I finally came into agreement that I may be old. I have been fighting it for years.
Making Friends with The Little Red Corvette
Last summer I spent 10 wonderful days with my daughter Kristi, in Sacramento. CA. We went everywhere around that part of Northern California. We even went to Lake Tahoe one day. We would stop and get out to take pictures, and ate lunch with a view of the lake.
But the only thing was, I couldn’t walk very far. Pain in my back and hip was hindering my walking anywhere.
One day we went to a wonderful Farmers Market in a little town called Davis. I had such a good time, walking around looking at all the vegetables and fruit but before long I was exhausted and my back and hip was hurting so much. I was looking for a place to sit down. I found a folding chair, that was in one of the booths and they graciously gave to me to sit down. I was disappointed in myself.
Kristi said, “Mom maybe need to get one of those rolling walkers with a seat. Then you can use it and sit down when you get tired.”
I said, “I don’t want a walker. They are for old people.”
So she let the subject die right there. When Momma says no, you don’t argue with her.
So this fall and winter, I lived with my pain and lack of exercise. I was becoming comfortable with my inactivity.
Then last week I went to my doctor for a check up. She was concerned about my lack of exercise and walking. She said I needed to start walking. It was imperative because I had become such a “chair potato” because I sit at my computer in my office for 5 or 6 hours a day, writing and sending my stories to various Websites. My back and hip hurt constantly. I couldn’t even cook meals, because the pain was so bad.
The doctor suggested I get a rolling walker with a seat to use in the kitchen, and for walking distances. I told her I didn’t like that idea. It would make me look old! But, I told her I would think about it. But she put me on a 5 day a week, 30 minutes a day of walking. I asked her if it was doctors orders. She said it was and then get back with her in a month.
Well the next day Julie and Rocia and I decided to walk for 15 minutes at least. The 15-minute walk was not good. I barely made it to the stop sign and back. I used my cane, but I still had back pain, and one time almost fell. The only time I felt safe, was when Rocia walked between Julie and I held onto her arm and the cane too. I was so glad to get back to the porch to sit down. What to do? I needed to start walking but how to do that without falling down.
After our walk, I sat in my recliner and moped. I was so depressed. I felt like crying. I might as well admit the truth. I am old - 84 (almost 85) is old.
But then after not talking to anyone about my pity-party, late that afternoon, my daughter Kristi sent me a message asking me if she would send me a rolling walker with a seat in it, if I would use it. And she didn't even know how my walk went that morning. She did see a picture I posted on Facebook taken on the front porch of me and my cane back from our walk. She even sent me a picture of the rolling walker, she wanted me to have. It was sort of pretty, red with a seat on it and wheels.
I called Kristi, immediately and told her YES! She asked me what color did I want, red or black. I told her red was my favorite color and I wanted a red one. And I am going to call it my Little Red Corvette.
So, in just three days Amazon delivered it to my door and now I am mobile again. Going walking in the neighborhood with my red rolling walker. And when I walk with it I don’t have any pain, and I am steady and no fear of falling. So I guess me and my Little Red Corvette will be friends for life.
Everyone grows old. Most have difficulty walking at some point. I was told by my doctor to get in a wheelchair to avoid injury (I was frequently tripping and falling) in 1990. I chose a racy red and black wheelchair to be built for me in 1992 and started using it regularly in 1993. I'm sitting in it right now as I write this. I never named it though.
My mother has been using a walker for several years now. She is 92 and refuses to get one of those scooters or a wheelchair even though she has very bad joints except for one replaced hip. There does seem to be a problem for older folks to start using these aids because they feel there are some stigma attached. In my case, I accepted the transition, not reluctantly, because I knew I needed it, but slowly because the wheelchair greatly limited where I could go--still does. And I do miss the exercise.
You look great in your picture. May you walk many more years.
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Making Friends with The Little Red Corvette
