I had a birthday in July...turned 61. My daughter gave me a new bicycle, complete with a basket and the promise of my very own bell. My husband gave me New Balance walking shoes. These gifts came as a result of my newfound freedom with a knee replacement in March. I didn’t know my leg could ever feel this good again!
As we age, we learn things...
One thing I have learned is not to put things off. If I’d known how much better I’d feel with a new knee, it would have been replaced when it was first suggested by my surgeon. But, wanting to hold out as long as I could (thinking that was the right thing to do for me) caused me to miss out on a lot of life.
Something else I’ve learned over the years is that doing things the easy way isn’t always the best idea, or even a real time saver. If I can carry four of those plastic shopping bags into the house at one time...then why not eight? Chances are I’ll make it to the kitchen without one of them breaking and dumping my groceries on the front porch. But overloading my arms seems to always mess me up because time is NOT saved when I have to backtrack to pick up the dropped items.
Holding onto your laptop while readjusting the bed pillows can result in dropping said laptop on your face. Yes. I did that. Twice.
Last night, I learned another lesson.
I was in bed. My computer completed it’s charging, so I thought I’d lean over to unplug the charger and plug in my cell phone charger. Seems simple enough. Unless you’re me.
My cell phone charger was tough to get in those little outlet holes, so I leaned farther to assure it was in correctly. That is when my whole body slid off our exceptionally high bed. As my face headed toward the floor, I was unable to catch myself. The space between the bed and my big overstuffed chair isn’t very wide. Not only did I move that chair with my body, but I had this wonderful little decorative wooden box that was there to stop my head. It didn’t. Not exactly.
Try to imagine a really large mammal attempting a dive into a bucket. Do you have that picture in your mind? Not pretty is it? Well, the box was just big enough for my head to cram through the lid...and tall enough that it stopped at the bridge of my nose. Lying on the floor, all I could think of was calling my sweet husband for help. But, alas, he wouldn’t have heard me without his hearing aides. And besides, seeing his wife on the floor with her head in a box would have been hysterical to him! He’d have likely found a way to work the whole scenario into a sermon illustration. (He’s been known to do that sort of thing.) Instead, I managed to get up from that confined space without doing any further damage. My new knee was fine! But that place on the bridge of my nose? I’m convinced that icing it immediately kept it from turning black and blue. And I’m thankful I can hide the puncture wound with my eyeglass frames.
Friends, when you have a job that can be done better without cutting corners...don’t cut them. Learn from my mistake. The easy way isn’t always the smartest.
My mother-in-law used to tell me I’m an “accident looking for a place to happen!” She knew me too well. I’m one of those people who will never be remembered as being graceful. I trip over air...if it’s thick.
Recently, my friend Becky Bird posted a funny thing on facebook that I completely related to! It read, “I would like to think I will die a heroic death. But it’s more likely I’ll trip over my dog and choke on a spoonful of frosting.”
Remember...if you have a pulse, then you have a purpose. Make your life count!
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