Yes I know I wrote along these lines only the other day but yesterday I had perhaps the worst day for a long time. And it was entirely ruled by my age.
I have always been tidy, organised, precise in how I do things. I would admit that this has, as I have aged, got worse (they say your worst faults tend to take over as you age!) and things got altogether too much yesterday.
I keep a calendar on the wall of the kitchen and I write every single appointment on it as soon as it is made. Every week-end I take it down and look precisely what I "have on" in the coming week and then plan accordingly.
This week it was Tuesday - yearly Phlebotomy tests at the surgery - son collecting me for my mid-day appointment. Wednesday - first cataract operation on my right eye - friends T and S taking me to Darlington. Thursday - my Tesco order delivered at lunch time. Quite enough for one week and all organised.
Until yesterday morning. I am waiting for tests at the hospital followed by consultation with the Specialist. The hospital rang. Can I come next Wednesday at mid-day? Yes but when I said my cataract op was today - he wouldn't do the necessary tests until six weeks after a cataract op. Really, as my son rightly pointed out, the surgeon's investigation was far more important and if I changed them round the cataract could be done quickly even if put off for a week.
That is when old age kicked in. I returned from Phlebotomy to a mind in chaos. Rearrangement was complicated (wouldn't have been ten years ago). Hospital A rung to cancel eye. Hospital B rung to rearrange appointments as I had previously thought to leave it all as it was. Ambulance to ring for collection and return here as I am not mobile. I made a list and ticked them off as I completed each one. Everyone was helpful, and as I got increasingly confused everyone was placatory and comforting (apart from ambulance when I was treated to half an hour or so of music and finally abandoned it.)
After my final call, when all was rearranged successfully I began to shake. And I mean shake. As so often friends T and S arrived - T put on the kettle and made me a strong cup of tea; listening to the ambulance story they said 'forget it - we will take you'. Half an hour later I was more or less back to normal (whatever that is).
In the middle of all this I met B, a neighbour, who I rarely see other than through the window as he toddles past on his way to do his weekly shop in our little town - shops about a mile away. We had a chat - he 'boasted' was was still managing his shopping and he was 84. I told him I had mine delivered as I was 91 in a fortnight. I said to him, "At what age do we start boasting about our age?" We decided 80 was probabloy the kick-off. And then he said, "My dear, if I get flustered then I say -
"I do apologise but I am in my 85th year -sounds so much more refined I think".
So there you have it - lovely cold but sunny, breezy day. No cataract today so lovely quiet day to recover my equilibrium. And to emulate B "I do apologise for off-loading this on to you readers, but I am in my 92nd year at the end of this month!"
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28 comments:
Good on you, this was quite a trial by appointments, and old age is coming to us all - if we're lucky ! X
Alison in Wales x
That would be enough to set me off to a shaky start to the day too. You seem to have recovered well now though.
I'd have asked the Specialist to give me another date as the cataract stuff was all in place. You seem in good fettle after all said and done.
It all sorted itself in the end. A good cup of tea with friends helped settle the last problem.
Glad you got it all straightened out. We all get these worrisome moments! You managed it well after all with a little help from friends and family.
Clearly both Pat and her son know best when it comes to seeing the Specialist or having the eye treatment, presumably seeing the Specialist has a greater degree of importance and they chose wisely.
Fate would have it when 2 appointments land on the same day. Remember this is no fault of your own. That said, I continue to maintain that you do marvelously well. All is settled and you have a perfect new plan.
My dear Pat, you're a world-class wonderful teacher even as you're approach your 92nd year and have an occasional upset. What wisdom and what practical lessons you teach us with good humor!
I'm glad all is sorted and hope your calendar was easily amended to reflect the changes in your schedule.
Big, but gentle hugs!
With a slip of a digit, you made yourself a year older at the end of this entry!
Glad you were able to get everything sorted out so you could calm down ... now, it's just the waiting to get everything taken care of with no more upsets!
I thought you were going to be 91 on your birthday! I am in my 80th year, so maybe I was mistaken? Anyway, I am glad you are
having a good day.
I'm not surprised! When I think of how many saucers I used to be able to keep spinning, I don't recognise myself anymore, and I've got a way to go age wise!
As with the man B so with the woman Weaver. [Age explanation].
What a nightmare. I'm not surprised you were shaking. I am a mere 87 and would have felt the same. You might have been shaken but you were definitely not stirred!!
I so commiserate with you, having had ops cancelled last minute and then more appointments made. I too write everything down but still get things wrong like arriving for an appointment for blood tests and being told I couldn't possible have been given that time as it was the nurses lunch hour. but I KNOW THAT was the time as I wrote down it as she said it. She was there and did it anyway, but I felt they thought I was doo-lallie and I'm only in my 81st year.
Onwards and upwards Pat.
These days, things throw me more easily too, not just health issues.
I think its part of getting older, just when we need the physical and emotional strength to steady us. It's understandable we need to lean on others at such times.
I am much younger than you, but you lead by example.- Pam.
Bless you, you are amazingxxx
Sounds as if you did a wonderful job rearranging things. With so many balls in the it's easy to miss one and have it land with a thump on the floor. Seems you managed to keep them all spinning in line even though they were coming from all different directions. Bravo!
You lead us older folks by example. You completed all the necessary rearrangements with included quite a long list. It's not your fault that the ambulance company won't pick up the phone.
Enjoy an unexpected free day.
I really love your friends. I am glad that you got it all sorted. Good luck with the specialist.
My Mum is in her 80th year and her life revolves around different medical appointments on a rotating basis. She does not hear well. She is not very confident with text messages. She too has essential tremors. She can use an iPad to some degree, but needs my brother and I to pay bills online, book appointments and facilitate anything else which overwhelms her. Like someone said, we all have this ahead of us. Mum has had both cataracts done now, but recovery from one had problems which then required a cornea transplant.
Many people will read this and identify with it. It's not easy doing a number of things at one time. Good for you to get things sorted out.
Thanks everyone. Good to know I am in good company and not alone with my head in a muddle!!
Thank you, B, for a graceful exit.
I'm only 61 and find that I get muddled and stressed when it comes to appointments already.
I'm a mere youthful 77, and my wife tries to convince me that I have 'old-timers' disease. She's wrong of course, but it amuses her!
There's a lot to admire about keeping things straight by using a calendar.
I had to laugh a bit at myself while reading what you wrote- today I was shopping for a " just
right" calendar for 2024,and decided I don't need it yet,
really I didn't buy one because I was getting anxious just trying to make the perfect choice.Ha Ha- Mary
Mary. I alwys get one for Christmas every year from one of my grandsons - it always has a big square for eacg day. Gives me tspace to put in all kinds of reminders.
Thanks all of you. My father always said 'You're as old as your tongue and a little bit older than your teeth.'
Soldier on everyone.
Soldier on indeed, Weave.
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