Wednesday September 16, 2015  AMBULANCE TO EGG

 

Today’s title heading has a meaning.  One I know before I begin writing.  I spent a bit of time yesterday planning what I was going to do today to make my week, and my month, work for me.  Today Dave had blood work done at 8:40 a.m.  We planned to go from there to the gym to workout.  Then our plan was to make a quick run out to Costco so I could pick up all the ingredients I would need to finish up making all the f_ _d (I don’t want to say the “F” word) I need to make.  Well, it didn’t happen.  It is amazing how quickly your plans can turn on a dime.

While working yesterday I began to feel light headed.  As the day progressed it became a bit more noticeable until I began to feel dizzy.  I was able to eat dinner but not do the cleanup.  Dave took over the kitchen for me and I hurriedly put myself to bed.  By that time my world was spinning and I did not feel well at all.  I knew my heart was beating erratically, but I am somewhat used to that.  Everything progressively turned worse after that.  Dave was sleeping peacefully next to me and I was still unable to go to sleep.  It was 11:00 p.m. when I realized my heart was really in trouble.  I thought I should at least wake Dave and make him aware of it in case I became even worse. 

Dave called the nurse on call and because of my condition, by this time I was losing body heat and shivering and going into shock,  the nurse felt we needed to call 911.  And so the ambulance came.  When my heart is in Atrial Fib it causes my kidneys to over work and I am constantly making trips to the bathroom.  This is not a good thing because it is difficult for me not to pass out.  The fire department came first and I was still out of whack.  I soon began to feel better and by the time the ambulance came I knew I was a bit better.  I was all packed up and in the ambulance ready to leave when I asked if it was really necessary to take me in since my heart had converted from A Fib back to my normal ABNORMAL heart rate.  What I mean by that is the fact that my heart is rarely in a regular rhythm, but it does have sort of a regular, abnormal rhythm.  The paramedics monitored me for a while longer in the ambulance, did a couple of EKG’s, and blood pressure checks.  My pressure was elevated but that too was going down.  I just did not want to go to the hospital!  So, since I felt better, Dave and I decided that I would not go. 

Before you get your dander up Sister, know I felt it was a well informed decision since my EKG was on the right path and my blood pressure was dropping back to normal.  I would have gone had I felt the way I had before they came.  What caused this episode to come on, I cannot say for sure.  Perhaps it was from working too hard (that seems like the noble thing to say), eating a gram too much fruit, not eating enough of something, or just that I am old and my heart is wearing out?  The worst part of the ordeal was the dizziness.  I do not think there is anything I dislike more than being dizzy.  I finally fell asleep, and awakened at 8:30 a.m..  I ate breakfast and was back in bed by 10:00 a.m. and did not stir until almost 2:30 p.m..  I then ate lunch and rested on the couch the rest of the day.  No exercise, no work in the kitchen, just plain old laziness!  I am not quite back to 100% but I am doing much better.  Now, I am planning my tomorrow.  (Sister, remind me again about slowing down.  I think I need to hear it again.)

Now, let’s skip to the egg.  Think of the egg as just a product of the chicken (not f_ _d).  Remember I am not saying that word anymore.  I opened a carton of farm fresh eggs we buy and my eyes popped out.  Eleven normal size eggs tucked neatly in the carton and one egg that stuck out like a sore thumb.  I imagine there was something else quite sore after laying that egg.  Look at the picture below.  Dave asked if it was a goose egg.  I will say, it was a good egg! Just thought you might like to see how big it really was.

It pains me to admit it, but I think this blog must be short tonight as I am feeling a bit peaked.  I do not like admitting that I don’t feel well or am tired because so seldom do I feel that way.  I suppose my body might just be trying to tell me to slow down a bit.  Perhaps becoming that “recluse” I talked about yesterday is sounding better and better.  The one thing I do know is that we all need to learn to listen to our bodies.  As we age we can no longer get away with the long nights and hard working days.  Slowing down is one of the greatest losses I will feel in the aging department.  When I turned 60 my doctor of many years sat me down at my physical and commenced to telling me that I was entering the time of loss in my life.  He explained that I would be giving up certain things, like energy and vitality, perhaps my spouse in death, my hearing, my astounding memory, driving, and on and on he went.  He was serious and thought it important enough to give his “aging patient’s this pep talk” that he presents to his patients on their 60^th year.  Well, you know what?  He was right.  But I didn’t want to let him be right.  What he didn’t know was that I already had a host of “giving ups” I had already experienced.  In a later year I took a poem to him that I wrote and read it to him.  Some of the things he spoke about were included in the poem and I also included several things that he had failed to mention.  If I can find it on my hard drive I will include it at the bottom of this blog.  It truly is worth reading.

I learned a new word today.  It is elegy.  Its synonyms are:  “poem (sad poetry about one’s life), requiem, dirge, composition, and funeral song”.  So I guess my poem is an elegy.  I enjoy new words.  I have dictionaries placed all over the house so that wherever I am reading I can look up new words I do not know.  The more new words a writer gives me to look up, the more I enjoy the book.  It seems I remember and understand the word forever after that when I look them up.  I wonder what my poem will be tonight.  I honestly never know which poem will come to me before I begin.  So here goes.  I will let my mind wander and see what it comes up with.

 

JUST GIVE IT A TRY

By Kathleen Martens

September 16 2015

 

Sometimes I wish that others

Would write a poem or two

So I could look inside their mind

And see how their thoughts brew.

