Charles Lamb said that. He was an English gentleman poet and a loyal brother to his sister, both of whom suffered from bouts of Melancholia. What a pretty word for depression.
It dawned on me about 2 years ago that if I fracture a bone, it will take me much much longer to heal than just 10 years ago. Once that sunk in, well hell, it freaked the crap outta’ me.
I remember the olden days ( did I just say that out loud?? ) when I was as nimble as a Gazelle.
As agile as a Cougar
And as sure footed, err, sure tailed as a spider monkey
Okay. Maybe not. Maybe I was never as nimble, agile and sure footed/tailed as I think I use to be. Whatever.
I remember leaping up onto counters to clean the top shelf, and bouncing down BOING! when finished. Now I seek out the step-stool and configure the whole procedure like an expert mountain climber.
I warily peer up at the top shelf, look down with trepidation at the step stool, and begin to formulate a master plan. Because, hey, people have been known to fall off 2 foot step stools and die.
Then I make a tea. And say out loud to myself in my bestest Scarlett voice, I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow. The dogs then look at me and sneer.
I bravely hike the 2 steps to the top of the stool ( hey, a person could fall off a step stool and break their necks and die you know! ) , tightly grab hold of the corner of the cabinet and gingerly pull myself up so I’m standing on the counter. All the while planning how and where to place my poor aged body when if I fall.
Finished with the hated chore, I look down and face the 128 million miles to the floor. I contort my body and stretch my leg out to meet the top step. All the while saying to myself * careful, c a r e f u l, c a a a a r e f u u u u l.
And then I party and make myself another tea.
Because I'd like to grow very old as slowly as possible.
Know why? Because my first grandbaby is going to make his/her entrance in a couple of months…here’s the latest portrait of our wee perfect and precious darlin’
