Bloomin' Into Our New Reality

Today is Monday, April 14. One might say this time, this date finds us realizing we are late bloomers. There comes a time when everyone has to strike a pose in the realization that we are getting fricking old!

Terry is going to be turning into an older man this month.  Actually, in a few days. Old? He doesn't feel old. At least not until he stands up from a sitting position. Yes, he will become the old man who yells at kids to "Stay off my lawn!" 

Me? I'm 68. Very close behind and I find myself in the same situation. The foot hurts from the incident last January. My back hurts if I breathe too much. Hell, it all hurts when we both turn over in bed. 

Crepe skin. Brown spots in places I never knew existed much less that I had brown showing in them. I stood up this morning and heard my back pop and crackle, all the way down, one vertebrae at a time. That was exciting. I can now make my own rhythm to dance in a conga line. 

And what is with the wrinkles on my face? It looks like my face is shriveling. I feel as though I'm living the scene from the Wizard of Oz film where the wicked witch protests her demise with, "I'm melting!" From almost invisible facial lines to deeper crevices that scream, "Hey, bitch! You're old!" Either way, it's happening. I can rage against the time machine all I want. It's still coming my way.

I need to iron the skin on the back of my hands. My butt has gone east and west instead of remaining in the 3D position. Each time a hair falls out of my head, I wonder who this gray hair belong to? That's gross. Then with a slap in the face and ego, I figure out the hair belongs to me. Or belonged to me anyway. Even hair doesn't want to sit on an old scalp. 

You younger readers may laugh. But you just wait. Your youth will glide right on down the road and soon you too will be wondering why you have extra hair growing out of various places hair doesn't belong. But it won't continue to live on your scalp. You will look back on your life and wonder why it rushed by and what you missed. You will be sitting in our chair with the thoughts we have now and you will reminisce on where it all went. 

I didn't expect it to not happen. Eventually I knew it would. However, it seems like life has just begun and that I am young. It does not seem as though I have lived this life for 68 years already. Although it is what it is, I am stomping my feet and screaming, "Why me?" Yes. I am allowed to throw myself a pity party if I want to. 

There is always that one bright light that comes with the compliment my hubby gives me each day, followed by the "I love you" sentiment. He usually tells me I'm beautiful or sexy or both. It's good to hear, even though in the back of my mind I giggle because I know the older woman is peeking out of my once smooth skin. I do believe he is a gem for keeping me in the fountain of youth for as long as he can. For that, I love him more.

Terry's birthday is on the 25th of this month. It's time for celebration and of giving him oxygen to blow out the candles upon that German chocolate cake he shouldn't eat. But what the heck, right? You only live once as the saying goes. You might as well live the last years in a diabetic coma. Just sayin'.

***

All of the signs of spring being in full bloom now are here. The air has a crisper, fresher feel. Today we are expecting a temperature of 81 degrees but falling into a low of 45 overnight. That's okay. Bless the sun! 

I think the spring tease has officially ended and we are looking into the face of a warmer trend. Either that or we are in for a large blizzard as a surprise to the end of the season. It's Oregon. You never know. 

***

Thursday, April 16, 2025

Well, here we go. Today is the day we drive to Portland for Terry's surgery. He's happy it's finally time to have it done, yet not so happy about the three and a half hour drive. We are leaving today as soon as he gets off work. Mallory is with me today to watch the fur babies while we are gone. 

Mallory and I were sitting in the living room while I waited for a delivery to come through. She grabbed a toy for the cats and began to play with Esme. Esme chased the string for a few seconds and then captured it. Wrapping her front paws around it, she pulled it underneath her body. Play time was over. 

Kit saw the action and began to play with the string. He would swat at it, bite it, then return it into the wild. The two together were having fun with that little toy. 

Like a laser light beam being pounced on by a cat, Kit finally snagged the elusive string. Both cats had a good time and I do believe they felt vindicated after making the string their bitch. Cats are silly creatures. Cats one, Mallory zero.

***

Afternoon hits and in walks my man. He looks tired from the lack of sleep the night before, but states he is ready to go. Before anything, he turns to face me and in his hand is a gorgeous bouquet of flowers for our monthly anniversary. Even with all he has on his mind, he remembers flowers for the occasion. It's the day before, but he will be in surgery on the 17th. 

This month it is a butterfly bouquet. I love it! He always gets the perfect choice. Thank you, sweet man. 

***

The packing was completed the night before. We hug Mallory, pet the babies, and climb into the car. Driving to Portland is rather boring and long but it has to be done. We have a room given to him by the VA in Roseburg where we can sleep before our wake up time of 4:45 AM. Terry has a check in time of 5:45 and surgery begins at 7:30. With a bit of reluctance toward that drive, we climb into the car and head out for a new adventure and the accomplishment of a second cochlear implant for Terry ...

***

Thanks to all of you for reading the blog. We appreciate you all. Until our next blog coming from Portland, we would like to say we hope your life is good and blessings are abundant. Take care. 

Terry & Vicki Macrae