Lois Johnson
A Personal Journal Reflecting On Aging
June 21

	Reflections of Lois Johnson June 6: A Look Back On Taking Risks June 7: A Need For Assisted Living June 8: Judy: A Welcome Presence June 9: Not Enough Volunteers June 10: The Importance of Church June 11: Handing Down Memories June 12: Shared Intimacies June 13: Emotionally Recharged June 14: The Need to Acquire June 16: Small-Town Friends, Rummage Sale Success June 17: The Importance of Friends June 18: Youthful Thinking June 19: Ministers June 20: Easing the Pain with Humor June 20: Friends, Family, and A Sense of Place

June 21: Friends, Family, and A Sense of Place
This will be my last submission of journaling. It has been a good experience, as sometimes I forget to stop and take inventory of the good, the bad, and the "Oh what the heck!" Many nights I did not know what I was going to say—I would just get started and ramble on.

What I did learn is how important friends are. It seems like every day something would happen that would reinforce this. I then had to feel more empathy for my sometimes grouchy seniors in their nineties and realize all their losses. I think I'll start to cultivate younger friends so I will always have some.

I also realized more how lucky I am to live in Grand Marais, with its natural beauty and great people. More than that, I have to take more time to enjoy my surroundings and encourage others to do the same. Yes, I do hope services to seniors grow and that there will be more options for me when I need them. Somehow we will get assisted living!

Then there is the family—I need to take an occasional trip to the cities to see them (and encourage them to come up here). I'd rather they came here, as everyone enjoys the Big Lake and I do like to entertain them. I guess I want the grandchildren to experience some of the things here that I did as a child.

My hope is that all of us will continue to look to the future and support legislation that will keep each of us in our homes as long as possible. The care center we have here is great and if the time comes, I will be happy to go there—I just don't want to do it because the service I might need is not in place.

The next generation of snowshoe hares are now eating the dandelions, so I definitely will watch the grass/weeds in the yard grow a little longer. I will wrap a special angel for my friend to take with her to the hospital and life goes on. SHALOM!

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