Memories and Moments by GrannyJo

THE ROBIN

The North wind doth blow and we shall have snow,
And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?
He'll sit in a barn and keep himself warm
And hide his head under his wing, poor thing.
Old English Nursery Rhyme

Now that I am in the Winter of my life, I find it necessary to share here this last season of trying to warm the aging bones and comforting the inevitable losses that come to one and all. Some of you may have noticed the prolonged absence I've had from my love of writing and blogging, and believe me it was not a matter of choice. I've spent the last month and a half remembering the winters of my younger years and experiencing the changes and losses that come to us all in the final season of our lives. Like the Robin, we hide our head under a wing and pray to have the opportunity to share another spring with those who have all their seasons still before them.

You probably all remember my memories of the holidays that I've posted up here so far, and when I finished the Valentine sequel, I was having a bit of a time suffering from a cold. Just before Valentine Day I needed to see my doctor because it was growing worse. After some blood tests and a chest X-Ray I found out I had pneumonia and bronchitis and a bit of congestive heart failure---all of which presented themselves with a racking cough, fatigue, weakness--you name it. My medication shelf tripled and I spent February 12 to the 28th sleeping on a recliner, because I could not breathe lying down. That was the first cold I'd had in 8 years--so the force of it was frightening, to say the least.

On February 14th, Valentine Day, we received a call from Florida that my 95 year old mother-in-law had passed away. She had been suffering with Alz for over 10 years and in the end was completely catatonic...extremely sad for a woman who was so full of vigor in her lifetime. She had made sure all her burial plans were made and the family was shipping her remains back to the family plot in PA. Of course, that was when the area was under 24" of snow and it was frigid. There was no way I could make the trip, so Rich and my younger son flew back for the funeral, and then drove down to FL to see my sister-in-law who could not make it to PA because she has a son who is quadriplegic and they couldn't get standby care on such short notice.

Now that left me here fighting my illnesses, but I am fortunate to have caring kids, and my daughter and older son were here almost all the time, caring for me, because I was one step from a hospital. Slowly I began recovering and when the guys came home, I was just starting to be able to sleep in bed again, though the cough lingered until about 4 days ago.

When I went in for a follow-up chest X-Ray, however, the news wasn't good. Though I was clear of the pneumonia, the congestive heart failure had progressed--enough to have my doctor add Digoxin to my line of medications. It is supposed to strengthen the heart muscle so that it can pump out the fluids better--and I'm also on Coreg which is to slow down the heart so it gets more rest. So that is where I am now. Better, but full of the knowledge that I am in the Winter of my years. 8-)

However, now that I can get back to the computer, get out and about into the beautiful sun of our Las Vegas spring and "breathe" again, I have made a plan for wintering life. We never really know when our days will end, no matter how sick or well, young or old we are. The secret is to get everything we can from the time we are fortunate to receive.

I don't plan to make my time the Winter of My Discontent; rather it will be the Winter of My life--to be lived and enjoyed just as much as I did Spring, Summer and Fall. My plan is to store up and share more Memories and Moments, even unto the final day. Like the Robin who bursts forth into spring after the cold wind dies, so shall I forge into whatever lies ahead and beyond.

One Day At A Time. 8-)

Life is a ball.....
Dance or be a wallflower!