Getting Too Old

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Getting Too Old
11
Wed, 01-14-2009 - 6:04pm
Yes, I think I'm just getting too old to manage this place. I went out this afternoon to try to use the snowblower on the driveway and ran into problems. After 20 minutes my fingers were getting sore. So, I brought the machine into the garage, closed the garage door, etc. and had trouble opening the house door. My fingers were so sore they were throbbing. I was in such pain that the tears were rolling down my cheeks. I had trouble getting my coat open, gloves off, etc. I bathed the hands in tepid water and after a while they were better and there isn't any frostbite or anything like that, but it was so painful. I still have over half the driveway left to do but I just can't go back out there. I know that it's only 3º right now but I've handled that in the past. I thought I had some good gloves but maybe they're not good enough. Or, maybe old age is just catching up with me. Guess I'll have to break down and call ds to come and do it. I hate to do that but I don't know what else to do. I'm just in a very upset mood right now.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2008
In reply to: kacierra
Wed, 01-14-2009 - 7:03pm

Dear Kaci....I hear the frustration in your words. Please remember that this cold spell is EXTREME and no one or nothing is going to perform as usual. This is the time to ask for help and not risk injuring yourself. Just think of all the things you couldn't do if those hands were hurt. I've made it clear to my DSs that should DH be unable to do all the mowing/plowing, etc. that I will be calling. The object is to keep us independent and in our own home as long as possible. What if you had fallen and were laying out in this cold? Even with a call on a cellphone you could have been in big trouble by the time help arrived.

I read once that children retain a mental image of their parents at the time the children left home - 40s or 50s. Maybe we do to and need to get real.

take care,
Jacquie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: kacierra
Wed, 01-14-2009 - 11:18pm

I can't complain about my kids. They usually are here for me without me asking. I guess that's what spoils me. I don't want to have to ask. If they offer without me asking then it's not like I'm expecting it or always asking for something.

dd-Cheryl came over tonight and picked me up and took me to town so I could get some heavier gloves. She's sure that the ones I have weren't rated for cold enough. She also made me promise not to go out tomorrow and try to clear the rest of the driveway. It won't hurt it to stay there until it warms up a bit. There's not so much that it can't be driven over. I may go out for a little while to test the new gloves but I'll just take the shovel and shove some of the snow around.

You made me think by your mention of the cell phone. I should put mine in my pocket when I go out in case I would fall and need some help. Thanks for putting a bug in my ear.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2006
In reply to: kacierra
Thu, 01-15-2009 - 8:20am

Kaci


Jacquie had some good advice!! This cold is extreme!


and it sounds like you have taken some measures for the next time (new gloves, cell phone)


But I hear your frustration...I don't like it either when I can't do something I have in the past


but

Dutch

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-19-2003
In reply to: kacierra
Thu, 01-15-2009 - 9:26am
kaci i was out there on monday shoveling and within minutes the tips of my fingers were frozen. my brother and i usually help the older neighbors,sadly we are becoming one of them.bob and i usually do the shoveling, he does the blowing. thank god we still can,but i feel your pain. i went out to shovel,again,yesterday and thankfully the neighbor across the street has his grandson staying there,and he has been directing him to come and help us,because of all the help we had given him.

    

                      

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2008
In reply to: kacierra
Thu, 01-15-2009 - 10:32am

Reminds me of when I turned 50. A younger colleague asked what it was like to be 50. I told him I still did everything that I did at 30, but a lot s-l-o-w-e-r. I'm even slower now at 68 - LOL. But I keep trying. Yesterday's yoga class was a challenge. I'll be glad when the regular instructor returns next week. I hear she understands the workings of an aging body much better.

Jacquie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2008
In reply to: kacierra
Thu, 01-15-2009 - 10:34am

I carry my cellphone whenever I'm working outside. We are the only folks at home all day - everyone else is at work. DH would never hear me yelling, so the phone is a necessity. He once locked me out of the house and I had to call him to open the door. That was before we changed to a deadbolt with a code. Now I just punch the buttons and in I go.

Jacquie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2006
In reply to: kacierra
Thu, 01-15-2009 - 11:27am

I think you have the key there: you just keep trying!!


I have a relative in her 70's who still walks for exercise and still does a bit of hair styling in her home salon!


Another relative wrote that she and her husband had slowed down a lot , she is late 70's, he is 84..but went on to write: she goes to the gym 3x /week, he still plays tennis!.....so slower for them..better than many!!


Dutch

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: kacierra
Thu, 01-15-2009 - 12:04pm
Kaci, our friends here have given you some very good advice, so I'll add a hug & meet you at Lottie's sink;-)
Avatar for daggs170
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: kacierra
Thu, 01-15-2009 - 2:58pm

Kaci, it's not you, it's the darn weather.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: kacierra
Thu, 01-15-2009 - 3:29pm
Thank you for your comments. dd#1 came over last night and took me to town shopping. She knew that I wouldn't go out on my own in this weather. She wanted to be sure that I got some gloves that are rated for colder temperatures. We went to a store that has hunters supplies and I got some there. I thought that I would go out today and see if they're any better but, with the temperature still at -6 and the wind chill at -21, I think I'll just stay indoors until it warms up. The driveway is a mess but, oh well, I can still get in and out by just driving over it. It will be harder to clear up when it's all packed down but I can't help that. I'm not sweatin' it any more.

WinterSiggy2.gif Winter 2006-2 picture by kacierra


footballseason_11.gif Football Season image by kacierra


Picture14681.gif Alergic to Food picture by kacierra

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