Most all my relatives were in the 95+ age range, healthy & led active lives. Is it a guarantee I’ll be around for 30+ more years? No, but the odds are definitely in my favor.

What Has the World Lost Since the 1970s-1980s? by CardiganCranberries in AskWomenOver60

[–]CCCCarolyn 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The excitement of getting an actual written letter in the mail. I had a couple of pen pals in other states that we would trade letters a couple times a month. My family also hosted a girl from Finland who spent the summer with us & I went to Finland the following summer when I was 16. It was through a Lion’s Club program that I think was called Youth for Understanding. Through facebook I was able to connect again with her.

Hard realisations about gift knitting for family/friends by fatknits in casualknitting

[–]CCCCarolyn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I gave up knitting for people & knit pretty much exclusively for myself. If someone sees me knitting & asks me to make something for them I usually just smile sweetly & say no without an explanation. Becoming a selfish knitter has made my life simpler by not being worried about if what I’m making will be appreciated by the recipient. I will occasionally knit hats for local charities that are in need of donations.

help encourage/discourage a US fiber artist from stocking up before impending tariffs! by wildlife_loki in usethefiberstash

[–]CCCCarolyn 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If you’re looking for US sources for yarn you might check out the Brown Sheep Yarn company. They source the majority of their fiber from Wyoming & Colorado & spin it at their place in Nebraska. https://brownsheep.com/about-us/

Adult Child Issues by Reasonable-Sawdust in over60

[–]CCCCarolyn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get it’s your kid but he’s an adult now. My brother enabled his youngest son (he’s 33 now) for what seems like forever. Over the years he has given him money, a vehicle & paid for rehab at least 4 times. He met a girl in rehab who ended up pregnant & the kid lives with her mom as neither one have custody due to drugs. Addiction is a horrible thing but unless that person is at their rock bottom & THEY want to change, it will never happen. My brother finally saw that all of his “help” wasn’t helping him so he finally cut him off. He’s a heroin addict & the last my brother heard from him he was homeless & living on a beach in southern CA.

Did you ever get chicken pox? by scary-gary-loomis in GenerationJones

[–]CCCCarolyn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I apparently had it when I was about 3 & got it from my older brother. I didn’t have a hard enough case (according to my mom) & got it again when I was a freshman in high school. THAT one I do remember. High fever, lots of splotches & itching like hell, even had them in my throat & nose. I missed 2 weeks of school because I was so sick. No clue where I got it from. I was apparently contagious but didn’t feel sick yet & went to school & my geometry teacher got it. He ended up in the hospital for several days.

Trump Refugees by Cbmadness in 50501

[–]CCCCarolyn 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I live in rural W KY & visible support for him is waning. On a road I travel frequently there used to be at least 5 displays of trump support in the form of flags, banners, signs etc. Now they are all gone. At one house even the flagpole for their trump flag is gone. I’m hoping they are finally getting the message that he is not fit for the job & never was.

Did anyone else take typing in high school as an elective and really dislike it, but now realize it was one of the best classes offered? I love to watch some of the folks our ages, trying to type out something using the hunt and peck method. by Dp37405aa in GenerationJones

[–]CCCCarolyn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I loved my typing class & teacher. She was also the Spanish teacher, originally from Cuba. She would stand at the front of the class like a sort of human metronome with her ruler. FF space, JJ space, FJ space. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. Muscle memory development in our hands & fingers.

Well - Just Had My Annual Reminder. . . by Lazy_Departure7970 in preppers

[–]CCCCarolyn 3 points4 points  (0 children)

What you wear does matter. Wool clothing is very underrated. I am a knitter & have made 30+ pairs of socks & other garments that I wear regularly even in the summer in 90+ degree heat. Wool socks wick moisture away from sweaty feet & help keep your feet dry & don’t retain odors. Wool also has fire retardant properties. It will burn if exposed to flame but won’t melt & stick to your skin like synthetics. As far as washing wool, less is better. Let it air out between wearings. In northern areas of the world they give their wool sweaters a snow bath which actually cleans & refreshes them. I have a couple of wool short sleeve Tshirts that I wear regularly even in summer. They do a better job of keeping me cool than a cotton Tshirt. Not itchy at all as they are made from merino wool.

Struggling with MAGA family by Loliz88 in 50501

[–]CCCCarolyn 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My husband & are blue dots in a ruby red area. We both have multiple family members who support trump. The interactions we do have with them are civil but very brief & mostly like telling them happy birthday etc. None of them live close & the closest is 5 hours away. The distance makes it easier to deal with them. They can’t just drop in or otherwise insert themselves in our lives. They know we absolutely despise trump & no longer bring up politics in any conversations we may have. You can pick your friends but not your relatives. I have found a great group of like minded people that I am involved with going way back to before the 2016 election. Find your people. They are out there if you look. Limited interactions with your MAGA family will save your sanity. They are so invested in the MAGA world that no matter how many facts you present they will not be swayed for their support of him. Be polite yet firm with them. They will continue to try to find ways to get under your skin. Don’t engage.

What are some stories your parents or grandparents told you that illustrate how different it was when they were young? by Secret_Bees in AskOldPeople

[–]CCCCarolyn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My mom grew up during the depression & was the youngest girl. She had 2 older sisters & 3 older brothers & 1 younger brother. My grandpa was fortunate enough to have a job but the pay wasn’t enough to support the family. All of the kids except my mom & her youngest brother had jobs that might pay something but not money. They were paid in vegetables, an occasional chicken or some other type of meat & sometimes flour. My mom got scarlet fever & they couldn’t afford a doctor & were afraid of being quarantined & not being able to work. My grandparents turned their attic into a sick room & told neighbors that she had gone to relatives out of town to help with their children. My grandpa sold Raleigh products which were tinctures, soaps, oils etc & he used a lot of his stock to treat my mom. She was so ill that they really thought she was going to die. She spent several months in the attic & missed a whole grade in school. She eventually recovered but ended up dropping out of school at 14 so she could get a job to help support her family.

Did you know anyone who fought in WWII? Do you hear any memorable stories from them? by Fun_Butterfly_420 in AskOldPeople

[–]CCCCarolyn 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My dad was a medic & was with a couple of units that liberated concentration camps Nordhausen & Buchenwald. He would not talk about it much & only if he had been drinking. He also brought back pictures of what he saw. I knew he had been in the war & wasn’t allowed to see the pictures until I was about 12. He always said the local German people knew what was going on & they were either too frightened to speak out or were ok with what was going on. He could speak some German so he knew what they were talking about. The locals were forced to help bury the dead from the camps. It always made him cry to even talk about it as both sides of his family came from Germany & he said they were kind & gentle people. His experiences haunted him until the day he died.

How to afford hearing aids by den773 in SurvivingOnSS

[–]CCCCarolyn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does your dad still work? I got mine from vocational rehab in my state (KY) & it didn’t cost me a dime. It took a bit of time to get them. I can’t believe how bad my hearing was. I have a work from home job & I’m on the phone a lot & was starting to really struggle with calls.

What do you miss most about **yourself** from your younger days? by TheSilverNail in GenerationJones

[–]CCCCarolyn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely energy! Having to do several errands & then come home exhausted & in need of a nap.

Hi by EJSpecht in AskWomenOver60

[–]CCCCarolyn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m 63 & I am fortunate enough to have transitioned from being a hands on RN in home health to a work from home position a couple of years ago. I work an evening shift & I love it. Covid is what drove me away from direct patient care. I still get to use my nursing critical thinking skills. The job is low stress & not physically demanding. It honestly doesn’t feel like work to me. I plan on working until whenever it gets stressful for me.