Talking with Paul Strickland. Both of us observing a paradoxical experience of growing old. Forgetting that who we are is not who we used to be. Especially physically.<\/p>\n
A task may come up. Say, cleaning leaves out of a gutter. Perhaps moving a tree fallen on the hiking trail. Oh, sure. I can do that. Did it lots of time. I hope your inner old person speaks up. Right then. No ladders. No. Test your leverage with with the tree. Any twinges? Stop.<\/p>\n
We both agreed. We check ourselves when those situations arise. Uh huh.<\/p>\n
Take a for instance. Yesterday I had a blood draw. Nearby. Over on Stagecoach. Ruby was here awaiting finalization of a deal with Robin. A close by, ten minute appointment. Oh sure. I can do that.<\/p>\n
I had decided a week ago that I could handle it. Don’t have to get a ride. Easy.<\/p>\n
First obstacle. My cane and I headed outside and down the slope to the parking lot. Not level, like everything inside. Oh. Required careful balance. I managed it, got to Ruby, and let my attention wander from my feet to the car’s interior.<\/p>\n
Still on a slope. Suddenly my left shoulder hit the blessedly soft grass and Mother Earth. Oh, sure. Done it lots of times. Took a while to get back on my feet, but I managed it.<\/p>\n
Then. Should I go through with this? What if I fell on the asphalt. As you might imagine, I chose the obvious. Drove myself to the blood draw. Got in and out ok. Found a parking spot near Elk Run’s entrance, got out. Signed back in and flopped in a\u00a0 lounge chair to regather my energy.<\/p>\n
Last time I’ll drive. Went well under the speed limit, driving like an old person. I was not safe and neither were others. A poor choice.<\/p>\n
Left the lobby and got back home. 308 is in his bed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Talking with Paul Strickland. Both of us observing a paradoxical experience of growing old. Forgetting that who we are is not who we used to be. Especially physically. A task may come up. Say, cleaning leaves out of a gutter. Perhaps moving a tree fallen on the hiking trail. Oh, sure. I can do that. … Continue reading No Fool Like An…<\/span>