Dawn, thank you for the story, and for featuring Gidget. I love older animals and happily was a heavy user of puppy training pads with my geriatric kitty.
As of late, Gidget has been using the "indoor bathroom" more frequently. It might be because nobody wants to do their business outside during a Michigan winter. Thank goodness her productions are tiny enough to clean up with a tissue and a sanitizing wipe. TMI, but it's just part of the aging process.
Exactly. I just made sure there were enough puppy pad stations around, and sometimes I’d just follow my kitty with a puppy pad as she decided what to do. It’s a small thing, to make their golden years easier, and such a privilege to share all these years.
That joke definitely feels true! Here's a funny one for you - several years ago now, I was rushing outside in the winter for some reason the night before a flight to visit family. The sidewalk was snow covered and I think I mentioned to my husband who was going to shovel, to be careful because there's probably ice under the snow. I didn't listen to myself and before I knew it, I was flat on my back, no clue how I got there! I think if someone was watching, it would have been a classic cartoon fall and would have been hilarious to see (once knowing I was ok).
Hope no serious injuries popped up since this message!
Falls that don't hurt anyone are kind of funny. I've taken a few tumbles simply because my brain and my body don't always communicate. My father told me once that he needed to follow me with a camcorder (yes, last century) because he could win ten thousand dollars from the funny videos show if he recorded my adventures.
My best one involved tripping on the hem of my sundress and falling forward only to catch myself on a woman sitting across from me, but the way I caught myself was to smash the lemon meringue pie in my hand directly into her face. Thirty years later, he still talks about it.
Haha, yes to the camcorder and funniest home videos! I'm sure mine would have won, if not competing with the pie! I hope the lemon meringue woman had a sense of humour, following the shock of pie in the face!
Glad you're okay. I'm 58 and totally relate because I've always been someone who falls down, all my life. Luckily I bounce well and only occasionally do serious danger. My problem is I'm too busy looking around and not looking where I'm going. Now I use age as my excuse, but I'm taking it more seriously. Yoga truly helps. My balance is better. Now if I hit the ground it's almost always because a dog yanked me over or knocked me down or tripped me (not because I'm old!).
I've always been a bit of weeble wobble. Same reasons. I'm usually doing something else with my brain while my body is doing it's own thing. My dogs are too small to be dangerous as anything but a trip hazard, so they seem to do their best with that. When we go for walkies on the bike path, they like to try and clothesline joggers or cyclists. I've learned to reel them in when I see someone coming.
I’m glad it wasn’t worse and relate to the joke. A few years ago my dog reared up in terror at a giant Halloween ghost that was waving its inflated arms, and I went flying. I lay face down on the sidewalk until two middle-aged women helped me to my feet. Their expressions said, “You’re too old to be walking this dog.” I was probably 70, young for my age. At this point in life, “young for your age” is old.
I understand. My dogs are little, but they're more likely to be trip hazards at their size. I used to think I was young for my age. Maybe the face creams make me look younger than my age, but my body needs its own rewind cream.
I’m so sorry you fell and hurt yourself. It doesn’t sound like you’re unsteady it just sounds like you were half asleep. I’m always tipping over but I think it’s because one leg is shorter than the other although I just turned 70 last week so it’s probably age. Be careful.
Ouch. I'm glad there appear to be no serious injuries, Dawn. I had my first "senior" fall last year on the sidewalk and I've been paranoid ever since. The fear makes me feel older than anything else.
I think that's the worst part. I'm used to being the strong one, carrying the load. Now I feel more like a doddering old lady. I still don't know what I tripped on.
I understand, last year I was 57. As I went to take my neighbor’s dog, a standard poodle, for a walk, the dog yanked forward down the last step to the sidewalk. I managed to miss the last step, twisted my ankle, stumbled forward off the curb and onto my face on the road. Luckily enough, the road is in a quiet neighborhood. Unlucky for me, as I layed on the road, half of me still on the sidewalk, i live I a quiet neighborhood especially on the weekend and nobody was outside. I struggled to sit up and then get up to my knees. The street was empty except for the dog and myself. I thought I had broken my nose and jaw. I couldn’t open my touch screen phone because I was shaking so badly and I had blood pouring from my mouth and nose and it was all over my hands. So I managed to take the dog up the stairs back into her house. I went next door where I live, changed my no longer white shirt, grabbed a towel, my purse and drove 20 minutes to the ER. I had a hairline fracture in my nose, bruised my jaw, had my lip glued together, and the rest of my scraped up face bandaged. I was extremely lucky I am only left with a few little scars and a great fear how easily things could have been devastating. Now, I am much more careful about holding on to railings and maintaining my balance.
