Bittersweet

I made my holiday pilgrimage to visit my great aunt along with my mother and brother today. The woman is amazing. Ninety-two and sharp as can be. Yes, her body’s slowing down but she’s still living on her own. She gets out and about and does what she wants, when she wants. As I said, amazing.

I am worried about her however. She informed us of several more friend deaths bringing the total to nine this year. There’s only one left in her main group and she’s off to Florida for the winter, possibly for good. My aunt does have subgroups that she socializes with but they were never her first choice when it came to people to hang out with. Also I’m really not sure how many of them are left at this point either.

As she was telling us about this there was a sadness about her I hadn’t noticed before. On the way home I was pondering it and I can understand why. It must be extremely difficult to lose everyone you’ve been close to forever. Yes, some of the people who died this year were left over from her childhood. Can you imagine 85 years worth of memories with someone?

Of course this is not a subject that was discussed in the car on the way home beyond the fact that there is still nothing wrong with my aunt’s mind and that the state required she take a driver’s test about two years ago in order to retain her license.

Actually there was very little discussion in the car either direction. I had my laptop which tends to annoy my family. It prevents them from talking about me when I pretend to sleep which is my other option for these car trips. I was pleased even if they weren’t. I managed to get some work done for a change, something I’ve been having some trouble with lately so in my opinion it was a fairly decent day all around even though I am a little sad now.

TV or Not TV?

I called my cable company yesterday. Why? Because I sat down and thought about it and realized that I am paying $86.58/month to watch 12 hours of television during months when shows aren’t repeats. I watch Dr. Who and Torchwood on BBC America and Monk on USA. Oh I do watch other things, repeats of the Gilmore Girls, old movies and the Graham Norton Show but none are things I seek out or worry about missing if I’m busy doing something else.

Okay so back to the cable company. I called them because that’s a ridiculous amount of money for next to nothing. I reached a very pleasant woman after only 8 levels of automatic nonsense. I explained my quandary and then asked what I could eliminate to decrease the cost while keeping the two channels I watch. Her answer, nothing. To have cable at all basic service is required. Standard cable, the next level up includes USA Network. The third tier, digital preferred contains BBC America. I then asked about true ala carte service, wanting to pay only for the shows I actually watch. Nope, not available. This I think is bogus. The whole system is computerized. There is an on demand function with a gazillion movies and specials available at the touch of a button. I think it’s more likely that they’d lose too much money on people like me if they charged by the program.

This was when I listed my three options. One, I could stop paying my cable bill in protest like many people I know. I’m told it takes about three months for them to get around to disconnecting cable service. Two, I can switch to direct TV. The slightly less pleasant woman pointed out that the channels I watch may not be available. They are. I asked a friend at work who has it. Also, the alternate service in my area may not be any cheaper. It is per the same friend. Three, I can get rid of TV altogether. I spent the first two years after I purchased my home without it and I survived quite nicely. I’m sure I could again. Besides, the shows I watch are available on DVD eventually. Also I can watch them a day later on the Internet if I don’t mind my smaller computer screen. Moderately disgruntled customer service woman didn’t champion any of the above.

Yes, definitely something to consider before the next bill is due.

BTW, luncheon with my great aunt was very nice. She’s the same sweetie as always but with a cold this visit. We went to Olive Garden. Great food but overly efficient service to the point of rushing us. Our meals were brought after the second bite of soup/salad. I decided to forego my delicious creamy potato/sausage/kale soup in favor of my asiago steak with cheese filled tortellini while it was still hot. Yummy, which I did make sure to mention as I informed the manager of the excessive speed of the servers on the way out when he stopped us to ask.