Today’s Topic is Driving
Driving can become an issue for older folk owing to eyesight deterioration and increased spatial difficulty. As my mother aged, she would figure out a way to drive around Colorado (Denver and Aurora) without making a left turn. It took her longer, but she could turn right on a red light and never had to worry about making a left.
Personally, I backed out of a parking space a few years ago and lightly backed into a truck that was also backing out. From then on, I’ve always parked on the street or pulled through a parking space so I can pull forward when I leave. No more backing out of a parking space for me.
We all need to be very careful about driving at night. I’ll drive at night if my route is well-known to me, and if I’m driving early during the winter, I try not to leave before sunrise, so I Google sunrise time before I plan my trip.
The Mayo Clinic has some tips for older drivers.
Older drivers: 7 tips for driver safety – Mayo Clinic
Townes Van Zandt and “Pancho and Lefty”
Townes Van Zandt was a talented and prolific songwriter who spent his life writing songs and playing guitar. He was revered by other songwriters who respected his talent and imagination, and he lived simply most of his life, sometimes in a trailer without electricity.
His most famous composition is “Pancho and Lefty,” famously recorded by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, their interpretation reaching number one on the country charts. Preceding this recording, Emmy Lou Harris recorded “Pancho and Lefty” in 1983 to great acclaim.
Van Zandt was a heavy drinker and a heroin addict, sometimes even shooting alcohol into his veins. He ultimately died from his addictions at age 52. The 2000s saw a resurgence of interest in Van Zandt and his music, and his version of “Dead Flowers” appearing in “The Big Lebowski” and “Buckskin Stallion Blues” appearing in “3 Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.” Many other movies and television shows have featured his songs.
Below is Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard performing “Pancho and Lefty” at Farm Aid 2004.
Getting Old Ain’t for Sissies 