Oh Dawn. I’m glad you’re ok, and I hope nothing else manifests from that fall. Hopefully you didn’t hit your head. If so, go get checked out even if you feel fine. Problems from head injuries are often not immediate, but when they do show up, it can be too late. I have experience with that, both caring for others and personally. I relate to your every word. I’ve had more than two dozen falls, most of them from the side effects of a med that just puts your equilibrium in a blender. Off of med…and no more falls.
I never imagined that aging would be this way for me. I knew it happened, but thought I’d somehow be able run between the rain drops without getting wet. Ha! I’m drenched. My stepfather used to say “getting old is not for sissies, so just don’t do it”. But it’s preferable to the alternative.
Two dozen falls! Yikes! I don't want that many. Unfortunately, I can't quit this med. It's one of my transplant meds. Agreed. Getting older stinks, but it sure beats the alternative!
I feel for you! Last Tuesday, I had a bad fall too. I was coming out of the bathroom and tripped on a throw rug (which is gone now). I went flying from the bathroom into the kitchen and landed on my left knee and elbow. So there I am, on the kitchen floor and I couldn’t get up either. So I scooted to my front door to see if anyone was out there (I live in a seniors apartment building). Nope, no humans around. So I scooted back to the kitchen and looked for some way to help myself up. Finally I grabbed onto the kitchen counter and got myself up. My knee was swelling and bleeding.
I’m totally against how hard this getting old crap is!
Yes! The scariest part is not being able to get up! I’ve had 3 back surgeries and have lots of hardware in my back, so anytime I fall, I worry about how it will affect my back. I’m learning that throw rugs are not my friends. 😄
A friend of mine pointed out that I'm around the same age as Mike Tyson, who recently found out just how old he is. At least it was my shoulder colliding with the floor and not my face with a boxer's fist.
Dawn, thank you for the story, and for featuring Gidget. I love older animals and happily was a heavy user of puppy training pads with my geriatric kitty.
As of late, Gidget has been using the "indoor bathroom" more frequently. It might be because nobody wants to do their business outside during a Michigan winter. Thank goodness her productions are tiny enough to clean up with a tissue and a sanitizing wipe. TMI, but it's just part of the aging process.
Exactly. I just made sure there were enough puppy pad stations around, and sometimes I’d just follow my kitty with a puppy pad as she decided what to do. It’s a small thing, to make their golden years easier, and such a privilege to share all these years.
Big hugs!
That joke definitely feels true! Here's a funny one for you - several years ago now, I was rushing outside in the winter for some reason the night before a flight to visit family. The sidewalk was snow covered and I think I mentioned to my husband who was going to shovel, to be careful because there's probably ice under the snow. I didn't listen to myself and before I knew it, I was flat on my back, no clue how I got there! I think if someone was watching, it would have been a classic cartoon fall and would have been hilarious to see (once knowing I was ok).
Hope no serious injuries popped up since this message!
Falls that don't hurt anyone are kind of funny. I've taken a few tumbles simply because my brain and my body don't always communicate. My father told me once that he needed to follow me with a camcorder (yes, last century) because he could win ten thousand dollars from the funny videos show if he recorded my adventures.
My best one involved tripping on the hem of my sundress and falling forward only to catch myself on a woman sitting across from me, but the way I caught myself was to smash the lemon meringue pie in my hand directly into her face. Thirty years later, he still talks about it.
Haha, yes to the camcorder and funniest home videos! I'm sure mine would have won, if not competing with the pie! I hope the lemon meringue woman had a sense of humour, following the shock of pie in the face!
Glad you're okay. I'm 58 and totally relate because I've always been someone who falls down, all my life. Luckily I bounce well and only occasionally do serious danger. My problem is I'm too busy looking around and not looking where I'm going. Now I use age as my excuse, but I'm taking it more seriously. Yoga truly helps. My balance is better. Now if I hit the ground it's almost always because a dog yanked me over or knocked me down or tripped me (not because I'm old!).
I've always been a bit of weeble wobble. Same reasons. I'm usually doing something else with my brain while my body is doing it's own thing. My dogs are too small to be dangerous as anything but a trip hazard, so they seem to do their best with that. When we go for walkies on the bike path, they like to try and clothesline joggers or cyclists. I've learned to reel them in when I see someone coming.