 

Poetry is nothing more

Than writing what one thinks.

So many think that it is hard,

But it is just an open link.

 

An opening to who you are

And how you view the world.

You may find it fun

As your thoughts freely unfurl.

 

If you know not where to begin

Just write whatever comes to heart.

It seems to be the very best place

For your words to  start.

 

Be not afraid to open up

And show who you really are.

You may certainly surprise yourself.

Your words may take you far.

 

Take you to places yet undiscovered.

To places deep within.

Words that will then make sense.

And words will become your friend.

 

So much can be said

In little spurts of letters.

A new you may emerge

That you may even like better.

 

Never underestimate your value

Or gifts that are tucked inside

When you write a poem or two

IT’S IN YOURSELF YOU REALLY CONFIDE!

 

Hmm…I think I like that one because it seems so true.  Sometimes we are too afraid to explore areas yet unexplored.  Take a chance and do something different.  If poetry doesn’t suit you, write a letter to yourself telling yourself about what you like about yourself and things you wish you could improve.  I write letters to God quite often.  And He writes them back to me.  Of course they come through “MIND MAIL” but that is okay, because I am an excellent transcriptionist.  I sometimes just can’t decipher my writing afterwards.  Give yourself a chance and just see if you could write a poem.  It may be fun.  Remember, it doesn’t need to rhyme.  Just break up a sentence into short phrases and put the short phrases on separate lines and sometimes it will make an awesome poem.  I’ll give you an example.  Take the second sentence in this paragraph which I just chose and see how I break it up to create a bit more meaning.

 

TAKE A CHANCE

By Kathleen Martens

September 16, 2015

 

Sometimes

We are too afraid

To explore

Areas yet unexplored.

 

Take a chance

To go

Where your heart

Beckons.

 

(I just made up the last stanza to go with the above sentence.)

 

There.  You have a poem.  A poem makes you concentrate on the phraseology of the line and brings out more meaning in one’s mind.  Now that is probably a poor example of what I want to get across to you but I will make up a poem now that does not rhyme.  On what subject?  Who knows?

 

WORDS

By Kathleen Martens

September 16, 2015

 

Words

Are but letters

Arranged by choice

To create thoughts

Which need to be

Spoken.

 

Give it a try.

Well, so much for a short blog.  I guess I started feeling better.  At least I am not dizzy.

Well, here is the poem I promised to share that I wrote to my doctor.

 

 

I Have Some Words To Say 

By Kathleen Martens

 

I had a visit to my doctor

Just the other day.

Sit down He said to me

I have some words to say.

 

It’s all about

The experiences of life,

Listen to my wisdom.

Perhaps you’ll have less strife.

 

Each year progresses

With age appropriate experience

And what I speak to you

Please understand the seriousness.

 

Time has a way

Of opening its door,

With new developments,

Each year offering more.

 

While strong and stalwart

No time used for reflection,

Each milestone just happens,

No time for inspection.

 

 

Adulthood happens,

Children are born.

Life seems forever,

The future not scorned.

 

And then one day

We seem to see

And wonder what’s happening

To spouse and me.

 

The body creaks,

The mind slows down.

What once was important

Now brings a frown.

 

We often view

Ourselves younger

And for those days

We still hunger.

 

Social Security by check comes

And we think we’re still forty,

But our movements

We start hoarding.

 

And unexpectedly we see

In a mirror true

What time has done

To both me and you.

 

It’s better to accept

Just who we are

On this journey called life

Now we’ve traveled so far.

 

“You’ll be more content”,

Are the Doctor’s words.

What he doesn’t realize

How much unsaid I’ve heard.

 

Life has a way

Of teaching each one

That every day

Is not always fun.

 

Even with age

Joy is alive and well

Though you have more episodes

When you’re sick a spell.

 

There are aches and pains

You just keep to self

And after tending all

You place them on the self.

 

To the young

Listen to words of warning:

I must soak my hands

So fingers move each morning.

 

And when I arise

I am so slow,

Joints must pop in

Before they’ll go.

 

Warm compresses

On my eyes

To awaken oil ducts

On which my vision relies.

 

I scrub my scalp

And soak my head

So my skin is healthy

When I’m dead.

 

I cover my bunions

Put drops on my corns

Insert my orthopedics

For feet that are worn.

 

Put Vitamin E 

On my latest scar

In hopes the old body

Will show less mar.

 

I must sit just right

So broken tailbone won’t shout

And there is much more I could say

Without a doubt!

 

I must be so careful

To put things away,

Otherwise I can’t find them

Because they skitter away.

 

Skin becomes dry

And easy to tear,

But you learn to accept it

Because it’s given much wear.

 

The hearing diminishes,

Not bothersome at all.

What others say

On deaf ears fall.

 

The T.V. is louder,

Discourages guests,

But that’s okay

Gives you more time to rest.

 

So much advice

From one younger than I

But no need for thought

Before I comply.

 

Such sage wisdom

Experienced through years

With aging patients’

Grumblings and tears.

 

Doc’s seen the losses

That take their toll

As each year passes

And His patients grow old.

 

So thanks for your insight

And not saying that I am fat.

As far as the rest?

Been there!  Done that!

 

I know growing older

Is a gradual perishing,

But my spirit renews each day

For it is life I am cherishing.

 

But if I may ask

A question or two

I wonder who will say

All these words to you?

 

Thanks for caring Dr. B

 

Have a great night and a wonderful tomorrow.  Just don’t get dizzy. 

 

God bless you and good night.