The first time I did a walk through in my new house, about two years ago, I took a tumble off the back deck. I miscalculated the distance between the deck's steps, lost my footing, and went flying. My daughter, who was in the backyard sorting out our new property, was too far away to catch me. She could only watch in horror as I soared toward my inevitable doom.
"You did a ninja roll," she told me later. I had flipped in the air and landed on my feet.
My neighbor heard the cries, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy." He popped his head over the fence, and asked, "Is everything alright?"
There I stood, smiling, calm and composed.
"I'm fine," I responded.
"She's seventy-six!" my daughter exclaimed.
He returned with the obligatory, "God bless her."
That's how we met our neighbor.
The outcome to that fall was good, overall. It could have been a disaster. There have been times when I've fallen and the outcome was not so good.
Win some, lose some.
It was another fall, in another time, another place, that made me realize I was getting old. I was in the backyard of my former house with our two dogs. They were running around, playing, and got tangled in my feet. For the first time in my life, I simply fell over. I thought I would catch myself as I started to lose my balance, but that didn't happen.
When I finally recovered and was able to stand, I was humbled and bruised. The innate sense of balance that had always kept me upright, wasn't there.
Win some, lose some.
In my fall with the dogs that day, I definitely lost some. It was a good lesson, but not one I enjoyed learning. And it certainly was a surprise.
All my life I have tried to be fit. When we moved to the suburbs with my infant son, my husband said, "You have to learn how to drive." As a matter of fact, everyone in my family said the same thing.
I didn't want a car and didn't want to drive. People in my neighborhood drove to do minor errands. I walked. Even with my son in a stroller, I liked the idea of walking to the library, rather than driving--although the library was about a mile away.
Over the years I learned to ride a bike...something I never learned as a child. Eventually I bought a treadmill and a stationary bike for inside exercise. I used them so much that I had to stop because my left knee gave out.
Then there was the time I bought a Firm Flex. This was an exercise machine, a Body-by-Jake design. 'Jake', in his promo video promised, that Firm Flex "...will give a great cardiovascular as well as toning all your major muscle groups". I dug up that video last night. There was Jake, on a grainy black and white VHS tape, promising a better, more fit body.
I'm not sure why, but eventually that machine fell out of my favor.
Periodically I would prove my fitness to myself by doing a cartwheel. One day, on my 47th birthday, I proved it to my class.
"I do cartwheels," I had told them. They didn't believe me, so on my birthday I wore culottes and executed a cartwheel right there in front of them.
At the next school event for parents, one mother came up to me and asked, "Are you the teacher who does cartwheels?"
Yes, I was.
Sadly, though, despite the cartwheels, Firm Flex, and stationary bike--the clock kept ticking. The day the dogs threw me off balance in the backyard, I didn't feel betrayed by the clock, but I did recognize that a certain part of my life was over. I'd received warning that I was no longer sure-footed.
"You have to be careful, Ma," my daughter had said, when I told her about the fray with the dogs. How careful can someone be? People fall at any age, but my children seem haunted by the possibility that I, or my husband, might fall. Their hyper-vigilance is not only annoying. It can actually lead to more falls.
Last week, I opened the front door and leaned out to pick up a package. My daughter saw me, and in an effort to stop me from bending, yelled, "Ma..." That's all it took. Startled, I fell forward onto the stone step. Minor bruises and scrapes resulted. Not a winning situation.
Win some. Lose some.
I'll end my little dissertation on falling with a bit of romance--definitely a win.
It was my very first date with my husband. We had been colleagues at work for months and I think each one of us had a crush on the other.
He picked me up at my apartment and as we walked toward the car, I tripped.
"Oh no," I cried out. Not because my brand new pants were torn, but because I was embarrassed.
He was solicitous and helped me to my feet.
Months later, after we were engaged, he brought up the fall.
"I knew then," he said with a chuckle, "that I wanted to marry you."
Nobody wants to fall, but sometimes a fall can be a very good thing.
This blog was written in response to this week's Inkwell prompt: You win some, you lose some. It was fun going down memory lane and reliving some of these episodes.
Thank you for reading my blog.
Hive on!
- Image credit: Lisaleo on Pixabay
You're 78?!
My daughters are treating me the same way. A couple of years ago, one of them insisted that I get one of those life alert necklaces, in case I fall and can't get up! I was flabbergasted! I was still in my sixties! I think of myself as still young and very fit! Tai Chi is definitely helping with strength, flexibility and balance. I plan to do that for the rest of my long life.
Great story, as always. I enjoyed reading about your falling, for good and for bad. Fortunately, nothing all that bad yet, and at your age!
As for the firm flex, watching every single one of those exercises makes my back ache.
She needs a good clip around the ear!
She was dead serious. I laughed. Folks start to worry about us over fifty. lol. I've never felt stronger and saner in many ways.
😆 That's a riot.
