My homestay for our days off was a retired widow in a trailer park. I was the only one staying with her, and it was a lot of fun. For one thing, she let me nap all day Monday. Then the sun came out briefly, and we went for a walk around the complex. It was named the nicest trailer park in the US, and I could see why. It even had a plot of land for people who wanted to plant a few tomatoes and cucumbers.
She was from Missour-a, and her sister Myrtle lived down the way. We stopped by her house to say hi on our walk, and to invite her to dinner. Their parents had 14 children, 9 girls and 5 boys, and they were all raised on a farm.
Myrtle and Martha came over for pot roast. While Flora carved the roast, the other ladies discussed a man in their small group that won't take off his hat except to pray. It seems he's self conscious about his receding hair, but "he has a wooden leg, and that doesn't seem to bother him." I pitched in and mentioned several bald actors who were quite attractive, and Martha and I had quite a discussion about Patrick Stewart.
After dinner we played Mexican Train. I was in second place by the end.
It was refreshing to be around such great older women. What our society misses by hiding away our aging population because we don't want to look mortality in the face. Plus, I got lots of tips on Medicare (which they love) and social security ("don't count on it honey. It's ok for us, but it won't help you none...").
