Home for an Emptying Nester

Photo by Greeblie.

I have been a little quiet on the blog lately.

Why? Change is in the air.

We are moving from Kansas to Indiana this summer, so I've been preoccupied.

Instead of reading about aging, I have been using my computer time to scout neighborhoods and high schools for my youngest.  After I post this, I'm getting driving to the city of Evansville to explore it in person.

I am having trouble deciding where to live and what kind of home to buy.

Downtown holds appeal because I can attend cultural events and have easy access to the public library and YMCA. There are also more volunteer opportunities and employment opportunities in town.

If we buy a home in a suburban neighborhood ideal for teens, that works well--for just three years. That is a very long time for a teen but a blink of the eye for a couple in their fifties.

So do I do what's best for them now? Or best for the parents down the road? Or do we move after three years?

I'm hoping to find a neighborhood that is somewhere in between downtown and the suburb high school that appeals to my youngest.

Related

Plotkin Describes Life Stages

Midlife Ennui

Photo by LS Monocicio.

I've been very detached lately.  Low energy.

I do suffer a little seasonal depression in January and February.

However, this time I perceive a little generational perspective.

"Been there, done that."

"Nothing new under the sun."

I've cycled through a number of obsessions. I've been passionate about a lot of things.  Consequently, everything seems to be a repetition of something I've already experienced.  I don't have any drive.

This is probably a first world problem, or a landed gentry 19th Century problem. For this reason, I'm thinking of a word that reached its peak in the era of drawing rooms and salons:

Ennui -- from the same origin as "annoyed."

Both words are condensed from a phrase:

mihi in odio est  

You might see the root for "odious" there. Loosely translated, it means "It's distasteful to me."

Listless, languid, restless, bored.

I'm hoping spring snaps me out of this condition.  I certainly don't wish that tragedy does.

In the meantime, here is one of the neologisms from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.  I applaud the John Koenig for creating new words for complex feelings.

(Click on the image below for a link to the video.)

Mean Arterial Pressure: Biomarker of Health

Photo by Christiana Care.

There are a few different ways to view blood pressure.

The most common is a reading of the systolic and diastolic functions, an ideal reading being 120/80.

However, medical personnel are also interested in the mean arterial pressure also known as MAP.

This post is part of a series on biomarkers of health and longevity.

This is calculated by doubling the diastolic blood pressure, adding it to the systolic and dividing by three.

For example, if we take the average blood pressure above and apply this calculation it looks like this:

(80 + 80 + 120)/3 = 93.3

Or you can plug in your systolic and diastolic numbers into an online MAP calculator.

The MAP lets them know if the body is getting too little profusion of blood (lower than 60) or too much (higher than 105).

Note: This post is to raise awareness only. It does not offer medical advice. If you have concerns about your circulatory system, please see a licensed medical professional. 

Between Death and Burial

Photo by Don LaVange.

People who know me in person recognize that diplomacy isn't my strongest suit.

However, I do understand that the space between a person's death and their burial is a particularly tender time. 

I perceive this space as sacred, best met with reverence.

This time should focus on articulating the decedent's virtues, strengths and legacy. It's a time to comfort their friends and family members.