It's really not funny, because falling is the thing that will get some of us, but what can you do? I think I will try Tai Chi. Sounds like fun. Every night I do a series of exercises (actually stretches) that help to keep my sciatic nerve in check. I put on a forgettable movie and find the session relaxing. Tai Chi might be a good addition to that.
I guess we can't blame our kids...we must look pretty rickety to them :)))
Yes, but when they express that to me, I can tell them that when I was their age, I could hoist a 100lb bag of flour onto a shoulder and carry it up two long flights of stairs. Or would swim a mile daily. They've got it coming.
My mother fell in her sixties and broke her back. She's been on HRT for years, which destroys your bones. After that it was a march to the doctor for many medicines, and a stroke that robbed us of her in her early seventies. She'd always been careful to exercise every single day, and ate fairly well, although a bit too much alcohol passed her lips. I am extremely careful not to fall. Tai Chi is the most strenuous thing I do, and, as easy as it looks, let me tell you it is very difficult! For the mind especially. I highly recommend it! My classes are full of little old ladies like me who have been doing it for years. I'm coming up on my third anniversary, and am finally starting to be able to actually do it. It's anything but easy!!!
One thing about me that may not be evident from my blogs...I am truly a recluse. I don't do anything in groups. I don't even like to go to the store.
I did join a writing group years back, but that was an exception. No parties. No teas. I even told my extended family I won't be going to weddings anymore either.
I'm an old lady. It's a time in my life when I can finally be honest about who I am. So, no Tai Chi classes for me :). I'll find a show and watch it on TV.
The Internet is a gift for someone like me.
I do socialize with my kids and husband, quite a bit. And the cat and the dog. Not a misanthrope. Just profoundly socially inept.
😄
I agree with you there
I'm throwing a party tonight! I throw parties in large part so that I give my house a good cleaning, another thing I don't like to do. Shopping and house cleaning. Ugh. It looks as though I will have upwards of forty here tonight. I love throwing parties. Going to them is another think altogether, and fortunately I seem to be the only person in this town who hosts guests in her own home.
My happiest days are when one or two of my daughters are visiting. We'll all be together, just the three of us, for almost a week at our summer digs. It's very nice there in winter!
If I didn't have pets (two cats, one dog), I could easily go whole days without uttering a single sound. My days are spent petting, nurturing and generally loving furry creatures. I don't like to go out much either. Once a week, tops. The rest of my days are spent talking to my animals, and to folks online.
We are kindred souls 🌺
I love all the little anecdotes you share from your life. You have a way with words that breathes life into your stories. Your sense of humour, your curiosity, your intelligence, your perceptiveness, your character - all combine to give us a wonderful read each time. I really don't know how you manage to convey so much in your unique voice with such economy. Truly inspiring xx
You are very kind to me, my dear @samsmith1971. Falling, unfortunately is a topic in this house. I'm not allowed to carry things when I walk on the stairs! OMG...it's so annoying. I guess the kids are right. One false step and it's all over 😁, but this is irritating. The topic was a natural for me.
Plus there it is, somehow, my falling down made me a likely life mate for my husband. Should I worry? :))
You really have a gift for turning life’s scary moments into meaningful stories. I love how you balance humor with honesty. Falling isn’t fun, but the way you reflect on each experience shows so much strength and grace. Thanks for sharing this
You are very kind 🌺, but really, I had great material. A ninja roll and a beau who thinks it's charming when I trip and tear my pants? :)) Anyone could write a funny blog with that material.
I appreciate your feedback, @madilyn02.
The teacher who does cartwheels...now that's class!
I don't know how to explain this, but I started writing my post weekend post last night and it's about poor balance and cognitive decline in older adults:)
!!!
I've got to read that one...Poor balance maybe, but not decline in this older adult (😄).
Well, OK, I do forget names and when I'm writing, inexplicably I drop words where I was sure they would be. Let's face it...that clock keeps ticking.
my grandmother is 88 and is at constant risk of fall even if she doesn't care...when we reach a certain age it's normal to go for that risk... what can we do beside warn the elders?😄
Grandmas's ten years older than I am. She must be doing fine. I do understand your concern, but as you say, all you can do is warn her.
It’s funny how our kids start treating us like we’re fragile long before we feel that way ourselves. Honestly, I still feel energetic and capable too,age is more about attitude than numbers. Tai Chi sounds amazing for balance and confidence, I might even give it a try myself. And yes… just watching Firm Flex exercises is enough to make my back hurt too! Glad your falls haven’t been too serious,stay safe, but keep that spirit strong.
Sometimes the kids may see things we miss. And, of course, they don't want to lose us.
We spent a lifetime guiding these children. I guess we have to find a way to handle their concern calmly and wisely.
Old age can take its toll on us. Thanks for sharing.
In the moment it happened it was really dangerous but reporting about it afterwards sounds actually also a little bit funny: an unusual way to get to know a neighbour, hehe. Thanks God nothing bad happened to you!