Sunday, January 4, 2015

Just Get Some Real Shoes



When does old age start? Anyone know? I think it might be at my back door. Why? Well......why else would I be falling and such? Or...could Cliff be right? 'It's all about the shoes'.

On the trail run at Huntington the other day, I twisted an ankle. It wasn't bad, but enough to make me acutely aware of every step I took. Twisting an ankle on a trail run is probably par for the course. You know, because of the terrain and all....roots and holes covered by pine straw. I'm not the only one to ever twist an ankle on a trail run. Again, it was not bad. It doesn't even hurt. But, when you start adding up all the little incidents like that, one might start wondering. Am I getting old and feeble? Is this how it starts?

Just last night, Cliff had taken Lidia and Sawyer to the indoor pool at Lakewood and I decided to walk down there a little later. My "acute awareness of every step I take" was still on high alert. I had a few steps to walk down in the dark and it had been raining, so the steps were damp, if not slippery. Again, I was acutely aware of this. So I started traversing the steps slowly. I got to the bottom and the whole earth just dropped out from beneath me or so it felt. I had missed the last step and couldn't feel where to put my foot. I caught myself falling forward and quickly grabbed for the rail and lunged backwards. When I did, my legs bent into a very deep squat and I twisted my right knee, fell on my bum and scraped the heck out of my arm on the rail. And, the tips of my fingers grabbed something so fiercely that it has left them partially numb. I came inside and pulled myself together. Nurse Emily, our daughter, checked me out and nothing was broken. So I stood and everything was working properly. Once again, even more acutely aware of my surroundings, I left for the pool again.

This time, I turned the porch light on. Ha!

See?

The mind might be going, too. Why didn't I do that in the first place? Million dollar question!

Anyway, with the light on, I could see where to step and I took off down the pitch black road with dips and water puddles from the rain. I was so alert, by this time, that I saw every stick and pebble. 

When I got to the pool, I told Cliff about me falling and after checking to see that I was alright, the first thing out of his mouth was, "Well, if you would wear real shoes....".

Men!

So the rest of the conversation went like this:

Me: It was not the shoes, I missed a whole step.

Cliff: But still, your shoes are like high heels. Start wearing something that the heel is wider than your foot.

Me: I walk just fine in these shoes.

Cliff: If you're starting to fall, I'm going to have to put you in a wheelchair.

Me: HaHa! Or just get me one of those walkers with the tennis balls on the bottom.

Cliff: Just get yourself some real shoes!

 

Old or not, real shoes or not.......
 
I'll be back soon,
Laurie





15 comments:

  1. Good Morning, With snow on the ground ,some ice under it and the cold, I decided it was a good day to catch up with friends. I have enjoyed reading your blog this morning. Family makes Christmas. Mine was all home. Little sad yesterday with our oldest flying home. It makes you that way. I enjoyed the pictures. Hope you accomplish all that you want to do in 2015. Shoes do make a different. It has nothing to do with age or at least that is what I tell myself. Hugs and Prayers from Your Missouri friend Shirley

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    1. Hi Shirley, I am happy to hear that you had a great Christmas. You are right, family does make Christmas so very special. I hated it when my youngest had to fly back to Colorado. I am happy to know that your hubby has not caught the flu. Blessings to you and yours in the new year.

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  2. This post is too close for comfort!

    You are too young to be in the falling stage of your life. I am teaching myself to slow down, take my time, not do 3 things at once, etc.

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    1. I know, it was just plain carelessness. Slowing down may be the trick. Haha!

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  3. I agree with Art and Sand. Slow down and turn lights on. Hugs.

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    1. Thanks Evalina, yes that light would have been the key.

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  4. Oh no! Just be careful when you take your steps! I do think that we should wear "real shoes" because they are firstly, comfortable and secondly, might be easier to handle! Good to know that everything went right in the end! Have a great day!

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    1. Hi there and thank you. Yes, I guess my husband did have a point there about the shoes. Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Hope you'll come back soon.

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  5. Everyone at work was wearing the Danskos that you have pictured here. I got a pair but frankly, they were hard to stand in for 8hrs at a time. They are pricey though and I wear them now with jeans when I don't have to walk a long way. I have a new kind I love but can't think of the brand name at the moment! Anyway, I see lots of ladies in surgery that break an ankle because they missed that last step..so be careful!

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    1. I used to wear them in x-ray school and turned my ankle a couple of times. Like you, I just wear them with jeans now. I realllllly love them. They are super comfortable on me, but I do have to be careful with them. Learned my lesson.....I'll make sure a light is on so I can see where I'm going from now on.

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  6. Usually I just get into too big a hurry!

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    1. That'll do it for me too. Good to hear from you.

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  7. i can relate in more ways than one. And it isn't necessarily shoes or aging. Sometimes it is just a stupid accident. I am glad you aren't hurt seriously. I have a great auntie who is 106 and she still wears high heel pumps. She worked her entire life on a farm, climbing ladders and hoeing gardens in those darn shoes and never ever had an accident in them

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  8. I think Dansko's are wonderful shoes. As to getting old...I'm there and this winter just about killed me. If I fall or get hurt, there's no one to know until the phone rings because someone wants something. The good thing about 2.5 feet of snow last month ...when I fell, I didn't get hurt. LOL

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    1. I do love my Danskos. I wear them all winter. I know you are glad for winter to be over. I am happy for you that warmer weather is on the way. Hopefully, your chores will be less daunting.

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