I am officially old.
Or elderly?
Either way - time has been spent and gone by the wayside.
77 is not too old, someone said, but they did not make me aware of that fact.
So, on my 77th birthday I simply turned 77, and at that time I decided I was old.
Joining me on this occasion is Willow, my beautiful and sadly overweight (14 to 16 lbs, conservatively) Somali Cat - female, fixed, somewhat aloof, and she does her best to keep me company, sometimes, and she delights in doing her kneading thing with my belly, that is conveniently in line with the desktop, where she sits, as she shows off her expertise in left and right jabs to the punching bag she feels it is her right to abuse.
She can do this for long minutes at a stretch, and she does so! (As she knows that I am too much of a gentleman to ever hit back!)
So here I am, old, or elderly, at 77, with a full line of Cat Extraordinaire by my side, sometimes, and I really have no idea where I was going with this when I first started out here... but I will continue. I will persevere. I like that word. Persevere - it just sounds so very British. Perhaps it really isn't, but I like to think so.
My life, in this rather restrictive habit of being elderly,
is right up there with bad weather.... (although I no longer go out in it, and thankfully I no longer have to walk a mail route any more, as that was usually quite miserable) ...and small portions of favorite foods.
I am quite limited in the things that I am able to accomplish any more - gave up my license as I am a danger to myself and others when behind the wheel, and I have not really enjoyed driving much at all since they did away with the vent windows, which I dearly miss.
Unable to climb into or our of a vehicle any more, anyway, as My legs and hips will not function as the good Lord originally intended them to do, and I must navigate slowly with a 4-prong cane and some rails in the hallway.
This house was built in the early 1950s, narrow doorways and not spacious at all, so a regular wheelchair will not work at all in here, so I must use a walker which is a pain, truly, if I wish to work my way to the the living room or the kitchen.
So I don't. My world, as a result of this elderly adventure, is restricted to the computer room, where I am presently, and the bedroom, and the bathroom. Sadly I usually need assistance with the bath and bedroom, as I am unable to maneuver myself properly in order do much more than stand there,
unless someone assists me in gaining access to the bed (entrance or egress), or the shower. I also need assistance of my very kind and loving wife who helps me get dressed as necessary, usually on a daily basis at minimum.
She has the patience of a saint and the temperament of a true Irish woman, plus she is a retired RN with attitude and she is very good at verbally shredding an old man's well-meant attitude -—
(BUT I do seem to piss her off fairly easily, and I have not yet learned to be more careful of how I say or do things).
So today I am thus: elderly, quite confined, limited in things I am able to do, and with a large Cat, as well as on other dainty little lady I lovingly refer to as Li'l Bit, (Her real name is Moonshadow), who is getting up there in years as well,
and that frightens the hell out of me. This has sort of gotten to me, and I am a bit tired, so will end here for the moment, and will hopefully continue soon. ~peace...