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No Vested Interest

(5,250 posts)
9. Definitely aging but not particularly frail.
Thu Aug 7, 2014, 02:36 AM
Aug 2014

In our fifties, with kids pretty well independent, spouse and I enjoyed walking. - Belonged to Volksmarch and did them locally and in various parts of the country, even Hawaii. Loved it - you see the world from a different perspective when walking than what you see while riding. We also enjoyed a local walking club that had Sunday walks in various parts of our beautiful city; those walks were about 5k.

Spouse retired early with a good buyout and I followed two yrs later, following the death of a close friend, run down while crossing a busy street. We were still young enough to be active - volunteered in various special events and as ushers at touring Broadway plays. Took cruises and vacations, and I began working on health, diet and fitness. Also took noncredit classes and a few Elderhostel courses. Spouse began to exhibit signs of depressive illness- bad enough that he would take to his bed, not eat or care for himself. Meds didn't help and he had to go to assisted living until his brain righted itself after several months. This routine repeated itself a number of times, but when he was feeling well, we traveled and enjoyed life fairly well.

During that time, my knees had gone bad and replacements were in order, but before that could happen, the heart needed stents, eventually two procedures and five stents total. Meantime, spouse's situation worsened, complicated by a broken hip which didn't mend well and affected his mobility, as the leg attached to the broken hip shortened and a cane, later a walker were required. We were in our late sixties.

Spouse was diagnosed with a brain disorder that affected his personality and demeanor and following hip surgery never recovered enough to come home permanently. I spent most dinner times and evenings with him at the nursing facility. Spouse died after six yrs. in nursing care.

Now widowed, my knees went bad and I won't consider redo surgery. I sometimes use his cane, and eyes will be needing cataract surgery, likely this fall. I'm still in a one-floor house, which works well, though I have no need for the yard. I don't volunteer much any more, except for one club I've been in for 50+ yrs. I don'' accomplish much most days, but don't beat myself up over it. My mission in life is offering support to my children (no grandkids), and try to not be a burden to them.

So that's aging for me. Memory good in some areas, but not with names. DU is good for me - helps me get my thoughts in order and expressed in a concise, sensible manner. I can't complain. Life is mostly good, and I just move past the rest. (Sorry this went too long.)

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

HI, ellenrr, think we're related??? elleng Aug 2014 #1
Oh, my Dear Ellenrr! NYC_SKP Aug 2014 #2
I have had arthroscopic surgery for torn meniscus in both knees. (Not both at once.) enough Aug 2014 #3
May I ask how long it took you to recover from each surgery? I am in line to Nay Sep 2014 #29
thanks all, ellenrr Aug 2014 #4
Regarding things to do post-retirement... NYC_SKP Aug 2014 #5
Great to hear of the work you're doing, SKP! elleng Aug 2014 #6
super! We must have meaningful things to do, or we just wait to die... ellenrr Aug 2014 #11
Meaningful things to do, or bingo? No Vested Interest Aug 2014 #18
boy howdy. mopinko Aug 2014 #7
oh, mopinko, thanks for the group hugs :) ellenrr Aug 2014 #12
Hi ellenrr. Ain't it fun? justhanginon Aug 2014 #8
yeah, accepting limits... ellenrr Aug 2014 #13
i dont know my limitations, at all mopinko Aug 2014 #16
Definitely aging but not particularly frail. No Vested Interest Aug 2014 #9
Hey, not too long at all. ellenrr Aug 2014 #14
DUers are very supportive of personal problems as well as No Vested Interest Aug 2014 #21
Far be it from me to tell you what to do, SheilaT Aug 2014 #27
I tell my "younger" friends" - the 60's are good years. No Vested Interest Aug 2014 #28
I'll be 66 in a couple more weeks, SheilaT Aug 2014 #10
Sheila T, remind me in 2045, and I'll celebrate yr birthday with you! ellenrr Aug 2014 #15
More about cataracts and the surgery. SheilaT Aug 2014 #17
I had cataract surgery in March on both eyes. RebelOne Aug 2014 #19
Yes. You should have been given several choices SheilaT Aug 2014 #20
Hi ellenrr Crewleader Aug 2014 #22
thank you crewleader. good luck with your knee. when the time comes. nt ellenrr Aug 2014 #23
Hi ellenrr ReRe Aug 2014 #24
thank you rere ellenrr Aug 2014 #25
Yeah, I started using those motor carts too... ReRe Aug 2014 #26
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