It's Been Almost A Year...

  Well, it's been almost a year since I've moved here at my new apartment.

  So far, so good.  I kinda like it here in this area of Philly, a small pocket of quiet, where the chaos is not too far behind.

  I live across from a commuter train station, so it's a blessing and a curse. If I want to go to the heart of the city, or, connect to Amtrak, or the Airport Line, it's great. But hearing the trains going by at night (especially in the Summer, with the windows open), can be distracting. But it's something you get used to.

  One problem I used to have was that, other than the commuter train, was that there's only only bus line, whose nearest bus stop was ACROSS the overhead bridge of the train station. So, I had to walk a block downhill to the train station, climb a long flight of stars (which puts a lot strain on my legs), cross the bridge, climb up a smaller flight of stairs, then walk a half a block to the bus stop. Coming home, I had to do the reverse, WHEW!!! There were a lot of times I just didn't have the energy to go out, unless I either had a doctor's appointment, or, going to the grocery store Carrying several bags was very difficult, as well as, unknowingly, putting undo extra stress on my heart (which I found out later, having to have coronary bypass surgery). I mean, I was already not in great health, having stage 4 diabetes (stage 5 is needing a kidney transplant), as well as having high blood pressure and being HIV-positive for over 20 years (yeah, I'm still here!!) ;-)

  But, as luck would have it, just recently, I found out that the city needed to repair a nearby street bridge that my bus line has to cross, so my bus line is diverted to MY side of the train station.YEAH!

  So now, I only have to walk a half a block STRAIGHT across from my apartment to catch the bus, and the bus now runs on my block, if I'm lucky, I can get some bus drivers to let me off close to my apartment entrance, where I can walk DOWNHILL, instead of UPHILL, a half a block. That helps a lot whenever I'm carrying anything heavy, which I try not to do as much. I still don't go out that much, but at least I feel better whenever I do.

  I finally getting some of the things I wanted for my apartment, like a kitchen table and decent chairs. OK, it's just a card table set, but hey!, I live in a small studio apartment, and the only visitors I've had are my physical therapist and nurse the hospital sends me after my surgery.

  You see, the only 2 friends I know live in Baltimore (ex-boyfriend) and Des Moines (from college), who I'm truly thankful for. Most others have either died from AIDS, or, they weren't that much of a friend as I thought they were. I'm friendly with some of my crochet students from the nearby senior center I go to (really nice ladies), but that's about it.  And, one, that I don't drive (never have), and two, that I just can't get around as well as I used to. Oh, and I can't forget my online friends, who've been a lifeline for me.

  Anyway, I feel much better, health wise, and, feeling much better about choosing and living in my new apartment.