Navigating senior years.

[99silveradoz71]

^Just a couple typos from the on screen keyboard after being up all day, ha

[customboss]

1 hour ago, 99silveradoz71 said:

^Just a couple typos from the on screen keyboard after being up all day, ha

“We” …..I get it! 

[Donstar]

1 hour ago, 99silveradoz71 said:

^Just a couple typos from the on screen keyboard after being up all day, ha

It was a 4 am b4 coffee puzzle for me!  The typos are obvious and make perfect sense in the light of day!

[Donstar]

My wife fell a couple of days ago.  Nothing broken, but this event shook her up.  You know you're old by the reaction of others when you tell them you fell!   (There may even be people you don't tell because of an anticipated reaction!)  Not too many years younger, my wife's fall may have generated a friendly chuckle.  Falls, especially for seniors, are serious.  My mother and grandmother-in-law both have a fall that is mentioned in their respective final stories so our kids are very sensitive to hearing about such events.  I know we can't eliminate the possibility of falls but we can greatly reduce risks. It is surprising the number of trip hazards we have eliminated with our heightened awareness!     

[KARNUT]

My wife had dental work done 2 days ago. Required gauze pads and a little blood. That can mean fainting. She will be very mad if you hit her with the smelling stuff. She’ll come out of it she says. Of course removing the gauze she goes out, damn I hate that. So I’m standing over her with the salt ready. In our early days she thought she wanted to be a doctor. My wife as well as her siblings are very smart. One brother ran a nuclear plant in Texas. He died young of cancer. He also was on a nuclear submarine for awhile. You wonder. The doctor thing was eleminated for two reasons. Fainting and her desire to have kids and be a stay at home mom. After the kids were all in school she did work at Health South. Head of Human Resources. Even doctors and nurses can be quite juvenile. You don’t really grow up, you just get old. 

[customboss]

3 hours ago, Donstar said:

My wife fell a couple of days ago.  Nothing broken, but this event shook her up.  You know you're old by the reaction of others when you tell them you fell!   (There may even be people you don't tell because of an anticipated reaction!)  Not too many years younger, my wife's fall may have generated a friendly chuckle.  Falls, especially for seniors, are serious.  My mother and grandmother-in-law both have a fall that is mentioned in their respective final stories so our kids are very sensitive to hearing about such events.  I know we can't eliminate the possibility of falls but we can greatly reduce risks. It is surprising the number of trip hazards we have eliminated with our heightened awareness!     

I fell ( passed out in December) first time since drowning in search and rescue swimmer school in 1979, was revived by USN SEAL/UDT **** instructors. 

Got my attention, broke a lamp I hit and nearly electrocuted myself when I knocked over water glass. 
I’m 10 years ahead of most of the old farts here physically but what the heck. We are all gonna meet in the by and by!!! Weiner roasts!!!

[customboss]

2 hours ago, KARNUT said:

My wife had dental work done 2 days ago. Required gauze pads and a little blood. That can mean fainting. She will be very mad if you hit her with the smelling stuff. She’ll come out of it she says. Of course removing the gauze she goes out, damn I hate that. So I’m standing over her with the salt ready. In our early days she thought she wanted to be a doctor. My wife as well as her siblings are very smart. One brother ran a nuclear plant in Texas. He died young of cancer. He also was on a nuclear submarine for awhile. You wonder. The doctor thing was eleminated for two reasons. Fainting and her desire to have kids and be a stay at home mom. After the kids were all in school she did work at Health South. Head of Human Resources. Even doctors and nurses can be quite juvenile. You don’t really grow up, you just get old. 

She makes sense. When I flew and had to take a physical every 6 months it wasn’t easy to disclose every little thing. My livelihood depended on that medical and tribology didn’t make me rich!  

