Hi folks! Yes, I'm apologizing again for not posting more frequently. I'm trying, I really am.
Today, with the continuing heat wave, I'm forced to stay inside lest I pass out from heat exhaustion. Yesterday I tried to do a little yard work but I was soon drenched in my own sweat and had to come inside our wonderfully air conditioned manse to recover. Yesterday was a three shower day. Once when I got up. The second time after my abbreviated yard work. Then before I went to work at the hotel last night.
You know it's true what they say about senior citizens being in more danger during these heat waves. When I was a youngster (oh how LONG ago was that?), I didn't give the heat much thought. We just went about our play during the lazy, hazy summer days. But these days, I only have to be outside a few minutes and I get woozy. Well, I am seventy-five years old and no longer the carefree ten year old whose summers went by too fast.
The 'thoughts' going through my aged mind these days is my impending Final Exit. I've been thinking a lot about friends, former co-workers and relatives who have passed on. Every now and then a pang of sadness hits me when I realize I can't call them and complain about my latest perceived slight. Thank goodness I have Pat and Bill who I can bend their ears with my petty complaints. However, Bill is very hard of hearing so I suspect he's just humoring me while I rattle on.
Why these thoughts of my impending Final Exit is that these days I am unsteady on my feet as my longtime friend Larry pointed out to me recently after viewing a video of me refreshing my bird baths. Yes, I am unsteady on my feet. I worry constantly a lot about falling and breaking something. Although I don't see how I can do much worse than tearing my quadriceps muscles like I did a few years ago
Another sign of my deterioration is how tired I get. I absolutely need an afternoon nap or else I wind down like an old clock. I have to ration my wake time to be productive.
When I'm tired I have double vision. I brought this situation up with my eye doctor a few weeks ago and he affirmed that it was happening because my eye muscle was 'tired.' Another sign of my aging body.
And then there is my arthritis. My whole body, especially my lower back, is so stiff when I wake up in the morning. You should see me hobbling my way to the bathroom. On second though, maybe you don't want to see that sad sight.
And now for the past few days I've been getting shooting pains up the left side of my head. Like mini lightening bolts. Is this a precursor of a stroke. God I hope not.
I did a some Internet research last night during a slow period at the hotel and found that those pains were probably the result of stress and anxiety. That makes sense because the few weeks I have been under a lot of stress and anxiety. Bill and I had a spat a few days ago over him turning off the automatic sprinkler system and forgetting to turn it back on thus drying out all my plants.
And that's another thing, my short term memory. I'm forgetting more and more. Is this the beginning of my dementia? Would I know if I can't remember? I've often wondered what goes through the heads of people with dementia?
Well, I've gabbled on enough today.
Please stay cool and hydrated during this heat wave. I don't want to lose any of you. I need you!
