Make A Few Changes

So often we live with what we have and put ourselves through times we don't have to.

My Dad always had hearing problems. When he was a young boy one of his ear drums burst and he was deaf in that ear. I grew up with loud, loud talking, loud radio, loud singing and loud tv. His dreams of being an airplane pilot were never possible. He made the best of it. At some point he had hearing aids in both ears. When my mother needed hearing aids he spent thousands on hers so they could go in the ear and be more comfortable than his. After she died, he gave hers away to a charity. When I began taking care of him full time I realized his hearing aids weren't working and his ears were clogged. He was a veteran and had found out when when my Mother died that he had benefits (the funeral home told him and gave him a break on the burial expenses) so he began going to the VA for medicine. I made many appointments for him to be seen for new hearing aids and had to cancel because he was in the hospital on those days. The VA, after the third time I called and cancelled,  I think didn't believe me. The one appointment I got, I brought my Dad in his wheelchair and we waited and the doctor didn't show up. After that it was a "we'll can only give you an appointment in 3 months deal and we'll call you." I didn't think of trying a different VA place. They said there was some problem getting a doctor there so I assumed all the VA places in my area would probably have the same problem.

My Dad's hearing only got worse. I took him to a Doctor that provided a service where  they cleaned the wax that was deep in his ears and she found he had an ear infection too. He was prescribed antibiotics to clear it up.

I was very frustrated with him as he wanted the "free ones" from the VA. Finally, I made an appointment with a hearing place and told him "Dad, you are buying hearing aids, you can't wait any longer." He listened to me and did. It was expensive, but I was right, he died before the next appointment with the VA. He probably would have been better off if he had given up sooner on getting them free. I think it was worth every dollar he spent because he could communicate better and didn't have to read lips to understand what one was saying, and everyone didn't have to yell. I could see the joy he had when he could now hear. His face lit up in the hearing place when he could hear again. When his 3 brothers and their wives visited him at my home, it was great. He really became happy to see and hear and understand everyone. After he died in March 2005, I gave the hearing aids to my sister as she was in charge of the estate. I hope she donated them to someplace that would help someone.

So much we tolerate things and learn to live with it. Last year I needed to replace my kitchen appliances. I couldn't buy them all at once, and some of it went on a credit card. I decided though to get front loading maytag machines on pedestals. With my old machines my husband or daughter had to help me by getting the laundry out of the washer to go in the dryer. Both machines were developing problems, making noises and dancing into the kitchen.  Because problems with my shoulders, back and my fibromyalgia,  I had a hard time pulling out the laundry.  Now I just stand there and can pull it from one machine to another ( the door for the washer opens on the right and the dryer on the left..just inches apart) or I can sit in my wheelchair and reach in to make the swap. Now I no longer need help.

Another thing I thought of and my hubby put together for me, was a laundry cart of sorts. I had bought a wooden tv stand on wheels many years ago that didn't have a top  for $5 in a thrift store and we used it for a small tv. I had a laundry basket with one handle missing. Both items were slated for the trash. I asked him to screw the laundry basket into the rolling tv stand. It is just the right height that I can slide it under the drier door, then open the door and pull the clean laundry into it.  Then I use the good handle to pull it to the living room where I can sit and fold it. Then I can pull in to the bedrooms to deliver the folder clothes.

Many times we don't realize what we put up with until we make some changes. The new appliances are saving me on my electric and water bills and I don't need help to do this chore. The machines themselves use less soap and water and the clothes are cleaner than they ever were with my old machines.

If you can't afford it you have to make do and I know that well.  But I suggest that if you need eyeglasses or hearing aids and can't afford them that you ask around and look into where to get them free, some charities will do this. If you were in the service, check and see if you are entitled to veterans benefits. My Dad got all his prescriptions free after paying hundreds of dollars a month for prescriptions for years.

Now these are the first brand new washer and dryer set I have ever bought. I have used a laundry mat or  have always bought used stuff so I know what it is not to have the money to make a change, but if you can make a change, sometimes it may not be as expensive as you think. I feel it was the best money I ever spend. My utility bills went down and these use less soap.  Also,  the laundry cart probably cost me under $10 and was made from things one would have thrown out. Because I lived with what I had, I never stopped to think about my husband making me a laundry cart. He could have made it years before for me and it would have been useful even with the old machines. And this is the point of my article - sometimes we need to step back and think if there is a change we can make that will make our lives easier. For my Dad and his hearing aids , he agreed that it was worth what he spent for to get them. In the last few months of his life, he had the gift of hearing and no longer was in a world without sound.