I Checked My Social Schedule for the New Year

And I realized I am officially a senior citizen

Photo by Diogo Cardoso on Unsplash

It’s only the second day of the new year, so I checked my calendar for upcoming events. I never did this when I was younger because I had no problem remembering what I had planned for the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Back then, my social schedule consisted of my Mother’s and Father’s days, my parents and brothers’ birthdays, term paper due dates, the occasional wedding, and maybe a concert or two. I had no problem remembering the dates of keg parties, beer blasts, or other drinking events, primarily because they happened almost every weekend.

Today is different. Looking ahead to the next 264 days, I found one wedding anniversary party and one air show my husband has booked in advance. However, plenty of other appointments are scattered throughout the next 12 months.

Each of those appointments is a doctor’s appointment or appointment to have my blood drawn. I have appointments with my primary care physician, cardiologist, urologist, pulmonologist, and gastroenterologist.

I can’t remember having a doctor’s appointment other than a yearly or employment physical when I was younger. As I aged I acquired a series of badges of the old age process, I began to have fewer social events and more medical-related appointments.

To make things a bit more confusing about having so many doctors’ appointments in our “golden years,” we also have more of a problem remembering those appointments. If I don’t write it down immediately, there’s a good chance I’ll forget it. Fortunately, my healthcare system does an excellent job of keeping track of my appointments and reminding me of them as they are near.

Checking my social schedule has become a tradition for celebrating the New Year. I am not complaining because to remain healthy, it has to be done. The time to worry is when I check the schedule and see an appointment for the undertaker!

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Do We Have to Live With the Aches and Pains of Old Age?

They’re no fun, but they’re a part of life

Photo by Philippe Leone on Unsplash

It seems as though I awaken to another part of my body hurting every morning. Sometimes, I lay in bed and count how many aches and pains I have. This morning, instead of getting out of bed immediately, I contemplated my aging process.

When I was much younger, the only pains I could remember were growing pains as my arms and legs lengthened in adolescence. Now, the bones are doing the opposite as I lose height.

I am 76 years old now. My pains started about ten years ago. I began to realize I couldn’t engage in the same activities I did when I was younger, like running or walking, without hurting my knees. I don’t think I could run now if I tried. Tennis was out, as was any sport aside from bowling.

I began developing COPD, and the asthma I suffered from as a youth returned. So, if I did anything strenuous, my breathing would create more problems than my decreased physical stamina. But I am not talking about being unable to perform athletically, like when I was in my twenties.

I have arthritis, sciatica, a pinched nerve in my lower back, and bursitis in my left shoulder. I know why I have those pains and what I can do to help relieve them. I know the pain worsens when the weather gets bad. I can’t take NSAIDs, so I suck it up.

The aches and pains I want to talk about are those that come out of nowhere for no apparent reason. For example, this morning, I counted slight pains in my right shoulder, my left knee, my right elbow, and my left ankle. I could also feel small, weird pains in my stomach. I have undiagnosed stomach problems, so I have these most days, and it’s probably gas-I hope. Why am I having these annoying little pains?

When I managed to crawl out of bed, I could hardly raise my arm to turn the bathroom light on. I hobbled into the bathroom to begin my morning routine. My hot shower did wonders in relieving most of my pains. When I got out of the shower, I stretched, improving my bursitis-affected shoulder's range of movement.

I ate my breakfast and drank my tea; I have IBS, so I can’t drink coffee. I unenthusiastically took off for the gym to engage in my workout routine. I felt happy when it was over but glad I had completed my exercises. With a slight spring in my step, I walked to the car, knowing that this euphoria would not last.

Only a couple of hours after lunch, I developed a pain in my ankle when I walked. “Where did that come from?” I asked myself. It was just another mysterious pain, reminding me I was getting old. I sat down on the couch for a while to catch up on the news and rest from my workout. A half-hour later, every muscle and bone in my body felt like I got hit by a truck. My joints were as stiff as a corpse.

Tonight, I know I will go to bed to rest my achy bones and sleep like a baby -until morning, when it all begins again, with new pains in new locations and old pains reminding me of my age.

I don’t like the aches and pains, but I accept them, knowing I can lessen their intensity with stretching and exercise. I don’t always feel like going to the gym, but I know if I sit on my ass at home, I will soon be crippled by the aging process. I also know the alternative to the aches and pains is unacceptable. They are all part of life.

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