Seventy has come and gone.  I took a 10 day car trip through New England with my dog.  Went to Exeter New Hampshire, historic town built around the academy along a river.  Small beautiful comfortable.  Next day drove to Lubec Maine, the northeastern most point in the USA.  I was drawn here by the bridge which goes across to Campobello, NB Canada.  This place was spoken about in my childhood as part of the Roosevelt legend which was revered in my home.  Lubec is so nondescript as to be invisible.  The bridge to Canada and the historic home are worth the long boring drive.  My dog and I wandered the gardens, beaches and woods.  I meandered through the old house, delighted with its' rustic contents, so different from the elaborate homes of other historic figures.  There were three days set aside for this part of the trip and it was all accomplished in one afternoon.  What to do next?  Problem solved I developed a tooth ache which threatened to be serious.  At 4 in the morning I loaded the car and drove through sleeping, fog shrouded towns down to civilization.  A text to my dentist reassured me that I could manage with Advil.  Headed back to Exeter and used it as a home base for trips to local sights.  Portsmouth, NH, Ogonquit, ME, Kittery Me, it was fun.

Next Newport Rhode Island and a quaint Bed and Breakfast better than I could have imagined in the residential neighborhood off a busy working area.  Rain set in but the dog and I did the cliff walk and strolled through the tourist area along the docks.  It was much more congested than I remembered, and there was the rain.  I hid in the Slots casino for an hour or two and then ordered pizza to my room.  Next day more rain another cliff walk and two mansion tours, overpowering greed got the better of my socialist religion and I walked out of the second.

On to Saratoga Springs, NY.  Now this was a luxurious bed and breakfast.  Beautiful house, warm service, good food and cocktails on the veranda every afternoon from 5-7.  I believe they welcomed my dog more warmly than they did me.  Visited with one of our student riders at Skidmore, had dinner in a special Mexican restaurant and didn't mind going to bed early.  Next day a long walk through the town, visited a store owned by a friend, did two museums, the local casino, a theme, and then back for cocktails.  Dinner was a light salad in my three room suite.  Home the next day and proof there is life after 70!

Another day in the life.  Found out today that five co=op apartments in my development had open houses this weekend.  NO ONE CAME. Egads this is an upscale neighborhood, this is a building in a country type setting close to Manhattan, we have full time doormen, indoor outdoor parking, utilities included in the maintenance, how is this possible.  Shakes me up, this place is my investment for my fast approaching old age.

Okay calm down, I live in a lovely small apartment, no mortgage still working a bit and able to pay for it all for now.  But gosh,

For years I have been dreading this birthday.  70 is the end I mused.  Is it because my parents were older when I was born and I grew up with people so much older than my peers parents?  No it was because they had suffered so much in life that as older people they were hopeless and depressed.  My assumption was that this was to be my state at the same age.  I have been practicing ageism against myself and thereby limiting my goals, my risk taking, my love of life.

I rebelled against the constraints my family tried to impose on me all my growing up years.  Every risk I took they cried in despair and I joyfully jumped into danger sure that I would survive.  When did I stop?  Enough, I am still the same person, I can move forward, I can meet challenges I can do this.

she said what?

Nothing is ever simple is it?  When I paid off my car loan using the on-line account, I called Chase to find out what comes next.  The agent advised that within two days Chase notifies NYS Motor Vehicle and the lien on the title will be release and a clear title will be mailed to me.  He also told me I had to notify my insurance company to take Chase off the policy.  

I follow directions.  I called Allstate and my long time agent Rick, Sr.  He wasn't Rick Sr when I met him, he was just Rick.  Now when I call I get Rick, Jr who seems much less informed and certainly does not have the crush on me Rick Sr has always evidenced.  Need I say I prefer Rick Sr and the special attention, especially when I am sitting at the side of the road outside Albany waiting for the State Trooper to write my speeding ticket. Rick, Sr assures me my rates would not go up.  He also carries my home owner's insurance and has been good to me combining the upstate small apartment with the city coop and the car to get me a very doable rate.

So I called the office and no one was in I left Rick Sr a message about paying off the car and suggested he call me on my cell if he needed any further details.  No call back.... The following day I reluctantly called the office again.  Now I have never met Jennifer who answers the phone.  I have made it a point not to go to the office because I would cheerfully strangle her if I had to talk to her face to face.  Jennifer always speaks to me as if I have interrupted her at something much more important than helping a long time customer. She answered with her usual reluctance to be helpful.  When I explained what the issue was, she asked if I knew my policy number.  

"Do I know my policy number?  No I have no idea what my policy number is."  Do people know their policy numbers?

"What is your name?" Same as it was when I introduced myself as Eleanor Hoenig.

"Let me see if I can find you in the computer.......No I don't have it here, could it be something else?"

"Could my name be something else?"

"How do you spell it?"  How did she spell it when she searched?

I spelled it for her...s..l..o..w..l..y.  "Hmm...why is this computer so slow?"  Is she talking to me.

"Oh here it is 2011 Subaru..Do you have the letter from DMV"

"Not yet, I called to find out what the process is."

"OK....I will have Rick call you back."

"You don't have the information?"

"NO  is there anything else I can help you with?"

"I doubt it."