“That Woman”

I never wanted to be “that woman.” She is elderly and focussed on her failing health. When asked “ how are you?”, a 30-minute litany of current medical problems, dr visits, falls, etc results.

Yet here I am in failing physical health with not much else to talk about since life feels at times like one medical disaster after another. I expect that I would feel more compassion now for “that woman”. I know the layers of uncertainty, frustration and isolation that the woeful tales barely mask.

Reality Check. I am uber-strong in spirit.

My mind is gaining resilience in its health recovery. I am made of New England stubbornness. SO even though I am physically frail it isn’t the total story.

I will strive to bring humor to the rare times between medical crises so I have something else to report to inquiring minds. I don’t want to be “that woman.”

Did I mention yesterday’s emergency room visit? Who knew you could severely strain your back reaching for a pillow.

And I resisted hitting the orderly who suggested I “scoot over”to the other gurney to get the scan.

They let me sleep for awhile when the pain medicine hit like a Mack truck. Thankyou nurse Erin… you get gold stars!

Today I tottered over to Pearl for an equine version of pain management.

Stubbornness wins this round.