Participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

Less than a year ago, the far east was my limit in travel. I was still looking at cruises that folks tack on to their Australia trips. Go up north a bit. See what I could see in my lifetime. Travel booklets arrived every day, and it was so much fun to dream. But first, my daughter was going with me on a cruise to Portugal and Spain. A first to travel together in a very long time. It was to be a highlight for both of us. And, not so secretly, to check out if I were still able to travel abroad alone.

Then kaboom. I fell. My life completely changed. A concussion, four fractures, gashed forehead, chipped teeth, scratched glasses, followed by months of physical therapy on my little finger that refused to bend at the distal joint.

But, most absurdly to me, I lost my confidence in walking. I was asking where are my feet all the time?

Folks suggested I use a walker. I couldn’t see how that would help. Okay, then, how about my cane? I had two canes left over from a hip replacement the year prior. I tried. No luck. I was so fixated on not kicking the cane that I couldn’t concentrate on my feet.

Then, luckily, I guess, I got a severe case of plantar fasciitis, both feet. I say lucky because it forced me to look for shoes advertised to help this. I bought new wide-based tennis shoes that gave me the confidence that I, at least, couldn’t fall over to either side. I learned to swallow my scream as the scrunchy pain attacked. Finally, I think the pain gave up fighting against the good arches in the shoes.

Then I went off to AZ for the winter. Pains came along, here and there. I finally had to admit to myself that maybe, just maybe, my solo foreign travel days were over. It’s that crazy thing of being young one day, and then one day you’ve crossed over and don’t know exactly how it happened. I gave in to using walking sticks for stability. Now and then.

I’ve decided my longer solo trips for now will be US based. I’ve gone through my booklets for places my late husband never wanted to go to, but I still do. I’ve got two cruises booked, one way west, another way east. I’m watching for the right one yet to go to Niagara Falls. I think we went there on our honeymoon 62 years ago, but I’m not sure.

Several older people are writing lately about adjustments they’ve had to make as they aged. I’ve never seen myself in that category, so didn’t pay a lot of attention. Then, in talking with a friend lately over lunch, she gave me the simplest advice: “Lois, maybe it’s time you accept reality.”

You think?

But then someone just reminded me that Clint Eastwood, when asked at 88 what he did to keep himself going, said, “I try to get up and be productive, and don’t let the old man in.”

I think I’m going to give Eastwood’s method a try first. I’m six years younger, so I should be able to. If that old woman wants to get in me in the morning, I’ll show her to the bed instead. I’ll gently tuck her in and leave a glass of milk and fresh chocolate chip cookies to keep her company.

And if the day goes poorly, I’ll sneak back home and join her for milk and cookies. I’ll have someone in my bed to chat with about my day. Like a slumber party. As Shakespeare wrote, “All’s well that ends well.” I hope so…