AN UPDATE ON ME BEING OLD 

The Old Rusty Nail

AN E-JOURNAL FOR OLD PEOPLE

Russell Burton, an Old Person

I just had my 84^th birthday. I guess it is something to celebrate for not many people get a chance to do so and at my age there are fewer survivors each day as I grow older.  And, being old is a serious challenge which I have addressed before on this Blog.  In fact, each year the challenge grows more serious as I find myself not being physically capable of doing things I could do with ease just a year ago.  Yes, changes are coming more rapidly than I expected and this concerns me for I do not have many changes left in me.  I fear not as many changes as I can tolerate for I probably have several years left to live. Well, that is my thought now.

I will attempt to document some of those changes I have experienced since I turned 80 years of age when I decided I had become old and started to write this Blog.  Of course this metamorphosis being old was indeed a gate through which I recognized as significant and one in which there was no turning back, for this was a journey of time and a person cannot turn back the clock. Simply these were changes which I have found occur more rapidly each year.

I think the most aggressive change I have found is in my ambulation, you know walking either for simple exercise or to get someplace.  This was once a form of exercise which everyone calls probably the best form of physical activity available especially for old people.  Some four years ago I had a regular walk which I took about three times a week each of which covered about 3 miles that took me about an hour.  Frequently, I had a friend walk with me.  Over these four years, my walk went down to 2 miles then just a walk through the park which was about one mile until now I will no longer even attempt that.  And, my friend who is a few years younger than I am has recently become quite ill with pneumonia and COPD so that she can no longer do this walk.  I suppose she could come back from her medical problems and do that walk again. But not me, because my problem is not medical it is simply age!

Now, I am admitting to a profound change in one of my physical activities which I thought I could continue to perform until I died. Yes, some of my physical problems involves back pain but the work of walking that distance three times a week is just too great for me to perform anymore.  Of course, this is distressing but even more so because it has happened so rapidly. Yes, a year ago I was walking in the park and enjoying it.

Not only my capability in this walk is gone, I have no desire to even attempt to do it.  And, this lack of enthusiasm for my walk I see in just doing odd jobs about the house.  One such activity is keeping my patio deck cleared of leave.  Instead of doing it daily when there are few leaves I put it off for several days when it becomes a major chore. By that I mean instead of just a few minutes to do that job like it did a year or so ago it will take me nearly an hour.  And, it hurts…Why do I do this?  Because I have lost the motivation necessary for me to get out there and do it when I should!!!!!

When I went to a store I would park further from it than I had to so I would get some walking exercise.  Now I try to get as close to that store door as I can.  And, I am thinking about getting a handicap sign to hang from my car rear-view mirror to get parking closest to the store!

I continue to go to the gym for strength training and my aerobics on the stationary bike which I use to do each twice a week.  I have found excuses to reduce this activity to once a week. So, my gym routine is Monday I lift weights, Wednesday I do my aerobics and Friday I walk for about twenty minutes on a short circular track at the gym on a carpet.

And, walking on a carpet instead of outdoors on asphalt makes lots of sense for when I fall and I will, it hurts less.  Interestingly, I did fall the other day doing my walk at the gym.  Two young guys came over to help me get up but I declined their help and was able to do it by myself which was important. But, it was embarrassing for me for it showed my vulnerability from being old which I am not pleased about.

Now, I am doing an hour of physical therapy with a therapist twice each week to strengthen my lower back and reduce the pain.  You know with a back without pain, I might get back to doing my walk in the park, but I think it is more than just pain so I know that will never happen for several reasons other than back pain.

The lower back pain and reduced mobility is a common malady of us old people. In a recent issue of the Discover magazine it has a page where it lists. ‘20 Things You Didn’t Know About’ something.  The March 2016 issue has the something ‘Your Back’.  And by far the majority of those 20 things were about our spine pathologies.  It notes that lower back pain is the most common backache to which I am sure we old people will agree.

Of course I find it most difficult to get down on my knees or bending over to pick up something.  Some of this of course has to do with my back problems but also simple physical mobility is significantly reduced.  I find myself at times walking like an old person taking unsure shorter steps. For years I thought of painting the inside of my garage.  Of course that would require some repair work on the cabinets and walls.  I could have done it last year, I think, but I would not even attempt it now.

Other changes I have found over these last four years includes my reduced thirst desires and less interest in foods for I am sure my tasting and olfactory senses are less keen. Re my water intake I have a large glass of water on the kitchen counter which I keep full just to remind me that when I see it I take a good drink.

Besides the maladies I have just listed, my balance has gone south.  Walking up and down stairs without holding onto the banister is difficult.  I always try to do it without holding onto it but my hand is just an inch above it just in case. I think challenging myself physically like that is important and slows this aging process down, but I am not sure. I know, I will not walk down stairs without a banister.

I am working on my poor balancing by standing on one leg.   Years ago it used to be easy but now I have a chair in front of me using my index finger resting on its back for much needed support for my balance.  I do that exercise once each day standing on each leg five times for 10 seconds each. It seems to be helping my balance for now I can do some of it without using my index finger.  I guess this is progress well at least my balance is not getting worse.

Even though my physical prowess has diminished at least my mind remains sharp and that is much more important than being able to walk long distances. And, I am still very capable at driving my car.  In fact, I am sure I am a better driver than when I was a young man.  At least, I do know I am much more careful. And, I continue to have excellent vision with minor correction with bifocal glasses.  I just had my eyes checked and some minor changes in my prescription. Leg reflexes are important here and mine are still quite good.

Of course it takes more time to clean my patio and make my bed but I still do it.  Yes, I make my bed every day.  I never fail to do so even years ago I didn’t really care and frequently I just didn’t take the time.  Now, it is very important that I make it each and every day for if I didn’t I would get a feeling that I am less capable because of old age.  And, I don’t want that feeling. Yes, I can and do make my bed every day!

Other daily chores includes cooking my meals which I still enjoy. My cooking includes making my own pie crust (some people have never learned how to do that) and cooking some fairly complex dishes. Since I live alone I probably throw out much of it because it is difficult to cook for just one person.

I just hosted our biweekly bridge game.  It was my turn and it went well, which included serving an upside down cake for dessert which I made. Of course moving furniture and putting up the card table, chairs, and small food tables required some physical effort which was accomplished without much effort.  Maybe that is the secret it didn’t take much physical effort. Hey, and I won the game…

Oh I suppose someday I will not make my bed or clean off my patio.  I will stop going to the gym; you know, give up. And, my ability to walk from my car to a store will be compromised. That day is coming for sure but at least I still have the desire and physical ability to put it off for I hope several years.  But an old person never knows what is just around that time corner.

On the Web News I recently read that Cindy Crawford (you know that famous model) just turned 50.  And, she noted that ‘age is just a number’.  Let’s see what she says when she reaches 80.  Let me see, that would make me 114 years old.  I can hardly wait.

Strangely I am complaining about living.  I guess this is a sign of being old.

P.S. I just got word from Amazon that I just sold another book, my e-novel Mary.  Wow… What I am suggesting here is that my readers should buy my book for it is a really really wonderful story.  Get on the Web and type in Mary by Russell Burton and there it is for sale at a very reasonable price.  And, I thank you.

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