I’m glad it wasn’t worse and relate to the joke. A few years ago my dog reared up in terror at a giant Halloween ghost that was waving its inflated arms, and I went flying. I lay face down on the sidewalk until two middle-aged women helped me to my feet. Their expressions said, “You’re too old to be walking this dog.” I was probably 70, young for my age. At this point in life, “young for your age” is old.
I understand. My dogs are little, but they're more likely to be trip hazards at their size. I used to think I was young for my age. Maybe the face creams make me look younger than my age, but my body needs its own rewind cream.
I’m so sorry you fell and hurt yourself. It doesn’t sound like you’re unsteady it just sounds like you were half asleep. I’m always tipping over but I think it’s because one leg is shorter than the other although I just turned 70 last week so it’s probably age. Be careful.
Oh my goodness. I missed your birthday.
You stay upright and I'll try to do the same.
Ouch. I'm glad there appear to be no serious injuries, Dawn. I had my first "senior" fall last year on the sidewalk and I've been paranoid ever since. The fear makes me feel older than anything else.
I think that's the worst part. I'm used to being the strong one, carrying the load. Now I feel more like a doddering old lady. I still don't know what I tripped on.
I understand, last year I was 57. As I went to take my neighbor’s dog, a standard poodle, for a walk, the dog yanked forward down the last step to the sidewalk. I managed to miss the last step, twisted my ankle, stumbled forward off the curb and onto my face on the road. Luckily enough, the road is in a quiet neighborhood. Unlucky for me, as I layed on the road, half of me still on the sidewalk, i live I a quiet neighborhood especially on the weekend and nobody was outside. I struggled to sit up and then get up to my knees. The street was empty except for the dog and myself. I thought I had broken my nose and jaw. I couldn’t open my touch screen phone because I was shaking so badly and I had blood pouring from my mouth and nose and it was all over my hands. So I managed to take the dog up the stairs back into her house. I went next door where I live, changed my no longer white shirt, grabbed a towel, my purse and drove 20 minutes to the ER. I had a hairline fracture in my nose, bruised my jaw, had my lip glued together, and the rest of my scraped up face bandaged. I was extremely lucky I am only left with a few little scars and a great fear how easily things could have been devastating. Now, I am much more careful about holding on to railings and maintaining my balance.
Oh Dawn. I’m glad you’re ok, and I hope nothing else manifests from that fall. Hopefully you didn’t hit your head. If so, go get checked out even if you feel fine. Problems from head injuries are often not immediate, but when they do show up, it can be too late. I have experience with that, both caring for others and personally. I relate to your every word. I’ve had more than two dozen falls, most of them from the side effects of a med that just puts your equilibrium in a blender. Off of med…and no more falls.
I never imagined that aging would be this way for me. I knew it happened, but thought I’d somehow be able run between the rain drops without getting wet. Ha! I’m drenched. My stepfather used to say “getting old is not for sissies, so just don’t do it”. But it’s preferable to the alternative.
Two dozen falls! Yikes! I don't want that many. Unfortunately, I can't quit this med. It's one of my transplant meds. Agreed. Getting older stinks, but it sure beats the alternative!
I feel for you! Last Tuesday, I had a bad fall too. I was coming out of the bathroom and tripped on a throw rug (which is gone now). I went flying from the bathroom into the kitchen and landed on my left knee and elbow. So there I am, on the kitchen floor and I couldn’t get up either. So I scooted to my front door to see if anyone was out there (I live in a seniors apartment building). Nope, no humans around. So I scooted back to the kitchen and looked for some way to help myself up. Finally I grabbed onto the kitchen counter and got myself up. My knee was swelling and bleeding.
I’m totally against how hard this getting old crap is!
I'm sorry. I hope you are feeling better now. Isn't it the worst feeling? That total loss of control as gravity has you at its mercy?
Yes! The scariest part is not being able to get up! I’ve had 3 back surgeries and have lots of hardware in my back, so anytime I fall, I worry about how it will affect my back. I’m learning that throw rugs are not my friends. 😄
Oh no! That makes it doubly scary. Get rid of those rag rugs.
I just turned 58. I know.
A friend of mine pointed out that I'm around the same age as Mike Tyson, who recently found out just how old he is. At least it was my shoulder colliding with the floor and not my face with a boxer's fist.