My 2003 Mercedes served me well. We bought it used February 18, 2018, for $5,000. As of last week, the mileage on it was about 76,000.

I traded it in Saturday (October 24th) on a 2020 Honda CRV Touring. The CRV has all the bells and whistles. It drives like a dream and can let me know if anyone stops in front of me, if I swerve off the road and it gives me other warnings. I love the back-up camera. the GPS and the many extra features. I WILL get comfortable driving again.

I remember when I would drive anyplace. It was something like 35 miles round-trip daily to drive from Frankenmuth to my job in Midland and back each day. Now I’m afraid to get behind the wheel. With practice and a lot of patient effort, I am sure I can get back into the swing of things.

Actually in addition to the car, I’ve been spending on several extra items. I bought a new stainless Samsung French door refrigerator. My old one is now in the garage for beverages. (Note: in July but because of the Covid-19 virus, Samsung Was shut down for several months and the delivery didn’t happen until Wednesday. I’m still trying to organize it. All my wine and soft drinks can be stored there.)

I also spent money on a new Philips electronic Diamond Clean toothbrush. List price about two hundred but I got it on eBay for $129! I’ve also purchased several Chico’s tops and pants. Love the way they fit.

There’s a new floor lamp in the living room (near the new loveseat) which looks grand and buying it allowed me to get rid of the one in the master bedroom.

I have a couple of new pillows on the loveseat. I also bought a couple of fake orchids but I’m about ready to get some new, lovely, real ones.

Soon my windows will be washed and I still want to get window coverings for the two bedrooms and the dining room.

Please use my experience as a warning if you are signed up for multiple automatic payments for insurance, electric bills, phone, etc. A lot of those kinds of payments use a credit card as their funding source.

My favorite Visa card for those payments was compromised a Tuesday. I several days going to the websites or calling the companies to change the credit card to a different one. True, it didn’t cost me anything but I spent my time updating my info. (Thank heavens, Visa contacted me and didn’t pay out to the frauders.)

It would have been easier, but three times I discovered that the source was my checking account (which hadn’t been compromised). It still took me lots of time. In the future, I vow that I will keep an accurate list of all auto payment accounts so if it happens again, I’ll be prepared.

Despite all my hard work, two payments got caught in this mess and were rejected. I contacted the recipients to let them know what happened. I certainly didn’t want to have a “bounced” payment.

My houseguest, Linda Conklin, left for Michigan this morning. I talked with her this evening and she said it’s astounding how many places en route are closed. Huge complexes are impacted by the Covid virus and therefore are shuttered. Canada has shut their border to us because the U.S. has so many virus cases. Little by today things around Sun City Center are opening up but I’m not comfortable being “out there” where I can pick up the bug.

I am going to an outdoor music concert Tuesday evening in Kings Point at the North Clubhouse. I’ll stay in my golf cart and wear a mask. I had to make a reservation to attend because numbers are limited. The vocalist will be at a distance so I doubt that he’ll be “masked.” We can’t bring alcohol nor move around. We’ll get to enjoy the entertainment but it is very restricted.

With the virus, life has continued to be quiet.

My good friend, Linda Conklin, has been visiting me for over a week. She’s moving back to Midland, MI, so she has her Kings Point condo on the market and didn’t want to be living there while it was being shown.

I’ve enjoyed her company. She’s an easy guest. Her plans are to leave Friday.