Tuesday, July 14, 2009

An Exciting Week

You will not be seeing my name on your blogs for the next week or so. My daughter, Gail,and granddaughters, Rachel and Sarah, will be arriving tonight for a most welcome visit. I am looking forward to seeing them and will really enjoy having them. I may even get out to take some pictures. My computer time will probably be limited to answering e-mail. I will try to make up for it after my girls leave with tales of our activities.

Red Alert: The best laid plans of mice and men so often go astray. The girls did not arrive last night as scheduled. Instead I got a phone call from Gail in a Huntington Beach ER where Rachel was undergoing an X-ray. She hurt herself on a concrete park bench and was in a lot of pain. I believe they had stopped at the park to take the dog for a walk. Fortunately, there were no broken bones and they will continue on to see me when Rachel feels up to it.
They told me to cheer up, things could be worse; so I cheered up and, sure enough, they got worse.



Monday I took a spill on my scooter and the firemen had to come pick me up again. It's getting downright embarrassing. I don't think they will have any trouble finding my house from now on. I consider myself lucky because I fell on my good hip and it didn't break. It is swollen and I am sure I will have a stunning bruise in all colors, but if it didn't break I will not complain. Some additional pain in my neck and shoulder kept me awake, but I will heal -slowly, to be sure. The scooter turned over with me in it and we both survived .

I will leave you with this very old poem that you have probably seen dozens of times:

I Am Fine

There is nothing the matter with me.
I'm as healthy as I can be.
I do have arthritis in both my knees.
And when I speak, I talk with a wheeze.
My pulse is weak and my blood is thin.
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.

Arch supports I use for my feet
Or I wouldn't be able to step on the street.
Sleep is denied me night after night,
And every morning , I find I'm a sight.
My memory's fading, my head's in a spin.
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.

The moral is - as this tale I unfold -
That for me and for you who are growing old,
It's better to say, "I'm fine" with a grin
Than to let the world know the shape we are in.

How do I know that my youth is all spent?
Well, my git up and go has got up and went.
Yet I really don't mind when I think once again,
Of all the grand places my git up has been.

Old age is golden, or so I've heard said.
But sometimes I wonder as I climb into bed -
With my ears in a drawer and my teeth in a cup,
My eyes on the table until I wake up -
As sleep dims my eyes I say to myself:
Is there anything else I should place on the shelf?

When I was young my slippers were red.
I could kick my heels right over my head.
When I grew older, my slippers were blue.
I found I could dance the whole night through.
But now I am old. My slippers are black.
I walk to the store and puff my way back.

I get up each morning and dust off my wits.
I pick up the paper and read the obits.
If my name is still missing I know I'm not dead.
So, I eat a good breakfast ...
And go back to bed.

13 comments:

Looking to the Stars said...

I love the poem, it made me laugh hard. Glad you are okay from your accident. Also glad your family has come for a visit, have a good one. Looking forward to your pictures and hearing of your adventures during their stay :)

Joy Des Jardins said...

Great poem...so funny. Have a really great visit Darlene....enjoy every minute. We'll look forward to some good posts...and pics.... Hugs, Joy

Darlene said...

*Lois and Joy - If you look at my blog today you will see that life interrupted the plans. Today I am waiting for a phone call to hear that they are underway again.

Friko said...

Good luck to all concerned, you lot have been in the wars.

We should recite that poem more often, it might keep us going,

Rain Trueax said...

Goodness what a bummer. I hope you are all feeling better soon. Knowing it's just life doesn't help all that much *hugs*

Tabor said...

Sounds like you have accident prone running in the family genes. Ne careful when you and the others get together ;-)

Betty said...

You're just going to have to stop trying to do wheelies with that scooter. Glad you're ok.

Darlene said...

*Friko - I need something to keep me going.

*Rain - I remind myself of how much worse it could have been and think I have a guardian angel watching over me.

*Tabor - Right now we do seem to be accident prone, don't we?

*Betty - You mean I have to stop having fun? ;-)

Ugich Konitari said...

Darlene,

Your life is certainly not dull. :-)

Please be careful. I dont know anyone else who has had a major hip surgery, then falls on the other hip, and smiles and says, "wow, how nice nothing is broken!"...and continues to smle ....

I hope you heal well and soon and that your granddaughter too gets well soon enough to come and visit you.

I am just curious. Whay cant you drive ? Why must you traipse around Tucson on scooters ?

Hmm

Kay Dennison said...

Awwwwwwwwwww you will be missed! Do check the Friday Groaner cause you're there!!! Have fun!!

AND take care of yourself -- wenned you!!!

Healing hugs!!!!!!!!

Darlene said...

*Ugich - I answered your driving question in an e-mail. You will be happy to know that my girls got in late last night.

*Kay - Is there anything more heartwarming than being missed. Thank you for the healing hugs.

Sylvia K said...

I love the poem, too, and I did laugh -- hard! So sorry about your fall, but glad nothing's broken! Also sorry your families visit was delayed, but that'll just make it all the more fun when they do get there. Enjoy them! Look forward to some pics! Lots of hugs!

Ugich Konitari said...

Darlene,

I never got the email about the driving question ....I guess someone else got it by mistake. Hmm..