I’m Now Useless…

after 70+ years of life, more than 50 of adulthood and 45 of a nursing career

Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash

Its’ one of those things, they don’t warn you about as you celebrate turning 21 — with that beer or Jack Daniels.

Yep — Growing old is “better than the alternative” — which is always dying.

But one must learn “how” to grow old. One has to realize what you’re giving up.

Here’s my list of some of the things that Mitzi’s lost:

1. I can’t read or write with noise around me. Husband has headphones for TV because of that. Right now I’m trying to write with the printer running paperless. My daughter sat it on my desk without a tutorial. She’s now in a Zoom meeting for her fellowship so I can’t disturb her even though the motorized hum is driving bat-shit crazy.
2. I have to take my time getting a shower-actually have to use a transfer seat in the tub because I’m unsteady standing and damn if I’ll ask for help while wet and naked.
3. I have to take 12 pills during the day and one of them is a beta-blocker that whips my sorry ass — I take it and I’m exhausted and want to go back to bed.
4. I’ve already had a stroke with some slight left side residual, making it difficult for me to do some normal things — like getting dressed without sitting down to do it.