Because Tom can’t write much yet, I’m filling out his medical forms. It’s bad enough doing these stupid pieces of paper for myself; doing them for someone else is a real pain in the arse. First of all: Why the hell are these forms still on PAPER? The big advance for medical offices has been … read more Fill in the blank
Month: August 2016
Just another morning
[Thursday Aug. 11] Today, Dad would have been 96 years old. I begged him to help me get through the day. It’s been a week since the tree fell on our house, and six days since Tom got out of rehab. The days are too long, and not long enough. I usually wake up at … read more Just another morning
Fitbit cheats
With all the schlepping I am doing lately, I figured it would be nice to get at least some kind of credit for it. So I donned Tom’s cast-off first-generation Fitbit. It’s great to get that little party on your wrist when you’ve taken 10,000 steps in a day. In the past couple weeks, I’ve been … read more Fitbit cheats
At the threshold
We were running late, of course. Everything takes longer when one of you is in a wheelchair and neither of you is sleeping very well. Tom’s appointment at the barbershop was for 10 a.m. I’d called to let them know we would be late, and the receptionist said it was OK as long as we … read more At the threshold
Target achieved
It took five months. But today I achieved my target weight. I’m finally at a “normal” weight, instead of “overweight,” for my height, according to the standards of the Body Mass Index. I’ve lost 25 pounds since March 1. That’s an average of about a pound a week, which is the pace at which weight-loss … read more Target achieved
Got gear
A guy’s gotta have gear. Tom left the hospital with a wheelchair and a commode, and today he got a truck full of other gear to keep his engine running during home rehab. A hemi walker, half a walker that folds up small, and with which he can walk the length of a hallway and … read more Got gear
The homecoming
Tom got to come home today – and boy, was he ready. He’s now marked “independent” on getting in and out of bed and chair, showering and going to the toilet, and running around in his wheelchair. He has progressed so fast that I can’t keep up, and his therapists are truly impressed. He can … read more The homecoming
The oak, falling – Part 2
I could hear the chainsaws across the valley a little after 8 a.m., and I knew it was at my house. I sat on Sara’s deck, looking out into the obliterating mist, and cried. She came out and sat with me. We talked and drank coffee. Finally, I got dressed and drove to my house, where a 10-ton oak … read more The oak, falling – Part 2
Fallen oak
Angela hesitated before she told me why she was calling. “Ma’am… I’m sorry to tell you this… but…. “A huge tree fell on your house.” Oh my GOD. I started to cry. I knew right away which tree it was, and I knew that the damage would be enormous. “My husband had a stroke and … read more Fallen oak
Private parts
One important thing I have learned about writing is to tell the truth. But because this blog is public, I can’t always tell the truth. There are times I have avoided writing the post that I really needed to write because it might hurt someone’s feelings or violate their privacy if I am honest about my day. I … read more Private parts