Once Again..........

 Today's scheduled post (yesterday's post actually) was meant to be a retirement apartment update. I figured it was time to share some of the best retirement aspects, especially safety and community wise of the place, along with some "tools" I've aquired. And so I will. Sometime very soon!

First, though, a confession:  On Saturday, I fell. In my parking lot. The fault was entirely mine. I cannot blame it on dizziness or lack of co-ordination although leg weakness surely contributed as well. Mainly though, there was a complete lack of paying attention. 

In spite of my FEAR of falling, I rarely fall. I think I've had two major falls while blogging (and since I also have a multiply injured ankle, a couple twists and turns that I didn't even remember at the time that have left me holding the walls for a few days) Many readers may remember the last time I fell on uneven broken payment. A fall that directly lead to the refurbishment of said walk in front of my local Bad Daddy's. Folks that have been around longer may remember my falling down my front steps in the icy snow and landing and a bush, and putting in new railing immediately afterward. 

While I may be able to blame at least part of fall one on weather and lack of railing, and fall two on a piece of pavement that was separated by two inches with no markings, this time there is absolutely no one to blame.  Just me. There is a curb where I park, and my normal method is to hold onto my car with one hand and use my cane with the other to take the small step down and avoid the trek to the ramp. It has worked well since October. 

Saturday as I stepped down, I was looking elsewhere-at one of the trucks unpacking for people who moved in. I immediately and completely lost my balance and headed downwards. Fortunately I do actually know HOW to fall, so I let my self  keep falling rather than stopping said fall, and slapped my hand on the other car (a small price to pay if I scratched it) and turned my body so that I landed on my more than voluptuous rear. Hard. Darned hard. With bruises on my arms but no head injury.

Unfortunately, although I fall well (lol) I literally cannot get up these days.  For years I used to do the so call "twist" method of turning the body and extended one hand over the other and then coming up on one knee and using hands and furniture to rise. It works well, and as someone who has had had degenerative disease for years, I know it well. But I can't do that anymore. And I was between the two cars and a column and a curb, so even if I had been able to do such a move or get up on my kees, there was nothing.  Almost everyone was out shopping and doing errands except for a couple gals, and my daughter and son in law were a half an hour away.

 At the advice of  the growing crowd-most of whom were my age and younger mind you-a call to 911 was made.  I literally told them "I've fallen and I can't get up". After hysterical laughter from both myself and the operator, a small truck was sent, and thirty seconds later I was upright and ready to get into my car and get fabric and Panera for dinner. No slouch am I!

It does seem that the 911 knows this place well. I wasn't really suprised. I mean I and many of my day to day visiting and chatting with type pals are late fifties to seventy or so range. We have fairly decent to good health and mobility. But there are also folks here with health issues as well as up to age 102. On any given day you can see how many of the residents have some kind of home assistance, even if it's just housekeeping and cooking. After the storm, the elevators were down for well over a week while a part arrived from Sweden (don't ask, I didn't). So there were three strong hunky type guys in uniform the age of my son in law regularly helping the non stair walking types up and down to go to regular medical appointments and take care of other needs.

Remember I once said I was considering the second floor?  Aren't we all glad I didn't follow up on that one?  Honestly I can only assume that people who make that decision do so for some kind of privacy or security issue. But I slept on the first floor in my house, this is a gated community with patrols and it's very well lit. For me it was a no brainer, and more so after the Hell Freezing Over Experience.

While I talk about falling a bunch and have a healthy fear of falling I don't fall very often. Not that three falls in twelve years is a GOOD thing, just that with a leg that always hurts and gives out at will and very occasional balance issues, it could be so much worse. Especially while I was living in a house with stair entrances on all sides. But I've taken advantage of a balance issues class, and this is one area where I am completely unashamed to take advantage of every resource, considering myself young or not.

I have a nightlight in my bathroom and I leave the bathroom open at night and bedroom door open so I have a straight line of sight (because who of us doesn't get up at four am or there abouts at least once in awhile). I have a cane and I take it with me, knowing I can leave it in the car. I especially take it with me to concerts and sporting events and on public transportation and trains because people just automatically give you space, you know? I have a rolling walker. One that was given for me purely for the purpose of using the seat in standing room only jazz and blues venues which I have done more times than I can count. I now keep it next to my bed in case I feel the need to hang onto something when I get up. I an unashamed to ask people who invite me over if they have stairs, and if they say yes, I again am comfortable asking them to assist me up said stairs.

If could only just pay attention where I am going, we would be peachy. Or at least better of than I am now. Because I hurt. Specifically my butt bone hurts like hell (sorry, there is no other way to say it), my arms and shoulders are sore as hell and my elbow has a scab.  But I didn't hit my head (automatic Doctor's trip for me without question) and my hips are intact, and tomorrow is another day.