On Growing Older
I will be 75 later this year, Some view that as elderly, others as merely a challenge, a few as just a number. My wife will be 72 shortly. Linda is blessed with decent health, while I’m a basket case.
Whenever I leave the house, it is a notable event. I must travel about 65 feet, perhaps 75, using a walker. I have Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (better described as late onset hydrocephalus) which has completely destroyed my sense of balance. The condition is treatable with a shunt, but incurable. My first shunt in 2019 became infected, necessitating its removal, and later replacement with a second shunt on the other side of my head. The three brain surgeries, along with a history of mini-strokes and two different kinds of seizures, mean I cannot drive, so either my wife or our eldest daughter drives me. At the destination I’m typically transferred to a wheelchair.
The seizures and the surgery not only caused me to stop driving, but also forced me to stop smoking after 59 years. My lungs are shot, but not cancerous. I don’t merely tire with much exertion, I become exhausted. A single visit to a physician leaves me nearly in a coma. Two physician visits or a physician visit and a meal out do the same. Monday morning, I visited my pulmonologist, and I, my wife and our eldest daughter went to lunch. On returning home I collapsed into a recliner, went to bed early, then awoke on Tuesday and promptly slept for the day. I’m not of much use to anyone at that point.
Golden Years
When looking forward to your golden years, just remember that gold is a heavy metal and, if consumed over time in sufficient quantity, is hazardous to your health.
In other news we discovered last week in Ohio that incompetence is an equal opportunity trait among politicians. Both Democrats and Republicans can be dumb as a box of rocks.
I consider you mighty useful, in the scheme of things. But it's true, I only experience the good stuff. Pretty powerful though, it shines through all the rest.
I’ve always wanted to be older. I suppose it’s because I’ve wanted to be wiser and less foolish than I really am. Wisdom, however, seems to come with a price as we pay with our years.
I enjoy reading your posts, Mr. Heath.