Old So What

 Here are a few of the words of advice I tell my elderly cousin often. Take your time . When you are rushing to finish a task and your mind is drifting, you are more likely to loose your balance or drop something. Focus on one thing at a time. If you are easily distracted or trying to do too much at once, try to focus on the just one thing at a time. This will lead to better outcomes and less trouble. Tell yourself "good job!" If you don't have someone around to compliment you, then you have to compliment yourself. A simple reminder that you can do something regardless of how simple, will boost your confidence and independence. 

  No! What seems to be growth is actually a comparison:   As we age our cheeks and lips lose volume and make everything else look larger. And the fact that gravity makes our noses and ears sag adds to the overall aging effect. But, so what?!   (Unless you’re thinking of entering a beautiful Ears and Nose Contest.)

To save money manufacturers now make butter compartments that don’t close off the butter dish. (It’s a half compartment sort of thing, which doesn’t keep the butter at a separate temperature, which would make it softer and easier to spread.) Although I suspect that a separate temperature has been missing for quite a while. And small, individual bandages no longer come with a red string that made opening them much easier. Plus, salt shakers now come with just a spout so everything pours out   all at once, no more perforated screen to help adjust the flow. Ka-Ching!

  I realize the time to miss you is now endless, reaching to eternity, but luckily for me I won’t be here that long. I found out that the garbage and trash pickup days are endless, too, reaching to eternity. I discovered that I am old. I suspect that I will run out of money long before I run out of me. I observe history, as recounted by younger generations, who weren’t there, get a lot of it wrong.   I no longer have a love for travel if you can’t come along. I think I am a great deal more patient. I can afford to wait at traffic lights.   After all, what’s the rush? I enjoy spending my time around my pets because they don’t understand and they don’t judge. I feel as though I have lost my place in the world. I never thought you would die.

  All I can say is:   get this if you’re tired of your walker making a lot of embarrassing noise. They work! They come in different sizes to fit the width of the shaft of the walker. The box says that these optimize walker performance & stability. You’re going to have to measure the shaft; order this from Amazon OR wherever you choose; and then when they arrive, attach the set of two to the rear legs of the walker. It’s really easy.   If I can do it, so can you! Please Note:   The curved end of the skis should face forward to keep any rugs down. And, of course, the skis replace the plastic tips that originally came on the walker itself. No, I don’t get anything for this recommendation to you except that the gentleman who stopped me outside the post office to tell me, would be glad that I’m passing this tip along to you. Now go out and tell someone else.

  I am definitely NOT a therapist or medical technician of ANY kind. The advice I offer is simply what works for me—coming from a past history of falling many times (including down the cellar steps [and breaking my hip in the process]). How I Try NOT To Fall: C lear the area around your bed so that it’s a No-Fall zone. Do not turn around in any way that is not SLOW, this includes full and half circles. Use a bed rail for adults (secured by your mattress).    When getting out of bed at all times, hold on to the bed rail, rise then wait   Wait to get your balance, your equilibrium, your sense of where you are and where you are going. Put all pet toys in one corner of every room (away from where you walk) OR if your pet moves them around, put them away at night. Be aware of where you cat or dog, or whatever, is.   (Under your feet or about to trip you is not a good location.) Have night lights as you go.   Remove small rugs.   It’s either them or you....