Sometimes, I think I would like to have company as I walk through my day. You are invited to do that today. It is Thursday, August 27, 2026. It’s right at 7 pm with my day winding down. My day started out in a usual fashion. Alarm went off – I wanted about thirty more minutes, so I reset the phone notification and slept for a few more minutes – knowing that I must get up to be ready for my 8:40 am physical therapy appointment.

I elevated my old body the next time the alarm sounded, turned off the phone alarm, took the omeprazole that is required first thing every morning because of this gastroparesis stuff. It has to be taken before eating anything else. Then, on to morning ablutions reading the yellow sticky notes that are on my bathroom mirror. I’ll include my “Yellow Sticky Prayer” poem so you can understand that ritual.

Dressing is easy; in the summer, it’s always the same – shorts and a tee shirt. Today’s tee shirt is one of several that have been given to me by traveling friends. I don’t travel much, these days. So, I appreciate gifts like the tee shirts from Canyon de Chelley and Croatia.

And, my feet are always – always – housed in shoes with AVON compression socks as cushions. You know, there are compression socks – and, there are compression socks. I don’t even try to wear those white compression sock with the elastic band on the top. They really hurt my legs! But, AVON’s compression socks (I always get black) are so gentle on legs like mine with the extra fluid that edema creates. My feet then go into the sketchers that I wear every day. They are a guide for me – if they are tight, the edema requires special attention; if they are looser, things are okay.

By 8:15, I was off to my new physical therapist’s office. It is actually closer to my house than the other one, but getting there this morning was a trial. My city is replacing lead water pipes with copper. That, of course, has to happen in the street, making driving in this city a nightmare. We never know exactly where the street closures will be next.

I arrived at my physical therapy appointment just in time. Today, only Ricky was there. I have been working with Miko, a very competent, encouraging student, as well during these past weeks. This is one of her rotations and, in my opinion, will be a very successful therapist. Ricky has been an excellent supervisor and mentor for Miko. Miko and Ricky have found muscles in my body that I never knew I had. All of this work is important because we are working to avoid the back surgery that was scheduled for and never took place on July 1. At this point, with the approval of my PCP and work with the physical therapists and chiropractor, we all will work diligently to avoid that surgery. Next July, we’ll revisit the situation to see if the entire scenario can be avoided. Only time will tell with that one!

Back home from physical therapy, I set about getting things done; scheduling and rescheduling appointments, as well as getting a call from my appliance repair man. When I talked with Dustin about the problem with my under-the-counter oven, he said he actually had time, today, and could come right away. I have not had the use of that oven for about two months and have missed being able to use it. I have two ovens, the smaller one (that had stopped heating) and my very large oven that was the largest we could purchase when Larry remodeled the kitchen. At that time, I needed a large oven because we had family dinners (starting with ten adults and, sometimes, adding guests). A large oven was definitely a necessity – not so much, these days.

Dustin had just arrived when I received a phone call from HM Keith saying he had some time available and, if it suited, could come to work on a couple of projects that needed his help. Well, I was at home, so he could come. He arrived and talked with Dustin for a bit (I think it is a good idea that all of the workers at my house know each other and value the work being done). Keith proceeded to tackle the doorbell that was not functioning properly. You know that I have hearing aides, and there are times when that doesn’t help with hearing – such as knowing when the doorbell was ringing. In the office where I spend much of my time, I have a doorbell device that works off of the main ringer and chimes the Big Ben chimes when the doorbell rings. For several days, it has not been working. People come to my door and to get my attention, they call me on my cell phone.

Neighbor Keith had looked carefully at the mechanisms but found no way to make it work. After a great deal of trial and error, doorbell ringing and ringing, HM Keith figured out exactly what was wrong; meaning, that I do not have to purchase a new device to hear the doorbell. I was sure that I would have had to do just that.

Dustin was finished; the oven was now heating properly. He has always been great at keeping my appliances (refrigerator, etc.) continue working. I appreciate his work and his work ethic. It was lunch time, so HM Keith and I took the time to go to a favorite Mexican food restaurant for a delicious lunch. Lots of conversation later, it was time to return home where he cleared the house gutters so the water would travel to the downspout and not flow over the gutter. He will return to fix my desk chair at a later date; the desk chair that is leaking gas from the cylinder that raises and lowers the chair.