[garagerog]

My first indication that I needed to be careful of falls happened several years ago in the shower, like most of us I close my eyes when I wash my head ( I say head, not hair because I'm bald). Found out I needed a horizon to maintain my balance. As we age the 3 little bones in the middle ear responsible for balance get brittle and there you go. A couple of years ago I took a couple of falls out of nowhere, just fell over backwards, no injuries, but one was particularly scary, happened in the bathroom vanity, and I fell into the toilet/shower area, my head just missing the toilet bowl by a couple of inches, and for those wondering, no intoxicants were involved. Since then while standing still, I try putting one foot slightly behind the other and that seems to resolve the issue. I've been particularly careful of trip hazards and stairs for years because I suffer from osteoarthritis and most times walk with the aid of a cane. But those falls over backwards out of nowhere where enlightening to say the least.

[KARNUT]

I now reach for guidance going down stairs. In the shower I’m always touching the wall when I turn. One of the side effects of blood pressure medication is wobbly balance at times. Strangely more when the season changes. My driving skills are still good but I have to be mindful of parking lines. I think it more has to do with I drive 3 different cars weekly. My wife’s Genesis on Sunday and two different Hondas weekly. My avalanche really throws me a curve. I need to do an elimination. I just can’t.

[customboss]

5 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

I now reach for guidance going down stairs. In the shower I’m always touching the wall when I turn. One of the side effects of blood pressure medication is wobbly balance at times. Strangely more when the season changes. My driving skills are still good but I have to be mindful of parking lines. I think it more has to do with I drive 3 different cars weekly. My wife’s Genesis on Sunday and two different Hondas weekly. My avalanche really throws me a curve. I need to do an elimination. I just can’t.

I feel ya bro. Hang in there. 

[KARNUT]

2 minutes ago, customboss said:

I feel ya bro. Hang in there. 

[Donstar]

On 5/4/2025 at 8:12 AM, garagerog said:

My first indication that I needed to be careful of falls happened several years ago in the shower, like most of us I close my eyes when I wash my head ( I say head, not hair because I'm bald). Found out I needed a horizon to maintain my balance. As we age the 3 little bones in the middle ear responsible for balance get brittle and there you go. A couple of years ago I took a couple of falls out of nowhere, just fell over backwards, no injuries, but one was particularly scary, happened in the bathroom vanity, and I fell into the toilet/shower area, my head just missing the toilet bowl by a couple of inches, and for those wondering, no intoxicants were involved. Since then while standing still, I try putting one foot slightly behind the other and that seems to resolve the issue. I've been particularly careful of trip hazards and stairs for years because I suffer from osteoarthritis and most times walk with the aid of a cane. But those falls over backwards out of nowhere where enlightening to say the least.

Well said!  You very obviously have a good understanding of why you fell and take steps to prevent future falls.  I also keep a cane handy.  I don't use it as often as I should and thanks for the push!  A cane is also useful as a tool to remind yourself and those around you that you are at risk of falling.  I've had two memorable falls in the past year.  I joke that in both cases I tripped over my shadow.  However, most in our peer group recognize that there is nothing funny about such a comment.  As seniors we need to be extra careful when we're on the move!   

[KARNUT]

My wife and I have been around each other since our mid teens. We have no allusion about life’s curveballs. We use humor to get through it when we can. We pay attention to each other about the aids it may be required to enter this stage of life. She recently came across a picture of our wedding day with me holding her little brother. It seems like yesterday.

[Donstar]

On 5/6/2025 at 8:03 AM, KARNUT said:

My wife and I have been around each other since our mid teens. We have no allusion about life’s curveballs. We use humor to get through it when we can. We pay attention to each other about the aids it may be required to enter this stage of life. She recently came across a picture of our wedding day with me holding her little brother. It seems like yesterday.

Your pants are the pattern of the suit I wore on our wedding day!  I

[Donstar]

I replaced my favorite recliner with a medical grade lift chair.  It doesn't look medical and blends in well with our other furniture.  I posted my old recliner on an, "items for free" website.  I received a couple of immediate responses by people asking if I can deliver.   My first thought was. it's free and I'll wait until someone offers to pick it up!   After some thought, a light went on in my head, and realized that people looking for free furniture may not own a suitable vehicle or afford to hire a delivery person.  Last night I loaded the old recliner in the back of my truck and today  I'll be delivering it to a person I know will appreciate a little luxury.  I can afford to pay back some of the kindness given to us when we were young and struggling!  Who knows?.... I may have found an enjoyable and rewarding way to continue our downsizing efforts!