What goes up, must come down, spinnin’ wheel got to go round
I joke about how similar living in a larger senior community is to high school or junior college social dynamics, but there are a few differences. In high school mean girls could remember every detail of your most embarrassing moment and the exact whys and wherefores of your current placement in the pecking order. Here, few remember anything, so they just make it up as they go along.
Today when asked why I was moving out so soon, I was shocked and my reply was my current resolve to not leave until my soul did.
I also learned through my rather despicable habit of eavesdropping that I am here either because of my drinking problem or possibly a stroke; having let myself go quite terribly for someone who says they are a nurse. (Nope, not even close, FYI)
It is truly amusing to not be hard of hearing here, and I love to sit in the library out of line of sight. Unfortunately or fortunately I never get invited to these women’s discussions. I guess because I told them what my mom always said, “(S)He who brings a bone, always takes one.” Luckily for all concerned. Mean girls of any age are the exception not the rule. Still, they amuse me.
Another wheel spinning through my mind today is funny answers to hilariously inapropos questions.
One example is asking “Are you OK?” in reference to anything chronic, long term or with obvious signs you are absolutely not OK. Currently what this looks like is someone I previously knew runs into me with my walker here in an Independent Living Facility.
“Hello, its really been a long time, is that your walker? Do you live here? Are you OK?” Her voice rising with greater concern and incredulity with each question.
What I think, “No, I thought I would travel 40 miles west, sneak into a senior facility and steal walkers. Gotta leave now before the person I stole if from reports me.”
What I say, “Yes it is, and yes I do. How are you?”
Anyway here is a fun little story, feel free to use it the next time someone asks you if you are OK, when the current situation warrants something more along the lines of “How are you?” or “May I bring a casserole around,” or other signs of compassion.
I start with, “You remind me of my friend. One day we were walking down the old railroad track in Noank and we saw what looked like a foot.
‘That looks like Joe’s foot’ I said.
‘Oh my goodness, it is Joe’s foot!’ they replied. A little further along we saw torn pants and a leg.
‘Is that Joe’s leg,” I cried.
Oh my Goodness, it is Joe’s leg,’ my friend said.
We walk a bit farther and see an arm and a bit of shirt.
“IS that Joe’s arm?”
“Oh my God, it is Joe’s arm!”
Then I see a bloody neck and severed head. “Is that Joe’s head?”
“Joe! Joe! Oh My God! Are you OK?”
Here is hoping you are OK. And if not, that the wheel will turn quickly. Not much else to say. Blood, Sweat and Tears are my soundtrack today, and I am just riding the spinning wheel of life and staying ahead of the wave.
And laughter shows me the colors that are real.
This post has taken me almost two weeks to edit and post, which leads us to the next one…..