While the men were still working, I talked with neighbor Rita about the possibility of an approaching storm. She and Keith have Kate, my beloved grand dog; Kate is terrified of thunder and lightning. I have come to realize that she also has a “sixth sense” about atmospheric pressure. Long before the storm is close, I believe that she can feel the changing air pressure, and that is the beginning of her fear. She knows! I’ve asked them if I may have Kate during these times. At home, she becomes frantic, pacing, trying to climb into their laps, etc. When she is at my house, her preferred place during such times is under my desk. My guess is that it feels like a cave to her. She will lie down and just stay there with my feet wrapped around her body as long as the storm is raging.

Kate came over about 3 o’clock. We did not receive a wet storm, as we have for the past several days – storms welcomed by all because we are in a drought. The rains have been refreshing for our trees and other vegetation. Today, however, there was no rain. And only a few dark clouds. I did keep Kate in my office, though. Only once or twice did she want to be held. She still stayed on the floor – either under my desk or on the carpet. Her dad came to get her as soon as it was very clear that whatever atmospheric changes had been happening were gone on to the east.

I had been working on and off of the computer all during the time I had Kate. I was able to get a lot of work finished. I was able to reconcile my checkbook – something that I haven’t had time to do for some time. The mail arrived with invoices to be paid. Computer guru Roger helped to determine why e-mails were not getting to Daughter #3. Truth be told, Grand #1 was instrumental in that work.

Kate went home, and I really attacked more non-computer work. Daughter #1 and Roger have made it possible for me to have television programs on my computer. The large television set that took up so much space in the office is gone to a new home. So, while working on those non-computer necessities, I was watching one of my favorite series – Murdoch Mysteries from Canada. In addition to the murders that occur in every episode, there is much Canadian history included in the stories. I really like that – we never studied Canadian history.

A telephone call from Neighbor Rita came; she made spaghetti, and we discussed whether or not I would be able to eat the ingredients – you know – gastroparesis limits some of the foods I can manage. She is always very thoughtful about paying attention to those restrictions. She brought over a bowl of her homemade spaghetti that I will really enjoy. I make food for myself that is based on the GP diet, but it is consistently cold. Cold sandwich. Cold Gatorade. Cold milk. Cold cereal. Etc. I’m really, really looking forward to a hot meal – and spaghetti! Yay!!!

I will continue to work on the computer or do non-computer work until bedtime – about midnight, after taking my PM meds. Then, of course, I’ll brush my teeth – my dentist will kill me if I don’t! I’ll change my clothes to night clothes. Of course, I will take off the compression socks when I retire. But because my feet get cold at night; I will put some light socks on my feet so they will stay warm and let me sleep. I will start the oxygen concentrator that feeds into the CPAP machine. I’ll have taken everything out of my pants’ pockets (keys, Chapstick, flashlight [a gift from Roger], and my pen knife). My mother always carried a pen knife; they often come in handy.

Of course, if I don’t fall asleep, right away, I refuse to lie in bed – thinking. At those times, I get up, go back to the computer and watch some movie. No more work that takes thinking – too many mistakes can be made. Sometimes, I get back to bed by 2 am; sometimes, not. It just depends.

My hope is that you enjoyed walking through my day, as much as I’ve enjoyed reliving it in print. All-in-all, it was a really great day.

And, now, good night!

Be Safe and Be Well
The Cranky Crone

Thoughtful comments are always welcome.

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I promised one of my favorite poems.

Yellow Sticky Prayer

by

Marj Becker

As she stepped from the shower, she saw
one of the yellow sticky notes in the wash basin,
fallen from the mirror. Amy – Cancer, the letters
read, smudged into streaks by the moisture
left in the sink. Amy is at last in remission.
Jeremy – Cancer, and John – Accident
were still on the mirror.

The burning candles flooded the room
with lavender, always lighted while bathing,
it gave the room a feeling of comfort.
The fragrance, her favorite, would be there,
surrounding the names on the mirror long
after she left the room. As she headed for
the bathroom door, her cell rang with news,
news that was not good.

She picked up the pad and marker, and wrote
Rick, in bold letters – Alzheimer’s. The sticky
went up on the mirror with the rest. She would
see them every day as she brushed her teeth,
combed her hair, washed her face. She whispered,
“Please, God. Keep them in the palm of your hand.”