“I Can See Clearly Now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way…” Johnny Nash 1972

Welcome back to SOLO at SIXTY!

Goodbye April showers, Hello May flowers!

WHEW! What a week it has been! Surgery went well on my knee and they were able to reconnect my meniscus and “cement” the stress fracture. Pain was tolerable and I was able to stop taking the BIG pain meds within 2 days. Still cannot figure out where the “high” is on those drugs! I was so thankful to stop taking them. Had physical therapy 2 days after surgery and was happy to find myself ahead of the game, just by being able to lift my own leg up on the table! My physical therapist (also a friend) removed the brace and took the bandages off – I was afraid to look, thinking it might make me queasy, but I looked, and I was ok. There were 4 small areas with 1-2 stitches, but no blood and no yuck! Knee was a bit swollen as we slowly bent my knee and extended my leg, all without much pain. I credit this to working out y’all – it is so important in our aging years to be in shape – you never know what obstacles and challenges may appear in your life, so be ready and be healthy. As much as my daughter and I hated the exercise our trainer had us do where you sit, extend one leg and raise yourself on the other leg – I am thankful we had to do them. Helped me get up and on crutches! Not to mention all the balance exercises we did on the Bosu ball. I left PT with a list of daily exercises from flexing my ankle to bending my knee.

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” Joshua J. Marine

As I said last week, my worst fear about becoming SOLO came true – getting sick or having surgery and dealing with it alone. But I learned something very valuable – we are never totally alone in this world. I had offers of help from so many family and friends, from food, to “babysitting,” to errands, to coming over if I find that “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” Of course THAT friend would take pictures before helping me up and share them everywhere! So thankful for all of the help and offers. My younger daughter took me for surgery and spent the night on the sofa while I slept in my recliner (my temporary, yet very comfortable bed for the next 5 weeks). She set an alarm to wake us up every couple of hours to give me one of several pain meds to keep ahead of the pain. My older sister came up Wednesday to relieve my younger daughter so she could go to work. We had a fun couple of days – lots of laughs as she says she is not the “nursemaid” in the family, but believe me, she did a great job. Unfortunately for her, I had taken 2 oxycodone Wednesday morning in case the pain was bad when the nerve block wore off… and… I got sick. We handled it and that was the only time I took 2, and only time I got sick. She took me to physical therapy Thursday and then walked with me over to my office to say hello to my team. She refilled my tea and water cups endlessly (I am a big drinker) as well as the ice pack for my knee. She held her breath every time I insisted on standing up on my own. She also drank wine in front of me when I was on meds! She brought her paints and painted a beautiful beach scene for me, because I was supposed to be at the beach this whole week and instead found myself going under the knife. That beach scene will keep me focused on not overdoing it, but following the directions to a “T” so that I can get down to the beach in June. She left Friday morning after I successfully had my first shower (while she again held her breath, for many reasons!).

All propped up…

Artist at work on my porch!

“There are plenty of obstacles in your path. Don’t allow yourself to become one.”  Ralph Marston

Once I found myself alone on Friday, it was all up to me to manage. Yes, I had managed okay on my own, trying to do for myself while someone was here, but, someone was here. There’s definitely a difference when you find yourself alone. A little bit scary! WOW, so many actions we take for granted daily really come to the forefront when your mobility is limited. I was proud of myself for being able to make my own lunch and dinner, until it came time to eat. I couldn’t carry my plate while on crutches! Had to eat right where I cooked. Got a bit creative for other tasks. It’s amazing how crafty we can get when left to our own devices. A paper towel holder was used to reach the end of the blinds cord, a knife sharpener was used to “hook” a soup mug, while I used a beach bag to carry my drinks and ice packs from the kitchen to my recliner. But there are many things I cannot do – cannot buy my groceries because I can’t push a buggie, cannot pull weeds in my natural area, cannot pick strawberries (younger daughter said she would take me and pick for me), cannot roll my trash can out or back into my garage. This is where the offers of help come to play.

