However, my 70th birthday has come and gone. I now walk very slowly with two canes to assist my unstable balance or ride a motorized cart for best stability and ease of getting around. It seems well to admit I am "Living With A Disability."
http://www.ilwad.com is the website I recently discovered and further information is found there.
My husband of twenty-six years is my caretaker. "Caretaker" is a term that carries some baggage with it. Many think that if a caretaker is needed, that person is sick or immobile.
While I may have an incurable disease, I am active and do much. Still there are many things that need assistance from someone else.
Driving is an example. While I CAN drive, I prefer to have someone else be behind the wheel. Vertigo or dizziness attacks come on me occasionally without warning. My husband is now the driver of the car.
Some months ago, I lost my balance in our house and fell against a grandfather clock and we both ended up on the floor. I was not injured but the clock surely was. It cost $400.00 to be restored.
My dad built the clock when he taught industrial arts (shop) in high school around 1975. It stood in our home in Windber, Pennsylvania for many years. After mother died in 1980, he moved to Bradenton, Florida. The clock moved with him.
We moved many of the furniture pieces to Arizona after dad died in 2000. We had some major restoration done after it arrived. I could have bought a new one for what is invested in repairs. But then I would not be able to say,
"My dad built this grandfather clock."
That is an example of the type of mishaps that happened often in my life. I have lived with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) since my diagnosis in 1958. Times when numbness, partial paralysis, blind spots, pain, fatigue and other symptoms came and went were sometimes frightening because I didn't know if they would go away or not.
Through the years the symptoms became less and less severe until after my 65th birthday. Then I began to notice myself moving more slowly, needing walking aids like a cane or scooter for distance.
"Honey, no offense, but I prefer my own cooking to yours."
This statement came from my husband a few weeks after we married in 1985.
I replied with gratitude,
"No offense taken in the least, dear. The kitchen is yours...have at it!"
And he did, admirably. Cooking was never my favorite thing to do because of the time involved. There were so many other things to do than cook.
But I became quite accomplished at it. My first Army officer husband and our friends thought so anyway. We had many dinner parties, my cooking and baking were always applauded.
And I did like cooking then. I was young with lots of energy, appreciated, accomplished. My full time teaching job gave me time to prepare meals and weekends free to entertain. I loved entertaining, being with friends. I like socializing, people and entertaining..
But that was then. I was in my twenties. Even MS didn't slow me down very much then. But now, fifty-five years later it is a different story. I am grateful that someone loves me enough to want to cook my meals. drive me places, take care of me.
I still do the weekly laundry, clean up the kitchen, do the dishes, volunteer at our church office two hours each week, and attend services. My weekly activities include 5 yoga classes, teaching private piano lessons, playing Scrabble with my husband, hosting Bible studies, and watching movies with Netflix on our TV.
http://www.pianolessonsinglendaleaz.com
Website for Mountainview Music, the place where my piano students are taught. A 1903 Knabe Grand Piano and a Roland electric digital full-sized keyboard with pre-recorded orchestral discs to aid student's rhythmic development and practice ensemble playing. A computer interface with learning games and a verical file of supplemetal music completes the music room.
We do eat out occasionally. But since my chef-husband cooks so well, we mostly eat in. I am writing a blog on WordPress.org called "Chef Bernie's Kitchen."
http://www.easyspicytastyrecipes.com is the website. It features many of his 5 star recipes and also a contest.
He worked for a major corporation and travelled, so eating out with an expense account meant excellant restaurants. We usually plan our eating outings carefully, especially now that we are retired.
You can tell my disability is of little consequence to me. I live a full life and dwell on what I CAN do!
What I CAN do, I do with JOY!
