She jerked. She stuttered. She stopped. “Anna Mae! What is it?” I cried, giving her a whack. She got going again, just a little ways, then stopped again. “Damn it!” A cold day in mid-February, I’m way up the side of the mountain. I came here excited about spending the afternoon to take photos of … read more One cold February day
Tag: Tom
Miles of smiles
Today we sold Anna Mae, our jeep for more than seven years. I felt a real loss, as though I’d sold my youth. If you’ve owned a jeep, you might be sighing and a little sad, like me. Or you might be clapping your hands and saying, “Good for you – good riddance!” Jeeps are like … read more Miles of smiles
Notes to self
Every once in awhile, you get around to cleaning out files, folders, and even really littered spots like the Notes app on your iPhone. Warning: If you don’t do this very often, you will find many notes that have lost all meaning. For example: What the hell is a “shark connector”? Do I have one … read more Notes to self
More pills??
The surgeons are done with me. Today I turned myself in at the office of the primary care doctor. My usual doc was out of the country, so I went to his partner. I wasn’t too sure about going to a stranger. But I’m anxious to get some closer-to-home follow-up on the daily trials I’ve been dealing … read more More pills??
Being the baby again
I’ve been able to escape many of my work responsibilities during recovery, but today I had to check and finalize a form for the grant’s next installment. It was painfully difficult. The accountant had made some calculations that I knew weren’t correct. I went over and over the numbers to make sure I had done everything right. Then … read more Being the baby again
Feeling like a burden
My week is not going so well. My body feels like a hostile robot that I cannot control: The sciatica lingers, the opiate drugs constipate the digestive system, thinking is slow and feels generally purposeless. Tom does not hover overly much. He knows that I’ll tell him what I need and that I hate to whine. … read more Feeling like a burden
Flowers in winter
NOVEMBER 30 In these two weeks I have had so little fresh air, so little contact with nature. From the recliner I see trees and a bit of shrubbery, but it’s winter. The two bouquets of flowers in their vases are like a touchstone, the promise of being able to stroll outside again without help. … read more Flowers in winter
The pill schedule
When my parents were in their last years, and I’d visit them in Arizona, I was appalled by how many pills they were taking. And this is before they were actually ill. I remember making up little schedules for them, so that they would be sure to take the right pill in the right quantity … read more The pill schedule
Sleep sleep sleep
Poor Tom – he lost his Thanksgiving holiday while I was being shuffled around and then out of the hospital. Now he’s stuck with me, the patient less than two weeks past surgery, who needs help with everything. No wonder Emory sends a social worker around to make sure the patients will have a caregiver … read more Sleep sleep sleep
Give thanks to …?
The hospital food service offered turkey, dressing, and the like, and I took it. Pretty good, really, although lacking in a certain aesthetic appeal, served on a dining tray in a sterile room. The decor from Sara was the bright spot. I offered to share my dinner with Tom. He had a few bites, and … read more Give thanks to …?