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” Joshua J. Marine

For the first time since I moved into my house 3 years ago (SOLO), I found myself at home day in and day out for several days (6 if you are counting, and I AM). What to do, what to do? Well, not much! As my grandmother would say, “can you do less than nothing?” And that, my friends, is a big challenge for me. I mean, I spend a majority of my time at the office or one of the clubs working out. But I needed to just be still and rest my knee. So I slept. A lot. Definitely more than usual. Not to rub it in for those of you at work, but I slept in until after 9 am some days! And took naps, lots of them. Who knew a person could sleep so much? I kept up with my work email, ran some reports, worked on some blog ideas, did some laundry, and that flat wore me out – what’s with that? Went back to my trusty recliner and cut the TV on. WOW, Matlock is still coming on in repeats on the Hallmark Mystery channel! Who knew? And Victor and Nikki Newman are still on The Young and the Restless (aka Y&R). I haven’t watch a soap opera in years. Took me back to my college days. My very talented niece (still my niece even though I am no longer married into that family) is a songwriter in Nashville (graduating from college in 2 weeks) and wrote a song that was being performed on The Young and the Restless last Friday, so I watched, only to discover some things never change – many of the same people are still on there, just older!

I must admit that I did enjoy being “still,” which is very unusual for me. I have not done this in forever, as I always have something going on if I am not going to the beach. Speaking of the beach, I missed our annual beach homeowners meeting and get together. I look forward to that every year – such a fun time getting together with all of my “beach neighbors.” Next year… and of course, later this summer.

“You carry on no matter what are the obstacles. You simply refuse to give up – and, when the going gets tough, you get tougher. And, you win.” Vince Lombardi

My older daughter came Saturday, stopping by Whole Foods for me on her way in. She watered all of my plants and took her momma for a walk. It was a gorgeous day and I just wanted to be outside. And I met a new neighbor moving in, and discovered we have mutual friends. After my daughter left, I watched the UNC vs. UVA baseball game, and fixed my dinner of salmon, baked sweet potato and zucchini. Ah… so good, but do I have to stand here and eat it?!?! Hmmm… there has to be a way to get this plate from one side of my kitchen to the other. So, inch by inch (literally) I scooted my plate around my countertops, by the sink, over the stove, while I moved on crutches until I (and my plate) reached the other side and I was actually able to sit down and enjoy my dinner at the bar, a bit exhausted. Got back in my favorite recliner, and watched the BEST Hallmark movie, “Love takes Flight”, and received a facetime call from a couple of my cheerleader friends. Life is good.

My “walker”…

So happy to be outside!

OK ready to head home…

Sunday my younger daughter came by after her soccer game and took her momma for a walk (my kids don’t want me to do this by myself yet!). She also gathered my trash and put my container out at the end of my driveway for Monday morning’s pick up. She came again Monday night for another walk and to bring my trashcan back in, but a neighbor beat her to it.

The weekend went so well for me, that I decided Monday was time for a change of scenery, and I went to work. Since I have been sleeping so late, I overslept. (ha!) Honestly, my recliner is very comfy. Woke up early when my first alarm went off, but somehow went back to sleep for another hour. It was my first time driving so it took a bit of maneuvering to get in my car – had to put my seat all the way down and back to where I could not see over the steering wheel to get my leg in! Trust me, I did not drive this way. Back to the memorized position until time to get out and once again, had to reposition my seat. I was so happy to see my team and was surprised with Princess Goldfish (did you know there was such a thing?), a lovely flower, and a Retro Frigidaire can cooler so I don’t have to go far for my diet DP! Stayed longer than I had planned so it was back to the recliner with ice on my knee when I got home. But, I felt like my “old” self. Thankful and grateful for all the blessings in my life.

Back at it on Monday!

Return to work gifts: flower, PRINCESS Goldfish, and a Retro Can Fridge!

“The two things in life you are in total control over are your attitude and your effort.” Billy Cox

Start of sunrise from my recliner…

Sunrise…

Full blown sunrise!

So be prepared for challenges and obstacles that will undoubtedly appear in your life, physically and emotionally. As you age, make every effort to be as healthy as you can. Sixty isn’t the new Forty for nothing y’all! Don’t take your health, or your abilities for granted, and be mindful of all of your blessings. Trust me, you are blessed in more ways than you can imagine. And make the most of every single day y’all, because as we all know, none of us is promised tomorrow.

Best,

Leslie

PS One week on crutches down, 5 to go! WOOHOO! It will fly by… right?!? Oh and did you know that today, May 1st, is Batman day? Unofficially, but it is thought that May 1, 1939 marked the first appearance of the caped crusader!